I want this rig to be portable; to be able to be moved from vehicle to vehicle or from place to place.
I’ve been using one for years, but the video is in a proprietary format that requires that I go through several very painful steps, using untold (and generally unbilled) hours to generate usable video for my clients.
I’d like to get to where I’m capturing the video on an SD card or HDD in a format that’s easier to transfer to media for my client.
I’d like a 4-channel system...to be able to hook up to from 1 to 4 different cameras at once.
I’d like to be able to be agnostic as to the cameras…in other words, I’d like to be able to hook up a handycam with terrific zoom, or a tilt/pan/zoom camera or just some fixed focal length CCTV cameras, depending on the case, the topography and the application. It may be that an RCA plug for the video in is the best way. I don't know.
My problem is that with the research I’ve done so far, many of the DVRs require a particular camera-to-DVR connection. That’s okay, if I can get wiring diagrams that’ll allow me to build the cabling that’ll let me do what I want.
I’d like to find a DVR with a smallish footprint (to put in a case of some type), that will run off of the battery pack (also installed in the case) that will accept various video inputs.
Audio is not an issue. I don’t use it. Matter of fact, if I picked up audio, I’d delete it.
All of that being said, FR is an amazing resource. Lots of folks with lots of knowledge…collective genius.
Here’s hoping that I can get some guidance as to gear/brands/rigs/wiring that’ll let me wind up with what I want.
[ULTIMATELY, I’m going to build a vehicle with 8 – 10 cameras, switches to choose which to record, TPZ capability, charging stations, monitors, etc. all built in. For now, I just want to build a terrific, portable unit that, if necessary, I can replicate.]
Any and all ideas are not only welcome, but intensely requested and hungered for.
Thankee…
C
Honestly? Look for a local supply company that deals in surveillance. They can help you design precisely what you need though it may cost a pretty penny. Lots of options on the market today for mobile recording.
Since you seem able to whip up you own cables you might look into using a Raspberry Pi-2. There are plenty of tried and tested user solutions to HD vid recording. Base Raspberry Pi-2 <$50 plus hd plug in camcorder plus power supply 5v IIRC and IR is possible.
The tiny boards can be stacked, so you might have 4 boards stacked in a cracker box pointed NESW giving 360 view.
One big advantage is that the whole board fits in an Altoid tin size enclosure so you can make your own enclosure to suit job requirements. Storage can be on micro sd cards, forgot max capacity. A cell phone type adapter for 12v can provide power or a battery pack. Wide latitude
But chances are more than a few people in the Raspberry Pi community have done all or part of what you need.