G'Morning!

I need to add some cctv audio/video cables just in case of future expansion to an existing system.

I should have had no problems looking for them, but, the connectors to the back of the computer are serial/vga connectors, the connector branches out to 12 cables: 8 vid and 4 aud.

Any ideas where I could find something like this?

Thanks a million

The ones you are describing normally are short jumpers that come with the video cards. I have never seen longer ones.

I suppose you could custom make longer cables or use serial extensions, but here is the problem; Since it is for future expansion, I take it you may not be able to get at these cables later. Only video cards use this configuration. If the unit gets changed down the road to a DVR for example, you would require individual video/audio cables again. It is better to run those separate cables now so that any recording unit will wire in with ease.

Always think of the future and don't limit your cabling to a specific brand.

Is is possible to install an empty conduit for future expansion?

Conduit could be possible. But I was talking about those short jumpers from the video card. The video card has two ports, so it can hold 16 cam and 8 aud. I am going to find out today if the software will hold more than the 8 that it already has. We may have to get all new software, can you recommend some that would be good? The way it is is it has one large screen on the software, to watch cash registers, then 7 smaller screens to watch other places. it records to the HD every 1 sec.

from what I have seen if your software can supprot additional cameras then you would actually add an additional card to add more ports.

anthonyh, I can add more cameras I am sure, but the card only has one wire on it right now, another port is blank. All I need to know is where to get one of those cables the takes the connector and branches it out to 8 vid and 4 aud ports. And the name of them too would be helpful lol. Thanks

ohh I got ya...Not to sure I will see if I can find any info for you

thanks

The brand is geovision. found that out.

The connectors you describe are greek to me so I'm no help there, but I would caution you about recording audio. Everybody is running away from that for legal reasons. We used to buy some nice little silent witness cameras that had a mic built in but they are no longer availble. As refrenced in another thread, I am no lawyer, but it is my understanding that the wire tap laws have not kept up with technology. As I understand it, I could break into your house and install a hidden video camera and the only criminal thing I could be charged with is Tresspassing or breaking and entering. Now if I were to add a microphone to that same camera, now I would be in some major trouble. McGyver would probably be a good fella to run that by. I also found some info here https://www.rcfp.org/taping/

Since it is a business I think he has a license to record the cash register areas. But that is a good thing to know, thanks for the information Johnyreb.

It is a small business, and he thinks that the person who he spent very much money to was actually a gray-market installer and had installed some bad (non-licensed) software. I am cleaning that up for him now, so he doesn't get into any troubles. Remember all of the troubles with Al? Installing then disappearing? Well his camera installer did the same thing... Installed, then vanished. Such a bad situation that is.

I checked their web site topher, and it looks like the second cable assembly you require, is blue and it's a 15 conductor D-sub serial cable to 8 BNC ends. There doesn't appear to be any audio in the 2nd assembly, it only does audio in the first one.

You had better check the card model number as well, it appears they have cards with only 8 cameras but the pic still shows 2 serial connectors. Hard to say if they are only showing the pic of the 16 unit or maybe the 2nd serial connector is a dummy.

Does the owner still have the boxes to the cards, maybe the jumper assembly is still in it? If not, you might be able to order from the manufacture directly on a credit card. Worst case, a cable could probably be custom made by metering out the first one, not a pleasant job, but doable!

Thanks twistedpair, I did look at their website and only saw the ones where you have to buy the cards too. There are two connectors soldered onto the card. The software has room for 16 cams, but if you think it might be dummied up, We could just upgrade the entire system.

THe owner does have some info on the system, but since the install installed and vanished, the installer took some of the stuff with him... Like the second cable to it.

I can get more info from the owner later on tonight.

We got the cable, twistedpair, it was exactly what you said: No audio. But that is Okay.

Thanks for the help If anything goes wrong with the software *crosses fingers* I will be back in this cat.

I'm interested in knowing if the card/software allows the additional cameras.

Keep us posted!

Shoot. It does and doesn't.

It senses that there are cameras there, but the chipset for the card is programmed for the 8 only, So it does not let you view or record them...

twisted, do you know if you can change the chipset w/o buying a new card? A used 16 cam card on ebay is $200, new ones $850. Since he (the owner) already paid the installer for the card (was supposed to be 16 available not 8) I don't want to charge him too much more.

I told him about the pricing and such, and said he would get back to me.

Any thoughts?

I went back on their website, they have since updated the site with some new products/cards.
https://www.geovision.com.tw/englis...p;pno=10&gname=Surveillance%20System

I like what I see from them but I don't understand how their limits work. When you select a card type (GV-800 for example) it tells you it is capable of 4,8,12, or 16 inputs. Some other manufactures will tell you that it comes ready for 4 and a software upgrade or keycodes are required to expand. I couldn't find anything explaining this on their site. They make it sound like it is ready to go for 16 (including software).

Maybe it is just a case of turning down the fps (frames per second) to accommodate the extra views. I know that some other manufactures are like that. You are probably going to have to send them an email to find out more. They have a tech support email on the site and a list of distributors as well.

Let us know what you come up with. I may be interested in trying their product myself.

Thanks, once again twisted pair.

I will try and get ahold of them, I tried to contact them once before and got the email back.

The product is worth a shot I think, but it is very very very limited on what hardware you can use. Modems, Cards, Motherboards, CPUs, everything has to be to their specifications.

And.... The chipset in the card has a label on it with the effect of: GV 8 SET

Well the label you saw with GV 8 on it could stand for their GV 800 card, or it could mean 8 cameras only! We're all guessing here. Hopefully you will be more successfull this time with their tech help.

I do know that some other manufacturers will take 16 but the 2nd 8 won't be highlighted for selection unless you slow down the recording (fps) to make room. If the software allows you to do a multi-screen view with 16 boxes in it, that's a good sign.

The software does allow that, so I will try slowing the frames down. It also says that some recording stops when it is past 640x320 pixels. I'll try that too.

Thanks for your help through this project It is much appriciated.