Use a multiswitch for a security camera [Text View]

View Full Version : Use a multiswitch for a security camera

Okeemike

11-12-2007, 11:56 AM

rlj5242

11-12-2007, 12:58 PM

Short answer - No. A multi-switch is made for switching between satellite locations. Yes, it has a diplexer built in but the rest of it is made for satellite. If you want to diplex a channel, then buy a diplexer but based on your wants, that may not even work.

Does your camera output an RF signal? Not sure? Does it output a signal on channel 3 or 4 or some other channel (that's an RF signal)? If not, that means it is probably outputing a raw video signal. You can't diplex that. You want to see your monitor on channel 3. Is there already a cable channel 3? If so, you can't use channel 3. You need a frequency agile channel modulator. The Channel Plus 3025 is the easiest to use. It will combine your cable as well as your camera and another video device into a single cable feed. You assign your camera a channel that is not being used by your cable system. Feed the output to all of your TV's and just tune into the channel that the camera is on. One last thing to look out for. If your cable system is using all of the bandwidth, then you may not have an open channel. You would have to block whatever channel you want to use for your camera. Filters should be available where ever the 3025 is sold.

-Robert

Okeemike

11-12-2007, 01:41 PM

Thanks for the input. The device you suggested is exactly what I needed. However, I am going to use the On-Q specific one, if for no other reason, it matches what I already have in the house.

wallyyoung

11-13-2007, 06:47 PM

Ok, I know this seems a bit odd....

I recently dropped DirecTV, and have an unused multiswitch. This switch has an input for the satellite, as well as a regular OTA signal. Can I use my cable TV and Security camera to diplex these signals (I think this is the right term), and then distribute that out to the rest of the house?.

Ultimately, I am looking to set the baby camera up such that I can see it on all televisions on channel 3, rather than use some kind of crappy wireless baby monitor. There are solutions I can integrate with my ON-Q system, but they seems kind of pricey... Any suggestions?

Can I ask a follow-up question - I was thinking of doing something similar with our baby monitor/wireless camera setup to be able to view the camera's video feed on other locations (bedroom tv, living room tv, computer). The wireless setup model/brand is by Summer Infant (Baby Quiet Sounds) that runs on 900mhz to an included b&w small-screen monitor. Even if we could add the feed to watch it on another tv would be great. Just not sure what product(s) to look for to do it.

Thanks in advance.

JimSpence

11-13-2007, 08:46 PM

The above mentioned ChannelPlus 3025 modulator should work wired to other TVs.
However, the baby monitor needs to have RCA outputs.

Here's a link to it.
http://www.smarthome.com/7717.html

Okeemike

11-14-2007, 09:07 AM

Can I ask a follow-up question - I was thinking of doing something similar with our baby monitor/wireless camera setup to be able to view the camera's video feed on other locations (bedroom tv, living room tv, computer). The wireless setup model/brand is by Summer Infant (Baby Quiet Sounds) that runs on 900mhz to an included b&w small-screen monitor. Even if we could add the feed to watch it on another tv would be great. Just not sure what product(s) to look for to do it.

Thanks in advance.

Looking at the instructions for your monitor, it doesn't appear as if the camera has any kind of output. You can, however, get a cheap camera at www.x10.com. Match that with an RF modulator (to change the RCA connection to coax), and then use the aforementioned device to get the signal on channel 3/4, and you're good to go...baby TV!

On an unrelated note...will your baby camera work in the dark? It looks as if it has LED lights, but I don't know if they're infrared, or just dim or what...

wallyyoung

11-14-2007, 02:32 PM

Looking at the instructions for your monitor, it doesn't appear as if the camera has any kind of output. You can, however, get a cheap camera at www.x10.com. Match that with an RF modulator (to change the RCA connection to coax), and then use the aforementioned device to get the signal on channel 3/4, and you're good to go...baby TV!

On an unrelated note...will your baby camera work in the dark? It looks as if it has LED lights, but I don't know if they're infrared, or just dim or what...

You're correct the monitor doesn't have any RCA output jacks (bummer!). Yes the camera does have infrared so the night viewing is very (VERY) clear and we've been very happy with the results to-date. Just my techie curiosity to see if this could be done easily (and on-the-cheap!) as I and my wife have often wanted to see what's going on w/o having to go all the way to the bedroom to look at the monitor.

Just seems like there would have to be a way to at least capture the wireless 900mhz video signal from the camera with another device that could be physically attached say to another TV. I do like the multiswitch approach though and will take a look at the X10 solutions... Thanks.

Okeemike

11-14-2007, 02:39 PM

You're correct the monitor doesn't have any RCA output jacks (bummer!). Yes the camera does have infrared so the night viewing is very (VERY) clear and we've been very happy with the results to-date. Just my techie curiosity to see if this could be done easily (and on-the-cheap!) as I and my wife have often wanted to see what's going on w/o having to go all the way to the bedroom to look at the monitor.

Just seems like there would have to be a way to at least capture the wireless 900mhz video signal from the camera with another device that could be physically attached say to another TV. I do like the multiswitch approach though and will take a look at the X10 solutions... Thanks.

X10 makes a number of video receivers, which have both RCA and Coax outputs, however, I think they're all 2.4 GHz. They're included with most of their wireless camera solutions.