Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

RE: Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

rew — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 08:19:48 GMT

John Alexander wrote:

how do you know he doesn't mention it you are assuming

It's subtle. It was in the way it was worded that I picked up that the intent was to connect a camera. But yes, maybe I was guessing, and guessed correctly.

CCTV effectively has a 0.3 Mpixel resolution. I.e. when you wave your hand at the camera you can say: "Hey that's me, waving" when you watch the recording. But when something actually happens, too often you end up with images that make it hard to recognize people.

Nowadays cheap USB webcams can allow much higher resolution and thus better quality in case you end up needing the footage.

With my raspberry pi camera extension kit, you could also get a 2 Mpixel video and 5 Mpixel-stills camera and then place it a few meters away from the 'pi. Less neat plastic packaging than with a webcam, but it will optimally use the hardware of the PI to say compress the fullHD stream to something you can archive.

RE: Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

Problemchild — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 06:35:01 GMT

Nope most probably not have a look at those cheap USB VHS to DVD capture cards as I said they are only around £10

RE: Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

balearicdynamics — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 06:32:05 GMT

Hi Divina,

just an hypothesis: why don't use a CCYV camera that broadcast a 2.4 GHz short range radio signal (5-15 meters) then operate on the receiver nearby the PI ? Maybe a good compromise and IMO using a CCTV camera instead of a webcam you have more freedom to adopt specific cameras that are just though for this kind of use. Then from the composite signal you can isolate the video components for any usage (math, image processing etc.) There is a chip that I looked at and it is cheap (a cheap chip ) and probably useful for your approach; it is used for very basic image processing from camera on Arduino so with the Raspi you just gain more and more power. It is a video synch separator in its three primary RBG components and it works fine:

RE: Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

e14 Contributor — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 01:00:22 GMT

Thanks Roger, I guess I really need to buy either converter or just replace the analog cctv with webcam which I think will be easier for me. Very much appreciated.

Divina

RE: Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

e14 Contributor — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 00:57:02 GMT

Hello Paul,

That's exactly what I mean. Do you have any idea how to do that? Can I customize the main camera module chip of the analog CCTV, is it possible? Thanks in advance.

Divina

RE: Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

e14 Contributor — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 00:55:09 GMT

Hello John,

Thanks for your sharing your thoughts and I apologize for the late response. I would like to verify that what I mean is the CCTV itself. The main camera. Could it be possible if I customize the camera itself so it can be compatible with the RPI 2?

Divina

RE: Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

Problemchild — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 23:19:57 GMT

If you are thinking of the CCTV camera then most are composite and you can use one of those USB based Digitisers that are common on EBAY for around £10 ish

Most have Linux support but I'm not sure if is compiled into t he RPI Kernel.

Also it would be nice if you can tell us if it's a camera or monitor you are talking about

RE: Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

Problemchild — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 23:07:08 GMT

how do you know he doesn't mention it you are assuming

That's why I specified my assumption

RE: Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

gadget.iom — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 11:32:28 GMT

There is a discussion here hat may help you.

https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=7748

RE: Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

rew — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 11:00:54 GMT

John it is the other way around. He wants to connect the CCTV camera on his raspberry pi.

Dear Divina. The technically correct answer is: But of course you can connect your analog CCTV signal to your raspberry pi pins without any converter". The thing is, the 'pi is not equipped to process analog TV signals like your CCTV signal. it simply doesn't have the circuits to process the signal. So it won't be able to do anything with it (but it won't blow up if you connect it on not-very-wrong pins).

The thing is: The BCM2836 processor is meant to be put into a digital camera, smartphone, or set-top-box. In each of these cases you MIGHT want a TV output, and the circuitry for that is easy-and-cheap on a chip. So that feature is included in the chip. But "TV signal input" requires a much larger investment of chip-space and engineering efforts. Alas for you: it is not included.

RE: Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

gadget.iom — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 10:58:22 GMT

Are you looking to connect an analogue CCTV camera to your RPi?

RE: Connect analog cctv to RPI 2

Problemchild — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 10:33:49 GMT

If you mean an old CCTV monitor then yes you can the output form the RPI is normal Composite video which will work fine in most CCTV setups.

Obviously you will need to have a lead made up to connect the two but you should be OK.. Also make sure you set it to the local video standard weither that's PAL or NTSC.

John