Thread: Ambitious Video Security System

I take it pictures and attachments will always show up at the bottom? Not a big deal, but it probably means it is best to have only one picture per post (heh, I get to 'bump' my own thread a bunch of times!)

Thanks, guys!

Here's where I got the vid xmitter from:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=140012094469

I think his disclaimer relates to the crappy antenna inside (it is literally just a metal post about 1.5 inches high where the bump is.) I was planning to add an external antenna anyway and the IR extender part was the main feature I was looking for. There are other, more powerful xmitters with external antenna jacks built in, but I didn't see one with the IR extender or for a reasonable (cheap) price. When I first cracked it open, I was a little regretful about the purchase, but then I realized how easy it would be to take the modules out and pwn it!

Alright, here's the top side of the xmitter. I marked the modules so you can see thier function. I also marked lines where there are headers that need to be desoldered to remove the modules (on the bottom side) In the middle, I set the crappy antenna that came on it. It was soldered in the hole just below it.

Still no DVR or quad (the two items I had to order from HK.) I received the microphones and xenon strobe today.

The mics are nice, should be really easy to hide.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=180025983441

The strobe is less than impressive. It flashes about 5 times per second but is far from blinding! I may have to mod it or find something a bit more powerful. This part was the single-most difficult thing to make a decision about simply for the reason that it is impossible to judge how bright it will be. The flash in it is the same flash tube found in cameras, so it is definitely capable of far more brightness. But, like I said, I will probably have to mod it to get more output (heh....ignore the grunts sounding like Tim Taylor on Home Improvement!)

I believe I still have the Carnetix P1290 power supply from my original CarPC set up (it was hidden in my shift console and I don't remember that getting ripped open during the theft.) If so, I can probably put that to use powering all this gear. It has 12V (75W) and 5V (15W). That way I don't have to come up with my own supply (far from trivial.) Although electronics are fun, I am not a big fan of reinventing the wheel.

BTW, the boost mobile is 35 cents per day for unlimited mobile web. Doesn't matter if you use it or not. You have to reboost at least once every 90 days to keep the account active, so it works out to $31.50 every 90 days for unlimited internet in the car. Reasonable, in my opinion. And I don't have to worry about bluetooth or tying up my regular cell phone. You can set up "auto-reboost" by registering a credit card with boost mobile (gotta call them to do it) with a trigger amount and a boost amount. So, my set up is now set to trigger at $5 or less and it will automatically charge my credit card for $30. You can make it any dollar amount for the auto-payment amount. The trigger is set at $5. After the first 90 days are up, I will adjust this amount to the minimum needed (you loose the balance after 90 days, so any extra is just wasted.) $10.50 a month for unlimited internet in the car is a pretty nice deal. I can't tell yet if I am on the widen network, so I may not have the high-speeds. I will have to test it out later this week.

Scott M.

After debating what type of switches to use to detect center facia removal and other intrusions, I have decided on reed switches. I could easily hide these inside the dashboard and use flat neodymium magnets (I have a bunch of them) mounted to the facia and carpc. So, I ordered a lot of 100 of them from eBay (don't need that many for this project, but smaller lots cost nearly as much anyway.)

By placing several of them in a "logic OR" configuration, it would ensure that even if they figured out how to defeat one or a few, it would still trigger the alarm. Of course, there are tons of other possibilities for these, including the valet switch (which can be used to disarm the alarm if found.)

I contacted the DVR seller yesterday to clarify the shipping details. They sent it out when I emailed them the first time (figures!!) It didn't leave HK until Monday, so I don't expect it at all this week. The quad was supposedly shipped out on the 3rd (also from HK), so I do expect that any day now.

I will try to locate that US source for the DVR again, because I will not recommend this seller to anyone. I mean, it takes 13 days for Airmail from HK as it is, and then they don't even send it until more than a week after I ordered it? I wonder how long they would have waited if I hadn't emailed them? The seller was eBay ID wuuchu. I'll post what I find.

This is the DVR anyway (I didn't order from this source... should have, it is cheaper):
http://www.asia-product.com/digital-...4dvd-p-91.html

EDIT: I signed up to see shipping rates, etc... for $92 total you get 10-15 day and for $103.66 total you get 5-7 day shipping. I paid $100.42 total on eBay. I wish I had seen this source before. There is no HDD included, it is just an enclosure. I got a Seagate 40GB drive from geeks.com for $40. I could have easily gotten away with using a <10GB drive, though. Prices aren't too much less for those, however (not to mention you would probably need to get a used one with that small of a capacity.)

Scott M.

No picture, but it has to be the same thing. Located in the U.S. About $40 more than I paid for mine. Ship time says 1-2 weeks and they are out until Jan. 15th.... If you want one, I would try the asia-products link I posted above.
http://www.cooldrives.com/mpg4-video...-portable.html

EDIT: I can almost guarantee you with that price and ship times, they are drop shipping this from the asia-products site above. 1-2 weeks from within the U.S. is outrageous! I could drive anywhere in the U.S. and pick it up quicker than that!

And, while poking around, I stumbled across this:
http://www.addonics.com/products/jupiter/jdcs.asp

It is an addonics jupiter drive kit. Removeable 2.5" HDD rack. Fits in a 3.5" bay, has a USB interface available, ruggidized aluminum with shock mounting. No lock Price is $59.99 + shipping.

I haven't decided on it. It looks great, but here's what the original plan was:

USB to IDE cable kit, 2 removeable 3.5" drive racks (one for the desktop with the usb kit, one for the video system as-is), and custom 40 pin female to 44 pin male (custom, because I cannot find a source anywhere.) These mobile racks are made to fit in a 5.25" bay, so I was planning to pick up a 5.25" external USB enclosure and attempt to fit everything inside of it and hack up the back panel for my I/O. The advantage here is that it has a lock and I have some extra room in the tray.

Either way, I need to come up with the custom cable since they both have 40 pin IDE outputs. My original plan might cost more initially, but I would still need some type of enclosure for the rest of the stuff with the jupiter drive, so it may all even out. I will have to play with these options a bit in planning over the weekend. Maybe it will give me something to do while I am waiting for the DVR!

Scott M.

Sorry for writing here...
Some things from my setup are very close related to yours...
- 2 nitemax cameras (one is from interior with autotracking and auto IR zone ilumination) Also, you can have a search about Argus Surveillance, you may like it... The other camera is wide angle and it's for the exterior. Both signals are recorded remotely.
- video signal is broadcasted and emited also with wifi
-permanent wifi connection with the car (some things can be set/controlled from my house as the car has an K8055 installed)
- the whole 8.4" is stealth installed (a mask holding fake gauges is servo-removed when needed) adn not a single switch is visible on place.
- the dvd unit is hiden
- the whole touchscreen setup is weld to the car body
- i use a small toshiba portege (LCD removed) placed somewere so difficult to reach that makes it worthless...
- a second alarm, totaly independent from the primary one,triggered mechanical, with it's own baterry, that will make a living hell inside the car (audio and visuals speaking). Here the theeves tend to run away like hell if an alarm is triggered...

P.S. My car looks at most normal... it is totally boring looking , a normal stock car...

Thanks, mugurg. THAT is the case where a carpc for the security system might work. If they can't get the PC, they can't get the evidence.

I would like to do a custom stock-looking PC install (and it is on my list of things to learn to do) but right now I am using the Lilliput TC10000 blaxtream single DIN pc. I like the stealth features you mentioned. Do you have details or video posted somewhere (here?)

I actually found something similar to what I am building, commercially:
http://www.cu1.com/mobiledvr.html

It is $719, which actually isn't too bad considering what I have spent so far. Of course, I have come up with cheaper methods and sources since my purchase, so it could be done for much less.

Scott M.