Desktop

Save yourself a lot of headaches - use IP cameras. Some even allow for PoE (Power over Ethernet) so you only have to string an Ethernet cable to where you want your camera.

Then have a mirrored/striped drive set on a PC or get an IDE NAS (Depending on how much video data you are wanting to hold and for how long) and pipe the data in there.

If you want to have a survellance system all it has to do is watch the real time data coming in which is offered by just about every security camera company I can think of.

Just remember over high speed it won't be very good quality as it is consistently unreliable for video streaming. But if you have a VPN to this location (use a router to VPN) it should be ok as long as you turn down the resolution to where the high speed can handle it (you'll have to test this at the remote site - but you should be able to log into the camera control software by IP to tweak).

Lots of companies will give you a trial camera. I recommend contacting security companies in your area and see what deals they will offer you. Just make sure you keep a little footage from each camera you test so you can do a comparison for quality vs. price, and make sure your surveillance software does what you want (do you want to move the camera? zoom? motion sensor? etc.)

Zaf

There a multitude of software and hardware systems on the market.

http://www.nuvico.com/
http://www.cbcamerica.com/cctvprod/index.html
http://www.i3dvr.com
http://www.secprodonline.com
http://www.axis.com/
http://www.video-insight.com
http://www.webeyealert.com/
http://www.allied-dvr.com/products.htm
http://www.mintron.com
http://tinyurl.com/5s2mv
http://www.ktncusa.com/main.htm

Hope these links help

Lee

Somebody was selling a whole security set for 75, with a 3 wireless cameras and video recording, but if you want to practice in the security area... go for it

how do you set up 4 camras i need to know

I install these cameras and like to suggest u use D-Link DCS-5300 G is great up to 16 cameras.
Software re great to. easy to install and follow the instructions on the disk.