Lines on Security Cameras when TV coaxial cable is plugged in. Any help appreciated

[Abayomi]

Hello everyone, please excuse my frustration. I have researched everything and am beyond frustrated with no answers. I have a QSee 908 DVR with 5 wired in cameras which are all hooked to our Samsung smart TV through a VGA cable. Everything views fine with the security cameras UNTIL.... I attach my shaw PVR HD digital box!


When I attach the HD PVR with the HDMI cable to my samsung TV (without the coaxial cable attached).. The security cameras are fine... It's when I even touch the coaxial TV line to the coaxail in on the HD PVR is when all 5 of my security cameras go crazy with lines!


If I use the source button to go to the HDMI output, the TV channels are fine but when I change the source to the VGA connection, the security cameras are going crazy! I have even tried attaching the DVR to the TV with an HDMI cable and the same thing happens.


Which means I am not able to leave my HD digital PVR plugged in without unplugging my security cameras (DVR)!! So we can not use the PVR to tape or watch TV shows!


Researching I was reading some about EMI interference and Ground loop issues... Not sure what is going on or if I am ever going to be able to have both plugged in with without interference on the security cameras!! I'm feeling overwhelmed! Qsee says it's a TV issue, samsung says it's a DVR/security camera issue and shaw cable says it's not anything to do with them.


Can anyone offer any information? oh! I would be extremely appreciated! Time for a glass of wine to calm my nerves!


Thanks so much


Lisa

 

[nayr]

Re: Lines on Security Cameras when TV coaxial cable is plugged in. Any help appreciat

your problem is your using analouge cameras, sounds like a ground fault or EMI.. perhaps a power conditioner will help or some ferrite chokes.

an IP system would have no problems, and look at the name of the forums..

 

[Brad_C]

Re: Lines on Security Cameras when TV coaxial cable is plugged in. Any help appreciat

your problem is your using analouge cameras, sounds like a ground fault or EMI..

What he said ^^.

To help figure out where things are going awry, is the noise causing issues between the camera and recorder, or recorder and TV ? Induce the noise for a while then play back the recorded footage. Is the noise on the recording (so between camera and DVR) or is the noise only in real-time between the DVR and TV?

I suspect its camera to DVR given your experiment with the HDMI cable, but you always want to double check. If it *is* camera to DVR, maybe something like this http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/CCTV-Video-Ground-Loop-Isolator-p/sp-g01.htm would do the job. Probably pick them up for cheap on E-bay.
Anything like that will roll off the higher frequencies, so your views won't be as sharp (for certain definitions of "won't be"), but if it saves you replacing your system it might get you out of a hole.

This is not surprising. Most kit these days is double insulated and with cheap switch-mode supplies tends to hover somewhere well above earth potential. As an experiment you could run a jumper wire between the outside of the antenna socket on the telly to the outside of one of the BNC connectors on the DVR. Both of those should be at or around earth, but they rarely are. You might see a spark, or you might get a belt. In either case you'll have identified your problem and it's one where there is no easy fix. They just don't build 'em like they used to.

 

[Abayomi]

Re: Lines on Security Cameras when TV coaxial cable is plugged in. Any help appreciat

Thanks so much for responding! As you suggested I plugged in the Coaxial cable to the back of the HD PVR (which is attached to the TV WITH THE HDMI cable...and the cameras go completely crazy with lines, one camera is even cutting out to black screen. The amount of interference is different on each camera. I am not sure how to attach a quick video or a photo but do have both if I am able to attach them so ehow to the thread.

Anyways, I then checked my DVR and it did record the the interference on the cameras. So I assume with what you mentioned, the problem would between the camera and DVR.

I was reading some about ground loops which I am trying to understand. I did install/wire the 5 cameras (4 outdoor and one indoor)myself and they are attached to a metal soffit. Do you think there may be a problem with the grounding touching the soffits? Somewhere I read that I should maybe put a piece of wood between the camera and the soffit? Any thoughts?

Not sure if any of this will spark any other ideas but four of my cameras are connected with one power cord and the fifth camera was bought separately and is a longer length, I believe around 180 feet (three bnc cables connected together.... They are run through the attac and through the soffits. Maybe I should have tapes the connectors as they may be touching the soffits as well. Would this cause interference? The strange thing is the cameras are good when the TV coaxial cable isn't attached to the HD PVR.

I just oust wish we could watch TV without having to disconnect the VGA cable that connects the DVR to the TV. QSee seemed andi ate that it wasn't a camera problem but was a TV problem. Anyways, certainly would love to figure it out.

Thanks again, I really, really appreciate your response!

Tracy

 

[Brad_C]

Re: Lines on Security Cameras when TV coaxial cable is plugged in. Any help appreciat

I was reading some about ground loops which I am trying to understand. I did install/wire the 5 cameras (4 outdoor and one indoor)myself and they are attached to a metal soffit. Do you think there may be a problem with the grounding touching the soffits? Somewhere I read that I should maybe put a piece of wood between the camera and the soffit? Any thoughts?

Yes actually. Get it so you have the noise issue, then one by one unplug the cameras. That'll see if it is a specific camera causing the issue. I assume the DVR supplies power to the camera in addition to the BNC for video? Make sure you unplug them both. In the case where you have multiple cameras on the one power cord, you're just going to have to do all of them at the same time.

If it turns out it's a specific camera we can go from there. If not, try taking one camera down so it's not physically touching anything that might earth it and plug it back in. Does the problem re-occur? That'd tell us if isolating them will help.

Ground loops can be evil. I did some work at a casino once with around 2,000 analogue channels. 42 racks of recording equipment and matrix switchers and finding earth faults in that rats nest was a mission. You learn lots of tricks very quickly.

 

[Abayomi]

Re: Lines on Security Cameras when TV coaxial cable is plugged in. Any help appreciat

SOLVED!!!!! HOOT HOOT!!!I can can not thank you enough for your replies!! I just finished putting styrofoam between all the cameras and the soffit! Everything is all CLEAR! I can't believe it was that simple!!WOW!!! anyways! wanted to send an update and thank you for your replies to my post! Enjoy your day and all the very best!

tracy

Yes actually. Get it so you have the noise issue, then one by one unplug the cameras. That'll see if it is a specific camera causing the issue. I assume the DVR supplies power to the camera in addition to the BNC for video? Make sure you unplug them both. In the case where you have multiple cameras on the one power cord, you're just going to have to do all of them at the same time.

If it turns out it's a specific camera we can go from there. If not, try taking one camera down so it's not physically touching anything that might earth it and plug it back in. Does the problem re-occur? That'd tell us if isolating them will help.

Ground loops can be evil. I did some work at a casino once with around 2,000 analogue channels. 42 racks of recording equipment and matrix switchers and finding earth faults in that rats nest was a mission. You learn lots of tricks very quickly.

 

[Brad_C]

Re: Lines on Security Cameras when TV coaxial cable is plugged in. Any help appreciat

Always nice to get a follow up with a resolution. Nice work!