What do you need to record

[karpems]

Hi All,

I am new here. I have just purchased 8 microseven cameras along with blue iris for home monitoring. I was hoping to be able to have about 6-7 days of recordings available.

My question is what equipment do I need to purchase to be able to do this? Is an external hard drive attached to my router or computer sufficient, or is something else needed? Does the software automatically delete old footage?

Thanks so much!

 

[fenderman]

Welcome to the forum. What model cameras did you buy?
You will need a computer with sufficient power to record the cameras (that will for the most part depend on total megapixels you are recording).
Yes you can record to an external drive or nas storage.
The software can delete old footage based on a storage limit that you can set or after X days or both...

 

[karpems]

I bought two Microseven 1.3 Megapixel 960p Onvif- M7D12 and six Microseven 1.3 Megapixel 960p Onvif - M7B15.

Thanks!

 

[fenderman]

What are the specs on the pc you intend to use this with?

 

[karpems]

What are the specs on the pc you intend to use this with?

I am actually going to purchase a dedicated desktop to run the software so it can be left on 24 hours a day. Will be most likely 6gb ram, average system.

 

[fenderman]

ok, if you are buying new, make sure you get an intel haswell (fourth generation) system. With 10mp recording like you are, you should get at least an i5.
There are lots of i5 haswell fourth generation systems available for around 300, refurbished dell, hp, lenovo BUSINESS systems that are superb..
if you want a small form factor, this is nice, http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-HP-EliteDesk-800-G1-USDT-Desktop-Core-i5-4570s-4GB-320GB-2017-Warranty-/131376587091?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item1e96a7a153
It also uses a lower power i5, the S version which is still very powerful...
Avoid the U processors..

 

[karpems]

Thanks! Great advice!

 

[karpems]

I bought a Linksys WRT1900AC router and a 8 port POE switch. Do you think all 8 can go through the same switch or should I buy a second switch and plug both switches directly into the router?

 

[bp2008]

One port on the PoE switch has to be used to connect back to the router. If you got one with a 9th port for this then you are good to go. Otherwise you might want to pick up a second PoE switch. TP-Link makes an 8 port switch with 4 PoE ports that you can buy for under $45 on amazon.com.

 

[karpems]

One port on the PoE switch has to be used to connect back to the router. If you got one with a 9th port for this then you are good to go. Otherwise you might want to pick up a second PoE switch. TP-Link makes an 8 port switch with 4 PoE ports that you can buy for under $45 on amazon.com.

Thanks for the reply! I was not concerned about power, but more concerned about data. Do you think one switch can handle data from 8 HD cameras?

 

[bp2008]

Thanks for the reply! I was not concerned about power, but more concerned about data. Do you think one switch can handle data from 8 HD cameras?

It certainly can, and more. Switches tend to come in two speeds: 100 Mbps (10/100) and 1000 Mbps (10/100/1000, a.k.a. Gigabit). Your cams will likely be using about 4 Mbps each. Multiply by 8 for the 8 cameras and you have just 32 Mbps of data. Well within the limits of even a 100 Mbps switch.

 

[karpems]

It certainly can, and more. Switches tend to come in two speeds: 100 Mbps (10/100) and 1000 Mbps (10/100/1000, a.k.a. Gigabit). Your cams will likely be using about 4 Mbps each. Multiply by 8 for the 8 cameras and you have just 32 Mbps of data. Well within the limits of even a 100 Mbps switch.

Thanks! Learning a ton!

 

[fenderman]

Also what switch did you buy? Many 8 port switches only provide poe to 4 devices..
Also be aware, that those cameras are not true poe...the include (or are supposed to include) a poe splitter that is 802.3 compliant..That means you need to find a place to mount that huge splitter which may make for an ugly install...How much did you pay for the cams? There may be better alternatives.

 

[karpems]

I only paid $50 a piece for them.

The switch I bought is an Eagle Eye 8 port POE. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H2VAJ0G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[fenderman]

Are you going to mount them on a junction box? Thats really the only way to do it with the large poe splitter...

 

[karpems]

Are you going to mount them on a junction box? Thats really the only way to do it with the large poe splitter...

I'm going to mount them with the connections in the attic and only run the cord through the camera to the exterior location.
.