Multiple Channel DVR

[agarbino]

I'm trying to put together a telemetry video system on a race car. It will consist of 2-4 video cameras. Because of the environment, I need light and cheap components. I'm considering the following:

1) USB2 Webcams, into a USB hub.

2) Fire-i cameras, as they can be daisy chained into a firewire port. (Does anyone know of limitations/performance of multiple cameras on one port?

3) Several 'spy'/'pinhole' cameras, with analog inputs going into a multi channel pci card; eg: http://www.globalspec.com/FeaturedProducts/Detail?ExhibitID=14956

Whichever method I use, the input will have to be handled by a small processor (eg M10000 Mini-ITX).

Does anyone know of any formus/howtos/sites where people have done this and reviewd different cameras?

Regards,
Alex

 

[Crashman]

Webcams are kind of sucky, I'd consider some X10 cams. X10 has a lot of products, I think they even have a device to combine 4 cams into 4 panels on a single signal. You could use a video input card on the miniITX platform, or just mount a mini VCR in the car.

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[agarbino]

So you suggest a 4-channel analog video card? Do you know if these card do onboard processing?

 

[Crashman]

I'd probably make it easy on the system by using a 1 channel card and a 4 channel to 1 channel adapter, one of those little boxes that puts 4 pictures on 1 display.

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