Two channels of video not enough? All right then, how about four video channels for network watching?

This video server comes, again, from Evergreen Co. of Akihabara, IPVideo EG-SIVA24. Price: 14,800 yen (US$128).

EG-SIVA24, very tiny (100 x 57 x 25mm) but powerful and cheap.

Video interface is not USB, but a good old composite video. So, no cheap USB Web camera on this server. But, on the other hand, I bet your junk box is full of old video equipment. Close circuit video cameras, old low-res digital cameras, video recorders... all these retired gears with composite video output can be connected to SIVA24.

I have several disused cameras, all of them from Akihabara junk shops. A black-and-white, two colors, an infrared, and a couple of tiny spy cameras, too. These junk can be revived again, hurray!

Two video size can be chosen remotely, high and low. 640 x 480, or smaller. Only one stereo audio input, this is a drag. The typical network camera function, motion detect, is not being neglected by SIVA24. If a cockroach jumps into the view of one of the four cameras, SIVA24 sends a warning email with the portrait of cockroach attached. At the same time, the mugshot of this six-legged culprit is sent to the FTP server.

Four video channels (Motion JPEG) at a glance. Only one stereo audio channel, though.

Four channels can be viewd on one remote display. Well, it's not unlike a tired rent-a-cop watching boring security videos of nighttime storehouse scene.

Now, you can be an all-watching, all-prevailing, all controlling Big Brother. Not too bad at less than US$130.

 

cheewee
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kaisei1
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