#car DVR
Which car DVR to choose and install it yourself.
In order to install a DVR with your own hands and use it for the desired purposes, you only need a little effort, and if everything goes well, you will spend less money on it than if you buy it in a specialized store.
You should start with the design.
If you want to install a video recorder with your own hands to work in a car (video surveillance in transport is very common today), you need to mark all the points where the cameras should be installed.
The standard number is four video cameras.
The first is the most important — it is installed behind the rearview mirror to monitor the frontal area.
For this area, you should choose a frameless (as it is characterized by its miniature size) camera with a varifocal lens and the ability to control the settings, so that you can change the viewing angle.
The second camera is best installed under the rear window — to monitor the cooling situation.
It is easy to attach to the roof trim.
Two more cameras are installed opposite the front windows of the car — to monitor the situation in the side areas of space.
Next, you should take care of the sound recording. For this, you will need a microphone: it is advisable to mount it next to the left camera (closer to the driver's seat).
An active, highly sensitive microphone with a wide directional diaphragm is a completely acceptable option.
To ensure that the car's engine does not reduce the quality of the sound recording, you should choose models with shock-absorbing suspension.
The microphone should be able to listen in and record the conversation with the traffic police officer from both sides. Now, what are we going to record on?
Choosing a car DVR.
The choice of a car DVR should be made in accordance with the equipment with which it will be connected.
High demands should be placed on such an important element of car DVR, without fear of financial costs.
In a sense, it is one of the types of vehicle protection systems.
The choice of a car DVR should be made with the requirement for the presence of such quite standard characteristics: 4-channel color video recording with a full resolution of 720×576, a frame rate of at least 5 for each channel, with the ability to compress video (for example, Delta-Wavelet, MJPEG or MPEG4), the ability to record at least one audio channel using only HDD for storing recordings, with a possible storage period of at least a week with an average daily use of 3 to 5 hours. It is better to install the DVR between the front seats on a shock-absorbing platform, and the screen — on the ceiling ledge, using a special adapter.
The screen should work with the rear camera as a mirror. The choice of a car DVR and its installation should be carried out taking into account the possible reinstallation on another car, so the mount should be as simple as possible.
And a little more about which DVR to choose: it is important to think through to the smallest detail the place of its future installation and your requirement for the quality of the recording.
In addition, such components as ease of control, the possibility of expanding functions and compatibility with the equipment with which it will work are important.
In connection with each of the stated parameters, the question arises, which video recorder to choose? — After all, it is difficult to find the ideal.
In fact, it is not so difficult.
Considering the recording quality, take into account the resolution and recording speed.
As a rule, manufacturers indicate the maximum parameters, which in reality is not always the case.
Remember that at maximum resolution, the specified recording speed is lower, and vice versa.
In order not to be deceived, you should find out in advance at what recording speed the required resolution level is provided for each channel.
Which video recorder should I choose, taking into account the video compression format?
The most commonly used formats are MJPEG, MPEG4, H.264.
Each of these formats has its own characteristics:
— MJPEG – a recording made in this format takes up more disk space. Video recorders using MJPEG have an outdated element base, so their cost is lower;
— MPEG4 – a recording made by a video recorder takes up approximately 10 times less disk space. Such video recorders have a more modern element base, therefore their price is higher;
— H.264 – improved color rendering, increased image clarity; video information recorded in H.264 takes up approximately 2 times less disk space than the previous format.