Pi CCTV is a small security device that many people want to use. It uses a Raspberry Pi as a monitoring controller. It sounds simple, but it actually has many problems. Today I will talk to you about the twists and turns of this thing.
The messy things about basic concepts
Simply put, Pi CCTV uses the little guy named Raspberry Pi to connect to the camera and install some software to realize the basic functions of monitoring systems such as monitoring, recording and alarm. The Raspberry Pi model is also very important. You can't just pick up one. For example, the common Pi 4B has a larger memory and will run smoothly. If it is an old model, such as the Pi Zero, it may make you doubt your life! As for cameras, USB cameras are more common, and there are also CSI cameras dedicated to Raspberry Pi. They each have their own opinions, so I will talk about them in detail later.
Disassemble the key steps little by little
1. Don’t be careless about hardware preparation : The Raspberry Pi motherboard must be available, and the power supply must be original, otherwise it will be a big trouble if you lose the recording when the power is out and the power is turned off and the recording will be lost. The memory card is recommended to have a high-speed card above 32G, which has a lot of recordings and a quick reading and writing. You need to confirm the camera, don’t buy it and can’t plug it in! Oh, by the way, the monitor and keyboard and mouse are indispensable when they first set it up, otherwise how to operate it
2. System burning and configuration step by step : first download the official system image, such as Lite, which takes up a small space. Write it to the memory card with Win32 Disk, plug in the Raspberry Pi to boot, and configure the network through the command line. The SSH remote connection must be turned on, otherwise you have to connect to the monitor if you want to change the settings in the future. How hard it is!
3. Which software is better to choose ?: The mainstream is the mutant, which is simple to set up and is suitable for novices. You can get an image after a few clicks, but there are fewer functions; it is powerful, can do it, and can also perform facial recognition (although it is a bit complicated), depending on personal needs! By the way, we provide global procurement services for weak current intelligent products! Don’t panic when buying accessories!
4. You have to think carefully about the storage plan! : Small video recordings can be stored in a local memory card, but it will definitely not be enough over time. Either you hang a mobile hard drive or use the network to store NAS. Remember to set it to automatically mount when mounting the hard drive, otherwise it will be useless to restart the hard drive!
Let's talk about FAQs in a Q&A format
Q: What should I do if there is no light at night and the camera can’t see clearly?
Answer: Buy the camera with infrared lights! Or add an infrared fill light to the camera. The Raspberry Pi GPIO port can control the fill light switch, which will automatically light up at night and turn off during the day, which is so smart!
Q: Remote viewing of old lags and delays?
Answer: Coding questions! Lower the video resolution, set the frame rate to about 15 FPS, encode it with H.264, and the router bandwidth must also keep up, otherwise the network will be intermittent, and watching a surveillance will make you anxious!
Q: What's wrong with the Raspberry Pi's dying?
Answer: The heat dissipation is definitely not done well! The Raspberry Pi is open for a long time, especially in summer, and the temperature is rising rapidly. Buying a small heat sink to stick it on, or getting a small USB fan will not cost much money!
Small details to pay attention to when purchasing accessories
Comparison of different cameras:
1. USB camera : The advantage is that it is plug-and-play, but the disadvantage is that the image quality is average, which must occupy the USB port;
2. CSI camera : specially designed for Raspberry Pi, with good picture quality and no USB, but if you install it, it is a bit troublesome!
3. WiFi module : If the Raspberry Pi is not convenient to plug in the network cable, buy a reliable USB WiFi adapter. It is recommended to have an antenna, which has a strong signal!
Finally, my personal opinion: Pi CCTV is indeed suitable for people with strong hands-on skills. The cost is not high and the effect is OK. It just needs to do more hands-on trouble. Don’t worry when encountering problems. Check them step by step and you can always get it done.
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