I have come to realize it's not fair to only describe the project in dribs and drabs, having to dismiss very good suggestions from people thoughtful enough to offer them because I hadn't been specific enough.

Two separate related applications. On the farm we want to be able to watch the gate, house, toolshed and inside the house.

That would be 4 cameras. And maybe a 5th up by the soon-to-be-installed water tank, so we can tell when it's filled.

Now, I'm thinking that if burglars got into the house and saw there were cameras, they might burn down the place in an attempt to destroy the recording. And it would go. No sprinkler system, and it's ALL wood. Three stories, open in the center, without sheetrock. And it's been burgled twice, with a considerable loss of tools and equipment.

So, I'd like to have the cameras all wireless and with IR capability, cheap on eBay, transmitting to a hidden computer. That would probably be in a vault built under the generator, using the 12 volt battery it uses. May have to put another one or two in parallel, but that's no problem. I'm not sure I can get a computer to power down far enough to make this feasible, but with just the CPU and the HD at an idle most of the time, it may be possible. It should be cool enough that a single fan in addition to the CPU fan could keep things working.

They sell DVR PCI cards dirt cheap, I bought one for $21, which will track 4 cameras and only record if there is motion. I'd also like for it to trigger a CD-RW, so that it would write to a CD too. I don't think I'm sophisticated enough to do that, but it's an idea. Hard to think with one finger up my nose and the other pecking on a keyboard.

I also bought another card for $31 which is Linux capable, if I can figure out how to use that. I suspect a Linux platform would be more stable over time that Windows.

The cameras will probably each get a home-made Ni-MH battery, recharged with small solar panels. If necessary they can be collected and charged from time to time.

Now, if I could have the computer elsewhere with some sort of wi-fi system transmitter and receiver, and have the monitor, mouse and keyboard with the same setup, and operate it from the house with no wires running to the CPU, that would be neat. I don't know anything about wi-fi, so I don't know if that's possible. I think they are just extensions of a modem, so far. And I don't know yet.

I sort of got into this, and purchased a day color - night IR system of 4 cameras for myself. I got a camera to try this out, one with IR capability for BW at night and color during the day, and it's amazing. Plugs into the RCA video input on a TV, and sees better than daylight, really. Impressive.

So, I think I'll sprinkle them around the house. I'm paranoid enough that I have motion activated floodlights on all 4 sides of the place, under the eaves or on poles around the deck. Not all paranoid, it's been a help coming home with the dog at night, or finding him, or whatever. A camera looking down each side would be simple, and maybe a hoot. When I built the house I put duplex 110 AC outlets everywhere, inside and out, so powering the cameras would be no problem. Don't think I'd record anything unless I was out of town for a few weeks, and then I'd probably move one inside.

Anyway, that's a lot. Chores await, and one more walk with the hounds. I suspect this is boring enough that right now I'm typing to myself anyway.

Arf