X10 Community Forum

📸Cameras & Camera Software => Legacy non Wi-Fi X10 Cameras => Camera General Discussion => Wired Cameras => Topic started by: mfe on August 04, 2007, 12:45:31 PM

Title: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: mfe on August 04, 2007, 12:45:31 PM
I have several wireless x-10 cameras but recently bought a home with plenty of attic and crawl space.  Over the years the wireless cameras have performed "OK" but I'm wondering if they can be converted to "wired" cameras?  Anyone with any experience here?  thanks
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on August 05, 2007, 07:25:56 PM
Yes they can. I have recently converted all mine.

NOTE: This mod will void the warranty and should only be done by those with experience and/or comfortable with performing these type of electrical modifications.

When you remove the bottom of the base you will see the 5 wires joining the camera to the RF transmitter:


You can cut these wires and attach a cable to them. Remember to leave enough wire to work with. The RF transmitter and antenna can then be removed since you will no longer need it. Standard 4-conductor phone cable works good since you can join the Blue & Black wires together.

Sorry I don't have any pictures; if I ever have to open one again I'll update this post.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: tom j on August 06, 2007, 08:47:23 PM
Quote from: Puck on August 05, 2007, 07:25:56 PM
Yes they can. I have recently converted all mine.

NOTE: This mod will void the warranty and should only be done by those with experience and/or comfortable with performing these type of electrical modifications.

When you remove the bottom of the base you will see the 5 wires joining the camera to the RF transmitter:

  • Black: Ground
  • Blue: Signal Return
  • Red: Power
  • Yellow: Video
  • White: Audio

You can cut these wires and attach a cable to them. Remember to leave enough wire to work with. The RF transmitter and antenna can then be removed since you will no longer need it. Standard 4-conductor phone cable works good since you can join the Blue & Black wires together.

Sorry I don't have any pictures; if I ever have to open one again I'll update this post.


Say Puck I didn't know you could do that x10 should offer this option well ya gota get a point for this one!

Tom j
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: mfe on August 07, 2007, 04:39:52 AM
Thanks very much, not experienced but have one old b/w I'm willing to experiment with. 

mfe
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: bohica on August 29, 2007, 11:09:11 AM
Sorry to jump in late...newbie.  Thanks for the info Puck, I was wondering about this also.  But did converting the cameras improve the picture/reception?  Was that your reason for converting them?  Also I am assuming you used a standard RJ11 connector on the other end with RCA converter, were you able to buy the RCA converter from X10, somewhere else, or did you have some laying around?

TIA
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on August 29, 2007, 12:50:10 PM
Hi bohica and welcome to the forum.

I changed mine to wired to eliminate the noise (visual as well as audible) with the wireless cameras. Too much interference from things like cordless phones (mine & most likely my neighbours), household obstacles, distance, direction, etc.

Result: clean video and only the sounds picked up by the cameras.

I used 4-wire phone cable since I had a lot of it already available. 6-wire with running separate grounds would be ideal.

I did use RJ11 connectors, but I made a junction box that these plugged into. This box joins the cameras signals together and distributes it with RCA cables to a Cable Modulator (http://www.smarthome.com/7764.html) which in turn distributes the signals to all house TVs & computers via the existing cable system on an unused channel.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: KDR on August 29, 2007, 06:59:07 PM
Thanks Puck for the link to the modulator. Looks like what i was looking for at the right price. How long have you had yours and have you had any problems with it?

(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)----KDR
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on August 29, 2007, 07:11:06 PM
Hey KDR,

I purchased it back in May and have been running it ever since. It works as good as advertised. :)

With it's Output signal combined with the normal Cable TV signal (using a splitter backwards) I have not seen any signal degradation with the normal cable channels.

Since I am sending the signal throughout the house to 3 TV's and 4 PC's, I do use a cable booster amplifier after the combiner just because of the number of loads.

Here is a simplified schematic to show how everthing is connected:

(http://www.geocities.com/puckx10/mods/Camera/CameraWiring.jpg)

Puck Edit: added picture.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: bohica on August 30, 2007, 08:41:05 AM
Thanks for diagram!  I am assuming this config will only work if you have analog cable and not digital going through a cable box, is that correct?  I don't see how you would able to control the channels through a cable box.  If I am wrong or there is a way around it, someone please let me know because I would love to try this out.

Thanks again Puck.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on August 30, 2007, 09:04:25 AM
Quote from: bohica on August 30, 2007, 08:41:05 AM
Thanks for diagram!  I am assuming this config will only work if you have analog cable and not digital going through a cable box, is that correct?  I don't see how you would able to control the channels through a cable box.  If I am wrong or there is a way around it, someone please let me know because I would love to try this out.

Thanks again Puck.

You are correct about the cable here just being the regular analog. Digital cable control signals will not feedback through the amplifier.

I also have digital cable too. I do a 3 way split right at my house feed. One for the internet, one for digital cable to the home theatre TV, and the 3rd for regular analog cable house distribution used in the diagram above.

Thanks for pointing that out bohica. That definitely could of confused people.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: bronco on August 30, 2007, 06:38:06 PM
Puck, your diagram indicates only one modulator.  Are you using 4?  One for each camera.
I have a similar setup but I use a modulator for each camera and combine them with the analog tv channels from my cable company.
On my analog TV, this works good, giving me the regular Cable channels and my cameras.  I have to balance the power between the cameras and the cable channels with amps. 
I tried to combine the cameras with the digital tv but it just messed up the digital tv, so I sent the cameras to an analog input on the digital tv.
Works good. 
This of course requires changing the tv to the analog input and then selecting a channel.  It is easier on the analog tv, all my wife had to do is change the channel to the camera she wanted.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on August 30, 2007, 07:05:08 PM
bronco: I just use the one modulator. I actually have 7 cameras that have all their videos tied together, as well as their audios tied together, to create just the one input to the modulator. I use motion sensors & AHP macros to control them so that only one camera will be on at any one time.

Since I use my dedicated home automation PC's TV card to record (via a VCR Commander), I needed all camera signals to appear on just one channel.

That modulator works so good, I plan on getting another to transmit the currently tuned digital TV channel to all the analog TV's as well.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: bronco on August 31, 2007, 12:37:25 PM
I use AHP to record whatever channel I have coming in.  I also have a multiviewer that takes in 9 audio/videos and outputs to another Modulator (ch-88) that I usually record.

I use a dakota alert for a motion detector that is more reliable than the x10 one.  although I have used x10 ones to record deer, racoons, etc.
The problem there was that every time a deer would move it triggered the motion det.  This overwhelmed AHP and sometimes it worked and sometimes not.  I tried using flags but that was never successful.  Finally, I put the receiver for the motion det on an appliance module and had AHP cut the power to the receiver while I recorded for a while.  Then I would turn the power back on.  This proved to be more reliable.

Also, even using there "outside" motion det, the Det would die in about a year.

Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on August 31, 2007, 01:14:44 PM
Quote from: bronco on August 31, 2007, 12:37:25 PM
Also, even using there "outside" motion det, the Det would die in about a year.

Which model(s) were you using?

I only use the MS16A ActiveEyes for about 2 years now and only had one problem. That problem was with one that was fully exposed to sunlight every day. The little rubber cap on the top dried out and eventually fell off. The next time it rained, it failed. I now have them either positioned where they will not be directly exposed to the elements or I caulk over the little rubber cap.

I do know what you mean obout sensitivity; I manage to get a video of every stray cat in the neighbourhood.  ::)
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: bronco on August 31, 2007, 11:23:14 PM
I have used MS13A(indoor),  MS14a(outdoor), and DM10a(form the robo dog, outdoor)

the ms14a had the rubber cap you mentioned.  I had them outside fully exposed to the weather.

I sealed the MS13A and it lasted longer than the MS14A.  The only thing x10 did to the ms14a was put a rubber gasket for the battery compartment.  Guess it never occured to them that water can get in the back of it.  No seal there.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: jforster on September 01, 2007, 09:11:20 PM
As for the conversion from wireless to wired, I'm doing the same and thanks to this post - it works very well.  With one exception..  From the X10 power supply there are both a red and white line - I ran only the red and the units will not power off for me via X10 command now.  Is the white a switched power line, and red always hot?  If so do we use just the white to power the unit and ignore the red? 
Any pointers on this one appreciated.  Not sure what I missed - but they sure do look better already!
Thanks!

-Jim
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: jforster on September 01, 2007, 09:25:12 PM
To update - yes, the white is the switched power - Grabbed an old camera and tested it.  ;)
So for future reference, and since I can't remove or edit my post - ignore the red line from the X10 power supply and use the white, it'll save some headache.
Without this thread I wasn't sure what to do with my old wireless units - thanks for the idea, it really does improve the quality.

-Jim
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: bohica on September 02, 2007, 01:26:25 AM

?#1:  If the power is on the white line is this only for non-audio cameras or is the audio on another color wire?

The following were riding the fence on a new thread, but were in response to Puck's post here, so what to do.

Puck,
Quote
Puck: Since I use my dedicated home automation PC's TV card to record (via a VCR Commander)
?#2:  TV card, are you using AHP with it, does AHP support it or are you using another capture software?

?#3:  How do you control the start recording through the TV card with the VCR Commander... I didn't think TV cards had IR receivers?  I know they have a IR port to control other devices, but I don't think they can be controlled, or can they.

Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on September 03, 2007, 06:43:11 PM
Quote from: bohica on September 02, 2007, 01:26:25 AM

?#1:  If the power is on the white line is this only for non-audio cameras or is the audio on another color wire?

The white wire inside the camera is the audio. The white wire (from jforster's post) is referring to the X10 Addressable Power Supply. The white wire from the power supply, as jforster stated, is controllable; the red wire is always live and is used to make cameras instant on.

Quote
The following were riding the fence on a new thread, but were in response to Puck's post here, so what to do.

Puck,
Quote
Puck: Since I use my dedicated home automation PC's TV card to record (via a VCR Commander)
?#2:  TV card, are you using AHP with it, does AHP support it or are you using another capture software?

I am not using AHP as part of my video recording. Unfortunately the VA11 is the only video capture device that's compatible with AHP. I'm just using the TV software.

Quote
?#3:  How do you control the start recording through the TV card with the VCR Commander... I didn't think TV cards had IR receivers?  I know they have a IR port to control other devices, but I don't think they can be controlled, or can they.

A lot of PC TV cards do come with a IR remote. The different brands I use do, so it was easy to have a VCR Commander start the recording.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: cabledawg on September 03, 2007, 07:09:45 PM
Does any one have pics of this mod?
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: zimzam on October 09, 2007, 10:59:58 PM
Howdy fellas....

I have a question.  Puck mentioned earlier about using cat 3 to make a wireless camera wired by opening up the camera.  That part I understand.  How do you supply power on the other end of the cat3?  Does x10 sell the adapter thingy that comes with the wired cameras?  The one where the rj11 plugs into and it has the rca and 12v coming out of it?  Is there a way to make this?
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: octavio on March 07, 2008, 02:45:57 PM
Quote from: Puck on August 29, 2007, 07:11:06 PM
Hey KDR,

I purchased it back in May and have been running it ever since. It works as good as advertised. :)

With it's Output signal combined with the normal Cable TV signal (using a splitter backwards) I have not seen any signal degradation with the normal cable channels.

Since I am sending the signal throughout the house to 3 TV's and 4 PC's, I do use a cable booster amplifier after the combiner just because of the number of loads.

Here is a simplified schematic to show how everthing is connected:

(http://www.geocities.com/puckx10/mods/Camera/CameraWiring.jpg)

Puck Edit: added picture.


I have been trying to solve this problem for a while before I saw this forum. I have read all information presented in here but still have several misunderstanding I need to solve soon, such as:

1.- If I cut all the cables inside the camera and run cables to the tv set how Do  I select which camera want to see if I am not using the addresable relay or do I keep this funtion keeping original power supply ?otherwise if I run all the cables how do I select which camera to watch if have all the video signal tied ?
2.- video modulator is just for having a single signal running in all the tv sets in the house ?


Puck edit: fixed quote
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on March 07, 2008, 03:38:32 PM
Quote from: octavio on March 07, 2008, 02:45:57 PM
1.- If I cut all the cables inside the camera and run cables to the tv set how Do  I select which camera want to see if I am not using the addresable relay or do I keep this funtion keeping original power supply ?otherwise if I run all the cables how do I select which camera to watch if have all the video signal tied ?

When all the camera video signals are tied together you have to be able to turn on only one camera at a time. This can be done with the addressable power supply that comes with some cameras or use an appliance module for cameras with a regular power supply.

Quote
2.- video modulator is just for having a single signal running in all the tv sets in the house ?

I use a modulator to add my camera signals to the analog part of my house cable. I did this to have the ability to use any TV in my home as a monitor.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: octavio on March 08, 2008, 12:43:45 AM
Quote from: Puck on March 07, 2008, 03:38:32 PM
Quote from: octavio on March 07, 2008, 02:45:57 PM
1.- If I cut all the cables inside the camera and run cables to the TV set how Do  I select which camera want to see if I am not using the addresable relay or do I keep this function keeping original power supply ?otherwise if I run all the cables how do I select which camera to watch if have all the video signal tied ?

When all the camera video signals are tied together you have to be able to turn on only one camera at a time. This can be done with the addressable power supply that comes with some cameras or use an appliance module for cameras with a regular power supply.

Quote
2.- video modulator is just for having a single signal running in all the TV sets in the house ?

I use a modulator to add my camera signals to the analog part of my house cable. I did this to have the ability to use any TV in my home as a monitor.

Thanks a lot for your quick response.I still have another question: same logic works for audio cable ? I f I decide to keep addressable power supply at the site where each camera is, I have to run just 2 cables instead of five one for the video and another for audio.this will allow me to turn any camera i want using original equipment provided by x10(my cameras bring video and audio) or I have some other advantage on having a remote power supply ? Which are my best options ?


Puck edit: fixed quote
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on March 08, 2008, 08:08:24 AM
Quote from: octavio on March 08, 2008, 12:43:45 AM
Thanks a lot for your quick response.I still have another question: same logic works for audio cable ? I f I decide to keep addressable power supply at the site where each camera is, I have to run just 2 cables instead of five one for the video and another for audio.this will allow me to turn any camera i want using original equipment provided by x10(my cameras bring video and audio) or I have some other advantage on having a remote power supply ? Which are my best options ?

Either way is fine; it's all a matter of what works best for your situation with respect to wiring. There is no advantage to one way or the other.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: x10challanged on April 26, 2008, 07:34:25 PM
This is great for TV Jack but I have no TV card in my PC or extra slot for one.  Is there an easy way to take the cable coming out of the splitter and convert it to RCA plug?  I would like to have both coax for 3 TV's and RCA plugs audio/video for 2 computers.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on April 26, 2008, 09:19:13 PM
Quote from: x10challanged on April 26, 2008, 07:34:25 PM
This is great for TV Jack but I have no TV card in my PC or extra slot for one.  Is there an easy way to take the cable coming out of the splitter and convert it to RCA plug?  I would like to have both coax for 3 TV's and RCA plugs audio/video for 2 computers.

You would need to demodulate the signal from the cable splitter to be usable as a video & audio line signal (with RCA cables). This can be done easily with an old VCR. However, your PC would still need some type of capture card to accept the video signal.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: x10challanged on April 27, 2008, 10:28:50 AM
Thanks Puck would never thought of that, I have an old small VCR player I can use as converter to RCA. 
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: chinaboy on October 17, 2008, 03:58:27 PM
Quote from: Puck on August 29, 2007, 12:50:10 PM
Hi bohica and welcome to the forum.

I changed mine to wired to eliminate the noise (visual as well as audible) with the wireless cameras. Too much interference from things like cordless phones (mine & most likely my neighbours), household obstacles, distance, direction, etc.

Result: clean video and only the sounds picked up by the cameras.

I used 4-wire phone cable since I had a lot of it already available. 6-wire with running separate grounds would be ideal.

I did use RJ11 connectors, but I made a junction box that these plugged into. This box joins the cameras signals together and distributes it with RCA cables to a Cable Modulator (http://www.smarthome.com/7764.html) which in turn distributes the signals to all house TVs & computers via the existing cable system on an unused channel.


Hi Puck, you said that you made a junction box and distribute the signals with RCA cables. How do you get from RJ11 to RCA cables? Will I still need to use the power supplies that came with my wireless cams? I am trying to get my cameras to work on one TV and also working on a PC in two different locations.

Thanks
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on October 17, 2008, 05:15:24 PM
Quote from: chinaboy on October 17, 2008, 03:58:27 PM
How do you get from RJ11 to RCA cables?

I used phone jacks that have the modular socket at front and wired connections at the back. I wired the jacks to RCA female connectors.

Quote
Will I still need to use the power supplies that came with my wireless cams?

Yes you will; especially if you want to turn them on & off remotely.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: chinaboy on October 20, 2008, 08:55:44 PM
Quote from: Puck on October 17, 2008, 05:15:24 PM
Quote from: chinaboy on October 17, 2008, 03:58:27 PM
How do you get from RJ11 to RCA cables?

I used phone jacks that have the modular socket at front and wired connections at the back. I wired the jacks to RCA female connectors.

Quote
Will I still need to use the power supplies that came with my wireless cams?

Yes you will; especially if you want to turn them on & off remotely.


Puck,

Thanks for your quick response. I am not the smartest, and I seem to get lost everytime I think I am making progress. I have 4 wireless cams that I am converting. I will be using the supplied power supplies. Having said that, I assume that I only need the Yellow: Video and White: Audio wires? I am still not understanding how the wires are connected to the RCA Female connector or perhaps I might be visualizing the wrong connector. Are you using a separate RCA Female connector for each Cam or  just one. I will not be using the cable modulator like you since I only need the cameras to go to one TV and PC or Laptop. How can I make the connection to go directly to my TV via COAX connection and to the PC or Laptop? I assume for the laptop, I will need a RCA cable type connection for the video capture device. 

Thanks for your help and suggestions.

I attached the connector that I think you are refering too. Please correct me if I am wrong. Perhaps, thats why I am confused.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: chinaboy on October 22, 2008, 11:44:48 AM
Please can someone give me some suggestions.

Ok, this is what I have done so far. I wired one camera using telephone wire. At the other end, I connected the yellow(video) wire to a Male RCA connector and the white(audio) wire to male RCA connector. I tested and both video and audio works great.

Question 1

I need to wire 3 more cameras. When I do so, can I connect all yellow(video)wires to one male RCA connector and all white (audio)wires to one male RCA connector?

Question 2

Since I would have all the camera wires going to one central location (Laundry room in my case) what is the easiest way for me to go from the newly created RCA connectors to a TV (viewing only) and Laptop (for recording). Both TV and Laptop are located in separate rooms. I was hoping that I can connect to the TV coax connection and in my case connect to the Laptop or PC with the video capture device.

If this is at all possible, can someone please guide me in the right path or better way to get this working.

Thanks
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: HA Dave on October 22, 2008, 01:41:11 PM
Quote from: chinaboy on October 22, 2008, 11:44:48 AM

Question 1

I need to wire 3 more cameras. When I do so, can I connect all yellow(video)wires to one male RCA connector and all white (audio)wires to one male RCA connector?


Sure as long as the cameras are setup in a "group of four" only one camera will be on at a time anyway... should work perfectly.

Quote from: chinaboy on October 22, 2008, 11:44:48 AM

Question 2

Since I would have all the camera wires going to one central location (Laundry room in my case) what is the easiest way for me to go from the newly created RCA connectors to a TV (viewing only) and Laptop (for recording). Both TV and Laptop are located in separate rooms. I was hoping that I can connect to the TV coax connection and in my case connect to the Laptop or PC with the video capture device.


I do that myself. I return all camera singals wired and wireless to one location. There I feed into my cable line as channel 3 using a modulator (for my office TV). I also resend the signal using the video sender/receiver units. Both work great.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: chinaboy on October 22, 2008, 02:19:16 PM
Quote from: Dave_x10_L on October 22, 2008, 01:41:11 PM
Quote from: chinaboy on October 22, 2008, 11:44:48 AM

Question 1

I need to wire 3 more cameras. When I do so, can I connect all yellow(video)wires to one male RCA connector and all white (audio)wires to one male RCA connector?


Sure as long as the cameras are setup in a "group of four" only one camera will be on at a time anyway... should work perfectly.

Quote from: chinaboy on October 22, 2008, 11:44:48 AM

Question 2

Since I would have all the camera wires going to one central location (Laundry room in my case) what is the easiest way for me to go from the newly created RCA connectors to a TV (viewing only) and Laptop (for recording). Both TV and Laptop are located in separate rooms. I was hoping that I can connect to the TV coax connection and in my case connect to the Laptop or PC with the video capture device.


I do that myself. I return all camera singals wired and wireless to one location. There I feed into my cable line as channel 3 using a modulator (for my office TV). I also resend the signal using the video sender/receiver units. Both work great.

Thanks for the information Dave. Can you tell which modulator you are using and where I can get it. ? Does your modulator have a coax output connection to the TV? You also mentioned that you use a video sender/receiver unit. Is this for sending the video to a PC. Can I get a wired to connection to both TV and PC. I am trying to reduce and type of interferance. 

Again thanks for your input.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: HA Dave on October 22, 2008, 10:18:14 PM
Quote from: chinaboy on October 22, 2008, 02:19:16 PM
Thanks for the information Dave. Can you tell which modulator you are using and where I can get it. ? Does your modulator have a coax output connection to the TV? You also mentioned that you use a video sender/receiver unit. Is this for sending the video to a PC. Can I get a wired to connection to both TV and PC. I am trying to reduce and type of interferance. 

Well I use the Philips 4-way Auto-Switcher (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8280852&type=product&id=1171058630627) available at Best Buy or Walmart. It will send the signal in both coax and audio-video.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on October 24, 2008, 11:04:44 PM
Quote from: chinaboy on October 20, 2008, 08:55:44 PM
I attached the connector that I think you are refering too. Please correct me if I am wrong. Perhaps, thats why I am confused.

chinaboy: Sorry for the late reply; I was away this past week. In addition to the info that Dave_x10_L provided, I just wanted to note that your attached picture above is a BNC connector, not an RCA connector.

Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: chinaboy on October 25, 2008, 12:19:09 AM
Thanks Puck, I did use the a RCA Connector, so I think I am good to go. I converted 3 so far and all seem to be working Ok. I just have my FloodCam left to do. Can I use the same wiring setup to convert the FloodCam? I know the floodcams have a problem not turning off during the day, so I will disconnect the lights from the motion detector and attach the wire from a stand alone motion detector that I purchase from Home Depot to control just the lights and let built-in dector control the Cam.

By the way, in your instructions you used an RJ11 for each Cam, but I went directly to the RCA connector. Is there any special reason why you used the RJ11? Just curious as to whether I will get better results with your method.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on October 25, 2008, 10:40:52 AM
Quote from: chinaboy on October 25, 2008, 12:19:09 AM
I just have my FloodCam left to do. Can I use the same wiring setup to convert the FloodCam?

I think you would be the first for this mod. I can't help on this one, but if you do convert it, please post about it. Just be caution of any wiring modifications internally due to the presences of AC. Insulation & placement will be safety factors here.

Quote
By the way, in your instructions you used an RJ11 for each Cam, but I went directly to the RCA connector. Is there any special reason why you used the RJ11? Just curious as to whether I will get better results with your method.

The method doesn't make a difference. I placed my power modules remotely as well so the RJ11 worked for me. Wiring the RCA connectors directly is fine.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: jsnone1 on December 19, 2008, 09:40:29 AM
Quote from: Puck on October 17, 2008, 05:15:24 PM
Quote from: chinaboy on October 17, 2008, 03:58:27 PM
How do you get from RJ11 to RCA cables?

I used phone jacks that have the modular socket at front and wired connections at the back. I wired the jacks to RCA female connectors.

Quote
Will I still need to use the power supplies that came with my wireless cams?

Yes you will; especially if you want to turn them on & off remotely.



can you post a link for those phone jacks.....I dont understand
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on December 19, 2008, 10:31:31 AM
Quote from: jsnone1 on December 19, 2008, 09:40:29 AM
can you post a link for those phone jacks.....I dont understand

Here is a good picture example of the phone jacks modules I am referring to with the jack on one side and wire connections on the other: wall plate (http://www.national-tech.com/specs/wall-plate/301-02100iv.htm)

These can be found at Radio Shack or most home building supply stores.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: jsnone1 on December 19, 2008, 10:38:09 AM
Quote from: Puck on December 19, 2008, 10:31:31 AM
Quote from: jsnone1 on December 19, 2008, 09:40:29 AM
can you post a link for those phone jacks.....I dont understand

Here is a good picture example of the phone jacks modules I am referring to with the jack on one side and wire connections on the other: wall plate (http://www.national-tech.com/specs/wall-plate/301-02100iv.htm)

These can be found at Radio Shack or most home building supply stores.


what kind of wire are you using?

ok, so you would take the connector off at the end you want to wire into the camera, then plug the other end into that and use the bare wires at the back to connect to this:

(http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=13139.0;id=797;image)

or you could just cut the connector off that end too.....correct?

Then I would plug that plug into my USB video capture that I have plugged into my Desktop PC....I have four cameras total I would do this with, so I would have to use a y-splitter on top of another y-spliter, so that I have 4 video ins. That will leave me one extra as I am going to run two wired cameras to it, then I will have the video receiver receiving a signal from two wireless cams. Sound right?
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on December 19, 2008, 12:11:57 PM
Quote from: jsnone1 on December 19, 2008, 10:38:09 AM
That will leave me one extra as I am going to run two wired cameras to it, then I will have the video receiver receiving a signal from two wireless cams. Sound right?

Just make sure you have a way of shutting down the wireless video receiver when you want to view the wired cameras. If left on, it will interfere.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: jsnone1 on December 19, 2008, 12:13:58 PM
Quote from: Puck on December 19, 2008, 12:11:57 PM
Quote from: jsnone1 on December 19, 2008, 10:38:09 AM
That will leave me one extra as I am going to run two wired cameras to it, then I will have the video receiver receiving a signal from two wireless cams. Sound right?

Just make sure you have a way of shutting down the wireless video receiver when you want to view the wired cameras. If left on, it will interfere.


all of the cameras are running off they original x10 supply, is that good enough, or do I need to plug the video receiver into a lamp module so it will turn off when the wired camera turns on? (is that possible?)
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on December 19, 2008, 12:16:58 PM
Quote from: jsnone1 on December 19, 2008, 12:13:58 PM
...or do I need to plug the video receiver into a lamp module so it will turn off when the wired camera turns on? (is that possible?)

Yes you do; and use an appliance module (not a lamp module). It's best to have some software control like AHP to do the caretaking when mixing wired & wireless cameras.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: jsnone1 on December 19, 2008, 12:24:59 PM
I have Vanguard, I assume that that will do it
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on December 19, 2008, 01:24:26 PM
Quote from: jsnone1 on December 19, 2008, 12:24:59 PM
I have Vanguard, I assume that that will do it

I have never used Vanguard so I can't confirm that it will work. But it will need to have the ability to receive X10 signals (from sensors or whatever you are using to determine which camera to activate) and be able to execute macros for controlling the power to the wireless video receiver.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: stevegipson on January 05, 2009, 02:24:24 PM
Quote from: Puck on August 30, 2007, 07:05:08 PM
bronco: I just use the one modulator. I actually have 7 cameras that have all their videos tied together, as well as their audios tied together, to create just the one input to the modulator. I use motion sensors & AHP macros to control them so that only one camera will be on at any one time.

Since I use my dedicated home automation PC's TV card to record (via a VCR Commander), I needed all camera signals to appear on just one channel.

That modulator works so good, I plan on getting another to transmit the currently tuned digital TV channel to all the analog TV's as well.


Puck - Do you have an example of the Macro you are using to turn on one camera at a time via appliance modules?
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: bitman on January 05, 2009, 03:34:46 PM
I got these neat little passive? units from a local tv guy call diplexors. They have one cable input that comes from your digital cable system, in my case a dish and multiswitch. Then it provides two outputs. One output goes to the sat input of the receiver box and the other output goes to the antenna in on the sat receiver. Then while the remote has focus on the sat box you can hit input and there is the modulated video you are jamming back into the same line as the digital is running on. For example. I can unplug my sat drive going to my sat receiver in the basement, plug in the output of an RF modulator and the diplexors upstairs allow the tvs to see the analog camera connected to the rf mod in the basement.

Big deal, I just thought someone could use this info.

BTW, Thanks for the wired pinout Puck. I'm going to convert one proto.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: HA Dave on January 05, 2009, 03:56:53 PM
Quote from: bitman on January 05, 2009, 03:34:46 PM
Big deal, I just thought someone could use this info.

It IS a big deal!

How we collect, review and use the cameras and video is important. I ran my own "internal cable system" using auto switching modulators so if a camera is triggered ON.. while I have a TV on.. It is automatically displayed on the TV (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkAwQ4KXkHA). After all... we call this automation.

Of course... being a big BVC (http://davesdomainonline.com/bvc/bvc.htm) fan.. my HA computer announces when a camera is turned ON. In some cases the detection and camera is announced on an OUTSIDE speaker also.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on January 08, 2009, 08:34:11 AM
Quote from: stevegipson on January 05, 2009, 02:24:24 PM
Puck - Do you have an example of the Macro you are using to turn on one camera at a time via appliance modules?

Welcome to the forum stevegipson. There are a couple of ways you can handle the camera switching macros when using just appliance modules for power:

The simplest method: When you turn one on, you also send the commands to turn each of the others off.

Using Flags: Designate a status flag for each camera. When you trigger a macro to turn one on, you use "else conditions" to check if any other camera is currently on (looking at each designated flag). If another status flag is set, then the macro will turn just that camera off, turn the new camera on, clear the old flag & set the new flag. If no flag is set, then you just turn on the camera and set its status flag.

The flags method is more complicated, but I recommend using flags if your cameras are controlled by motion sensors. This way when a camera switches, the previous motion sensor's off signal can be ignored so the camera that is currently on does not get turned off until its dedicated motion sensor sends an off signal.

I originally had my macros set up this way and when I factored in all the various action combinations based on daytime/nighttime - home/away, the number of the else conditions per macro was enormous. At that point I purchased some auto-switching camera power supplies from X10 to use instead of appliance modules. However, I still use dedicated flags for each camera to make sure another zone doesn't turn off the wrong camera.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: stevegipson on January 08, 2009, 02:16:48 PM
Quote from: Puck on January 08, 2009, 08:34:11 AM
Quote from: stevegipson on January 05, 2009, 02:24:24 PM
Puck - Do you have an example of the Macro you are using to turn on one camera at a time via appliance modules?

Welcome to the forum stevegipson. There are a couple of ways you can handle the camera switching macros when using just appliance modules for power:

The simplest method: When you turn one on, you also send the commands to turn each of the others off.

Using Flags: Designate a status flag for each camera. When you trigger a macro to turn one on, you use "else conditions" to check if any other camera is currently on (looking at each designated flag). If another status flag is set, then the macro will turn just that camera off, turn the new camera on, clear the old flag & set the new flag. If no flag is set, then you just turn on the camera and set its status flag.

The flags method is more complicated, but I recommend using flags if your cameras are controlled by motion sensors. This way when a camera switches, the previous motion sensor's off signal can be ignored so the camera that is currently on does not get turned off until its dedicated motion sensor sends an off signal.

I originally had my macros set up this way and when I factored in all the various action combinations based on daytime/nighttime - home/away, the number of the else conditions per macro was enormous. At that point I purchased some auto-switching camera power supplies from X10 to use instead of appliance modules. However, I still use dedicated flags for each camera to make sure another zone doesn't turn off the wrong camera.


Thanks Puck - I can see where flags would be a better way to go and that I need to do some additional research on the sue of flags.  BTW do you know the part number for the auto-switching power supplies that you ended up going with?  Thanks agian for your help!!
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Puck on January 09, 2009, 12:30:35 AM
Quote from: stevegipson on January 08, 2009, 02:16:48 PM
BTW do you know the part number for the auto-switching power supplies that you ended up going with?

ScanCam Addressable Power Supply (XM10A)
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Flippedkaos on January 27, 2009, 09:48:18 PM
I dont understand if you use a phone wire tto connect the video and audio how do you convert that back to rca jacks please help
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Craer on February 15, 2009, 05:22:24 PM
so ya im still confused... i have a old wireless cam that i want to make wired. so not on the cam i have a 8V power a ground and a video going to a transmiter and power and neg going to cam for power. i dont no how to make the leads to the wifi to rca some one help
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: cockbubi on May 20, 2009, 03:50:35 PM
I have a couple of questions regarding using the original x10 power supply. 

Is it ok to run the power through a Cat5 Cable with the audio and video?  It would be nice if all the power supplies were in the same location rather then finding a plug close to the camera

Is there any limit to distance a distance the power supply?

If i have Cat5 with 8 wires, what should i do with the two power wires (Red and White) from the addressable power supply?

Thanks
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: HA Dave on May 20, 2009, 04:53:33 PM
Quote from: cockbubi on May 20, 2009, 03:50:35 PM
Is it ok to run the power through a Cat5 Cable with the audio and video?  It would be nice if all the power supplies were in the same location rather then finding a plug close to the camera.

Yes I did it the other day testing for a new camera/location... sorta. In my case the camera remained wireless... but I was extending the power using CAT5. See HERE (http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=18131.msg100943#msg100943).

Quote from: cockbubi on May 20, 2009, 03:50:35 PM
Is there any limit to distance a distance the power supply?

I am sure there is some limit... a few hunderd feet maybe. I have read the wired cameras can be extended (using CAT5) as far as 1000 feet. I have a wireless that I've extended the power supply on by about 60 feet. It's always best to test your setup before mounting.

Quote from: cockbubi on May 20, 2009, 03:50:35 PM
If i have Cat5 with 8 wires, what should i do with the two power wires (Red and White) from the addressable power supply?

On the wireless camera: the Red and White wire are both Pos (+)... you can twist them together for that matter. The Black wire is the Neg (-). If you don't see the Black wire... you may be back to the point where it is the shielding around the Red and White.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: jlo on June 24, 2009, 10:25:49 AM
i have two wired and two wireless cams also and want to convert them over to wired.
i have the two wired anaconada's plugged into the back of a  dvr with 320g hd. which is easy cause they came with the adaptor from rj11 to rca.
so i need to know once i join the phone wires from the camera to a longer phone wire with the rj11 plug @ one end where can i get the adaptor to convert it to rca or can that be made also.
and the power supply that came with the camera do i still need to use this
and can i just get rid of the whole thing inside the camera once i take it apart and cut the wires.
thx jlo
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: HA Dave on June 24, 2009, 01:55:36 PM
Quote from: jlo on June 24, 2009, 10:25:49 AM
i have two wired and two wireless cams also and want to convert them over to wired.

I think Puck did the 1st wireless to wired conversion (http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=13139.msg73205#msg73205)... but others have followed his lead. 
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: bitman on August 28, 2010, 01:12:11 PM
Thanks Puck for doing all the footwork.
Today I finally got around to replacing a B/W Remingtom security camera in the studio with the color cam from a ninja. Xcam2 I think it is.

Anyway it all was very simple and I now have living color.

One helpful for you from me.

:Ron
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: fastplymouth on January 02, 2011, 07:17:43 PM
Hey all,


Just to wrap up this thread I thought I'd post my photos from this mod. This was performed on an xcam2.

I left the power and ground wires intact as I still wanted to be able to use the addressable supplies.

Note that I punched one of the holes out covered by the sticker on the bottom of the camera housing in order to get the A/V wires into the housing. This will definitely alter the weather resistance of your camera - make sure you seal up any new holes with silicone caulk if you will be using it outside.

Also, your best bet is to tin the camera wires you will be connecting to as they are very small gauge.


 >*<
Good Luck!

EDIT: Yeah, I guess it would help if I posted the photos...  :'

http://img23.imageshack.us/g/imag0344y.jpg/ (http://img23.imageshack.us/g/imag0344y.jpg/)
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: chinaboy on February 10, 2012, 10:28:15 AM
Hi Guys,

I know this is an old thread but can some help me out. I have converted my wireless Cams to wired using Cat5 cable thanks to instructions from this thread. One of my cams I was able to leave the Power supply intact since I had a outlet at that location. But my 2 other cams I need to put the power supply at another distant location.

My question is how do I wire the power supply to cat5 cable to power the cams? The power supply has a red, white and insulation wire, which is probably ground.  I am connecting all the cams to one RCA cable for audio and video.

Should I connect all the yellow wires from each cam together, all whites from each cam, blue and black from all cams together? And how do I connect the RCA cable to everything after doing the above? I tried but currently the only cam that worked for me is the one that I left with the original power supply intact. I will be using vanguard to view the cameras, not sure if that makes a difference.

Thanks for your help.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Noam on February 10, 2012, 10:44:31 AM
The power supply is what controls which camera is on at any given time. Each camera needs its own power supply, which an individual address.
You can certainly extend the power supply wires, but I really don't recommend trying to combine the wiring from the power supplies together. The power supply tuns the camera on and off according to the appropriate X10 commands, so you'll run into trouble if more than one camera is trying to feed video over the same line at the same time.

You would need a pair of wires (possibly two pairs, depending on the amount of current the camera requires) for each camera. I don't see a way to put all that, along with the video, in a single CAT5 cable.

Depending on the model of cameras you have, it looks like the power supply had one "ground" wire, and two "positive" wires. One was switched on and off with the X10 signal (turning the transmitter on and off), and the other was always on (keeping the camera optics powered up, to reduce "Warm-up" time. I think some of the cameras didn't have that second line, and turned the entire camera on and off with only a switched power line.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: chinaboy on February 10, 2012, 12:35:26 PM
Thanks for the fast response. I will have an individual power supply for each cam, but wanted to know how to connect the red, white, and ground wire from the power supply to each camera. My intentions where to use separate power supply for each camera, but connect the video and audio wires together. Just don't know what wire should go where. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: Noam on February 10, 2012, 02:00:36 PM
I'm guessing the bare wire is the ground. You'll have to test what the other two do when you send commands to the power supply.
My guess is that one of them is always on, the other is switched on and off.
I think you're going to connect the switched one to the power input for the camera, and not use the "always on" one. Since the RF transmitter isn't being used (and that's what used to switch on and off), you'll be switching the camera power on and off (when it was always on before).
You will probably notice a lag after switching from one camera to another (as the optics have to "warm up" after you power them on).

Sorry I can't be of more help. I got rid of my X10 cameras a few months ago - I hadn't been using them for years at that point.
Title: Re: Can Wireless cameras be converted to wired ?
Post by: chinaboy on February 10, 2012, 02:24:10 PM
Thanks for you help....I will post a new thread to see if anyone else can shed some light on this. But your explaination does make sense.

Thanks