Amplifing A Wireless Camera
DiablodeMorte
Posts: 238
Hello,
I have the Swann Micro Camera. I am trying to boost its range. So far I applied the Hawking [noparse][[/noparse]HSB2] Hi-Gain WiFi Signal Booster and the Hawking [noparse][[/noparse]HAI6SIP] Hi-Gain 6dBi Omni-Directional Wireless Antenna to the reciever, and I have noticed a significant increase in range but I now feel my range problem may lie in the transmition power. How would I go about boosting the power of the Tx on the camera, It has one wire.(No two wire output)
Ideas?
Thanks in advnace,
DiablodeMorte
I have the Swann Micro Camera. I am trying to boost its range. So far I applied the Hawking [noparse][[/noparse]HSB2] Hi-Gain WiFi Signal Booster and the Hawking [noparse][[/noparse]HAI6SIP] Hi-Gain 6dBi Omni-Directional Wireless Antenna to the reciever, and I have noticed a significant increase in range but I now feel my range problem may lie in the transmition power. How would I go about boosting the power of the Tx on the camera, It has one wire.(No two wire output)
Ideas?
Thanks in advnace,
DiablodeMorte
Comments
One way is to use a camera with a higher power output, or use a camera that you can add a booster amp to....
That means a camera with a coax output.... Also there are higher power output cameras that are frequency selectable,
and have a matching reciever.....
The best way is to use a camera with a booster amp connected to a good omni antenna, for max range transmitting.
On the recieving end use a high gain directional antenna connected with low loss coax to reciever and pointed at camera....
Basically what you have, is what amateur radio operaters call an ATV setup....
Bob N9LVU
Post Edited (Robert Kubichek) : 12/5/2005 3:08:00 AM GMT
You'll want to be sure that your amp doesn't filter out your video signal. Some amps aren't geared for the wide bandwidth that video wants!
So if you are getting some crappy video, this might be a reason! Test the video at the input to the amp and then again at the output...the only difference you should see is an amplitude change (obviously!)...there should be no deterioration of the video signal!
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Steve
"Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
The problem with "jury-rigging" to an antenna to an amplifier is you are mismatching impedances....so...
You're camera's transmitter section expects to see the 'antenna' as a certain load (or impedance)....and vice versa for the amplifer; it expects an input load of a certain amount (don't know what either really is)....
So, if you ever bought a CB....they usually instruct you to buy one of those little SWR meters from radio-crack and 'trim' the antenna until you get the best reading. This is because, initially, the antenna isn't the right length for what the CB expects as a load...which means, they are mismatched.
What happens in a mismatched configuration, is you get 'reflections' of your outgoing signal bouncing back into your transmitter. This sometimes doesn't mean a lot....but what ends up happening is, you get some of these reflections summing/differencing with the out going waves (think like ocean waves....you get rogue waves when two waves built on each other and you can get flat spots when they cancel each other out...). Short answer made long....but essentially you end up distorting your original signal.
So jury-rigging, although a fun way to do many things, can also cause more issues if you are not aware of them.
The reflections aren't so bad on low wattage things....but in the 100's of 1000's of watts you can burn up your transmitter pretty quick.
I'm not sure how you were thinking of jury rigging the antenna....but if you leave the existing antenna in there, just remember that it's an antenna....it picks up on all sorts of RF in the air and can introduce more garbage on to your video signal, which your amp will 'hopefully' ignore, or will just amplify and send on down the line!
I'd try the jury rigging....but just know that the picture may not improve!
Sorry for the ramble...afternoon coffee break! [noparse]:D[/noparse]
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Steve
"Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
NO, the impedance of a short wire antenna is calculated and designed into the "videocamera/transmitter" unit.
At such a high frequency, correct design is critical!
Use a camera with video out to a transmitter that has an antenna jack out "nominally 50 ohms"!
That way you can use a higher power transmitter, that also has programable frequency out, and it is connected to a good omni antenna.
With a matching reciever and a good highly directional antenna, you should get maximum distance "a few miles or more depending on output power of transmitter". If you add a booster amp, make sure it is compatable, for amplifying a video carrier at the frequency you are using.
A WiFi amp is NOT suitable or designed to amplify a video signal.
Bob N9LVU
1) I have the Swann Micro Camera. I am trying to boost its range.
It cannot be done to this camera, as it was designed with a wire antenna....You need a spy camera with a video out.
2)So far I applied the Hawking [noparse][[/noparse]HSB2] Hi-Gain WiFi Signal Booster
Which is designed to boost the output of a WiFi device (card or router) that in turn is connected to a good omni antenna.
3) And the Hawking [noparse][[/noparse]HAI6SIP] Hi-Gain 6dBi Omni-Directional Wireless Antenna to the reciever
Which is great but it is omni directional, a highly directional antenna has more gain, hence more distance, and will reject any interfearance from any direction other than from front of antenna.
As you described your setup, you have the booster amp hooked up to the reciever, BUT it shouldn't be there, it should be on the output of the camera/transmitter, NOT reciever.. Also, the booster amp was designed for bi-directional comms.. A typical camera to reciever setup is one way only.
By using an amp that was meant for WiFi, you could degrade your video quality, and distance of good reception will be less.
Here are some links to better equipment;
www.wirelessvideocameras.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/mtek_minilinkhi.html?L+scstore+czgt1485ff2af02a+1133905224
www.polarisusa.com/cgi-bin/product_listings.pl?listing_category_id=81
www.dlink.com/products/?pid=342 Here is one that works over WiFi.
You need to research more on whats out there, and how it works....
Bob N9LVU
Can you draw up a block diagram of how you have things?
Is the amp on the output of your receiver??
You might find some amps that will work over a broad range...and then there are others that have a more narrow filter that won't allow you such flexibility....perhaps you are getting some information out, but this may just be a fluke!
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Steve
"Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
It might of boosted the recieved signal, but Ii doub't it. It was probably the better gain from the omni antenna...
Try it with out the amp, just hook the antenna to reciever. the results should be the same as with the amp in line....
By the way, I have done both, using a WiFi with IP address, and the ATV way....
Bob N9LVU
http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,5605782%7Eroot=wlan%7Emode=flat
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