Difference between revisions of "Pico2000"

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== PICO2000 capture cards introduction==
== Introduction ==


The cheapest DVR card that works perfectly with Zoneminder (Video for Linux versions 1 and 2 tested!). It costs about US$ 5,00 in China with free shipping;
PICO2000 is a cheap DVR card that works well with ZoneMinder.


=== Name Origination ===
=== Name Origination ===


The name "PICO2000" is not really correct, because its in fact the name of a proprietary software that was bundled with this class of cards under some commercial  circumstancies;
The name "PICO2000," though often used, is technically not correct.  PICO2000 is the name of proprietary software that was bundled with this class of cards.


With all 4 channels capturing simultaneously you'll get around 2 fps;
PICO2000 is available under lots of different brand names, like '''Star Imavision Video Capture''', '''Brooktree 848 / 878'''They are generally stated as '''PICO2000 compatible'''.
Available under lots of different brand names, like "Star Imavision Video Capture", "Broktree 848 / 878" etc..Generally stated as "Pico2000 compatible"


=== Specifications ===
=== Specifications ===


This card uses a single Conexant 878A chip.  It is a 4 Camera input PCI Card (some models present 1 audio jack input, tough it´s use may be hard and rare to be set);
PICO2000 is a quad camera input PCI card.  The card uses a single Conexant 878A chip.  In addition, some models have 1 audio input jack; it has not been tested with ZoneMinder.


Compression : MPEG4. Display Resolution: 352 x 240 (NTSC). Screen Display: 1/4/7/10/13/16 multi-view or full screen. Network: Remote Monitoring and Recording with Search and Playback. Upgradeable - 4 cards in a PC for 16 cameras. Minimum PC capability: Pentium III 800 MHz or equivalent.
* Compression: MPEG4
* Display Resolution: 352 x 240 (NTSC)
* Screen Display: 1/4/7/10/13/16 multi-view or full screen
* Multiple cards allowed as per your PCI slot allocation
* Minimum PC capability: Pentium III 800 MHz or equivalent
* 30 FPS (degrades as the channels are utilized; expect ~2 FPS with all four channels capturing)


== Configuration under Linux scope ==
=== Purchase information ===


* Linux kernels after 2.6.2x appear to have the driver for this card bundled in it; specific and further info relating linux drivers for this card may be found on http://linux.bytesex.org/v4l2/bttv.html;
A PICO2000 costs about US$5.00 in China with free shipping.


=== Suggested configurations and experiments ===
For the United States, ebay may be the best place to purchase a PICO2000.  As of May of 2009, they are $30 each (including shipping from China). An ebay search for "PICO CCTV" will return results.


in '''''/etc/modprobe.conf'''''
== Linux driver ==
 
Linux kernels after 2.6.2x appear to have the driver for this card bundled in. Further info can be found at [http://linux.bytesex.org/v4l2/bttv.html http://linux.bytesex.org/v4l2/bttv.html].
 
=== Linux configurations and experiments ===
 
In <tt>/etc/modprobe.conf</tt>


For one card:
For one card:
<pre>
options bttv card=77 tuner=4 radio=0 triton1=0 vsfx=0 autoload=0
options bttv card=77 tuner=4 radio=0 triton1=0 vsfx=0 autoload=0
</pre>
For two cards:
For two cards:
<pre>
options bttv card=77,77 tuner=4,4 radio=0,0 triton1=0 vsfx=0 autoload=0
options bttv card=77,77 tuner=4,4 radio=0,0 triton1=0 vsfx=0 autoload=0
And so on.
</pre>
 
And so on...
Also, if during bootup your system hangs for 5 minutes or more at "Setting clock (utc)":
options i2c-algo-bit bit_test=1
options bttv card=77 tuner=4 radio=0 triton1=0 vsfx=0 autoload=0
The order of the lines is important.


Also, if during bootup your system hangs for 5 minutes or more at "Setting clock (utc)": add this '''''before''''' ''options bttv''
== ZoneMinder configuration ==
<pre>
options i2c-algo-bit bit_test=1
</pre>


==Configuration under Zoneminder scope (solves problems with repeated/mixed/blank cameras)==
Solves problems with repeated/mixed/blank cameras:


* Preferential configuration on Zoneminder for these cards: (As suggested on [http://www.zoneminder.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13636]):  
Preferential configuration on ZoneMinder for these cards ([http://www.zoneminder.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13636]):
** Use Video for Linux version 1 on all cameras plugged to this capture card; (into each monitor configuration);
* Use Video for Linux version 1 on all cameras plugged to this capture card (into each monitor configuration)
** Disable v4l_multi_buffer (into options >> config)
* Disable v4l_multi_buffer (into options >> config)


* Alternate configuration: (works, but generate unnecessary frame loss): If you have a bttv card (eg. bt878) with 4 inputs sharing a single chip, you may wish to adjust CAPTURES_PER_FRAME under options>config tab to a value like 2 ou 4 instead of the default 1 value, accordingly; That may solve problems related to ** repeated or blank images ** across different monitors;
Alternate configuration (works, but generate unnecessary frame loss):
* If you have a bttv card (eg. bt878) with 4 inputs sharing a single chip, you may wish to adjust CAPTURES_PER_FRAME under options>config tab to a value like 2 or 4 instead of the default 1 value, accordingly. That may solve problems related to repeated or blank images across different monitors.


* Tested with success this chip using V4L2 implementation after Zoneminder´s 1.24.x versions; in order to accomplish that with cheap cmos cameras, for example, one may use the following configurations:
Tested with success this chip using V4L2 implementation after ZoneMinder´s 1.24.x versions. In order to accomplish that with cheap CMOS cameras, for example, one may use the following configurations:
** use NTSC-M format, RGB565 pallete, 320*240; On general tabs, use maximum fps 2 and alarm maximum 2; restart zoneminder to obtain results;
** NTSC-M format
** RGB565 pallet
** 320*240
** On general tabs, use maximum FPS 2 and alarm maximum 2
** restart ZoneMinder


== Conexant Fusion 878A ==
== Conexant Fusion 878A ==


The Conexant Fusion 878A chip is a recent incarnation of the Brooktree Bt878A chip.  The booktree Bt878A is successor to the well known Bt848. The Bt848 was designed by Brooktree, which is now Conexant.  This chip is common on video capture cards and cctv cards.
The Conexant Fusion 878A chip is a recent incarnation of the Brooktree Bt878A chip.  The Brooktree Bt878A is successor to the well known Bt848. The Bt848 was designed by Brooktree, which is now Conexant.  This chip is common on video capture cards and CCTV cards.


Why do we mention this?  Because this is the chip on the Pico PCI CCTV card.  This is also a chip commonly used on many video capture devices, TV cards, and is supported by a wide range of video capture software.  However, video capture software supporting Bt878A that is not designed for CCTV will likely only allow you to access one camera port at a time.   
Video capture software supporting Bt878A that is not designed for CCTV will likely only allow you to access one camera port at a time.   


[http://wiki.robotz.com/index.php/Pico_Install_Instructions_4_Port_CCTV_DVR_Card#Conexant_Fusion_878A http://wiki.robotz.com/images/d/da/Conexantfusion878A.png]
[http://wiki.robotz.com/index.php/Pico_Install_Instructions_4_Port_CCTV_DVR_Card#Conexant_Fusion_878A http://wiki.robotz.com/images/d/da/Conexantfusion878A.png]

Revision as of 19:19, 7 May 2009

Introduction

PICO2000 is a cheap DVR card that works well with ZoneMinder.

Name Origination

The name "PICO2000," though often used, is technically not correct. PICO2000 is the name of proprietary software that was bundled with this class of cards.

PICO2000 is available under lots of different brand names, like Star Imavision Video Capture, Brooktree 848 / 878. They are generally stated as PICO2000 compatible.

Specifications

PICO2000 is a quad camera input PCI card. The card uses a single Conexant 878A chip. In addition, some models have 1 audio input jack; it has not been tested with ZoneMinder.

  • Compression: MPEG4
  • Display Resolution: 352 x 240 (NTSC)
  • Screen Display: 1/4/7/10/13/16 multi-view or full screen
  • Multiple cards allowed as per your PCI slot allocation
  • Minimum PC capability: Pentium III 800 MHz or equivalent
  • 30 FPS (degrades as the channels are utilized; expect ~2 FPS with all four channels capturing)

Purchase information

A PICO2000 costs about US$5.00 in China with free shipping.

For the United States, ebay may be the best place to purchase a PICO2000. As of May of 2009, they are $30 each (including shipping from China). An ebay search for "PICO CCTV" will return results.

Linux driver

Linux kernels after 2.6.2x appear to have the driver for this card bundled in. Further info can be found at http://linux.bytesex.org/v4l2/bttv.html.

Linux configurations and experiments

In /etc/modprobe.conf

For one card:

options bttv card=77 tuner=4 radio=0 triton1=0 vsfx=0 autoload=0

For two cards:

options bttv card=77,77 tuner=4,4 radio=0,0 triton1=0 vsfx=0 autoload=0

And so on.

Also, if during bootup your system hangs for 5 minutes or more at "Setting clock (utc)":

options i2c-algo-bit bit_test=1
options bttv card=77 tuner=4 radio=0 triton1=0 vsfx=0 autoload=0

The order of the lines is important.

ZoneMinder configuration

Solves problems with repeated/mixed/blank cameras:

Preferential configuration on ZoneMinder for these cards ([1]):

  • Use Video for Linux version 1 on all cameras plugged to this capture card (into each monitor configuration)
  • Disable v4l_multi_buffer (into options >> config)

Alternate configuration (works, but generate unnecessary frame loss):

  • If you have a bttv card (eg. bt878) with 4 inputs sharing a single chip, you may wish to adjust CAPTURES_PER_FRAME under options>config tab to a value like 2 or 4 instead of the default 1 value, accordingly. That may solve problems related to repeated or blank images across different monitors.

Tested with success this chip using V4L2 implementation after ZoneMinder´s 1.24.x versions. In order to accomplish that with cheap CMOS cameras, for example, one may use the following configurations:

    • NTSC-M format
    • RGB565 pallet
    • 320*240
    • On general tabs, use maximum FPS 2 and alarm maximum 2
    • restart ZoneMinder

Conexant Fusion 878A

The Conexant Fusion 878A chip is a recent incarnation of the Brooktree Bt878A chip. The Brooktree Bt878A is successor to the well known Bt848. The Bt848 was designed by Brooktree, which is now Conexant. This chip is common on video capture cards and CCTV cards.

Video capture software supporting Bt878A that is not designed for CCTV will likely only allow you to access one camera port at a time.

http://wiki.robotz.com/images/d/da/Conexantfusion878A.png

Photos

Pico2000 photo 3 Pico2000 photo 1 Pico2000 photo 2