I have a couple of old USB cameras nocking about the house and was wondering if I could implement them into a security system...


I currently have a LAN across the entire house so plenty of wires etc...

but is it possible to get a little box that plugs into the network that has a USB port on it that allows me to then position the USB webcam anywhere with a network point rather than having to have it attached to a PC?


In an ideal world I would have two of these "network USB adapters" and a bit of software on my PC that can monitor the camers and record on motion etc....I can dream cant i...

Like this?

http://www.cables2u.co.uk/fast-ethernet-rj45-adaptor-p-235.html?gclid=COLWhqzbvI8CFQ1WMAodDVjsPg

Like that but the exact opposite...

I need to be able to plug the USB camera into the device, and then connect the device to the network cable

Is google broken round your way?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Female-Male-Ethernet-Connector-Adaptor/dp/B000MHO3Q8/ref=pd_sbs_ce_shvl_title_4/026-7598112-0955648

i don't think that would work, just plugging the USB camera into an ethernet port with an adaper. i don't think ethernet ports are powered like usb ports are for starters. i think in order for them to work properly, each camera would need a computer to run it, and the computer would need to be connected to the ethernet.

What you need is an IP cam, but as Blakep82 suggests, these would need a local power source as standard ethernet doesn't carry power. There is powered ethernet equipment referred to as Power over Ethernet (PoE), but you'd have to change your ethernet router/switch to a powered version and look for PoE IP cams.

you need a powered usb hub and some long usb cables. Thats the simple way I can see it working, or one of these,
USB Over LAN Long Distance Extender with 4 port HUB upto 45m

Allan

[Edited on 2/11/07 by awinter]

There are a couple of ways of doing it depending on the infrastructure you have. The cheaper way is to use USB-Cat5 adapters. These are nothing more than gender changers for the cable, the USB cameras will have to have their own separate 'network' running back to a USB hub, so wouldn't be able to use any existing ethernet network you have.

The second option is a proper USB-IP converter that will allow you to plug a USB device into an ethernet network and therefore run it through existing infrastructure / network switches etc. We use AnywhereUSB stuff at work to connect cameras from the top of big towers (100ft or more) to the ground. The downside is the cost, not cheap

[Edited on 2/11/07 by martyn_16v]