An AHD camera system is five pieces: a DVR, cameras, coax cable, a power supply, and a hard drive. The video rides on coax. Each camera also needs 12V power. We install this same ENS gear in Cincinnati. DIY Pro Security is the parts shop, written in plain English.
The five pieces
- Recorder (DVR). This is the box that saves video. AHD cameras plug into BNC ports on the back. Extra IP ports on some DVRs are for later if you add a network camera.
- AHD cameras. Bullet for a driveway, turret for a porch. These use coax, not Cat 6.
- Coax and BNC connectors. RG59 or RG6 from each camera to the DVR. Twist-on, crimp, or compression BNC ends go on the cable.
- Camera power. A 12V power supply at the recorder, then a splitter lead out to each camera. AHD cameras do not get power from the video cable.
- Hard drive. A SkyHawk drive inside the recorder. A regular desktop drive is the wrong tool.
Step by step
- Count the spots you want to see. That is your camera count. Buy a DVR with a few spare channels.
- Put a SkyHawk hard drive in the DVR. Slide it into the bay, close the lid, power the recorder.
- Run coax from each camera location back to the DVR. Put a BNC connector on each end.
- Put the matching junction box behind the camera. That hides the extra cable and the BNC end.
- Plug the BNC into the camera and into a video port on the DVR. Run 12V power to the camera from the power supply and splitter.
- Name each camera (Front door, Driveway). HDMI from the DVR to a monitor, or use the phone app to see live video.
That is the whole AHD system. Start with cameras and a DVR, then add coax, BNC ends, power, and a drive.
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