Hi all,

I am looking for the best way to overlay the image of a security camera i.e. picture in picture onto both a plasma monitor and a projector (both can be DVI or HDMI inputs).

The control system would be Crestron and the security camera image needs to be able to be brought up on the screen on demand i.e. when a button is pressed on the Crestron panel or when the doorbell rings via a relay.
You should also be able to switch to full screen for the camera.

I understand Crestron has a unit that will do this and much more although at a significant cost.

Does anyone have a more cost effective / better way of doing this and would I be comprimising in quality over the Crestron, any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Use a Xantech Rp41AV. This will allow you to select vieo inputs via IR. If you want to do it Via RS232 use the IRRS232 Xantech module. You can run 4 cameras all available on demand. You can also run three cameras into a sequential switch and then run each camera into the input of the RP41AV and then run the output of the sequential switch into the fourth RP41AV input. Then you can split the output of the RP41AV and send it to the touchpanel providing the touchpanel can display a video image. Good luck

Mike

You could just use a simple modulator and attach it to the TV. I know this is probably not what you're looking for but it would work.

Since 80% of the plasmas out there, and no projo that I know of (without an external controller) will do PIP...and because he specifally ASKED for PIP...this is DEFINITELY not what he's looking for....especially since he doesn't have a TV

I have a solution for you though CMO. Check in to extron...I'll reasearch the part number for you, but they have an overlay device for just this purpose...so does ademco, hitachi, and mitsubishi, in their security divisions, in fact...now that I think about it, honeywell (division of who these days?) has one as well...

anyway, they are out there alot...e-mail you some info!

It seems I missed that crucial part of the question. Sorry

Thanks AVDude,

You're a gem, Extron probably do exactly what I want.

I guess I'll also need RS232 control for the controller and some s -video or RGB output for the Crestron panel.
While we're on the subject of Crestron panels - have you had a play around with the new i/O Touchpanels from Crestron which give you basic email, internet access, I saw these briefly at Indy but didn't get a chance to look into them ?

These sound like a great idea but I'm always a bit dubious of new Crestron products and their software.

PS What ever happened to integrationpros.com - just noticed it has gone - sorry, I've been on vacation for the last six months and haven't been reading the board.

SkyBird :- I've actually got another couple of those waterproof LCDs in another room (Aquavision) which are effectively televisions that need the camera picture, so I will need to modulate one video output for this purpose.

Also remember that you don't want the image of the camera too much time in the plasma.

Check out this product by Aurora Multimedia. Very powerful for the money.

[Link: auroramultimedia.com]

Thanks Chad,

Looks good and appears to have support for DVI-D, have you had dealings with this company before as I am unfamiliar with them.

Unfortunately I don't believe the product is distributed in the UK.

Thanks anyway.

I have not installed one of these yet, but I have been watching the company for a while and I did visit their CEDIA booth to see the products first-hand. IMO they offer some really innovative products for the price point. Just my $0.02.