I have an installation where the owner wants to monitor two locations with one TV. Live - no recording required. Figured I would use composite video cameras. Is there some sort of processor that can split a screen to view two cameras at once?

They have cheapo split screen boxes for this. I have never used one but a family members in-law had one like this for a bar. [Link: ebay.com]

Are you sure that you shouldn't just use a DVR/NVR? I know that some people don't want to record things but...

The client will get the cameras and love being able to view things...then...wait go back what was that...and now they want to be able to record and they will wonder why you didn't give them that capability in the first place.

Awesome that looks like the perfect solution. I guess I could also get a cheap camera system with DVR - it may just cost less than separate cameras and processor. It's really just for the servers to see how the cooks are doing and they are going to have a separate surveillance system for recording.

Unless space is that much of a premium, 2 monitors will not only look better as a full screen, it's probably going to be cheaper as well.
With quad core, you're wasting 50% of the screen, unless you can incorporate POS display or ordering (open orders) status, etc.

It's just to monitor the cooks. I don't totally get the significance of that, but the "just" implies it's not mission critical.

The screen splitter is $105, so that's the price to beat with a second monitor. Seems unlikely, but possible.


The link shows the various video modes of the screen splitter. One mode is two images side by side, which sounds like exactly what's needed.

("Quad core" is a computer processor term.)

Get an LTS 4-CH DVR with no Hard Drive which can show both old analog 400TVL and newer HD Cameras. They are about $100. He will have the option to use/upgrade to HD cameras.

[Link: ebay.com]