How to Make a Homemade Security System

Install the Capture Card

• 1

  Shut down the computer and disconnect any plugs and cables. Lay the computer on a flat work surface and remove the access panel from the side. Locate an empty PCI slot on the motherboard. Install the video capture card in the empty slot and reinstall the access panel. Reconnect and restart the computer. Insert the included driver and software disk in to the CD drive and follow the instructions.

• 2

  Locate the remote video cameras in places where they are not easily seen but have a clear view of windows and doors. Place the cameras on bookshelves or in indoor plants to keep them hidden. Hide the cables behind furniture or under carpeting. Connect the cameras RCA cable to the video capture card.

• 3

  Open the security software that came with the capture card. Browse the settings for motion detection. Set motion detection sensitivity according to the camera's surroundings and adjust as necessary to eliminate any false positives. Adjust the motion detection frame to focus on only the areas that should not normally see movement.

• 4

  Browse the settings for alarm actions. Set the action for motion detection to sound an alarm through the computer's speakers, or to notify someone using an email account. Attach an alarm bell or horn to the output connectors from the capture card for additional alarm capabilities. Verify all of the settings for each camera attached to the card.

• 5

  Set the recording options to keep a video record of the environment where all alarm triggers and motion detection alerts are triggered. Set the system's record retention depending on the available space on the computer's hard drive. Review the recorded video whenever there has been an alert to ensure your home is secure.