Abstract: A surveillance system having a monitor, a camera connected to the monitor by a camera cable, an event recorder connected to the monitor by a recorder cable, and an activation unit connected to the camera by an activation unit cable. The monitor receives power through a power cable. A power supply in the monitor supplies power to the camera and the activation unit receives power from the camera. The power supply of the monitor also provides power to the event recorder. The monitor displays video and audio signals from the camera. When the activation unit detects a condition for which the surveillance system is to record, the activation unit sends an activation signal through the activation unit cable, camera, and camera cable to the monitor. A processor in the monitor sends a command to the event recorder over the recorder cable to record the video and audio signals generated by the camera, which are also sent to the event recorder over the recorder cable.