xmun61

I have a CPCAM CPD501 - 4 channel DVR system which came with with 2 colour IR outdoor cameras. Works fine for my needs. I just bought 2 more cameras from EBAY which looked just like mine and had identical specs. They have just arrived and I connected them but can only get a poor B&W picture with red & green lines running accross the frame. I noticed that the box says PAL but the DVR (I just found out) is set to NTSC. CPCAM manual says that the DVR can detect PAL or NTSC and change automatically. (but it hasn't) We use PAL television in my country so the supplier insists that my DVR should be PAL !?? - I can't understand what television has to do with a stand alone CCTV system and why these systems are not all one format worldwide! But anyway, can anyone tell me if this is the reason I get a B&W picture or are the cameras defective? Thanks for your time and any suggestions you may have.

Hi Soundy, Thanks for offering your advice / suggestions so fast! I see the images from my CCTV on my computer monitor through a VGA converter so PAL or NTSC format or television never crossed my mind. I should have checked first! Since my post I connected the cameras to my TV and the image is excellent and in COLOUR ! I did try disconnecting the other 2 cameras and using the new ones on the DVR but could not change to PAL. But it makes no difference if it did as I imagine the older cameras are NTSC so I still can't use all 4! At least the cameras were bought for a song off EBAY so I guess i'll just have to get 2 more.....c'est la vie ! Thanks from SUNNY MALTA!