muddweiser

Hi everyone, I would like to get some advice/opinions... I am new to the forum... And after reading the last few months of posts this afternoon I would like some help deciding on a DVR system. I do some IT consulting for an apartment complex and the owner called me from a walmart the other day and asked me if I knew anything about CCTV systems... He was going to purchase a unit they had there for $1499.00... I told him I didn't know a whole lot about it but that 1499.00 is alot of money and maybe he should research it first... Anyway long story short he told me to research so here I am The unit he was looking at was made by a company called SWANN... I believe it was a 16ch system but only came with 8 cameras. It was a DVR, had 250GB disk, and the ability to monitor/replay over the internet (pretty neat!) Anyway after browsing the forums here it looks like I could piece together an 8CH system for around $1000... WHAT DVR SYSTEMS SHOULD I BE LOOKING AT? REQUIRED: * decent video playback (maybe 15-30fps? Just nothing choppy) * Ability to monitor/replay over the internet * Ability to record on motion and NOT 24hrs a day... BRANDS/MODELS? I saw the intellicam JS XLA 8 over at shoreview and it looks adequet, I am just wondering if it is better than the SWANN? What about SPECO Technologies? How would they compare to the Intellicam systems? Are there any other systems I should be looking at? Thanks for any help; I really appreciate it and look forward to learning about CCTV!

Sorry to flood the boards with what I am sure are easy questions, but I have NO experience when it comes to CCTV and was asked to research DVRs and Cameras for a new installation... Long story short = apartment complex owner would like to implement a budget system for monitoring the front/rear entrances to the building, as well as the "common area" tv/lounge... Really don't need anything fancy but we want to be able to identify who enters/leaves the building... We require: * IR night vision of at least 30feet * wide angle? (30 feet wide at 25 feet away from camera) * maybe 420-480 lines? (is this adequate?) BUDGET: About $120-150 each... Again sorry for what may be an easy question but I don't know whats what or even where to buy it? (ebay maybe?) Any model #'s and advice is much appreciated! Thanks!

So it looks like a +1 for the Intellicam series... I know it isn't "top notch"; Scorpion - I couldn't tell from your post if you were suggesting the SWANN "everything in a box" kit, or if you too were advocating a +1 for the Intellicam as well? You mentioned if the budget is there that I should buy it -but didn't go into specific models of a low-midrange DVR? It sounds as though the CAMERA is the most important thing in the setup? I DID get the importance of choosing the right cameras and placement from your post though. That was VERY informative. I have now rethought where I might place the cameras. Instead of trying to capture the ENTIRE room, I will focus the cameras on the upper half of the entry/exit doors - because if someone does come in to rob the place, having a camera zoomed in on the upper 1/2 of the door would surely get a good picture of the intruder (6 0 clock news coverage ) Can anyone reccomend decent midrange cameras ($100-150/ea). I would like to get IR cameras too if possible. What are the differences between a "dome camera" and a "bullet" camera besides the obvious fact that dome cameras are in a dome and bullet cameras aren't... Do dome cameras HAVE to be mounted on the ceiling? Is it possible to mount them on a wall? THANKS FOR THE VALUABLE INPUT!