Tailbone215

Thanks all! Lots of great info. I'm weighing the cost benefit of upgrading or replacing cams for an old installation I'm dealing with. It's looking more like replacement as a newer and technologically advanced IP cam should yield better performance than older models. It is good to have options.

Nice!!! Beats the hell out of any analog camera.

I think a lot of it has to do with environment and how well the system is installed. Of course cheap cameras don't factor well into the equation. Stick with known good name brand products from reputable dealers/suppliers. On a side note, I have had a few cameras with hot/dead pixels right out of the box. These made for instant returns. How many installers have found this to be a problem?

Totally agree! Low cost cams show their shortcomings when the light starts falling off. Been down that unhappy road. I've had good luck with Bosch VDN-495 cams. They really work well at night without very much light. Of course one can add an external IR illuminator should it be needed sine they have the mechanical cut filter. I like the idea of motion lights to really light things up.

So, do you think the above images are a result of simply being out of focus or a lens issue as I speculate? I hope it is that simple. I know one thing, looking at both color images on a calibrated monitor I can see the Arecont is producing much better color accuracy that the IQ. Even under fluorescent lighting.

This seems more like a lens issue to me. Since IR is at a different wavelength than visible light there are always compromise when it comes to focusing. One generally picks what mode is used most and tries to get focus close as possible without sacrificing clarity by splitting the difference in focus. My suspicions are a better IR corrected lens on the IQ will yield better results between both mode. The Arecont definitely kicks butt here!

Thanks for the link!! I was rooting around that site and it looks nice. I must contact them for pricing. I'm still not sure if they are a truly a supplier/distributor or a storefront for a dropshipper? Either way it looks very promising. Thanks.

Looks like another SPAMMER that made it an easy decision for me deciding on whom never to buy from. Thanks suky.

Personally I think software should be free or at least bundled with the hardware. This nickle and dime crap need to end. An end user doesn't care what all the incidentals are, they care about the bottom line. I sure as hell wouldn't want to get hit with annual maintenance fees for software.

For overall performance, reliability, and ease of maintenance should it need it? Any other recommendations for a comparable product? I'm considering this for an application in an area with the possibility of RF radiation (Business UHF/VHF radio tower) and am primarily concerned about RF immunity. Thanks.

If having a choice between a 1/2" and 1/3" lens I would go for the 1/2" because it leaves more options open to me should I want a 1/2" camera in the future. Plus, you get to use the "sweet spot" of the lens when mounted on a 1/3" cam. This means you generally won't be plagued with edge softness or vignette due to light falloff and barrel distortion. The only thing one should consider is the field of view of a 1/2" 3mm lens will have a slightly narrow FoV when mounted on 1/3". So it might have an equivalent FoV of 4 or 5mm. This probably won't be objectionable in most situations. It's like adding a slight bit of zoom.

Neat effect! Hopefully that was just a glitch and not a warning that the cam is going to crap out. Not a bad pic. Any links to info on these cams? How would you rate it for quality, performance, and longevity?

Try setting BitRate from variable to constant.

OUCH!! Starting out cheap is definitely going to make this project a tough one. At least you have a Nuvico cam to throw into the pot. I really can't think of any inexpensive cams worth using.

I here ya!! The company doesn't have a phone number either I've been trying to find out who makes the camera and who else may sell it but I cant seem (through Google) to find anything even remotely similair with all the same features and construction. I may have to take one for the team on this one and buy one to test... I hope it works for you. I've been using some Bosch VDN-495 domes and am very pleased with the day/night performance. The little bullet cams look tempting, but be careful of the small size at it makes one wonder if there's enough room for a mechanical ICR. For me, no mechanical ICR in a day/night cam, no buy! I found this out the hard way with that Speco crap.

The short answer is yes. Between the loads of IR light in the dusk/night sky and from surrounding light pollution from incandescent lights that camera will really perform. For the few dollars more for an IR corrected lens you will be future proof as well should you decide to get an IR illuminator.

Specs look OK "0.2Lux(Day), 0.005(Night) (F:1.2)" for lighting performance. I'm skeptical of published specs these days when it come to cameras I'm sticking with name brands instead of sampling these unknown variables as it is getting too expensive.

Supermicro makes some top shelf gear. I've been building systems with their products for many years. I just got my SC743T-R760B case in yesterday so I'm ready to put together a new Supermicro Xeon box. A Xeon proc definitely makes easy work of processing video and boosting framerate.

I never tackled anything like this before. Are there any procedures or special enclosures needed for the application to prevent RF from interfering with the cam's image or the possibility of ruining the cam over time? This will be on a business band tower where the antennas are high enough above the cam, but the coax will be withing inches of the cam cables. Thanks.

At this point his motives are evidently pointing towards a mission of hell bent SPAMMING. This problem, as annoying as it is, is easily resolved. Hopefully a moderator will consider reviewing his posting privileges. Personally, I would be giving him the boot as he's non respondent to polite pleas to cease the SPAMMING.

I'm not sure there is a difference, other than a $325 gratuity to the seller of the $400 package. The configuration tool that Bosch has available on their site allows you to do everything you would expect, including firmware updates. It also covers all their model cams that use Bilinx. Well worth using.

Thanks for the info. Actually, the software is free via Bosch's website. I stumbled onto it by accident. The cable and adapter was easy to find on the net once I figured out the model number. The price of the cable varied between $50-$75. All is good now as this is one easy to use setup and works great. Definitely a labor and time saver. Thanks again.

I'm not familiar with HighWires, but I just looked them up and they seem like a good idea. I do have a box full of Pelco baluns so that is also an option.

Thanks for the info.

Please stop the SPAMMING and keep this crap on eBay. Thank you.