tomster

Hi all, I am running a 16 channel Bosch DVR. I wish to add a remote 8 channel DVR for data redundancy in the event the main DVR walks out the door. My DVR has 16 BNC outputs (one for each channel). I was going to pick the 8 most important channels and output them to a remotely located 8 channel DVR that would be housed in a lockbox. The thought of running 8 seperate coax cables to the remote DVR would be a pain. I just so happened to have run a few extra cat5 cables from the current DVR to where I will mount the remote DVR. So I was thinking of using an 8 channel balun like the one pictured below You see these passive units on ebay for about $20-$30. My total run distance is about 60 feet. Does anyone have any experience with these units and can you recommend them or other baluns? Thanks for the help! Tom

No, the Divar MR series has only internal storage. You can export data, but not continuously. I went over and over it and it was a dead end. Since I already have the wires run and the DVR's are relatively cheap, this option works. Thanks

Excellent information! I looked and saw that the single channel baluns are the better way to go. Do you recommend any over another or is ebay ok for that? Thanks!

You need three things.... 1.) An autodome (biphase) controller to control the PTZ portion of the camera (LTC5136) 2.) A 24 V power supply to power each dome (50 VA per camera if you use the heater) 3.) A DVR (or capture card if you want to use a PC instead) with as many channels as you want to have cameras. Hookup is very straitforward. Find the manual online for your autodome camera and follow the instructions.

Hello, I have some of the old purple (generation 1) ioimage TRK-100 and TRK-400 Total Track boxes that need the software and manual to operate. I am currently using generation 2 ioimage boxes and the setup software is incompatible. I know these have been out of circulation for a while, but this forum is full of installers and dealers that might have access to old copies or just have them laying around. If you can find a copy of the generation 1 software, please email me at tomthetomster AT yahoo.com Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Some new information..... Here is a link describing the boxes. http://www.safeguards.com/files/trk-100-SV.pdf Thanks!

Hi all, I have some generation 1 Ioimage TRK-100 and TRK-400 (purple boxes) that are missing setup software and documentation. I am currently using generation 2 Ioimage TRK-100 units, but the software is not compatible with the generation 1 boxes that I have. I've tried obtaining the software from the manufacturer, but they do not support the boxes anymore and despite my best attempts, I am unable to obtain the software. I am hoping that some folks either have used these in the past or are still currently using them and would be able to make a copy of the software. I am willing to compensate anyone for their time and then some. Despite their age, these boxes still work and are still useful. It sure would be a shame to scrap them. Thanks for your time and if someone can help, please contact me at tomthetomster AT yahoo.com Thanks!

Bump.... Still looking If it helps here is a link to the boxes that I have...... http://www.safeguards.com/files/trk-100-SV.pdf

Hi all, I'm trying to figure a way to "clean up" the installation of my 16 ch DVR. Right now I have 16 coax cables coming out of a hole in the wall that each terminate to their respective BNC connectors on the DVR. Do they make a "bundle cable" of sort that can take 16 DVR BNC's and terminate to a jack on a wall plate? Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Tom

That's more of what I had in mind, but it looks like there are 5 BNC's to a cable and I have a total of 16. That, combined with the high price, makes it prohibitive. An outstanding suggestion however! So I guess it's either the wire ties or the harness approach.... Thanks again, Tom

I was afraid of that. Anyway, thanks for the link soundy and bpzle. I guess thats the road I will be going down....

I've got a Bosch Gen 3 0948/25C envirodome (PTZ) used in conjuction with an LTC 8786 biphase converter attached to a DesaXL DVR. My autodome is capable of tracking, but you have to get an additional (optional) power supply to add tracking to make it work. Is there a decent way for me to add auto tracking to my autodome without spending the $800 for a bosch tracking power supply? I see that there are standalone modules that add autonomous PTZ motion tracking (such as ioimage). I see stuff like this on ebay from time to time for far less than the cost of the optional Bosch tracking power supply. Is this stuff any good? If so, can you recommend the best all around product to give me autonomous PTZ for my dome? Thanks

Here are some reference links: 0948/25C envirodome Bosch LTC 5136 keyboard Bosch LTC 8786 RS-232 to Biphase Converter Thanks!

Hi all, I've got a Bosch Gen 3 0948/25C envirodome (PTZ) used in conjuction with an LTC 8786 biphase converter attached to a DesaXL DVR. I'd like to add a joystick/keyboard, but the LTC 5136 is very expensive as a add on/standalone. I plan getting a few more autodomes and I was hoping that a much more inexpensive keyboard might be available that would work with the 8786 biphase converter. Can anyone recommend a keyboard (other than the LTC 5136) that will work with the LTC 8786 biphase converter? Thanks for all the help! Tom

Im running 495's and a 620. They are both excellent, but the 620 is a tad better at night (1/2" CCD). Its hard to beat the 495's for around $300 new.

I plan to leave mine out in the open. The DVR I'm running is PC based and I plan to use a redundancy RAID array. Fine, steal my DVR, but the mirrored data stays put burried in a wall somewhere. I agree with most here. I don't live in a place that would be a target for any thieves that would have the savy to defeat my alarm and my CCTV system. My biggest problem is my wackjob neighbors, which is what got me to install a CCTV system in the first place. Thankfully, so far my system has done its job because it has captured my neighbor vandalizing my property and has led to his conviction of criminal mischief. Anyway, my point is that if you have an alarm and a CCTV system, most thieves that you would have to wory about who have the savy to beat your defenses are going to move on to easier targets. The smash and grab crackheads probably don't know what a DVR is nor would they have the ability to get past your alarm without setting it off.

Thanks for the posts. The cable is indeed expensive and I'm probably going to settle on plan B for the wiring (conduit with electrical boxes at each termination point). The tray cable, for the lengths I need, would be cost prohibitive for the application. This head is only going to be used as an all around PTZ. It, along with the control, was acquired very inexpensively and is in new condition so there really isn't anything to loose except a bit of labor for the hookup. Anyway, thanks again for all the insight. Tom

I have a Pelco PT270P (115v) pan tilt head. I am trying to get around having to run conduit to the pan tilt head from the controller. The wiring chart in the manual says that for my needs, 20 guage would be fine. However, I am not aware of a 6 conducor romex cable in 20 guage. This is a 115v, 6 conductor line that is needed. Had anyone installed one of these 115v pan tilt heads and how did you go about it? I tried to post a link to the manual, but since I was new here, the rules wouldnt let me. The manual is available from pelco for download. If you need to see the manual, please google "C323MI" (without the quotes). It should come up as the first link. Thanks

Thanks for the reply. I'm sure it's a 115v head. It's made by pelco and it uses a pretty standard controller (for example-- phillips/bosch ltc5133/60) Anyway, I was hoping someone had some installation experience with this pan tilt and could give me a couple of pointers. Thanks