FredB

My question is how can you use a dvr that doesn't have a built in webserver, since the remote software that comes with the dvr doesn't accept anything other then a IP address. If you use no-ip, you would just type in for example joeblow.no-ip.com and you would be re directed to the dvr ip address, which is fine if the dvr has a webserver. But if it doesn't? You can't exactly type in joeblow.no-ip.com in the dvr software. It won't work as far as I know. Does anyone have a workaround???

I think the dvr has to have a built in web server for it to work with a dynamic ip. Like the VPON, everfocus and speco dvr's. In that way you can use a service like www.no-ip.com to handle the dynamic dns part. Just use a compatible router to notify the dns everytime the ip changes. I am also trying to figure out a way to do it with dvr's that don't have a built in web server. Does anyone know?

http://www.americanvideoequipment.com/ Sorry

www.ave.com Overlay boxes. Works great. Stay away from TVS. Dealt with them first. and nothing but problems.

Exchanged it for a new one today. Tried it and the camera works great. The old one only showed b/w for some reason. Ordered the Everfocus one today. Should be getting it in a week. I am sure that the GE camera is better built, but if the picture is the same it's okej. I need it for a parking garage facing the gates and really need the night vision.

Still think the pixord one sounds interesting. 16 channels, Wavelet, cd burner, built in webserver and motion for $1200. Same as the Pro Video one, but cheaper You can get the Argus one from $750, but who wants it.

I personibly don't think it's going to make that much of a difference. I picked up a Ultraview camera last week to try it. Will get an Everfocus to compare. They both use the same CCD. My experiance is that the lens makes more of a difference anyway. A WD cam with night vision and slow capture time sounds really interesting to me. Will post some info after compering them. It doesnt look like the everfocus has night vision, or maybe I was readin the wrong data sheet. Anyway, as for chips, tons of cameras use Sony' chips but they still are very different in camera hardware quality as well as image quality. For example, I use MS software to make a web site, and so do others, but the person that puts more time and effort into it, and knows more, will produce a better quality web site. It looks like the Everfocus camera is using the Pixim chip also, same chip as the Ultra View. I love the idea of the Ultra View ( if I can get the camera to work correctly) but is missing the night vision. If the Everfocus one can do both, I think it would be really valibul. Will get one to compare.

Usally for port forwarding you need TCP. UDP alone is not going to work for DVR/ Webservers etc.

Ultra View at ADI for $330 Get a Comutar with F1:00 Asperical lens. Works great. Someone posted that in would look better to use a 1/2 lens on a 1/3 inch camera. Never tried that. Does it make a big difference?? Some feedback on that would be great!!!

I personibly don't think it's going to make that much of a difference. I picked up a Ultraview camera last week to try it. Will get an Everfocus to compare. They both use the same CCD. My experiance is that the lens makes more of a difference anyway. A WD cam with night vision and slow capture time sounds really interesting to me. Will post some info after compering them.

I belive Everfocus has it to. http://www.everfocus.com.tw/camera.htm EQ600 WDII Same technoligy as the GE ultra view camera. Will get one to compare

Where are you located? Kalatel as Rory said. What exactly do you want from the DVR? Real time recording on all channels?, Audio on all channels?, remote access?, a Raid Bay for the HD?, great recording quality or great streaming, you usally don't get both in the same dvr?

Quake works perfectly well in Linux, as does Quake 2, Quake 3, I suspect Quake 4 will as well. ID has been pretty supportive of Linux gaming. Most FPS work well in Linux. You just need the Linux binaries which usually are on the CD. Was kind of a joke. My point was that using the DVR as your game computer is not exactly going to make it more stable, and is more likely to happen if you run windows. Never tried Quake. To busy working to play video games.

My 2 cents from just reading the specs. I have not tried them so I don't really know about stability, but high end dvr's don't ually crash to often. Samsung: Pros: Name brand, Cons: Not a big supporter of H.263. Streams great but the recording quality full frame sucks. VPON uses same codec. I usally get the vpon webserver just for the streaming part. Win 2000 instead of Linux. Not as stable as Linux. ( Probably has more to do with not partion the Hard drive correctly, and using the DVR as a video gane computer. Quake won't work with Linux as far as I know) 1 channel audio. Netfocus: Pros: Mpeg-4, looks better and scales better then H.263, 16 channel audio Cons: Never heard of them. What re you doing if the DVR dies? Send it back to Taiwan? Personibly I like the imbedded ones better then the "Computer" DVR's. The live video usally look a lot better because the signal doesn't have to go through the computer and be converted. I also like the "operating system on the chip" concept. I the HD dies the system still works as a multiplex, so the customer has something to look at. "Computer" DVR's usually have some extra features, but from my experiance, 99% of the customers could care less about anyway. Must people are to busy running there business to have time to mess around with a DVR anyway. Just my 2 cents...

provide some links please

telpix.com

Superhad for $99 Telpix Model 7812 Ex View for $129 Model 5824

Yes Indeed Full frame, Multiplex recording Looks great, what else is there

Not correct. 1.The Ikigami records 30 frames per sec. divided in 4, so 7 frames per channel maximum. The playback quality in the highest res. looks very simular to live video. You can't change it to record in quad mode. 2. It's very easy to find out if a dvr records in quad mode. You play back the video. If it looks like **** , it's quad. If it looks ok its full frame. After that it depends on compession level and compression codec. Wavelet looks better then MJpeg which looks better then H.263. Then you have Mpeg-4, Mjpeg-2, Jpeg. H.264 is coming out soon which will be amazing. Most dvr's record full frame. I just know the Argus one and the AvTech one that lets you do both. 3. Hook up an Argus dvr and see for yourself. It's very obious. This DVR looks interesting to me for 3 reasons. Mpeg-4 and you can change the quality and audio. I stopped looking at resulotion in these cheaper DVR's. Think compession format makes alot bigger difference.

Looks like Mpeg-2. High quality but pretty big files. Got prices on Pixord's 16 Channel. Same as Specos DVR16IP. Wavelet, remote view and CD-R. $1200 http://www.pixord.com/product/p5516/p5516.asp

How is the Ultra view compared to other cameras, say the Mintron W1. Doing a job with back light problems.

It seems like the Everfocus version has Day/night mode already.

There seem to be 5-6 models that are using the pixim chip. Wonder if it really matters which one to get. The vary somewhat in price. Any thoughts about that?

Anyone else tried the Ultra View? Some feedback would be really helpful for me Thanks