Birdman Adam

You can do it for $2k but it won't work well. Maybe $3-4k and you can buy proper cameras and a good brand of DVR. I love Samsung's DVRs, Dahua is another good brand that gets you the same features for much less. Both these brands would do everything but the two-way audio. They can record audio though. Siren on motion can be done with outputs on DVR.

Well anyone can glue PVC together... Don't sniff the glue or the cleaner too much!! Pull a pull string through first, then use the to pull another string (for possible future use) and your wire. If you've got a heat gun and something to smoothly bend the PVC with, then you can bend it. There is a tool electrician use, cannot remember the name of it! Even without heat, if you bend PVC more than the angle you want, it will bend back to a certain angle. Otherwise buy pre-bent pieces if you want...

What I meant is that states basically either require 1 or both parties to know about it. So just go ahead and notify everyone.

Yea, plus most coax and cat5 is not rated to be exposed to the sun constantly. So over the years the insulation will deteriorate. May or may not be a problem, but I'd rather just use some PVC conduit.

May help. http://www.abselcom.com/state-laws-for-voice-recording/ If I was installing any audio equipment to be recorded, I would err on the safe side and put up signs.

It all depends on the current draw. I'd say keep it under ~600mA or so (most cameras WITHOUT IR will use much less) if you use a single pair. Using two pairs is essentially 18ga - good for at least 1A. Current draw also depends on voltage (these are not resistive loads...). A camera that can accept 24VAC or 12VDC will use approximately half the current at 24VAC. Any UTP cable will work just fine. Having the two wires in a pair twisted together is the key! So I'd just get whatever is cheap - cat5e is super-popular...

I'd only run conduit if the cable is either outside or in risk of being tampered with. Inside it typically goes in walls...

I'd avoid the boxed systems unless you really just need super cheap, basic viewing.

Honestly $300 for a 2-camera system is a small budget. I would go with a standalone 4-ch DVR with 2 cameras. Make sure it can be accessed by browsers + smartphones (most DVRs). I would just have it record 24/7, motion detection isn't perfect! Any good DVR will let you set up motion-detection e-mails (which can be sent as texts to phones w/your phones number; example for verizon: 9191234567@vtxt.com).

I'd say its got a good picture, although I dunno what it costed. Its just not good with lots of brightness differences. The more I think about it, I'd probably turn the camera to the left some.

Well a true double-scan WDR camera would certainly handle this a lot better. I'd bet this camera has digital WDR, which can help some but is not nearly as effective as true WDR. If this camera has any other settings like BLC this may help the situation. really the problem is this camera is adjusting for the brightness. If you were to aim it mainly away from the bright yard, it would perform much better.

Soundy, do you have like a separate room specifically for sandblasting??

I'm a DIYer, but got some answers that I think still apply : 1. If I was to do this for a living, I'd mark up the equipment a certain percentage, then add on an hourly rate. 2. I have avoided running through finished walls. I always try to run in attics/unfinished basements. There are supposedly some magnetic tools which will help you pull stuff. 3. So many things I don't know where to start. I'd get a truck to drive around in to hold all my crap. 4. First thing I've done is scope everything out. In terms of exactly what we want to see, and how well we want to see it. Then I match that to equipment. Think about the price some, negotiate that if necessary. Then I think about how to run wires. Then install! Probably pull wires first, then mount equipment. DVR setup last. Then final testing and showing the client how to work it all easily. 6. I've heard of a good book on CCTV. Can't remember the name... Do you guys need to be licensed and/or insured to install CCTV? I've always wondered this...

DBM-20VD has a varifocal lens from 4-9mm, LBM-20S is fixed at 3.8mm. Other than that the specs seem very similar. IR could be an advantage. I'd say your prices are off some. I'm seeing the two as only ~$20 apart. Are you comparing prices within one site?

Typical amps with coaxial connections (F-connector screw-on ones) will NOT work with this. They amplify RF signals, CCTV cameras transmit composite video. I was under the impression that compostire signals could not be split at all unless they were amplified. Soundy does a 2-way split actually work??

It doesn't necessarily have to be clean, but I find it best, just to rule out any possibilities. I'd format it as FAT32. Some oddball DVRs could need just plain old FAT.

I will have test shots fairly soon with one of the Empire bullets (dunno which model yet). I think they use the same chips (new Effios) as their domes, which I have played with and loved (especially for the price). They are near par with the CNBs I've used.

Typically the procedure would be to plug in a clean, formatted USB flash drive into the USB port. Then login to the DVR, and choose the backup option (wherever/whatever it may be called on this DVR). Then you would select the time frame and channels you want to backup. There may be options for how the video is stored, i.e. as MPEG4 or some proprietary way that requires a viewer. I always try to choose the most 'standard' option, say .AVI.

Haven't used their DVR but I can say their cameras are great for the price.

Unfortunately I have not tested with any sort of smartphone. I would expect it to work good - everything else sure does with this DVR. I may be getting an android soon, if so I will certainly post a test.

Does CNB make outdoor rated bullets? I can't find them on the site. All of their domes and normal box cameras are easy to find, but no bullets? Bottom line for me is to only buy CNB when it's got the Monalisa chip. Their older stuff without ain't too good! Even though I haven't used their cameras, I'm confident that KT&C and Samsung make good stuff. Also, after playing with Empire's domes, their IR bullets would be great for the price too. Rory, what model of KT&C's have you used? http://www.ktnc.co.kr/english/viewforum.php?f=80

That is a good list I think! I have typically heard the 2CIF you are talking about being referred to as HD1 (half D1). Also, it seems 4CIF and D1 are so similar that it they are often used somewhat interchangeably. My rule is to always record at max resolution - either 4CIF of D1 depending on your DVR. When choosing a DVR, make sure it can hit your target FPS at the max resolution.

Webcams have horrible quality in low light. They use cheap lenses and chipsets and sensors. They can't be recorded as easily. They aren't weatherproof. There are minimal settings options... The list goes on forever. Real CCTV cameras are designed for a specific use, and they are good at it. The camera you tried out should never be a representative of real CCTV products. I've never used IP, but many others here will be able to recommend solid products. I think $500 is rather cheap for Megapixel IP...

No, using cat5 and baluns will result in a perfect picture if installed properly (easy to do). In fact this method works for LONGER distances than coax. I certainly would not pay $8 a balun at monoprice though...

Yea, maybe format the drive for an older type, like plain old FAT. And use a "small" drive under like 2GB.