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Thank you very much indeed - this is excellent and quality advice and has certainly made me think about the structure of the course. Your suggestions are first class! I will certainly be using them. Thanks again, Daren.

Sure, thanks for response. I work for a network training company and wish to create a course aimed at CCTV installers and maintenance engineers who need to understand IP networks. So imagine the target student(s) being used to CCTV cameras, codecs, DVRs, fibre, RS-423 for PTZ and so on. The course might include a migration path from legacy (non-IP) equipment (media conversion and so on) and then a understanding of how certain protocols (RTP, DNS, DHCP etc.) need to be understood. So like a TCP/IP course but aimed towards CCTV engineers. Subjects such as remote access to cameras (VPN's / port forwarding), Storage Networks, Compression. The course would include subject matter from planning for CCTV using small cameras with integrated IP / web browser / SMTP and so on. It will also discuss larger "enterprise" solutions (e.g. Cisco's expensive boxes / Axis / others). Ideally, the course will include a hands-on element where cameras are connected to switches / routed networks / IPv6 networks. Network Analysers will be used to decode (and explain) the protocols. So basically, my challenge is making sure I procure cameras as inexpensively as possible, but providing as many IP network features as possible. Having a back-end DVR would be great. Thanks again, Daren Matthews.

Dear all, I'm looking for a recommendation for some inexpensive hardware to select, so that I can demonstrate the following: Either: Analogue CCTV via IP gateway to DVR or: Decent IP-based camera connecting to back-end Video server. Any help or suggestions would be gratefully received. Thanks, Daren.