cachecreekcctv

4-port or 6-port with adjustable signal system. I use them all the time. Best and cheapest way to split video signals to same business/residence.

Good choice !!

Yeah, I thought about the pre-recorded option. No "chain store" here. Very limited budget. Even trying to figure out how to use regular phone lines, then have relay that would to go loudspeaker system. Have some sort of loudspeaker system that can be heard throughout shop. Still thinking design of system, although my thinking is unpaid at this point. IP-type system might not be the way to go here. Thanks for all the opinions, though.

Don't think that better cameras would help here. Owner lives about 20 minutes from his shop. Local police will not respond to the alarm on his shop. He (owner) gets a call from his alarm company, gets up and gets on his PC to check his shop. Even then, he must call police and tell them that he actually sees someone inside his shop, in order for the local cops to respond with a unit. If they are just kids and they are not inside the shop, cops will not show up . This is why I thought of a Loudspeaker-type of system. Just the way it is nowadays I think. Definitely won't be able to pay for additional software, etc. I was just trying to see if this was out there, and ever installed by anyone.

Customer is having a hard time with damage to outside of store, graffitti, etc. Still trying to figure out how to do this. Store owner wants to be able to view webserver on DVR, view problem, and be able to stop further damage, etc. to store. I myself am just trying to figure out how to do this, and what type of microphone?? to use.PC based?? Actually, store owner wants some sort of loudspeaker inside the store, in order to be heard outside of store. Sort of out of my realm, and I do not know anyone who has done this sort of thing also. I am sure the technology is here, just wanted to see if anyone on this forum has actually done this with some sort of VOIP. Also, has anyone on this forum ever been involved in IP-based controls? In other words, controlling switches, etc. over the internet, using software-based programs? I am looking into this for another customer, just that this IP-based technology is not my "cup of tea". Need to learn , though.

Sort of odd, as I took an Avermedia I had and ran it in my truck, just to see if it would work. I had no problems, but I was just testing it with 1 camera. Are the camera on the same circuit? A small 12vdc camera might be pulling an amp or so on startup, not sure, depending on the electronics/IR , etc. I ran my Avermedia EB1504 from the inside Power Supply and made my own startup cables. It did make a "groan" on startup, but I figured it was just "amping up" on startup. Only did mine for a day or so, and in nice Spring weather.

I am wondering if this DVR should be on its' own set of batteries. Maybe the type used for UPS systems ? You would be able to tie this into the cars electrical, if you go to an RV shop. There are "dual battery" systems that serve this purpose for both boats and RV's. Just a thought.

Maybe it has a low voltage setting on the main DVR board, which might be causing it to go below , lets say 11vdc. An auto battery, 6 cells, is normally 13.2 vdc. Maybe , since this DVR was designed to be in an automotive application, there is a setting to keep it running, but only down to around 12vdc ?? What size of power wire are you using.? When you state " 5 amps", that to me, means around 18 gauge wire. Maybe the wire size is part of the problem, due to wire run length and the initial amp draw of the DVR.

Just saw that the Plextor PX-TVM402U USB Hardware Encoder is on sale, big time, at Tigerdirect.com. Only $80 after rebates. This model has a built-in TV Tuner, along with the ability to encode to Divx ,Mpg1Mpg2,Mpg4 in different video settings. You can basically input any video/audio via RCA jack inputs, and this will encode to your HD via USB port. I use this unit quite often. Take it with me when a customer has an older time-lapse or outdated DVR system, in order to make a Video CD/DVD for their use. I can take the output directly from a DVR /VHS to this hand-held encoder, and make a video CD or a DVD in a format that can be read by DVD player or PC. Worth every dime I paid for this unit. Keep your TIVO's, this has built-in TV tuner , so I set up my TV recordings, record to Divx format. If I want to save the TV shows, I can write to DVD easily. Encoded all my Home/Family movies to HD, and then wrote to DVD as backup. Worth a look at this, if you have never had a Hardware Encoder before. Merry Christmas !!

"HD, in this case, was short for "Hard Drive". I encoded my home movies to my PC Hard Drive. Would be pretty hard to take an old tape-type system(s) and make High-Def out of it.

Yes, I think 740 X 480 is all I can get out of it, but definitely satisfactory for my use. I believe it is still the only "Divx Certified" USB capture device. I have done tests on the same movie, encoded in MPEG2 and Divx. Can't tell the difference in video/audio quality, but can save quite a bit of HD space, a lot. Portability is the main selling point on this, fits in my laptop bag. I also have a Happauge WinTV-PVR that I use, mainly because of it came with a remote control for TV tuning. Still like my Plextor better. I haven't come across any sort of DVR/VHS system, that I cannot capture video , taken directly from the output of the recording device. Some of my customers, who are waiting for their ancient VHS systems to "expire" before they purchase DVR, are always amazed by how fast I can make a Video CD for them with my laptop . I might contact Plextor and ask for sales commission, as I know at least 10 people who have bought these after watching mine at work.

Learned along time ago to run PVC and put in a "pull" wire in addition to regular wires. Somewhere down the road, customer will want more, so if you leave pull wire (actually thin pulling string) inside PVC conduit, it will make things a lot easier. Just a bit of advice from someone who has had to do a lot of digging, until the light bulb went off in my head.

I do this exact thing quite often. My Plextor Hardware encoder PX TV402U, using the WinDVD creator, can write directly to DVD disk. I have encoded all my home movies, etc. from my Super8/VHS tapes to my PC hard drive in DIVX format. Can then make DVD disk from this AVI file. I use this PX TV402u to record TV programs also, as it has a built-in TV tuner. Also check out Happauge WinTV PVR USB2, as I have one of these also. Any questions about this hardware, PM me.

I have an older Avermedia, still new in the box and unused for sale. It is a model EB1004 BAK. It is a discontinued item from Avermedia. I had many that I installed, mostly residential, until they were discontinued by Avermedia. Please PM me with any requests. There is no hard drive that comes with this. If you need any pictures, etc. please PM me. I would like $200, and I will ship this anywhere in the continental USA for free. Thanks.

Myself, I would use a voltmeter to be sure. I always do anyway. I have several of those "plug-in" type of transformers that can be configured for 12vac as well as 24vac. Using a meter would save a lot of headaches.

Might take a look at the Hoffman Panel line. Genesis Automation makes great Enclosure Cooling systems, most are refrigerant -based . Hoffman Panel Intake Filters also. Will keep dust, debris out of panel, and still allow air to circulate. Nothing is cheap, but this combination will last for years. I use dozens of these Enclosure Coolers where I work. Very effective.

This same issue comes up so often on this forum, I think it should have its' own column heading !! One reason I love my Avermedia EB1704. Flash drive in, copy to flash drive, convert to .avi files with software on laptop. Total of about 30 minutes ( sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more) . Write to CDR in format capable of playing on PC. Or....show up at customers' location with my Plextor Hardware Encoder. Output from DVR to input of Plextor, and into USB port of laptop. Save to HD, then write to either DVD or CD, depending on necessity. Again, 30 minutes or so to make CD/DVD. If you look around this forum, you will see that many others have had the same problem, including myself, in the past.

Yah, has to be OS problem, as my laptop with XP , accesses the hard drive on all 1304's I have needed to access. Never had a problem yet.

You are correct again. But you actually can burn directly to disk, with the DVD Creator software. I don't use that option normally, as I want to store any video I encode, to my hard drive to save it for the future. I have done several tests with this Hardware Encoder, and found that I can , and have gotten, two full-length movies on 1 DVD disk. I just normally save any video to DIVX format, then make either a Video CD or DVD. I believe DIVX is a version of MPEG4. Next time you go to an Electronics Retailer (Circuit City, Best Buy, etc. etc) take a look in the DVD player section, and see how many DVD players/recorders have listed on the carton "Divx Certified". A 15 minute video of kids spray painting a store front window, or breaking into a parked car, takes only about an hour to watch, encode, and then write to disk.

The Plextor comes with WinDVD software, and Ulead software. I use both all the time. I have never regretted purchasing this Plextor Encoder, believe me. I have "encoded" over 100 movies onto my spare hard drive, which I bought solely to store music (Mp3's) and movies ( in Divx format).

I think you are correct on that point. I always just figured that each DVR manufacturer wanted their own software engineers to write their own software codec, so as not to infringe on anyone elses codecs, and be proprietary in their design. Even a time-lapse recorded VHS tape , I doubt, can be played back on another branded player. When I download a video scene from my Avermedia DVR's , it does have a proprietary codec, but, part of the screen software also asks "convert to AVI file?", so I always do. Almost all the time I have to use my Plextor Hardware Encoder, is just to get video from an older system (VHS, old DVR) to make a CD/DVD that is playable on a PC or DVD player. My customers are very small commercial/residential installs. Most of the people I deal with, probably could not figure out how to save their own video from their older DVR's if they had to. When I get called, it is because a business/home user had a problem and has called the local Police/Sheriff. When the cops ask " can you make me a video of that damage?", that is where I come in. I ask them " do you want to play this on a PC, or a DVD player?" My Plextor, laptop, and I, take it from there. Good luck !!

Just a suggestion. Go to Softpedia and look at "FFDSHOW" all in one codec. I use it often on my home PC to decode many types of video. Softpedia also has an Mpeg-4 specific decoder in its' downloads. I went through the same thing you are going through. Only my Avermedia DVR's can easily convert into AVI files that are readable on any PC. The problem I ran into before, is the same problem that you are having. Someone will call and ask me to get video from a VHS tape system, or an older DVR that they cannot get into. Even some that have so called " CD writers" built in. I take my Dell Laptop (P4) and my Plextor hardware encoder. The Plextor fits inside the laptop bag. I take the "video out" cable from whatever recorded the video, be it VHS recorder, DVR, whatever, and directly into the Plextor. What I see on the screen, is what it captures. Video and audio together. Sit right there at the customers' location and make either a Video CD or a DVD. Will capture video in Mpeg1, 2, 4, and Divx. Takes sometimes about an hour from the time I get there to the time I hand them a DVD. Never had a complaint from anyone, including my local Sheriffs' office. The money spent on this Plextor Hardware Encoder bought from Tigerdirect has paid for itself dozens of times over. I normally charge $50 to make the DVD for someone. The first 3 DVD's I made, paid for the unit. I guess you have to ask yourself, is the time you spend trying to decode this DVR, worth the $150 or so the Plextor will cost you ?

One reason I do not care too much for DVR's with so -called "DVD Burners" or "CD Writers" . Will write CD/DVD in format which is only readable by their software. Can convert my Avermedia files into AVI files easily. Also one good reason I bought my Plextor Divx hardware encoder, Model PX M402U. Will fit in the palm of my hand, and with my laptop, it can record straight out of DVR (output cable) and into laptop. Will encode in Divx, Mpeg1, Mpeg2, or Mpeg4 formats. Go to Plextor.com/products for a look . Very easy to use, and it is a Hardware encoder, not software. Comes with WinDVD DVD Creator software. Purchase from Tigerdirect or Newegg. Check it out for yourself.

Just wondering if anyone has this dual-codec DVR setup for online viewing? The one in the banner ads here from Covisec. I know JPEG2000 as far as the recording part, but have actually never experienced H.264 on the live view part. JPEG2000 has great recorded video, thats for sure. Takes a ton of hard drive space, though. My older JPEG2000 DVR never did get online , in order to view it. No web server built into the unit. It did have a CD writer built in, but the software writing was not "user friendly" in order to view the CD on a PC. I understand from Covisec that this new DVR does have a web server built in. Anyone out there that has one setup for viewing? Thanks !!

Hey Scorpion, I see these DVR's have a web server, but in the "features" section, it lists "Mjpeg" as the web transmission, not Mpeg4. In your opinion, how much difference (better/worse) are the 2 , while viewing with an IE browser? Do you install quite a few of these same models? When you get time, would you PM me with a price on the 8-channel without the CD/DVD writers. Thanks !!