SEANHAWG

You keep making the point that with a standalone you cannot add storage to a standalone. Some good commercial grade DVR's have eSata connections for this. And heck, if you really wanted to use storage that can only be configured by a computer, just network the DVR to a PC that is within the local network and record using the remote management software. Just like magic, you now have a PC based DVR! I've seen some people not even put an internal hard drive in their DVR and record this way. You can do this with the little cheap 4 channels So this is your choice? I'm not saying its a bad one. But why then would you pay $3000-5000 initially on a PC based DVR only to throw it out (or atleast throw out the DVR card) whenever you upgrade to the Avigilon cameras with encoders? When you could have spent alot less on a Standalone. Even if you throw the standalone out and use it as a boat anchor, you still would have spent less than buying a PC based DVR in the first place. Your better off this way as you can now get a newer PC with all the latest technology and not worry about having to update your old outdated PC with the newest OS and all that jazz. Yeah I am sure you can run the Avigilon software on a PC running windows 98 but would you really want to, Cmon. The Avigilon software may slow down your Oregon Trail game if you did that.

From what you guys told me, that sounds like the most viable option. The only other options are to spend a ton more money on encoders and such to get all the cameras on one software, which again brings me back to my original point: "Why would you spend a premium on a PC based DVR when you can get a standalone that does essentially the same thing?" What would be your recommendation on the example I gave. If it was you, what would you do? #1) Stick with the Geo software and add the Avigilon IP cameras to the Geo software which may or may not work, and if it does work, you wont have the full compatibility of the Avigilon IP camera #2) Run Geo Software that is running the 16 Analog cameras seperate from the Avigilon software that is running the 4 Avigilon cameras. (2 Seperate softwares) #3) Ditch the Geo software totally and spend $3000+ on encoders and licenses (rough estimate, I may be too low) for the 16 analog cameras to run on an outdated PC that you bought a few years ago #4) Or other option that I did not mention above

My original point was: You then followed up by saying "you cant do this, you cant do that" on Standalone DVR's, which on most good commercial grade standalone DVR's you can all relelevent things that you would need in a surveillance scenario. Sure you cant run Microsoft word on a standalone but.......: Thats just because you use it all the time and you have grown accustomed to it What standalone were you using that doesnt offer this? This seems to be a pretty basic feature. You then asked: I followed up by: Thats my I am saying, if you are going all analog, it makes more sense economically to get a standalone. Chances are, you will be running seperate software on the computer anyways. Why would you spend 3-5k on a PC based DVR now when you can get a much more economical standalone now and just get a nice desktop computer in a few years to run your IP cameras. Chances are, that same PC you just bought a few years back will be so outdated anyways so just get the computer whenever you are ready to install IP cameras with the newest processors and OS. This also brought me to my next point: I dont think you initially understood the point I was trying to make but you just confirmed thepoint I want was making by the following statements: Exactly See what I mean: too many if's, and's, or butts Now you got it. " title="Applause" /> Which again brings me back to my point, why would you get a PC based DVR running a particular software when you dont even know if that particular software will not run your IP camera properly. It's not economical to pay the premium that a PC based DVR has compared to an embedded DVR system. Essentially, they are the same thing, just the standalones usually cost less and are alot easier to setup. Just run the Standalone's remote management software on the same PC that is running your new IP cameras.

So you agree that the best thing to do if a guy had a 16 channel geovision card for years running analog cameras, and he decides to get 4 avigilon 5 megapixel cameras, that he should simply update the Geovision software to support those 4 Avigilon cameras instead of using Avigilons IP software on the same computer?

I still havent got my popcorn emocticon I requested.

The DVR is weatherproof

It sounds like the Avigilon software lives up to its name for sure. I have not heard a bad report of the software yet. Too bad I cant sell them. Its still a little costly compared to a good standalone but if the person had the budget for it with the explicit purpose of expanding to IP then I could see it being a good solution

I know but the point is using the same software that the Analog DVR card uses to also manage the IP cameras as well. Otherwise you have to run 2 seperate softwares (one for the Analog DVR Card)(One for the IP cameras). But as you said, you can sometimes get software updates that will allow you to add the IP cameras to the same software (just an updated version) But that goes back to my original point:

One that has BNC connections for Analog cameras with the ability to add IP cameras to the same system so you dont have to use 2 different management softwares to control Sure you can start of using IP software and use encoders to transfer your analog over to IP but you have to figure the costs of the encoders plus the licenses to add each encoder to your IP software. My lands thats some crazy money for a guy just wanting to get an analog system going at first. Do all PC's with an installed Geovision DVR card do this? Or do you have to run a seperate software for the Geovision card and a seperate software for the IP cameras? I am not saying they dont, just asking. Another thing is you have to worry about the proprietary nature of IP cameras as well. Even if you did have a DVR card which allowed you to add IP cameras later, You have to make sure that that particular software will run this brand, that brand, blah blah blah. And if you dont use their brand, you have to pay money for licenses. And it may run the IP camera but you wont have full functionality, etc etc etc. Then it comes around again to running 2 seperate softwares, one for your Analog cameras and another for your IP cameras. I aint sayin they bad, just when all costs are considered...........

No, just get a computer to run your IP camera software and network the DVR to that same computer using the remote management software. A good remote client should give you all options as if you were using it right at the console. Now you may ask "What if I want to use the same management software to run the Analog cameras and IP cameras?" Well you would have the same predicament as before: Would you just throw the DVR card in the trash and replace it with a Hybrid DVR card? The only way this would make sense is if you bought a Hybrid DVR card in the first place. But when you take everything into consideration and compare Apples to Apples, in my opinion, a Standalone DVR beats out a PC based analog DVR Card/Computer everytime.

Perhaps I am just biased but I cant see any reason why anyone would buy a PC based system for Analog cameras anymore. Most of the commercial grade Standalone DVR's will do every single thing that was noted above that a PC based system can do. And after you consider the costs of the PC, the DVR Card, and the time it takes to get the thing setup properly, you usually come out way ahead if you just go with a nice commercial grade standalone. I think for IP cameras, it still makes more sense to go the PC route though.

I'd be interested in seeing some videos of that thing in action whenever you get it installed

Hi Eric, Those are pretty nice PTZ's from what I hear. GVI had a liquidation auction recently and those were selling for some really killer deals, but you had to buy 50 at a time. I have dealt with alot of GVi equipment and most of it is really good quality. They used to make stuff for Samsung and also they had a thing worked out with LG their for a while. Ever since they lost their contract with Samsung, things went down financially for them. With that being said, the quality of equipment they have is very good, but dont expect any type of warrranty with it because they are no longer a company anymore. But if its brand new and works right out of the box, chances are, it should last you a good while.

I don't think it has been released yet on any firmwares. I think it will be early next year from what I have heard. It will be nice when it does.

I am sure there is probably a device that will make it Wifi, actually I think it has been mentioned on here before, but I think you will be much more pleased with a wired connection.

run to radio shack and get an RCA cable and get an RCA female to BNC male adapter. Hook it up to your TV's yellow RCA input and you will get a picture. Then you will be able to adjust the resolution lower. You have to adjust the resolution to an equal or lower rez than the parameters that your monitor supports. Or you can get the VGA cable off of your computer monitor and hook it up to your computer monitor. Usually your monitor will auto detect the output resolution of the DVR and adjust accordingly. If that doesnt work, the RCA trick does it everytime.

Chances are you are using a 720p monitor and the resolution of the DVR is set to higher than that, probably at 1080p or at some different type of resolution that your HDMI input on your TV does not support. What you can do is temporarily hook up the DVR to the monitor using the VGA or Composite output which would allow you to view the menu and lower the resolution on the monitor. You can then lower it until it is visible using the HDMI. Lowering the resolution on the DVR does it every time.

As the toilet turns

Hi, The DVR cannot be setup via WiFi, you must use CAT5. The Apollo has an HDMI output and crisper, less compressed recordings and if you are talking about the 4 or 8 channel, it has more audio connections. If you can afford it, go for the Apollo, but if your on a budget, the Zeus is not bad either.

dont worry, Victor is still alive.

lookin good Jon. I sent an email to you for cell phone instructional video. Man I bet its cold up there right now.

If you are not getting Megapixel, then why would you want to go with IP? Why not just stay analog and get a higher frame rate DVR. You can easily stay under 250 per camera that way.

LOL, thats what I thought. I wasnt sure if there was another brand out there that had that type of housing.

what brand housings are those.