groovyman

I've had hard drives fail within a few weeks to a few years. Some can be detected in the bios of a PC, some not. Some can be detected by Windows (or other OS), some not. All depends on what the error is. Also, the hard drive is most likely formatted with a file system Windows can't understand, so a drive letter will not appear even if the drive is not faulty. It may show in Windows Device Manager though, but don't format it! I'd say the drive has an error. The best way to tell if it's the drive or DVR is to install a replacement drive in the DVR.

Here are a couple 15" LCD TVs I've used in the past. I tend to like the second one better because it has the connections on the side. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889136065 http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1769144&CatId=3648

In the VMS manual (actually, VMS Lite manual) it says to click on Tools > Options then the Monitor tab. There should be an option that says Monitor Viewer Mode. The options are: Full: Resize the video accordingly to the display size Ratio: Keep original aspect radio Caption Area: Display caption bar Try changing from Ratio to Full and see if that makes a difference.

Seems like the software for the Nuvico maintains the aspect ratio while the Falcon software did not. The Nuvico is most liklely not cutting off the picture, but displaying it the way it is intended to be seen where the Falcon allows for stretching the image to fill the space, thereby distorting the image.

I believe tomcctv meant CNB VCM-24VF. Those CSP-20S cameras are actually the CNB DFL-20S which you can find for around $50-$60. I've used them, like them, but also have a few issues with them in certain lighting conditions. I think they're worth the price though. The VCM-24VF gives you a lot more functionality. They come with a varifocal lens that allow you to set the field of view from 2.8-10.5mm when the camera is being installed (can set a wide or close shot as needed) where the other is fixed at 3.8mm - install it and that's it, you see what you see. Varifocal does not allow you to zoom in while recording or in live view - for that you would need a PTZ camera (PTZ = Pan Tilt Zoom), although the DVR may allow you to zoom in, but that's digital zoom, not optical. Varifocal allows you to set the field of view when you're installing, and once it's set, it's set, unless you physically change it on the camera later.

Thanks for the replys. The effect doesn't happen with all of, just a few. I can understand the reflection off bright surfaces, such as the silver racks that reflect light, but what really has me confused is the black grout lines. I've seen this effect very often on many different cameras when someone is wearing a shirt with thin lines though. These locations have a mix of cameras and these were used as repalcements. Each location has fluorescent lighting, and the bulbs can be different from fixture to fixture. So, I thought that might be the issue. Something I notice about these cameras is that they don't pick up the change in frequencies from the fluorescent lighting like some other cameras do. For instance, with some other cameras the lighting appears to get brighter and darker. It's very noticeable when reviewing video at 4x - looks like a light that keeps going from bright to dark and it can happen in different sections of the area being covered by the camera - one area gets bright while the other gets dark. With these Mona Lisa cameras that doesn't happen, but the rainbow effect is there. Choosing one over the other I'll choose the rainbow, but I'm not sure if I'll continue to use the DFL-20S because I never know when this is effect is going to happen. Edit: just wondering if there's some sort of filter I can put on the plastic dome covers to block the absoption of those rainbow lines - like clear tinting that blocks UV rays. I know it's not UV rays, but just wondering if clear tint would make a difference. I'll try it and see what happens.

Thanks, but these cameras don't have any configurable settings. I tried changing the color, brightness, contrast, hue, saturation & sharpness on the DVR with varied results. The effect remains no matter what I've tried. I've seen this same effect on other members screenshots as well. In some locations the effect was so bad I had to install different cameras.

Just want to mention something about opening port 80 on the 3347-02 DSL Modem/Router - there will be an error message and the Web Server Port of the router will need to be changed to a port other than 80, like 81 for example. Here are screenshots. IMPORTANT NOTE: When changing the Web Server Port you'll need to logon to the router like this from now on: http://routeripaddress:81 ex: http://192.168.1.254:81 http:// and :81 must be there.

I think people who do that type of thing are morons. Most likely those postage paid envelopes are for first class mail and anything over a certain weight &/or size is probably discarded at the post office if there's no return address, creating wasteful work for the postal workers who I'm sure have better things to do than throw away this garbage. Don't want junk mail? Call the companies sending it and ask to be placed on their do not call / do not send list. They'll comply - they did with me and I receive hardly any junk mail.

Good luck. You'll get it working.

Yes: AT&T iPhone 4S Oh good. Have you tried connecting with the phone using the WAN IP address? Also, sometimes the IP address seen in the router can be different from the IP address seen on the Internet. I've seen AT&T do this sometimes - it's a peer address in the router that can keep changing. Go to whatismyip.com or ipchicken.com to get the current ip address.

Just as a test, you can try using the IP Passthrough feature on the router. This will direct all outside traffic to the DVR no matter what the port. Basically leaves the DVR (or whatever other device is specified) open to everything, so I don't recommend it as a permanent solution, only to use for a short time as a test. Just need to ask - after configuring ports, the Save & Restart link is being used to reboot the router so the settings take effect, right?

Do you have a smartphone connected to a 3G/4G network?

Duplicate each entry using UDP as well. Also, are you trying to connect to the DVR using the WAN IP on a computer that is behind the router? May not work. Additionally, all 3 ports need to have the same number as referenced below.

First, when you access the router's interface, does it look similar to this? There were different firmware versions sent out with these DSL routers. If yours looks like this, we're in business.

That is right up my alley. I've configured more of those than I can remember. I'll write something up that will take you step by step. Trying to find one in the garage so I can take some screenshots.

Wow, completely opposite from my experience. Maybe try contacting a Regional Sales Manager from here: http://www.cnbusa.com/en/html/support/purchase.php

I use masking quite alot and find it to be a very useful feature when using motion detection.

Here in South Florida the bugs are always a problem. We try spraying bug spray around the outdoor cameras, but it doesn't last too long, plus it can be a pain to wipe off the lens if you happen to spray wrong or a little gust of wind comes. A buddy of mine had an interesting idea of placing a fan near outdoor cameras to keep the bugs away. Down here many supermarkets have air curtains at the entrances - basically fans that blow downward at the entrances & exits that create an air curtain bugs can't fly through. Some have large, freestanding fans that do a similar job. Anyway, the idea is similar - create an air curtain by the camera. I don't know where to get a weatherproof fan that can be mounted outside, but it's an idea.

Generally, the smallest SATA HDD you'll see on the market today is 160GB. From there the most common sizes you'll see are 250GB, 320GB, 500GB, 750GB, 1TB, 1.5TB, 2TB, 3TB. The cost difference between a 160GB and a 500GB HDD can be just $10-$20, so it doesn't really make sense to go with a lower capacity HDD when you look at it from a cost per GB basis. In Sept/Oct 2011 HDD prices skyrocketed due to flooding in Thailand. I think 30% of the worlds HDD factories were shut down. The prices have started to come back to where there were before the flooding and you can now get a quality 500GB HDD for $80-$85.

You can find the software for that model here: http://www.digimerge.com/support/discontinued/ There's a codec download there also. Just search the page for your model number and you'll find all the downloads for it. Does the playback software have a convert tool where you can convert the native format to avi or mpg? I haven't used Digimerge software, so I'm not familiar with it. Hopes this helps some.

supplycctv.com is on CNB's list of unauthorized resellers http://www.cnbusa.com/en/html/partner/unauthorizedreseller.php

Another issue could be the screen resolution on your PC monitor. I have a couple of 19" Standard (not wide screen) LCD monitors connected to the PC I'm using right now. They are set at their native resolution (1280x1024) and Medium (125%) Display (a setting in Windows 7 that makes text and other items appear larger). Live or recorded video on this system with those monitors and settings looks crappy. However, if I set the Display to normal it looks much better, but as I start to increase the live or playback size, let's say 200% - 300% of normal size so it fills the screen, the video will start to get pixelated. I have another system with a quality, widescreen monitor. Live streaming & video playback on this system blows away what I get on the other system. It also looks great on my newer laptop - older laptop not so good. Bottom line is there could be a variety of reasons why video doesn't look very clear on your PC. Just need to know the most likely causes and tweak both the DVR and PC to get the best possible viewing experience.

Hey, I have a question concerning CNB Mona Lisa cameras. I've installed a few of them (VCM24VF, DFL20S and a couple others) and they all seem to have a rainbow effect, similar to the tree in the Front Porch 12:16 pic and the deck in the Backyard 17:27 pic posted above. You can also see it in on the cage in the Dogs Room 08:19 pic, although it's a different camera. Anyone know why this happens with the CNB Mona Lisa cameras?

I'm not here to defend nor put down QSee DVRs. Just want to mention that if some of their DVRs are not compatible with IE9, so what? What's the big deal? I'd rather use the remote access software vs. a web browser anyway. To say that if a DVR is not compatible with IE9 there will be no remote access is absolute nonsense. I have clients with DVRs that were installed 6-9 years ago where the web viewers aren't compatible with IE8 or 9 and some have no mobile device support (even with IP Cam Viewer), but remote viewing with the remote access software works just fine even on Windows 7 64-bit systems. I have just one system where the remote software gives a problem and that's a Dedicated Micros D4RS. The Web Viewer won't work and the Network Viewer won't install correctly on 64-bit systems. 32-bit Vista or 7 and, of course, XP and XP Mode in Vista or 7 is no problem, so that's what's used. The times have changed. In the early 90's a decent computer cost $3,000, but by the early 2000's more powerful systems were $500 (even less) and that pricing remains in place today even as the systems get more and more powerful. I think the same thing has happened to the DVR industry. In my opinion you can't look at a $300 DVR today and say it's crap solely based on its price. It certainly won't be the solution for every situation, but may be just what's needed in some situations. There's a cover for every pot, so to speak. Bottom line: a DVR isn't compatible with IE9? Big deal. That will not prevent having remote access. The DVR company doesn't come out with firmware updates anymore? Some of my clients have systems where the last firmware update came out in 2005, but they're remotely accessible using remote access software. Some of these systems cost thousands (excluding cameras), not $200-$400 - and these $200-$400 systems have more features and better video quality.