groovyman

Can you access the dvr with your phone over your wifi network using the internal ip address of the dvr?

Check the BNC connectors. I had this situation today with a dvr I replaced. Actually, two channels had jumping video. Tightening the BNC connectors on the ends of the cable solved the issue.

I received a call from someone today who's DVR wouldn't power on. This is an older 4CH Dedicated Micros DVR (D4RS) with a proprietary external power supply. I believe it's a bad power supply & a replacement will cost around $90 shipped. I think that's outrageous, but it is what it is. It may or may not fix the issue and I'll be wasting a lot of time if it isn't, plus the downtime that the client really doesn't want. Unfortunately the dealer isn't around any more. The only reason I would consider buying a new power supply is because I know this system cost a lot of money when it was installed and has been working well over the last 6 years. But, because of its age I'm recommending to replace it with a new stand alone DVR that has more functionality, better video quality and a whole lot more storage. I believe the current system has a 160GB-300GB hard drive and retains maybe 10-14 days of video which has been an issue just a couple of times over 6 years. Now, keep in mind that I'm not 100% sure it's a bad power supply, but all signs point to it. So, what would you do? 1 - Spend the money on a new power supply that may or may not fix the issue ($90). 2 - Replace the aging system with a new 4CH stand alone w/ 1TB-2TB hard drive that has more functionality for around $450. Any opinions appreciated.

We all know that. It's easy enough to test the PS with a volt meter and advise the customer. But from being on the other end, even when a trusted service person only presents one option, and that option is a sale, you as the customer feel like....well... he's trying to sell you something. Yeah, yakky, that's just how I feel. Being on the customer side I hate when someone tells me something needs to be replaced without presenting possible repair options. Example: My AC unit wasn't working properly. First guy said it needed to be replaced. The next guy said nope, coils just need cleaning and he also replaced some corroded connectors outside. Couple hundred vs a few thousand.

Well, I installed the replacement DVR today. They are very pleased and happy with the decision, especially when they saw the difference in video quality. So, all around, the right decision was made. It was time.

Use the public IP address in the iphone app, not the browser. Sounds like it's going to work since you got a response which is a good sign.

Try connecting via 3G or the Internet using the public IP address. Note: if you try connecting to the public IP address while connected to your internal network it may not work. You need to try from a different network. If your phone is connected to your wifi, turn wifi off and 3G on.

Did you watch the event on the dvr itself or from a computer? If from a computer it's possible the video is sitting in a folder somewhere - maybe a download folder created by the DVR software or a Windows temp folder.

That Ok just forget about No harm meant Didn't think you did. All good.

I've gone through this so many times over the years and I'm immune to it. Not necessarily with CCTV, but in general. Why do they ask? They're looking for confirmation on a decision they already made. Whether you agree with them or not it makes no difference. You're the professional, but what the hell do you know? They always know better.

In my opinion it really comes down to the environment, FOV (field of view) and what is being captured. For your environment and what you're capturing it seems that D1 is not sufficient for you, and that's understandable. Also, as you mentioned, cameras and compression have an effect on overall quality as well. In most of the environments where I've installed cameras, MP cameras are not needed. And in the environments where a MP camera or two would be advantageous, the clients choked when learning the cost. Using decent quality analog equipment and setting the proper FOV can yield decent results. What do u think about this statement "Recommending only video security solutions based on your current comfort level or technical capabilities is not delivering the best long-term business solution. It is selling products. If you are in a "product sale" mindset, you better have some really low overhead and be able to live with "low price wins" profitability issues." I think it came out of left field and don't get what it has to do with video resolution in environments that don't need cameras that produce images where you can zoom in and see nostril hairs

Yes, I agree. I actually cleaned the camera domes about 3 months ago when I was there to service a computer. I looked at the DVR monitor and noticed some fuzziness. A few minutes later he was amazed at the improvement. I agree with that too. I actually fired up my laptop and showed him a few recent installations. Even though it's still analog, he saw the difference immediately. And he knows I'd never take advantage. Too much good will has been built up on both sides. Did I charge him extra for wiping down the cameras? Nah. 10 minutes and I was happy to do it. Good people remember the little extras.

Yes, definitely. That's just what happened today. Even went online with the client to see what a power supply would cost. I was expecting in the neighborhood of $35 shipped. Then I started discussing the age of the DVR, possible hard drive replacement (it's 6 years old and has the DM software on it), video quality, no smartphone access and that it may not even be the PSU. I steered him towards a new system, but I'm still torn over whether to just get the psu and chance it. If it's not the psu then I'm replacing it anyway. Thanks for the advice about a sticker or card which is always a great idea, but that's not necessary. I've been servicing their computer equipment since the business opened - even before this location opened. I think they've got my number

In my opinion it really comes down to the environment, FOV (field of view) and what is being captured. For your environment and what you're capturing it seems that D1 is not sufficient for you, and that's understandable. Also, as you mentioned, cameras and compression have an effect on overall quality as well. In most of the environments where I've installed cameras, MP cameras are not needed. And in the environments where a MP camera or two would be advantageous, the clients choked when learning the cost. Using decent quality analog equipment and setting the proper FOV can yield decent results.

Google street view is pretty good to, if they've come down your street. I live in a gated community and they weren't let in " title="Applause" />

Thanks for posting your thoughts on the systems and the camera comparison. There ya go. " title="Applause" /> I personally haven't used any of those dvr-in-a-box cameras, but I've seen them on quite a few DIY installations. Color reproduction is horrible in my opinion (you may have gotten better quality cameras though). I've used inexpensive QSee DVRs in the past and although I was satisfied with the resulting video when used with decent cameras, the DVRs themselves aren't lasting very long and one by one are dying a slow death and being replaced. Some here use QSee DVRs and have been quite happy with their performance. I guess it all comes down to the model you happen to get.

Sounds like a physical issue to me - network cable, router or DVR. If you're having issues connecting locally, to start I'd take a look at the network ports on both the router and DVR. Look to see if any pins are bent, misaligned or dirty. Try using a different network cable &/or a different port on the router. And yes, it could possibly be a faulty router.

tomcctv is correct, but it can be done either way. In fact (no kidding) I just did an AT&T UVerse installation today with that exact router. In my opinion they took something simple and made it difficult. First you need to add two new applications, name them something like DVR80 and DVR9000 with the appropriate port numbers configured, then choose your device from the list and map the applications to it. Here's a step by step guide: http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB413180&cv=812,506&title=Setting+up+Port+Forwarding#fbid=VS3gQDZErw1

Great, thanks for letting us know. I always like to hear that a solution worked. This thread might be helpful to someone else now.

vector18 is correct. Change the rules so it's 80-80 and 9000-9000, not 80-9000 and have it forward to 192.168.1.67. Create 2 rules for each, one TCP and one UDP, so you should have 4 entries total. The IP address starting 99.x.x.x is most likely your WAN IP address - what is assigned to the router by the ISP and the address you would use in your phone when connecting via 3G or other Internet connection. For security sake, delete the image from your post. vector18 - if you could edit the address from your post that would be nice As far as email - you can always send a PM which I'll get a notification via email. However, you're almost there.

OK, that's great, thanks. Keep the IP Address static at 192.168.1.67 DNS1 can be the same as your Gateway: 192.168.1.254 Don't be concerned with UPNP, PPPOE or 3G Now, in your router you'll need to configure ports 80 and 9000 to forward to 192.168.1.67. Sometimes the modem/router needs to be restarted for the settings to take effect, so read all messages that may appear. Then, to connect to the DVR outside your network whether it be 3G or the Internet at another location you'll need to use the IP address assigned to your DSL Modem. To find this address go to http://www.ipchicken.com. That's the address you'll need to use in your phone to connect via 3G. After this starts working then we can configure the dynamic dns service. If you don't know how to forward the ports in your router post the make & model.

Call or email for an updated manual then Or make sure the ports mentioned in the manual are the same ports configured in your DVR. Please report what these port numbers are, along with the internal IP address of the DVR and the make/model of your DSL modem/router. Typically not. I've setup port forwarding at hundreds of locations with AT&T DSL (and now Uverse) Internet service. I've never run into any port blocking on their network - except outgoing email on port 25. First let's accomplish configuring your AT&T router and DVR for remote access, then we'll resolve that issue. Essentially what it does is it allows you to connect to your DVR using a url, like a .com, .net or .org address instead of having to use the IP address assigned to your DSL modem/router which can change (called a dynamic IP address) if you don't pay a monthly fee for an IP address that does not change (called a static IP address).

Well, Zmodo seems to offer better support (at least you can find a manual) and they have some live demos and video samples available on their website. Just from their online presence, Zmodo seems to be more professional than Aposonic. The interface looks very similar to some QSee systems I purchased a couple of years ago. I tend to view QSee, Night Owl & ZModo as marketing companies selling very similar product from the same manufacturers, just rebranded under different names. Inexpensive stuff, but may be just what you're looking for. I was very pleased with the video quality from the inexpensive QSee systems I purchased, but they had a lack of features and other issues that developed over time (not recording, shutting down, missing segments, playback issues). For a first system I think it will be OK. You may find yourself wanting something better as time goes on, or maybe not. If this serves your purpose, go for it. Nothing wrong with that.

I've caught many people stealing money over the years. Some of the women take the bills and put it down their shirts. My running joke is "they come in as a B cup and leave as a C"

Hmm, this has me confused. Does the mall provide Internet access for every tenant? That's OK. The WAN IP address of the router does not have to be the same as the DNS. However, I have a question. Is the WAN IP address of the router within the private IP address space: 10.x.x.x or 172.16.x.x – 172.31..x.x or 192.168.x.x?