CollinR

Next time don't go this road, it'll will never work right. You might be able to soulder onto the outside boxes bell switch so it is actuated by the original doorbell switch. Do they have an automation system installed? How are they distributing the existing doorbell signal?

Whats the story on the laptop, I have seen CD drives (never a burner though) that you just couldn't install XP from.

No doubt.

What is it you so disliked? You also need to look at this another way somewhat, alot of the linux philosphy is small more easily interfaced apps are better then large do it all style apps. So you can scan the encoder's frame buffer using an app for motion detection (IIRC Mdetect?) then transcode it to h.264>Divx>Xvid whatever you like at exactly whatever bitrate you want. Then stream it to the net using yet another app. Things like zoneminder are just a single interface and instalation package, you can modify any link in it's chain or fork the interface somewhere else.

What kind of internet access and networking hardware do you have? (ie DSL>2wire modem>linksys router or Cable>Motorola modem>Netgear router)

1st I highly suggest you hardwire the DVR to your network, I have been down this road many times and wifi and video transmission don't mix too well. Anyway sounds like you need to do some port forwarding in your router, it is probably blocking your inbound requests.

Just start asking dealers for demos, which browser do you use?

Pull your BNCs off and make sure none of the briad is touching the center pin.

Copper RG59 siamesed with 18-2 stranded power wire and BNC twist on terminals (arguable, many like souldering, crimping or compressing). RG6 is usually aluminum and not suitable for CCTV applications, it is designed for higher frequency transmission. Anytiiiiime.

Google Geovision and Avermedia, they record based on many things that you specify to the hard drive. They come in multiples of 4 inputs with a max of 16 usually. It can be configured to record 24/7 or only when there is motion in the camera's FOV. Geovision actually has a plate logging application. The basic software comes with the hardware. Buy from a reputable dealer (rory works). Yup, the Intotech comes with a DSP out that you can modulate to your CATV system so you can watch the rollover from any TV in the house (add about $100). Yes, I haven't seen a real PC solution with hardware buttons, many of the systems do have a controller but they are more focused on PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) control rather then software control. Yup and with the greater processing power of modern PCs you can stream it over the internet much more effciently.

1. Nobody has cared enough to create it in their free time yet. Since most linux software is OS nobody makes $ on it aside from installation, modification and support of it. How hard do you work for free? 2. Who cares. lol 3. They can do and many already have (icrealtime and many many many other dedicateds). Linux is more equipped for this as Thomas pointed out you don't need a GUI, well the fact is anything you don't want you can freely ax or modify. You can even go the linux from scratch route and only put what you need on the system (like the dedicated systems do) this results in reduced functionality but increased hardware effientcy. This really comes into play with software compression. But if you start with something like zoneminder and modify it to suit your needs, you can never sell the software. You can however do like ICrealtime and sell the hardware and give away the software. Read the GPL documentation. If you mix and match whats out there and create your own interface you can literally smoke everything else on the market.

Ding ding ding! I had a thread about this not too long ago, no responces.

I am not familiar with the AHDR, is there possibly another part# or tradename?

Probably not cost effective. Explain to them exactly how much data they are taking about moving.

That software looks pretty cool.

I don't see it happening in your budget, sorry. It would be better to save some $ then put what you have into inferior pieces. Buy the best wire and terminals you can, you can skimp on the cameras and upgrade them later when needed. By skimp I don't mean head to ebay, I mean what most of us call Chinese junk. Get 400+ line CCD cameras. Buy a decent PC based DVR that can capture 480 lines, you can use the best quality cameras availble but if you use crap wire, terminals and DVR you will still have a junk picture. Get a basic Dell PC with Intel motherboard ($299 right now complete) and throw in a decent DVR card with ~60 fps (Intotech works, Geovision and Avermedia are better). Now you should be up to ~$700-$800 in the DVR. You can use a chinese powersupply if you like ~$80-$100. Expect to replace it every few years. Wire and terminals probably in the $200 range. Thats $1100 before you have even started looking at cameras. Don't try to buy another complete package like that. EDITed If your driveway is basically a 1 lane road with only 1 way in/out you can easily have plate recognition for under $250. You will just need to be careful with your lens selection and you will need to get close to the vehicle. As usual you will be wasting that camera on plates alone, for good recognition you will need the plate to take up a good amount of the picture, so much so that you won't see anything but vehicle.

The best part of the Linux CCTV problem is if you don't like it YOU can fix it. You gotta change your mindset and in this business there is plenty of room for *nixes. Nobody hires an IT department for their dedicated DVRs. I'll agree it will be a long time coming before Linux is a hot desktop OS solution but in the server room Linux will continue to gain ground. You will see many new SOHO systems designed specifically to hit microshaft in the lilicenseing department. It just doesn't make sence for any small business to use MS server products.

It depends on alot of stuff, most remote veiwing apps are based on Microsoft's Internet Explorer because thats what most PCs have. It depends alot on what browser the cel phone has. Some DVR manufacturers have gone out of their way to make this possible but most haven't.

Get cheaper (power consumption) outside lights or get a real security camera system. I would try and figure out how much light they really need which I think will be the killer. I doubt you just need ~some~ light. You can also feel free to throw money at the problem too, if so I use paypal.

H.264 is MPEG4 layer 10. So same same, sometimes . Just when you thought you were drowning in info too. EDIT: With the right FTP client you might be able to setup a LIFO directory sync between the two. I just don't think remote viewing would work very well anymore. Also since you use DSL, it'll all be toast when they cut the phoneline so I doubt you would have any remote images half the time anyway. You really need to have it stored locally just get more creative.

Even after you have done as jisaacmagee said you still can't install on your own. You have to work under a "licensed company" who also employees a licensed "company manager". 2 more years and I'll be up for the company manager license. Then you can go off and install a motion detector or camera for hire. I think they should they should put some kinda leash on this on paper, what is a burgler alarm exactly? What is a home automation system with remote reporting capability that uses magnetic door contacts and posses 3 door cams but no recording capability. I have to walk this line alot.

Gotta swap cases.

If you shoot it to me I'll transcode it for you. Collin@CollinRector.com Basically thats all you need to do is transcode it to MPEG2 and then convert that to the DVD VOB structure. TMPGEnc will do it all in one go.

I put bullets in the wall right next to the door just to alleviate all these issues. Then just install a wreath or whatever the customer wants as a disguise. As was mentioned though, they have spring loaded automotive door jam contacts that would do the job no problem. I would remove the door and drill it from top center down to the peephole. http://www.ebyelectro.com/precidip/pp_pages/pp_springloaded.asp

You are far better off hiding the DVR and accessing it 100% remotely, then put up an obvious cheapo CCTV setup VCR/monitor. Most crooks don't expect redundent systems but I would make the wires where they don't pull through the ceiling easily. If the cheapo setup is actually somewhat function run your DSP output to it's channel 1 then have the monitor show channel 1. I have done this with cheapo TV/VCR combos from walmart and the like, just put a CCTV sticker on it and you are good to go. The next step is putting a camera inside the junker for that excellent face shot while they try to yank it.