CollinR

I think it is recording to the HD but its a pain to figure out whats what from where when. Demonstrating getting a video off is no prob, getting a specific video off isn't too fun but possible. Dumping the entire HD to network storage or really anything has me perplexed. Audio appears to be configured correctly, this isn't my first time around the block but my first time with a KTL.

Totally unmarked came from scdlink.com Yup DVR9014 http://www.scdlink.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=2125 I'm only tring to record audio on channel 1.

This organization takes the lowest bidder. http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=3941 You can bet alot of corner cutting is going on, $6 worth of savings $600 worth of PITA.

A group who contracts me provided me to 9 channel 160GB units. They are pretty questionable, I can't figure out how to get audio out of them or how to back them up.

Okay I see then, and I agree it isn't prudent to be blind to other contractors you should be open to new contractors. Taking the lowest bid is asking for trouble IMHO, I don't play that game or at least I tell em up front I probably won't be the cheapest. I concentrate on customer needs and satisfaction then price. I would start by coming up with a system of organization. Each building gets a letter and cameras a number. How you organize the cameras is up to you. Force the vendors to label their lines at both ends. Once thats done you shouldn't have too much issue reorganizing the lines. Getting the DVRs to all work together is something totally different. Another thing you can do is tell the contractor who did the best overall in the past what the new low bid is, and give them the option to beat it.

How far and how much? Which cam and which housing? Different cameras draw wildly different amounts of power, probably simular for the housings.

$200 case-mobo-power Just add memory and a harddrive (or CF don't get me going, I like small&silent).

Most of my customers wanna sit in Nassau and get drunk, they don't really wanna watch CCTV. There issues are also fewer and farther between it sounds.

If you two need some help with that I'm.

I have seen one like this with a 17" Touchscreen instead of lexan wall mounted somewhere. http://mini-itx.com/projects/frame/index.html You don't absolutely need a case, the fanless ones anyway, but not all M-ITXs have the CPU onboard like the Epias. Makes a cheap solution and is no doubt the way to go in vehicles.

Way cool. You know what i'm talking about with the Via Epia? http://www.mini-itx.com/hardware/intro.asp They have the power but until recently no intel chipset option. Even that DFI thats on the homepage I didn't find one in stock or on DFI's website. EDIT: They have em fanless too, so you can mount it inside an alarm encolsure, vehicle use is no problem. 12v powersupplies no problem, even smart ones to deal with vehicle starting and stopping for ~$50 So if you have the extra 12v from the cams PS you just add it on. They are nutty small, you could mount them in walls with ease.

1st You can tell many things just by being there everyday, the customer can also pick thier tour time as you would with a real gaurd. The difference is you can monitor with much more concealment then a human gaurd can. Are your customer's really that smart, sure when an issue of loss comes around you then upsell them until it's stopped. They only pay more if you put a stop to it. Either way even 24/7 monitoring is going to be cheaper then having a real human gaurd onsite. It just fills the hole between ADT and having real security, it won't work for many high security instances but that hole is huge.

How about the ones just shipped older cards? Really though it's a restricted market of people who will know, we installers yeah we will know but I wouldn't point it out to a customer tring to upsell them. They will never know, or it's unlikely for them to go looking without you telling them to.

They seem decent? What about the Wintergreens, they are even cheaper?

I'll take 100 of them since they are also in the $20/mo range too right? Thats the ticket, they can't afford an actual gaurd, and probably don't need one anyway. If regular alarm monitoring in the US ~$30/mo is acceptable doing both for $35 you'll clean house.

You got em Jeep? #1 is good.

You may need to install Samba and use it as a Windows PDC, it sounds to me like you have a problem with user rights. Odd though as you can write the data.

My only comment is your customer has some kind of issue, why would they have 5 groups involved. Thats just asking for problems, I personally wouldn't do it. You will wind up in a pissing match over ignorant problems. If I did it I would be hitting up the other 4 and tring to buy them out of it (and take their DVRs with em if possible). So I know everything is my issue to resolve. What is this a jail?

Too true. You could also call them on the phone and ask about a SYXS-DC-988970 Systemax Venture H519 (NOT the 516 on the website) Its a good to go package with XP home preinstalled. P4 519J Intel 915GL 512 MB 120G SATA 16x DVD-RW NIC Its about as much more $ as the license for XP, $599 not too bad. Yup, have you ever used a Via Epia? Where is that line where Via is no longer a go?

They will have a DVR so all the stuff gets recorded but its basically like having a gaurd walk through but hell of cheaper. Customer specifies when the walk throughs occur and of course if an alarm is triggered you get an instant walk through and email with preconfigured video evidence to show the cops they get there.

My vote.

Get one of these http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1698848&CatId=333 $189 take the motherboard out and swap it with this http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1648816&CatId=13 $59 and throw in a harddrive. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1422521 $50 I've never used that specific combination but I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work and hell it's under $350, will prolly hold a months worth of video and can back up to DVDs. Too bad it's in a bull**** case , nobody likes white.

GV1240-8 would do it, you might however consider the other Geovision cards because they all seem to have the same price point once you get to that level, the 1480 has twice the speed and inputs but 30% more cost. You'll have no storage problems as long as you get a reasonable harddrive, a 20G would prolly last for days in a residence. I don't know if they even sell HD that small anymore. Intel processor and Intel northbridge chipset (if in doubt buy a board made by Intel it will be both), the rest do as you wish. Buy quality network parts too, I've seen those $6 NICs cause $600 worth of PITA.

Man I like that idea!

I only use 24volt cams in them and yes 1 run to the housing then I parallel off to the camera. Large enough housings can fit a cam and an inverter but I don't do it.