mannyaa

Looking for advice on an IP Megapixel POE camera for a Qnap VS-2012 system. We are looking to add about 3 cameras to this system which currently already hosts 5 cameras. The cameras will be mounted inside a barn facing a field to monitor horses. We are currently using Vivotek Megapixel IP cameras but are not very happy with them and will not recommend or use them in the future, we are continuing to use these cameras since we can't afford to replace them as they were not cheap. Their POE is unreliable and their service is horrible, they expect you to ship a failed camera under warranty to California and then they will ship it overseas for repair, absurd! We are looking for a reasonable priced entry/mid level Megapixel IP camera from a manufacture that stands behind the product and offers good service/support if that even exists. Our system supports many camera models: http://www.qnap.com/en/?lang=en&sn=822&c=1655&sc=1657&t=1666&n=7300 We are ok with color cameras that switch to b&w mode at night. Their main function will be to monitor during the day. We may go with two wide angle fixed cameras and perhaps one that has some sort of manual or automated PTZ. Appreciate any advise from those in the field that are familiar with the product they are recommending. Thank you. -Manny

I am trying to put together a system for a customer and would love some recommendations. From my research I am not finding much out there and seeing allot of junk. I am looking for a 8 or 9 channel IP NVR. There don't appear to be many companies that make them; specifically I am looking for a Linux embedded NVR because of their smaller form factor and general reliability. I realize there are allot of companies out there that make custom built IP NVR's similar to a custom built PC running Windows, I am not interested in this kind of junk. I found at least two companies that appear to have what I'm looking for Qnap and AverMedia but I have no experience dealing with these companies or their product quality/support. Also my main concern is warranty, I really don't want to spend well over $1,000 (which is what these things cost) and only get a meager 1 year warranty and have the NVR fail and find out later that the manufacture produces junk and offers poor or no service. I'm looking for an NVR that is ready to go, meaning the software is already integrated that allows me to record and view the cameras remotely. I would like something that can support simultaneous recording/viewing of all the cameras (8 or 9 depending on the NVR's capacity). Initially the system will have about 5 cameras total but we want to be able to go up to 8 or 9. The NVR should offer a decent remote viewer for viewing over the web remotely. I am also looking for advice on cameras, not looking for the highest quality but for good or very good quality without breaking the bank. I want all the cameras to be support POE and all will be color with nigh vision (low lux or whatever you want to call it). 4 cameras will be outdoors and although I don't want a PTZ it would be nice if these cameras have some kind of zoom in capability and or a wide-angle lens to capture a wider area or for the user to be able to zoom in a little bit remotely. These will all be fixed cameras. Audio is not really a requirement. I would prefer cameras, which use some kind of standard that will work well with the software of most NVR's. 1 camera will be indoors and having audio on this one might not be a bad idea. -Manny

I also just found today the Vivotek 9ch NVR, NR7401. It's a small box with linux embedded and it also comes with a built in 4 port POE switch which is nice. I don't know how good their NVR software is, can anybody comment on this unit and their software? These units are around $700 without the hard drive and have a 2 year warranty. -Manny

I been doing some further searching and I found the following camera which I liked overall Vivotek IP7361, it runs around $700 which is not cheap. Can anybody comment on this particular camera and Vivotek's cameras in general? -Manny

Not having much luck finding IP POE cameras. Everything i've looked at cost well over $1,000 and allot of the cameras appear to offer poor quality and are not reliable. -Manny

I'm not sure what cameras I am going to use. Actually I would love some recommendations. I need the cameras to be color with decent night vision and POE compatible. Any recommendations for indoor/outdoor cameras? Looks like for the NVR I am trying to settle with the Qnap VS-2012 since it appears it will meet the needs of this project. -Manny I'll have to look up the model of a HIKvision camera I saw in action recently... it's watching the same parking lot as a couple Arecont AV3155DNs, but at night, when the Areconts go to B&W, the Hik stays in color... has as good as or better picture, and possibly less motion blur. Does the QNAP support HIKvision at all? Looks like the HIKvision cameras are supported: http://www.qnapsecurity.com/pro_compatibility_camera.asp Thank you. -Manny

I'm not sure what cameras I am going to use. Actually I would love some recommendations. I need the cameras to be color with decent night vision and POE compatible. Any recommendations for indoor/outdoor cameras? Looks like for the NVR I am trying to settle with the Qnap VS-2012 since it appears it will meet the needs of this project. -Manny

Let me elaborate a little more on the NVR because different companies do things differently it seems. I'm looking for a NVR for IP cameras so I do not need analog camera inputs on it. The NVR will have recording software embedded and run a Linux embedded OS (I prefer Linux because it's more reliable and I don't have to deal with maintaining another PC in the case of using something with windows which will be more prone to attacks, will need Anti-virus software, etc). But I am still open to NVR's that run windows. The NVR will support at least up to 8 IP cameras and be able to record the 8 cameras simultaneously. NVR will have a web interface that will allow the system/cameras to be configured and will allow remote viewing over a web browser for the customer. It will not require the purchase of any software or licensing. It will have a hard drive built in so that I don't have to use another PC or external storage device (I know some units come with no drives and you have to supply the drives, that is ok). From what I see it looks like the Qnap VS-2012 VioStor NVR offers me the specs I need but it only comes with a meager 1 year warranty which I am not too crazy about. I would prefer something with at least a 2 year warranty. Looks like I can buy it for around $984 which is not bad I guess. Anybody have any experience/feedback on this unit? Anybody know of an online demo of this unit that one can look at? Thank you all for all the info so far. -Manny

This setup is going to be used in a home, a large home. Lets say its a big farm house. I don't need POS features or anything like that. Just want a reliable system and decent quality cameras with good web viewing capabilities. Ok I'll consider windows embedded NVR's, I just want a small box like the Qnap cube type of boxes or a small DVR like box. The NVR is going inside a closet with other equipment and I really don't want a huge ugly box in there. -Manny

I don't really have a budget per say. I'd say lets keep it as much as possible below $2,000. I do realize that the NVR's cost as much as 4 times the price of a regular DVR. -Manny