c&c dan

Howdy Everyone - VERY glad to have found this forum! I've been browsing threads in this & the IP subforum. I'm a mechanic & the shop I work in was broken into over the weekend. Time for us to set up a camera system, so I'm researching what I can build for ~$1k USD. Might be able to stretch to $1,500. Need to build this from the ground up - we have no hardware right now. A fairly solid wireless network is in place, but its looking like, for our budget, an analog or hybrid system may be the way to go. I'd like to base it on a simple-but-recent desktop PC (used, refurb, etc.) which would have to be part of the budget. I thought I'd found just what we were looking for when reading threads about Exacq, but we would like 4-5 cameras (two outdoors, two indoors, one in the office) and getting individual licenses would kill our budget. . .is there another software suite that would allow remote access to the cameras (iPhone, PC browser, etc.) I'll continue to research & here on other sites, but would LOVE any input you folks might have on our specific situation!

^^^ junk stay away Thank you for confirming that - I was about to edit my post after reading the few replies I was able to find. Shame the market seems to be FLOODED with generic/questionable products at our pricepoint. . .

I'd *also* love to see what the pricing on the exacq DVRs is - I keep seeing references to how great they are, but w/o any idea of the price point, its kind of worthless.

Anyone have experience with the SVAT line, specifically the CLEARVU4? Seems like decent specs, TONS of cameras & a nice price. . . LINK

This is, I believe, the SQ80 DVR unit, specs are included, just not shown on the kit. . . http://www.mace.com/security/security-dvr/maceviewsq40-dvr-1.html

Chris - thanks for pointing me to the Mace SQ line - certainly seems to be the features we're after, and within our budget. Anyone have experience w/ these?

So, DVR = analog cameras, correct? That could work well, but are there any DVR systems that allow for remote monitoring? (and fit the budget?)

Thanks for clarifying - I didn't answer the questions as I thought I'd stated all of that in my original post. We need to build a system from the ground up - we have nothing. Hoping to build a system w/ 4-5 cameras.

If the budget is unrealistic, I'll talk to the bosses & see what can be done. I'm new to all of this, so advice on all things, budget included, is MUCH appreciated!