Metal Shaper Man

Sure Verveillance it looks as though you are correct. Buy dragging to the time on the timeline the video plays normal. If I let it run from 1:00 AM while seeking the alarms on its own, the video flickers between the first and second recorded video stamped 1:00 through 2:00 AM. The bottom line is it appears you lose one hour of video due to daylight savings time.

Sorry if I didn’t make myself clear. You only need to place the #5 welding glass over the lens while focusing the camera. After you are done focusing then, remove the #5 glass. If you don’t want to use the welding glass then focus the camera at near dark or dusk. You should focus a camera with an auto iris lens in this way in order to prevent focus shift. I still think your color problem during the day is due to not having an IR cut filter.

I agree with bike_rider. If I’m right and the fish eye stops a 6 mm, you would have to have two cameras to cover the field of view or distance you require.

Just by spot checking the difference between some of my cameras with inexpensive lenses, I find the fish eye effect stops at a 6 mm lens and begins below that.

It sounds like the camera has no IR cut filter which would make the color image look faded. It also sounds like the going out of focus problem could be due to focus shift. To avoid focus shift you should focus the camera in a low lighted environment or use a number five welding mask glass over the lens.

I have a couple of those and they work well.

I don’t want to make it sound like I’m against all the products Speco offers. In fact, I’ve been very happy with many of the HEAT line of cameras they offer. They have been running trouble free for few years and so far, their product and tech support has been very good as well. However, I recently purchased an HT_INTB8 intensifier bullet camera that I’m not at all happy with. I’ve tried adjusting this camera to no avail. Any movement within the field of view is nothing more than a blur cased by image lag. Any attempt to lower or stop the image lag results in a low light image hence, field of view. Personally, I would not recommend any of the Speco Intensifier series cameras. Check out this post for further comments in regard to Intensifier cameras. http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=9946

I have no experience with IP cameras or IP at all. However, I have recently had a very bad experience with one of the Speco intensifier series cameras. The two post listed below describe my complaint and also gives opinions along with expert advice in regard to an intensifier. Be sure to do your research before deciding on any intensifier. http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=9946 http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=10019

I think Panasonic ranks among the top of the very best. This is were you can find the information you’re looking for in regard to the WJ-RT208. http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=97614&catGroupId=14463&modelNo=WJ-RT208/1500&surfModel=WJ-RT208/1500

2000EUR is very close to 2800 USD. Though these are a bit more expensive, I would consider ICRealtime or a Panasonic WJ-RT208. In fact, I plan on trying one of the two mentioned if the near future along with upgrading my cameras.

Considering the quality of the cameras you have, I would certainly look for a dvr that will do them justice. I don’t think a dvr within the price range you describe will do so. You might set up a pc based unit like geo vision, which will provide better quality at a lower price. I’m not all that familiar with pc based units. However, I’m sure the experts here will guide you in the right direction.

I totally agree with you Rory. I think there is no question that they are using some kind of shutter control? VST-Man describes it well in this post. http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=66511#66511 The bottom line is, some may like it and, some may not. However, like you, I would not recommend that type of technology. Like VST-Man implies, the old way is still the best way. Yet, I would add, at least for now.

Like I mentioned above, I’ve not heard of the HQ-1 image device. Speco claims that the model percy talked about has the HQ-1 image device. I was just hoping the HQ-1 image device would reduce or resolve the lag problem I have with the Speco HT-INT8 so percy would not have the same problem I have.. Buy the way Rory, I understand your reason for being upset with Speco and the many other companies that sell OEM equipment plus, use what I think is deceptive advertising to promote their product.

Like I’ve said before, I’m no expert on this stuff. However, I’ve noticed since complaining about the Speco HT-INT8 Intensifier I have that, different models of the Intensifiers have different image devices. One has a Sony Super HAD, another with a Super HAD Double speed CCD and another with a Sony HQ-1 image device with a customized DSP. I am not familiar with the HQ-1 at all. Maybe you can explain that one Rory. Anyway, I have adjusted the intensification almost to off and the image lag is still unacceptable. What good is all the light if you still can’t make out what’s moving across the screen? All I can say is, I have some true day night cameras and some others with IR that, in my opinion, out perform the Intensifier by a long shot. I do want to add that I’m going to keep on trying adjustments in hopes of finding a better result but, at this point, I don’t think I will.

That is exactly what I’m talking about. There are so many variables from one manufacturer to the next, plus, the changes they make from week to week. In many cases, one just has to take his chances. Anyway, I’ve had some very good results with the Plextor PX M402U for copying events. I do not use it as an external devise for long term backup.

I am certainly no expert in this field and can only provide an opinion based on the equipment I‘ve owned. Nevertheless, I realize that, there are many variables to deal with when copying or capturing the video from dvr’s. As mentioned above, there are file types to deal with. There’s also a speed problem due to time lapse. For example, and just a one of many examples is, a video can look like it’s going 100 mph if you replay a time lapse video on Windows Media Player because it doesn’t compensate for the missing frames caused by the time-lapse. My dvr has five copy ports for backing up data. Three ports copy to specific external HDD’s and two seem to be nothing more than video outs, which are, S video and RCA video and audio out. Because I’ve never used the HDD copy ports, I’m not sure if they are readable by other media players other than that provided by the manufacturer. In fact, I would think one could only use the manufacturer’s player because my dvr will not even recognize any other external HDD other than that provided by the manufacturer. However, the S video and RCA seem to be nothing more than simple video outs. I can copy video by channels as mentioned above to a VCR. I can also copy to my PC by using the Plextor and the related video programs. Again, I am no expert with this stuff. But, it looks to me like the Plextor only takes analog video from a video camera, camcorder, VCR, or cable source and provides compressed MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and DivX video for display or archiving onto your PC via the supplied video programs then to a recordable CD or DVD discs. Just to throw a wrench in the wheel, in another post we were talking about the Plextor PX M402U and what one could do with it. Another member mentioned that all he had to do was plug his in the Plextor and burn directly to a disk. What he was saying did not make sense to me. Come to find out, I don’t think we were talking about the same thing. He was talking about a Plextor USB based DVD writer and we were talking about the PX M402U. To add to that, the manufacturer upgraded the newer model dvr’s so they would recognize other burners. They also provided downloadable upgrades for older model dvr’s as well. The bottom line is to get to know your dvr. What works for one dvr may not work for the other. Maybe you can capture video to an external HDD or burner as a backup then view it later. Nevertheless, if you have a simple video out on your dvr the Plextor PX M402U will copy to your PC then to a disk. You can have the video in two places, one on the PC and one on a disk. This is a link to the post mentioned above. http://www.cctvforum.com/post-59642.html&highlight=#59642

Maybe, I’m wrong but, I was always under the impression that all dvr’s were intentionally set up so one could only play the video from that machine for legal reasons. It’s suppose to prevent someone from tampering with or altering the video where a lawyer could contest it in court. In fact, or I should maybe say, I don’t think you can play a VHS tape made on one VHS recorder on another. You have to play the tape on the same machine it was recorded on. Simply, what you are facing is not uncommon. As I see it, that's the way different manufactures set up their machines.

If you use the Plextor PX M402U and set your dvr’s multiplexer to 4, 9, 16, one single channel or whatever, it will record exactly what you see on your monitor. Of course, you will not be able to multiplex the disk or files you’ve burned or saved to the programs mentioned above. The Plextor works well. I think you would like it.

If I understand your question correctly, I don’t think you can do it the way you describe. However, I think you can plug the monitor out from one dvr into a single channel of another, then, control that single input of that dvr with the other dvr. It would be better if you had a loop through on the monitor used with the dvr you are connecting to the single channel of the other dvr. Then you could view both dvr’s independently. Hard to explain but I know it works because I’ve done it.

These are examples of the early and later model CVC 637EX as mentioned above. Purchased in early 2003 with ExView. Purchased in late 2004 without ExView. I see this pic with less noise and less light sensitivity.

Rory, I would say that you are very close on when Speco switched from ExView to whatever they use now. I bought some CVC637EX cameras at the very end of 2002 with ExView. In late 2004 and early 2005, I bought a couple more. When I got the cameras, they had changed it from a 6 mm lens to a 3.6 mm lens. At first, I thought it was just the lens causing the problem. But, when I called Speco about it they said they had just completely updated the camera. So, I exchanged the 637’s for some CVC6800’s with 6 mm Len’s. To cut a long story short, the image was clearer with less noise, but, less light sensitive. If I can get a minute within the next day or so, I will post some pics showing the difference between the newer cameras and the older ExView. I must add that I have never had any problem with the cameras considering how old some of them are. All I’ve noticed is what looks to be some fading from the 2002 637’s. I still have some CVC870’s purchased in mid 2002 that are still going too.

I’m not at all familiar with the last camera you mentioned. However, I did look briefly at the specs and didn’t see anything about it having an IR cut filter. It’s mentioned several times throughout the forum how important an IR cut filter is when purchasing an IR camera. Without the IR cut filter the camera will most likely not have good color during daylight. Also, a true day/night camera will not have IR. A true day/night is just a camera that functions very well in very low light conditions. You can find more about them by searching the forum. As for the temperature damaging your camera, I don’t know? However, I would think the heater would solve that problem.

Thanks Rory for your comments. They will be helpful when I get the chance to sit down with this camera. However, at this point, I don’t think one can adjust all that crap out of the Speco camera. So far, the adjustments look like a big trade off. To gain one feature you loss the other and the end result is crap either way you go. Simply, one adjustment cancels the other and so on. It reminds me of the comments in the post listed below. http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=9966

I just received a Speco HT-INTB8.to test or in my case, play around with. My first reaction when I read your post was - DO NOT BUY THAT CAMERA, I REPEAT, DO NOT BUY THAT CAMERA!!! You will just be wasting your money. That intensifier thing really lights up the dark areas but you would never recognize even someone you know due to what I believe to be image lag. Simply, the image is clear unless there is movement in the day. At night the noise level is not what they claim and the lag is just as bad. I haven’t had it but a couple of days. And maybe I don’t have all the many adjustments worked out yet. Nevertheless, I’ve had many other cameras before and never had this kind of problem. I have the nuvico you mentioned and it's not a bad camera except for the mounting hardware being a little cheap. I think you are better off getting a true day night camera and adding a little light to the area.

My WD-HD 316 recording resolution is: Frame High Res 30ips Field 60ips SIF 120ips The Panasonic has many features making it seem difficult. Personally, I don’t think it’s all that hard. And, I don’t do this every day. Plus, the quality is fare superior to anything I've used before. Just my opinion.