Metal Shaper Man

I agree with everything you said Rory. However, he said that the camera is seeing IR, light. Therefore, the camera is turning on the LED’s at night but not changing to B|W. Unless, there are two CDS switch’s, one for the LED’s and one for B|W mode, it would lead me to believe that the camera is like the Swann I gave as an example. There is no IR cut filter and no B|W mode. Yet, it is possible that one switch would control all three functions, the LED’s, IR cut filter, and B|W mode, therefore, the problem may be exactly as you said above. Or there is something wrong with the camera.

I don’t know what brand of camera you have or how much you paid for it. Nevertheless, some inexpensive cameras have a CDS sensor that turns on the LED’s at night but do not switch the camera to B|W. Many inexpensive cameras do not have an adjustable AGC (auto gain control) that can compensate for low light and noise. The camera might have ELC, (electronic light compensation) where the light level and noise are electronically controlled within the camera. I recently experimented with a $129.00 Swann camera that is designed as I described above and behaves exactly as you described yours. There are many reasons for poor picture quality as well as other things not working as expected. I would just do a lot of research. Also, learn how to read between the lines when checking DVR and camera specs. What you gain in one place, you lose in another. The list goes on! Hopefully, my comments with VST_Man's will help.

Isn’t some of the picture quality relative to recording between frame or field plus, the image quality settings?

I’m not sure what the fellows question really is? However, I’m thinking in a way that we in cctv surveillance or police work might use a analytical computer program. I don’t know much about it, but, its called image forensics. Anyway, placement of cameras, type and size of lens etc., would surely help minimize the analyzation effort. The bottom line is plain good surveillance system design.

Yes, I selected that feature about a week ago and got no e-mail.

I assumed there were no guards just a wide angle lens camera on the front of a business looking downward towards the street. Therefore, facial recognition may not be possible. From the white clothing the person was wearing and the crowd associating the event with a particular gang, the police were able to locate the real shooter. Simply, the video analysis eliminated the guy the witness’ said, by showing a person with white clothing, holding a gun and firing.

I’m not sure but, I saw a thing on tv the other night where a video analyst was able to put a transparent white oval haze over a suspected shooter in the middle of a crowd. In the middle of the crowd were all the kayos was going on, people ID-ed the wrong person as the shooter. After watching the video, the analyst suspected another guy and highlighted him. The highlight controlled buy the computer program followed the suspect to the point where one could see the real shooter emerge from the crowd and pull the trigger. If I remember right, this was called video analyst software. Again, I’m not sure because of all the damn interruptions while trying to watch the show. It also sounds like the question is, how do I design my system, camera placenent, lens, etc?

Infrared light is divided into three different bands, near, mid, and far infrared. For infrared photography, it is the near infrared band that is detected. As with visible-light photography, NIR photography is capturing reflected light not intrinsic heat of objects, which is emitted at longer IR wavelengths. As I perceive it, the bulb is the source that emits the light used, hence, red being brighter, white softer and not visible even softer. From that I would determine that all the cctv cameras we are talking about in the forum, use NIR or (near infrared.) The question is, what camera and/or set up - meaning lens, lux, etc. - do we use with what light source and the amount of light used that will not wash out the scene? Many of us do not have the time or interest in studying the science, therefore, it comes down to what Kensplace said above. Oxide.blu. I would say you are correct.

Infra-red lamps come in varying wavelengths from approx. 730nm to 950nm. 730nm filters are overt and give a red glow - like a traffic light. 830nm filters are semi-discreet and produce a dull red glow. 950nm filters are effectively totally covert - giving off no visible illumination. Viewing distances are reduced with 830nm and 950nm lamps. A 950nm will require a highly sensitive night time camera. When you are talking about projecting light from the camera out, the intensity of light in regard to identification will be of concern. Think of a camera with a 500W bulb, 100W bulb, 50W bulb and so on. The high reflecting areas of an object will wash out under higher wattage . Simply, the design or balance between the light used, distance and the camera will determine the outcome. Example, Extreme cameras are a leader in this area. From one of my earlier post: While the human eye can only register light between the blue and red spectrum, a color camera's image sensor can detect more. The image sensor can sense long-wave infrared radiation and thus "see" infrared light. Allowing infrared to hit the image sensor during daylight, however, will distort colors as humans see them. This is why all color cameras are equipped with an IR-cut filter -- an optical piece of glass that is placed between the lens and the image sensor -- to remove IR light and to render color images that humans are used to. As illumination is reduced and the image darkens, the IR-cut filter in a day & night camera can be removed automatically to enable the camera to make use of IR light so that it can "see" even in a very dark environment. To avoid color distortions, the camera often switches to black and white mode, and is thus able to generate high quality black and white images. IR light is filtered away in the camera by an IR-cut filter in order to render color images that humans are used to. When light conditions are too dark to render color images, a day & night camera's IR-cut filter can be removed to enable the camera to make use of IR light to produce high quality black & white video. True day/night do not use IR. They operate to very low lux levels.

Wait till a nice sun shinny day and all the moving shadows cast across the capture area from the trees trigger your alarms. Just think, it moves from one camera to the next throughout the day as the sun crosses the sky. Like everything, motion detection has its draw backs.

I could not agree with you more on that statement Rory. When I started messing with this stuff about five years ago, learning what the specs were and meant was the first thing I did. And I must say it was not that difficult. I learned about resolution, lux levels, db noise level and so on. Simply, what the specs were on the product sheet. From there, I matched the resolution, for example. If the camera is 480 then, the monitor should be 480 or above. The DVR should produce at least that in live view. Note that I said live view. I believe play back is a whole different ball game because there are frame rates, compression, and other factors to deal with as well. However, that is an area you have to work with for max performance within your means as well. Many of the good CCTV sites provide information on what it is all about. Anyway, my system may not compete with Vegas, but it will knock your sox off when comparing it to most local stores, bars and so on.

Yes, a family member was complaining about that the other day. I will look into it a find out what the results are, if any.

I would bet it will work with the camera viewing through one piece of non reflecting glass. However, I’m not sure how it will effect the camera when looking through two pieces of glass stuck together. I know you understand. I just think it something worth testing. If you look at the non reflecting glass, you will see that one side is not frosted, but, a bit stippled. That stippling may have some effect on the picture. I don’t know? Again, something I think is worth testing.

CollinR, just for the heck of it, get a piece of non reflecting glass that’s used for picture frames from the local hardware -- 8X10 or something. Maybe you could fasten it to the window by putting a bead of clear adhesive type silicone around the outer edge of the new glass. If the window has smaller pains, you could just replace the pain of glass where the camera is. Keep in mind that the non reflecting surface is only on one side of the glass which should obviously face towards the camera. As you most likely will, I would also do a little experimenting before trying this on site. Just an idea that may turn out worthwhile.

I’m not familiar with a variety of PC based DVRs. However, I can turn the reboot feature off or set the amount of days between reboot in the settings or tools area on mine. I’m pretty sure you can adjust that to accommodate your concerns.

While the human eye can only register light between the blue and red spectrum, a color camera's image sensor can detect more. The image sensor can sense long-wave infrared radiation and thus "see" infrared light. Allowing infrared to hit the image sensor during daylight, however, will distort colors as humans see them. This is why color cameras are equipped with an IR-cut filter -- an optical piece of glass that is placed between the lens and the image sensor -- to remove IR light and to render color images that humans are used to. As illumination is reduced and the image darkens, the IR-cut filter in a day & night camera can be removed automatically to enable the camera to make use of IR light so that it can "see" even in a very dark environment. To avoid color distortions, the camera often switches to black and white mode, and is thus able to generate high quality black and white images.

I think this is what you are looking for. http://www.altronix.com/index.php?pid=4

When I first started fooling around with cctv, I researched and bought some decent cameras and a good dvr. Being impatient, I used aluminum shielded RG59 from a large coil I had laying around. I did not run anything more than a 50 ft. run. Within a few days, I was getting shadowed lines running up the picture on several but not all cameras. To make a long story short, I did several test. When I ended the testing by replacing the cable with solid copper center and 95% bradded shield, the problem went away. I suspect it was interference from the many electric and cable lines that pass near my building. 500 foot of that stuff is a lot of money to throw away if for some reason you have trouble. The bottom line for me is to use the recommended product for the application. Send that stuff back and get the right product.

Great idea! I know that updates are still available for that computer. I’ll check the update page and see if they have one. Thanks

The computer without the option will be 5 years old in February 2007. However, it was a top of the line unit back then. Because of reading on the forum about DVR cards, I threw 3 cheap DVR cards in it and found it interesting. Eventually, I will gain enough knowledge and graduate to something more advanced like GEO.

Thanks Kensplace for the where to look information. I found that my old computer does not have that option either. However, the newer computer I have does. Thanks again.

I have a PC that will not come back on after a power outage. I have to manually restart the PC. However, the embedded DVR’s I use, restart, reboot and return to normal after a loss of power. I think that is the question you are asking. .As for reconfiguring a PC to restart, reboot, I don’t know. I would have to ask the guy's if that is done through the PC settings or is that done through the DVR cards program settings?

Altronix also has charts and tools to work with. http://www.altronix.com/index.php?pid=4

I would also suggest reading some of the post in regard to monitors as well. There is a lot of good comments and facts there, that might work best for you.

I only know about a Swann card we played with. Maybe they have some software now, that I'm not aware of. My point is to match your system because, your system is only as good as the weakest link.