Metal Shaper Man

I think the point we should make is, a system is only as good as it’s weakest link. That includes the cameras. DVR, monitor, installation and supplies. Simply, we should take all this back to it’s simplest form. For example, if you want to identify a person you don’t know approx. 70 ft from the camera, you might want a 5-50 mm veri focal lens. The quality of the lens matched to the quality of the camera, DVR, installation and supplies, will also have an effect on the over all picture. However, that doesn’t mention the sacrifice of field of view. I now you pro’s clearly understand what I’m trying to say in regard to installing a system. When I speak with a customer in my business, I tell them that, this is the most durable rout to take and will cover your needs. However, if you choose the cheaper products you will most likely sacrifice picture quality, durability and so on. If the customer is not willing to accept what I feel is a minimum standard, then, I will turn that customer away. Simply, I’m not going to pay for the customers mistake in the end. I don't think some people asking for help understand that. Again, I know you pro’s understand

And we wonder why children and young people won't accept responsibilty for what they do????

I'm sorry but I couldn't help saying something here. I'm not an exert on DVR's either and I'm anxious to hear what the experts on this site will have to say. Nevertheless, I believe what you're refering to is the unit will elert you via E-mail. The unit may send you a snap shot of the event as well. Like I said, I'll be interested in hearing what the experts have to say.

This is from that thread: http://www.extremecctv.com/products/index.cfm?img=33 Note: the housing is made out of PVC. Nevertheless, I just threw that in because of what I was told by the store that sold me the salt water fish. Other cameras listed in that thread are for deep sea diving. Meaning, the size of the tank could be a facter too. I just wanted the fellow to check it out before - maybe - killing his fish.

Maybe, you should check the the fish store experts. I don't think you can put metal in with salt water fish. I had some salt water fish and that was the first thing the store pointed out. You have to be carful about putting some types of rocks and/or gravel because they my contain iron. Anyway, I'm no exert on fish. But, I just wanted to warn you because the camer may cause harm to the fish. I know that some salt water fish are very expensive.

I'm very happy to hear that everything worked out for you.

You need a female BNC for connecting to the camera and a BNC male to RCA addapter. That's if you have female BNC connectors on each end of the cable. If they are f connecters,you will need one f to bnc and one f to rca. The thing is, regular cable for TV is not the best to use for CCTV. You should use RG 59 Solid copper core with 95 per cent copper brade for sheelding.

I just wanted to add one more thing. I'm not sure but, this is something you could look into. If your Media Center is like mine, you could hook up an RF Modulater between the camera and the F connecter. Then you could use the TV or Media Center program by setting it to channel 3. From there, you could use the Media Center Program to Schedule the camera for times of day, burn DVD,s and so on.

I think that's the answer. I have a Media Center so I have a little unerstanding of the PC.

I don't know exactly where you're plugging in the camera. If you're connecting it to the F connecter on the back of the PC which, is for cable tv or antanna, the PC won't recognize the camera. You should use the RCA video inputs on the back or the front of the PC then, your video programs should recognize the camera. The HP Media Center PC is set up for viewing and recording TV programs. Hopefully, I understand your question?

Has anyone used or have any positive or negitive advice in regard to the E-FM1 Handheld Focus Indicator?

Rory, I honestly respect your advise and openions based on the many post you have written. And I will take your advise on this one too. I just thought it might be a good toy to play with considering the price is not 700.00 or more.

Rory, that is a good question. I don't know anything other than I found this at a site called Eagle Technology. If I can I will try to find something I can post that doesn't include pricing.

I'm fairly sure the CM-2 or CM-1 would be a better choice for the pro installer because, it has most, if not all the functions needed to focus and adjust cameras. From what I see on the spec sheet, the E-FM1 is for focus only. And of course the E-FM1 is much cheaper than the CM 2. I was just wondering if someone may have used the E-FM1 and what they thought of the usability and/or quality. Simply, I'm just tired of climming the ladder with the 27" hanging around my neck only to find I left the BNC to RCA adapter in the truck.

The story is, I saw a post about the CM-2. I typed a search looking to find out more about it. The only company that came up with anything in the way of CCTV handheld camera focus indicators or test equipment was Eagle Tecnoligy. The trouble is, they are located in South Africa. Anyway, they listed a few models for adjusting CCTV camers. I realized that the E-FM1 was for focus only. The other models like the E-CM1 and E-CLM1, had other functions as well. Of course the later were much more expensive. I'm still interested in the unit because, all I want is an easy way to focus a camera at hights. Again, if anyone with instalation experience thinks it might be worth a try, I might test it out. P.S. I would post a link but, they give prices. Thanks for the replies.

Thanks so much for the valuable info. I thought it was most likely a good tool but, needed to hear it from someone with hands on exerience before spending the money. Thanks again.

First I must say that ,I agree with Rory. I use a HT-7815DNV, I also have a couple Speco CVC-550 EX cameras. Both cameras get a good picture through the day. At night, I feel like the 550 along with a street light provides a better picture than the 7815 does with all that IR. Plus, the 550 has the heaters, plus, a 5-50 mil vari focal lens. It's also about 2/3'S the price which allows a little room to ad IR if you should choose. One more thing, the 550 has a Super Had CCD and thay claim the 7815 has EXview. After using the 550, I truly wonder if the 7815 is realy EXview. My experience is only with the Speco HEAT cameras. Therefore, someone else might point you in the direction of a better camera for the money. I don't know.

I found a brochure online that states this in regard to the Kalatel DVMRe 16CD: Recording, Hard drive: 15 GB - 30 GB standard to 75 GB optional (or larger call Kalatel) This is the link to that brochure: Sorry I could not get the link to paste? I’m assuming, based on a resent experience that, you will need some sort of firmware or some type of upgrade in order to handle your new HDD. It looks to me that the brochure is saying you can only have two HDD’s at 75 GB’s each, which equal 150 GB’s. Maybe, the other 10 GB’s goes toward the operating system which, in the end equals a total of 140 GB’s. Again, implying that the unit can't read your new HDD. And again, suggesting that you need a firmware upgrade. I know that one of the two units I just upgraded displayed - on screen - exactly that. 160 GB,s +160 GB,s = 320 GB,s minus the GB,s used for the operating system. I can’t remember exactly how much was used for the operating system but it was around 20 GB’s. Anyway, I hope I’m understanding your situation and I also hope this helps in some way?

While doing some research sometime back, I read an article that said sodium light had the most adverse effect on color cameras. I also researched light sensitivity and the other specs. From there, I went outside to compare what the naked eye could see in comparison to my average priced low lux cameras without IR. It looked to me that -sodium light - alters color to the naked eye as well. If you really think about it, sodium light seems to change the tint of most colors. I also noticed that the modern low lux cameras are more light sensitive than the naked eye. Just thought I would through that in for something to think about.

I know the Panasonic WJ-HD300 series DVR's are real time on any multi screen but thats a DVR. I'm not exactly sure if the Weldex multiplexers are the same. Check this site out. http://www.weldex.com/index.cgi?m=catalogue;t=7

sodium light, causes problems to the quality of the picture, not producing accurate colour quality.

FPS is Frames per second. IPS is Images per second. I can’t think of any site that will demo what you are looking for. Just think of three pictures displayed in one second apposed to 30 pictures per second. The more pictures per second, the more realtime it will look when played back. There is a site called CCTV information that will tell you a lot about CCTV. There are other sites explaining CCTV as well, I will try to get address' for you. Some of the other guys may help you find a demo too.

I've had this for awhile now and I'm just now getting to under stand the advanced menue. All it is, is programming each camera for picture quality and time of day you want to record a particular camera. you are right though. There are many features and settings. And I think it would take awhile to get it all together. I still think it is a great DVR eventhough it cost a lot. Like someone on the forum say's, "you get what you pay for." My next move is to improve my cameras. I'm ging to try the new Panasonic cameras.

Maybe, I can explain better. If the sony gets multable alarms, it will flicker from one camera to the next so quickly that you can't tell whats going on. Or, it will stay on the camera that is triggered for the duration you have it set for. Therfore, you can't see whats going on in other areas. So, I can watch all sixteen cameras on the Panasonic or move to another camera where the criminals partner is steeling something else. Simply, you can't control the Sony when alarms happen.

I have six monitors. Three are controled through the Panasonic and three are controled by the Sony multiplexer. The Panasonic is set for alarm and records them and so does the Sony. However, the Panasonic does not jump to the alarmed camera like the Sony. I know it can be set up to do that through the network settings but, it will keep jumping from a priorty camera to the alarmed camera. It's hard for me to explain. The info is in the network set up or instruction book. You can find that on line. I can help you get that if you don't already have it. Just left me know.