LillDragun

I recently got some cameras installed for my business by a guy that I thought knew his stuff and I'm beginning to think that he doesn't know his stuff as well as he made it seem and all 8 cameras are already installed using RG59U cable (with bnc connectors? I'm pretty sure thats what I saw). I need a DVR for my restaurant. I'm beginning to think I should have done this myself and just built a DVR rather than let him buy one for me. http://www.altex.com/8-Channel-H264-240fps-DVR-with-a-1Tb-SATA-HD-DVR814-1-P150056.aspx This is the link to the crappy unit he bought, and I can't access it from my macbook or iphone because the dvr (from what little I understood from the installer) runs off of axtiveX. I specifically asked to make sure it's compatible with my iPhone and Mac. http://www.unixcctv.com/_e/Power_Supply/product/TR-W12VDC04P05A/TR_W12VDC04P05A.htm Power supply installed He informed me that I can still return the DVR unit. So I should be able to work off of that, but since all 8 cameras and cables have been run, I would like to salvage what I can with that. Maybe upgrade later if I feel that the camera set-up is not good enough (when i can afford the revamp of a system). worse comes to worse, I'll pay him for the labor of running lines and for the cameras. What is my best solution to this problem? recap: -cameras already mounted (don't know what kind of cameras) -RG59U cable already run -TR W12VDC04P05A power supply installed would like to have a dvr that is compatible with my iphone/macbook. If I have to build one, I am experienced and building my own computer before, just not lately. I wouldn't mind building a mini computer just for the dvr, if it is more cost effective and if it is compatible with my iphone/macbook.

now as far as my ip being dynamic....what can I do about that?

DVR is plugged into the Netopia Modem/router Good news, now to check off network!

Yeah I guess I didn't do that correctly. I thought it was strange that it stayed the same. It is now 192.168.1.17 I'm still having the available port issue though.

it seems that to do the ip passthrough, I need the macaddress. I'll have to try this tomorrow. I'm about to close and leave my business.

I'll try that. And yes, the save and restart is used....takes forever when I restart it. as far as the IP, I used ipchicken.

Yes: AT&T iPhone 4S

I already tried to do that as well If I cannot use the WAN IP then when should I be using?

hope this helps. netopias are annoying to work with. I forwarded ports 7777, 8888, 8080. I tried to use no-ip and even downloaded and set up the no-ip client as per the instructions on the no-ip website and still doesn't work

yeah it looks like that.

Okay, got the DVR installed, everything works fine so far, but I cannot get the remote viewing to work. I can't find any open ports to use that aren't blocked. My DSL ISP is AT&T and I have a dynamic IP. I have tried all day to use No-IP.com and I cannot understand the instructions. So I have either become mentally disabled or the instructions are designed for someone that has A LOT of networking experience. I would rather not have to upgrade to static IP through AT&T because it is $15.00/mo. Which means it would cost me $180/yr to remotely view my cameras like 3-4 times a year. Which is a pointless cost. Can someone help me? The modem I am connected to is the Netopia 3347-02.

Thanks for the input, I was going to be looking into that next. By PROLINE I meant the model of the DVR, not the cctv app. But good point. I should make sure I know how to connect through my macbook and iphone before jumping the boat. Thanks!

Okay, all that being said, is there an 8 channel DVR that you can recommend that has those type of features? Image quality isn't that big a deal for the drive thru, the worker doesn't need to see how symmetrical the customer's face is, just be able to see that there is someone there, in the case that the headset malfunctions. If I can just slap a T-splitter an be done with it then the Proline-8 will be just fine.

Almost. I almost understand the part on the getting a DVR with the loop through or spot output, but I'm now kinda having trouble understanding the difference between the two. as far as the setup i have, I have 8 cameras installed, BNC wires running all into my office. One LCD monitor inside my office to view the DVR, and one monitor in the drive thru area to monitor the camera that watches the drive thru. The monitor at the drive thru needs to have a live static feed of the ONLY the drive thru camera. I DO NOT want the monitor at the drive thru to have the same display as the office. If I am in the office doing a playback or watching a single screen to watch an employee, I do not want the drive thru to see that I am watching someone. So, the drive thru needs to stay static on the drive thru camera. does that clear things up?

I have a hard time spending $300-$400 on a 17in cctv lcd screen. So how would this work out?: If I get the T-splitter you mentioned in the post above, split the video feed from the camera before it goes into the DVR, run one split into the BNC to VGA converter and one into the DVR input, and then from the converter run a VGA cord into the monitor. Would that give me the static live feed of that one camerathat I am looking for? BNC to VGA converter OR the current setup with the monitor at the drive thru area has a monitor connected to what I can only assume to be a composite video RCA to VGA converter from the converter box, the BNC cable runs to where the old DVR was and was connected to the BNC output, which fed to drive thru screen what my office screen showed. I want the drive thru screen to be a live static feed from one camera. If I keep the current setup and put a T-splitter between the camera and the DVR would that give me what I want? did any of that make sense?

But before I decide on a DVR I need to know that this will work. Thanks.

got a quick question. I have a drive through at my business and I have a monitor that is mounted to the wall so that the employee's can see if there is a car at the drive thru in case the headset does not beep. How can I dedicate the video to a single channel to that monitor? The previous installer was only able to mirror the video output of the dvr, which means that the employees can see what ever I am doing with the DVR, watching all 8 channels at once, reviewing footage, full screen on one camera, etc. I don't want that, I want them to only be able to see the drive thru camera. So I'll be deciding on a 8-channel DVR soon and I need the video feed to one of the cameras to display on a separate monitor in a way that it is separate and static from the dvr monitor output. Can that be done? or do I HAVE to have a separate dvr for that monitor?

with the setup of BNC's those should PnP right? Thats what it looks like on the descriptions. Is the software pretty user friendly for onsite use, OSX, and iPhones? that is my main concern. Thanks for the quick answer!

I am looking to get something for my restaurant and I'm tossing up the idea of buying a Samsung kit. I'm looking at the: SDE-4001 from Costco http://www.samsungsv.com/Model/Detail/10/Samsung-SDE-4001N-8-Channel-DVR-Security-System or SDE-4002 from Amazon http://www.samsungsv.com/Model/Detail/12/Samsung-SDE-4002N-8-Channel-DVR-Security-System Has anyone heard anything about the build quality and recording quality of the Samsung units?

well is there another manufacturer that I may want to look at? My place is small and doesn't need more than an 8 ch dvr. does anyone know the quality of Samsung CCTV?