shockwave199

You didn't mention how big your bookstore is, if you'll need exterior cameras, and what you want to specifically see from each location. It's great you have such a large budget. You may find you need more than four cameras and the extra money will come in handy. But I think you're getting wrapped up in overkill if all you want is a four camera system. I would consider an NVR with included cameras and have no less than a 3TB hard drive in the nvr. If the activity stops overnight, it's not at all unreasonable that you'll get 30- 40 days out of a 3TB hard drive. But since you have a decent budget, pop an 8TB hard drive in the nvr and there you go. But to spend 9 grand on a four camera system for general surveillance is overkill, in my opinion. You can spend roughly 1,700 and get a great four channel system in place. For an eight channel perhaps 3 thousand or 3,500. But 9k on a four channel system for a bookstore? Not needed. Save the extra 6k.

And then once you do that, save it as a task so it opens up like that automatically from now on. I haven't made a task in PSS yet, but that's what you should do I believe.

Please do. Like I said- hard to find this one! Thanks!

Where are you ordering from? This nvr sure is tough to find!

Meh. That nvr doesn't work for my needs. As much as it sounds like I'd be the software or pc nvr type because of increased flexibility, I actually much prefer hardware nvr's. The the hikvision [lorex] nvr that's available at costco now seems like it will soon be old news. This one does 5mp and is actually available now- http://www.hikvision.com/en/us/Products_show.asp?id=4142 It's a rapidly changing market for these things and no one unit fits the bill for me yet, so I'll bide my time as planned.

I don't have the swann system but you might want to see if WDR is enabled and try it without it, or lowered if possible. If there is some kind of noise reduction setting or maybe shutter speed setting, it could be that needs adjusting. Also, set your frame rate to 15fps and see what happens with a fast moving jogger.

Yeah, the best thing to do is get the mic as close to the conversation you want to hear as possible. The further away it is, the more room will be picked up. The closer to the source, the louder THAT conversation will be, which will overcome the background noise. But it's covert audio and any results will be hit and miss according to the noise at the moment.

What system did you buy that he said won't work? If he just ran wire and left buying the system up to you, he's probably talking about the premade cables that came with your package. It's possible that you can use everything in the package you bough except the cables, because he's already run raw cable. In which case, and nice little set to make your package work with the cables already run would be this- http://www.amazon.com/Siamese-Twist--connector-Connector-Stripper/dp/B007ZX8DNG/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1371955889&sr=8-3-fkmr3&keywords=male+and+female+twist+on+bnc+combo That's all the connections he'd need to make it all work. BUT, you have to tell us what dvr package system you bought.

Oh cool- I'll take a look. Thanks. I suppose Swanners get it with their systems.

^^ If I remember correctly, one generous person even offered to speak privately about what would probably be a MUCH better turn out than two hik cameras. Amazing. Next time keep it simple- just ask for product links. It'll save those of us who take the time to help make an informed decision a LOT of time and effort.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is remote viewing software. Is this system remotely viewed with just a web service in a browser? Or is there CMS software available for it? Something like PSS, where you can integrate multiple systems in one software? For me personally, remote software integration is just as important as anything when choosing a system, and just a web application isn't much to speak of and there's usually sacrifices with web apps. And if anyone has the ability, it would be nice to see a demo of the web app too, at least.

No there isn't. But there isn't much offerings or variety either. With much written, many opinions, and plenty of pics from them to see, one has to eventually make their own choice and buy in for themselves. Hand holding will only go so far. Pick your cameras and there you have it.

DW was installed where I work a few years back. They are good cameras, provided you take the time to set them up right- which I did and the original installers did not. During the monsoon rains last week, two of the domes took on water and out they went for good. Looks like they didn't seal them well on the exterior of the warehouse wall and water got inside the domes. They may have not even been outdoor rated domes for all I know. They did last a few years anyway. Your night shot looks really good. The day shot kinda makes me chuckle, because I watch MP cameras more frequently now. A year ago I would have thought that to be superb. Now...! But it's analog! Anyway, thanks for the pics.

Any of these still available? There's an outside chance my employer may want two.

If the dvr has been working fine for you and you just need cameras, these will be very nice, give you field of view flexibility, and won't cost a fortune. I mention gadspot often to people such as you for analog cameras because they actually have decent cameras without a huge price tag. It's not uncommon to see these cameras listed elsewhere for 80-100 bucks or more, which imo is overpriced. Good luck. http://www.gadspot.com/p-479-gs6008.aspx

Emphasis on the word still. The offerings are a moving target. We'll see new stuff and improved stuff, and we'll see crap touted as being good, as always. For residential, I'm optimistic that we'll be seeing more/better/improved options at the 250-300 dollar range. But it's not there yet. Another two years, my guess.

^^ Cool to know. Never know what a client is gonna want.

Saw this one in a dollar tree store, of all places, hanging from the ceiling as I rounded an isle. Never saw this type before with a built in camera, but maybe I don't get around much. Thought it was cool. Zy1cM9DjgM8

I just installed a 4 camera system for a daycare center. I litreally just got done a couple hours ago. Installing wipes me out man! Anyway, I'm still tweaking the system and getting to know it. This is a quick shot of 720p at night in reception- only two lights on. All I can say is I'm totally spoiled, as I knew I would be. Now I want some! LOL.

When you say edited, you mean if I take a 45 sec clip form a hour long block? Bryan Are you sure there is no utility in the software management that can do this? Can you search footage by time, rather than file? Does your dvr have software besides just a web interface? Usually CMS type software has more ability than just web interfaces- some even having clip edit built in. So if editing short clips from large files is what you need, make sure you absolutely don't have anything available right in your system software.

The mini dome cannot do extreme pan- 35 degrees or so left or right and that's it. That's not terrible in a number of instances, but it is limited when wall mounted. You might be able to find a wall mount bracket and prefab some kind of working situation because it won't fit the mini dome. But installing it with this type of bracket would help the situation greatly-

Well if three 5mp cams were in the budget I'd personally choose that solution. They offer so much coverage as well as break out zones, e-ptz, and even tracking from what I've seen. If three of them solves resolution coverage for every zone concerned, bingo. Total coverage from three cameras. I love that! LOL! In the front of my house I could actually mount it horizontally on a support beam by my front door and cover the door, driveway, and anything else it can see there. The door and driveway are well lit and close to the camera so I'd bet it would be superb for that. The backyard I have a deep overhang from the second story gable so again, I could mount it horizontal and have a perfect shot of both my back doors and full backyard. The only thing I'd miss is my analog ptz, where I can push as tight as I want to the surrounding street in front. The fisheye would see it all, but it would definitely be at the fringes of range and resolution would drop. I'd probably need need a IP ptz to make up for that flexibility out there. But to me, fisheyes rule in the right conditions. Every time I check them out- me want!

Bump... Without pan it will limit your choices for placement. A wide shot is not a replacement for pan, especially at doorways and such. This is a dahua mini dome and it can't be panned much- perhaps 35 degrees or so. But that ability makes all the difference to open up placement of the camera. It needed to go to the right of the door and pan a bit left to regain the proper shot. Just a wide image would not have been enough. Now consider how much you can actually get out of even a 2mp 3.6 camera. Not the end all, but certainly you get some mileage out of the increase in resolution from that one single wide shot. Positive ID at 20' Positive vehicle make ID, male fits general description at 55' Possible helpful tracking of suspect wearing black at approx 95' Motor cycle possible general match at approx 70' Possible vehicle match driving by at approx 200' A stretch? Not really I don't think. Try that with analog. Laughable. But the more you want to cover, the better and higher res the cameras need to be. A 3.6 2mp fixed camera won't do much better than this, as far as I can tell. And that'll put you in the OPS price range of choices.

Yeah, these shots show it some I think. It's not a deal breaker, but overall when you have an incident that you'd like to see better on playback, it becomes very apparent that you get what you pay for, and even though we're talking mega pixel territory where analog could just not keep up at all, there are still limitations to higher res, and not all cameras are created equal. It's almost like you should consider fixed 1.3 and 2mp the 'analog' of megapixel. You'll get great shots, but it will have limitations.

Actually fisheye can do much more than that, but it IS tough to see definitive room size examples of them. I would agree- get a high resolution 5MP geovsion. Fisheye has some amazing capabilities as far as coverage and the things it can do with that coverage. But it's a little more questionable how good the resolution becomes when you start breaking out different zones of view. One fisheye can give you full coverage of a room, in spades. But I would be sure the camera is high resolution to help the situation. I actually would LOVE to use two of them for my exterior coverage at home. I have a great spot in the front of my house and back as well. I'd rather have two cameras than eight, that's for sure. But I still haven't settled in on which cameras to buy. Looks like mobotix would be the likely choice for outdoor rated fisheyes.