shockwave199

More fun ptz chronicles. 4am the other day auto tracking picks up the usual early morning paper delivery car. But this morning he would be cut off by another car interested in another kind of delivery out in front of my house. Shall we say, trick or treat? I took over manually working the camera. Keep in mind that in the moment, I have no clue what's really going on. It could be a car full of people will jump out and break in to my home, or one of my neighbors. At 4am, it's of serious interest. Of course looking back now, it's just a trick and perhaps a treat. We have prostitution in our area, this I know. I just didn't know my court was a bedroom! LOL! Anyway, edited for time and a chuckle, and I could swear...some ass flashing! Did I mention I love this camera? VfyEfMeLqYY

Sorry to say, but it looks like you've gone a long way full circle, back to square one!

Yeah, but when there is no motion there is almost no picture. The question is, can you have too much light. You sure can. And it's best to plan where you install the camera and how you'll aim it when you're near exterior light fixtures. Every location is different. I find both exterior light and IR useful, be it alone or in combination. But it takes planning to get the best results so the picture isn't ruined by too much light...or too little.

I agree with point 3 above, but if you do it correctly there should be no problem. Look at the front of pretty much any outdoor housing for a box camera and what do you see? A sheet of glass. If the OP were to put his camera inside a small box (open on one end), paint the inside of the box flat black, press the open end of the box against the window glass, and disable the internal IR illuminators (if any), what would be the problem? At THAT point the camera would look cosmetically better on the outside of the house I don't think you should bother with a ptz if you have to compromise it's performance, never using IR. And I think you'd probably get some image distortion looking through a window, especially at night. Either a properly installed ptz is a solution or it isn't. Otherwise, think about a smaller varifocal mounted outside to get the fov you need.

Oops- sorry, I didn't realize this was the IP/MP forum. I was just checking the new posts and responded without looking. Mine is analog. Carry on.

I haven't really recommended the ptz I have yet, because I've only been using it about four months. But this camera quite frankly, kicks ass. You mention you need a good night camera. Check out my sig links for lots of demos on the camera, and this page for recent night vids I've done with it- viewtopic.php?f=54&t=29591&start=45 Excellent low light picture without the IR's on- no noise. What makes this camera a standout is the IR control- done on the fly with iris. Super handy when tracking manually. I can't really share where I got it or anything, so PM me if interested in more info.

Thanks for that. Looks like that could be it. The problem is relying on the installer to tweak it. I'm hopeful to take over the tweaking of all this, since I'm the one who bears the brunt of monitoring it.

That's all YOU know? Maybe we should create a casino forum, where the gear budget is no object. Look for a 4 channel dahua or q-see dvr with a 500gb hard drive installed, grab some inexpensive premade 60-100' bnc/power cables, grab four gadspot GS907CM cameras, and one of these cheap but effective mics at around 10 bucks- That one mic will be all you need in a garage, trust me. It's sensitive. Hook up a monitor to set the system up, run the cables around the perimeters of the garage and mount the cameras to the walls pointing where you need them, set the dvr to the highest rates per channel and to record always on, and there you have it. Doing this will cost some bucks. But if you want to take it to this level, that's the deal. My vids may help with some insight if you've never dealt with cctv dvrs and such. Good luck this year! It's coming fast!

I'm an extreme haunter as well. Between my cctv vids in my signature link and my halloween channel, there's a lot to watch. My cctv system does well for capturing scares. The audio you hear in this vid is a cheap small cctv mic upstairs in the house in a back room, able to hear and record a good deal of the fun all the way by the front door down stairs. I have my cctv install for security purposes first and foremost, not aimed specifically for haunting needs. That's just a fun coincidence. Good luck. 5SwBF9CLI-8

That would be the day I bowed down to a NEW neighbor. Especially one who is either conducting illegal activity, or a legal business but improperly zoned for it. I'd put the original camera back up and if they have anything to say to YOU, tell them that you checked with the local police and they said not only was it ok, but they prefer cameras on residential and let them know if there is any problems. That will back off the morons. Anything they have to say behind your back, ignore.

And the OP is where?

Interesting- wanting less time! As Tom said, max out everything to the highest frame rate and resolution and record 24/7 without motion sensing or masking. That's the first way to blast through a 500 gig!

It's a matter of reapplying every so often, and after rain. Some locations are a battle. I've noticed something though, albeit not a proven fact. If you clear away the webs every day, spiders can learn the spot sucks to invest time in. I kid you not. Left alone, they keep going. But start a regimen of cleaning every early evening, and it's more likely it'll stay clear- or clearer than it was having done nothing. They absolutely learn where the bugs are and setup webs there. And they seem to learn where it's not worth it too. Spiders have brains??? Maybe so! Try it, and the spray. I got mine from home depot. It works, but you have to reapply.

What you're better off doing is an in depth search here. Take a few days and read. TONS of info and threads asking your questions here. It's remarkable the wealth of info here. Take some time and sift through it. You'll fine tune what you really need and what will work best for you. Just by searching here, if you don't come out the other end 100% more knowledgeable about what you need and want, I'll eat all my cheap coax- with some sauce, cheese, bread, and wine of course. Good luck. Now get reading.

Yes. On the ptz in the vid, there are only eight as well. As seen, they do more than any 30 to even 84 led array in other cameras can. Not even a contest. Your fixture will certainly provide plenty of additional light, as we can see.

One thing comes to mind. Make sure after you're done noodling with it at the dvr, you close out the ptz control. Otherwise, the dvr remains first priority and you won't have control remotely. Maybe?

My QS408 works with IE8. You're probably talking about problems IE9. On one pc I use chrome/IE tab and it's easy and fine. I mostly prefer chrome over IE anyway. But really what I prefer is MCS software, much more than web application for the 408. MCS should have come on the disc included with the dvr. The 408 will do all you've said you need from a dvr. Whether it's better than what you have is your call. There is another dvr that I would mention and it's....it's....well it's.... DARN. I have to be good and follow the rules!

Yep- all my greenery does the same thing in this little demo I did of how incremetal IR from the ptz is helpful as well. v2F6jVzAj9M

The interesting thing is, buying expensive is no guarantee either when it comes to dvr's. We have an expensive one at work- it sucks balls. Not to mention, a 528 is NOT cheap in price anywhere I've looked. In my experience, whether it's a cctv dvr or a movie/tv dvr- they all tend to suck and are generally unreliable in the long run. Getting a good one, no matter by who or what quality, seems to be a matter of luck. I don't know why it's so hard to make a reliable dvr of any kind, consistently. But apparently, it is. My q-see 408 has been great, which I consider a matter of luck.

Of course I always suggest the obvious- put yourself out there in the important parts of the shot and see how a human looks. Trees, bushes, grass or fences don't rob you. How they look in the shot doesn't much matter.

Does that regular light fixture on the wall work and if so, can we see how it looks with just that on as a comparsion?

I agree. I understand the concept of it- light goes on, person looks up, you have your shot. But for that to work out absolutely depends on the quality of the camera. Otherwise, you'll just get an over saturated white out face. I much prefer dual bright motion lights. The dim setting is constant light which helps the cameras and adds deterrent. Then when motion is sensed they go full bright. And then they drop back down to dim again. They even have econo bulbs that work with the fixtures now. Where possible, I think it's best to have some light constantly on, rather than tempt someone with full darkness.

Did you ever see one of those jungle snare traps where you step in it and it pulls you up and hangs you by your foot? Near miss by the tree. Maybe next time.

You know I think at one point they spotted the camera. I know you're kidding but nails, although an interesting idea, could give me a flat too! I did look around the next day out there. Nothing. The roads are so bad these days it's a miracle you don't get a flat every time you go out. That's all for now- gotta head out there and pick up that spike strip.

I can't say for sure, but although the OP is new, it seemed like a legit question- and one that comes up often. However- good to know.