shockwave199

Cool, but why can't it be found on their website?!

Have you tried unplugging everything and plugging back in one at a time? Many times just power cycling the whole system will correct odd behavior.

The Scotch 3/4 in. x 25 ft. Cold Weather Electrical Tape is ideal for use in outdoor or refrigerated spaces as it maintains adhesion in temperatures as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit. This black tape resists damage caused by abrasion and weather and is effective in sealing out moisture. -Insulates mechanical and electrical wiring -Stretchable to conform to irregular shapes and contours -Abrasion- and weather resistant construction -Wraps smoothly and holds tightly in temperatures as low as 0 degrees F -25 ft. L -Available in 9 fade-resistant colors I have white cables, so I use white tape. Makes for a cleaner look. Holding up really well. So well in fact, it's a drag to get back into the connection if swapping cameras. I even wrap the cable with it in spots that could be a rubbing/chaffing problem just to beef up the cable. Cheap and effective, found at your local home center. As soundy mentions- wrap tightly, do a clean spiral overlap with each turn. And I prefer spiral out to the cable itself on each end, not just the connection points. Good luck.

My qsee 408 dvr is awesome. Love the thing. Really like the MC software for it too. Nine months and it's handled everything, giving great video recordings and pictures. I no longer use qsee cameras, but the dvr is tops, imo.

Saw an orb on the warehouse camera a while back. After investigating, it was a cob web that probably had a dust particle on it. Couldn't see the web, did see the particle. Debunked, as they say. My home cams I never get orbs, but I see webs clear as day- the annoying one strand floaters. Can't wait till it's cold enough for the spiders to die for a while- in fact all insects!

Sure, if the firmware ONLY supports IE. Seems like the OP has mentioned it does support FF and Chrome, only the directions aren't readable. Here's a doc that's probably generic enough to get FF going. http://www.q-see.com/files/HowToFiles/E-Setting%20up%20Firefox%20for%20Remote%20Access.pdf I have a hunch though that port forwarding is still an issue. It's actually not that hard but if you don't understand it, it can be very frustrating. Do you have no one in the family who's a computer wiz? A gamer that can port forward all the live long day? You're probably better off trying to find someone who can get you going in a matter of 15 minutes, rather than endure the hell yourself. Best of luck. Hang in. It'll be worth it.

At what bit rate on that channel in the drv?

I can't see any point anywhere in that field of view that is well focused. Every single spot, front to back, side to side, looks out. Not that it'll solve your problem entirely, but good focus will help.

If you can hit your dvr remotely through the software, you've port forwarded correctly. Leave well enough alone. The activex thing could be a number of settings holding it up on that pc. Try another pc and see if you have the same problem. Load the software on a different pc and confirm it works remotely as well. I'd be surprised if you prefer the activex over the software anyway, so if all is well with the software I wouldn't stress over activex. You could also try another browser like firefox, which would need one add on to make it work, or chrome- just to see if you can get activex going in those browsers.

What version of explorer are you using? IE9 will probably give you issues. Most dvr's support IE8, but 9 much less so. You're dvr might have a firmware update to support IE9- you'd have to check to see. Or try Chrome. For a comprehensive step by step explainantion of port forwarding, watch the videos here under the advanced tab, specifically game consoles-ports, and IP cameras. Watch all you can handle there and you'll have a better understanding. Good luck. http://wifi-wiz.net/

You might want to check for two more settings pertaining to recording to help when searching files, and to save hard drive space- even though you have a 2tb drive. Hopefully your dvr will have these settings- the names of the settings may be different. First is 'recording size'. Record size sets the file size for recorded video files on the system. Instead of recording data as one large file, the system will divide the data into blocks of 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes. I have mine set to 15 minute blocks. This makes the recorded data easier to search. The next setting is 'post record'. This is a good one for managing file sizes, but also makes it really nice when it comes to a break down of all motion detection files when searching. In my dvr, I have a choice of 30 seconds, 1-2-3-4 or 5 minutes. This is the amount of time the dvr will record after motion is detected. I had mine set initially to 5 minutes thinking that was appropriate. But the file sizes were quite large per detection. I dropped it down to 30 seconds. File sizes MUCH smaller. After all, if motion stays constant it'll keep recording anyway. No reason I can see to record for 5 minutes every time a leaf blows by. I only have a 500gb drive, so I'm diligent to the point of shutting recording off during rain so I don't waste space on rain drops. That, and I only record overnight mostly. Motion detection. I'm on my fifth month and haven't even made a dent on my available space. Good luck. Tweak all settings well and motion detection recording will not only work, but not overwork. Dan

Try a GS4006CF from gadspot. Much better camera.

Joe, you should post some day/night pics of those new cnb cams. Would love to see it. My qsee system was a package deal and all eight qsee cameras have been swapped out now, but I like the dvr and I used most of the stock cables that came with it. So I suppose I'm still using the package mostly, but the cameras had to be upgraded. I was clueless and lost some money too, but I don't regret getting the qsee package though. Camera upgrades for me will be something I keep doing along the way anyway. Thankfully, I actually like the dvr from the package and considering the good price I got the package at, the rest of the contents was cream anyway.

Hi, take a look at my vids on my youtube channel in my signature. I'm a DIY'er too. Maybe they will help you a bit. For a decent 8 camera consumer system you're looking at around 1,200 bucks and lots of work installing it yourself. For a 4 camera system, it'll be less but I don't recommend you buy a 4 channel dvr. Even if you can only afford 4 decent cameras in the beginning, at least buy an 8 channel dvr. You'll be glad you did, believe me. You'll want to fill all 8 channels- it's just the way it goes. You'll like having 4 cameras but you'll immediately want coverage on the spots you can't see, and then you'll be really glad you have those extra 4 channels to do it as time and budget permits. I use a q-see 408 dvr and gadspot cameras. I enjoy great pictures locally right from the dvr, and more importantly, great remote views as well. Best of luck to you. Dan

It's a decent camera, but I may replace it with a GS4007CF, available in white or black. That's a TDN camera and I find I favor that feature. If your budget is tighter, try a GS637B. Not a TDN, but still a good camera I would think. It's not that I don't like the GS741E you mention. I still have mine in place. But a varifocal TDN camera with WDS exview such as the GS4007CF is so darn reasonable there, it's a no brainer not to go with that if you can. Good luck with your system! Dan

I don't know about their dvr's, but I use certain cameras of theirs for all eight of my cameras, coupled with a qsee 408 dvr and I'm pleased with the results. Pics captured directly from the dvr are in this thread- viewtopic.php?f=5&t=27405 My qsee package came with crap cameras too and it's the first thing I changed out and it made a big difference. If a better picture is what you're after [who isn't], than upgrading the cameras will help that cause so you're on the right track. My cameras are bullets and ball dome types- not typical domes that you're getting from CNB. I decided to steer clear of them because of the troubles I've heard about with the inside domes getting dirty or cloudy and IR causing a cloudy image. I needed IR in the cameras as opposed to external IR and domes with internal IR just don't seem to do well so I chose other types of cameras. You mention you don't have a ton of bucks. People will suggest very expensive options and say it's a must for great detail. I think that's true, but I also believe you can get very acceptable results from less expensive gear. I've tried to illustrate that for exactly your type of situation- a DIY residential install on a budget. Take a look at my signature vids too. Although they are screen recordings, not direct vids from the dvr, it's still good examples of what you can get out of a budget system. All I can really suggest is to buy everything from places you can return the product if it isn't right for you or if it's broken. The only thing I held onto from my box system is the 408 dvr http://q-see.com/products/security-product.php?ProductId=297 Read the manual too- it's actually a very decent dvr. I have my channels setup to 1&2 at D1 and the other six at HD1, all at 20fps at the highest bit rate and the live feed, remote feed, and pictures snapped are great. I know it's a lot to consider, so all I've tried to do is give examples of how a modest budget and system can get you very useful results. Best of luck getting what you're looking for.

That's all you needed to say. What you said here is flat out bull****e. A low quality, poorly applied system won't do well to help identify ANYONE, dark skinned OR light skinned. If you don't want to be offended, than don't be offensive. If you can't see it, that's the real problem. I'm gonna leave it at that. You all can have the last word.

This has not been my experience. IME, what you install and how good or bad you install it will provide the ability to help identify ANYONE, regradless of race, creed, or color. To suggest avoiding low light situations to better identify african americans is...I don't know, it kinda makes my head want to explode just reading it, let alone retyping it. I can't believe this notion would actually be considered by anyone. I don't like or wish to make a race argument in this forum, but these particular remarks and thoughts should not be left unchecked. Perhaps you should consider rethinking where your head is at in the future, or at least consider what your saying in a public forum. Take a look at the three minute mark in my goofy halloween video captured by a cctv camera that cost less than fifty bucks, transmitted over a 100' spaghetti cable, to an inexpensive drv in low light- just to illustrate that the recording chain is not an expensive system. ALL the people in the video have the same ability to be indentified, regardless. 5SwBF9CLI-8

Amazing how quickly people reveal so much about themselves in one short sentence. I'm having a hard time even giving the benefit of the doubt here.

Hasn't this been hashed through in the recent past, or is my mind going?

I like all my gadspots, but this one could just be too cheap to give good results. This isn't one I'd buy. I see there are two versions- PAL and NTSC. You have the right one hooked up? What bit rate and resolution do you have the channels in the dvr set at? What drv do you have? What's the problem with the picture, specifically?

I wanna just say that I have run cheap cable to all eight of my cams thus far. I'm not proud of it, but I just didn't have the budget or know-how at the time to put on my own connectors on good cable. Six months and it's still fine- through the worst weather and wind you can throw at it, even cold temps now. My live and remote picture quality is great to me. Would it be better with better cable? I don't know- you're only as good as your weakest link and there's more than just great cable to consider. If my cheap cable fails I'll replace it with the good stuff. If I have the salt, I may even replace them all next spring for the heck of it. But I'm not convinced cheap cable automatically means huge trouble. I'll be the first to admit I'm wrong if it happens. Dan

Don't forget a good nail board put in place overnight so they can get some nice flat tires too.

There's more of a problem than the vent in the foreground. I have a camera at one of my back doors with almost the same thing, giving me no trouble- Something more is wrong with your camera. Dn

You can also try home depot/lowes. They usually carry good siamese cable too now. Dan