ctbaker

Hi, I started out wanting lots of cameras around my house to cover every possible location etc. Then I wanted to move to megapixel cameras and cut down on the number of locations. Now I would be interested in a 1-camera to rule them all setup. Is there an outdoor WDR day/night IP camera with automatic zoom, pan, tilt with optical zoom and auto focus that will look for, lock on and then track moving objects while recording? One that either records to an internal sdcard is preferred but not required. I want to keep track of the general comings and goings around my property with a single camera (not more than two ) that will scan the property and record activity as it happens and that is easy to go back and review as needed. Being able to mount on my antenna tower and using the zoom to see what is going on would be a plus as well! Thanks!

Thanks, I'll give that a read. I found some Panasonic cameras that cost $2,000-$4,000 a piece. yikes!!

Could you also go the route of using the Air802 POEPASS-02 and use the AVN80X power supply at the router/switch end of the run to carry power to the camera end and not need a fancier POE injector/splitter setup? If using this with the AVN80X power supply, what kind of distance could I manage before I have too much loss to run the camera? http://www.air802.com/passive-power-over-ethernet-poe-injector-splitter-mid-span-kit-5.5mm-x-2.5mm.html Thanks!

Sorry for the thread highjack... is it safe to assume that the plug size on the TP-LINK splitter is the same size as the AVTech AVN80X uses?

Family has a vacation home we want to put some cameras at. Due to the hostile outdoor conditions (salt air), the cameras will be placed indoors. One to cover the stairs going from the downstairs bedrooms to the upstairs living space meant to capture people coming up the stairs and a second to cover a set of french doors that lead into the upstairs kitchen from outside to capture people coming into the house from the outside. I am thinking I need the following specs: 1. on camera NVR with built in storage with SD card so don't need to leave a computer on 24/7 2. WDR since the backdrop are windows in both locations 3. Day/night with IR 4. Vari-focal lens since I am not 100% sure of the mounting location of the cameras at this time 5. Will send text/email when motion is detected along with a picture and/or short video clip 6. Remotely viewable via web browser, iOS and Android device 7. Price not to exceed $600 per camera if it can be helped 8. Upload video footage to the cloud would be a big plus Advice and recommendations are greatly appreciated!! Through some looking around the web, I found the Vivotek FD8162 which looks interesting though I know some people don't like Vivotek. http://www.vivotek.com/products/model.php?network_camera=fd8162&tab=spe The AVTech AVN812 looks interesting though it doesn't seem to be available yet. http://www.eagleeyescctv.com/avn80x/en/about_801.htm Brickcom 5MP camera. http://brickcom.com/products/DetailView.php?series=All%20Brickcom%20Camera&modelname=CB-500Ap Thanks, Chad

I am leaning towards the AVTech AVN80X because it is so cheap that if it doesn't quite pan out, the risk is low and I can probably stick it somewhere at home just for the heck of it. The 1W LED illuminator sounds pretty weak for lighting up the night but perhaps I can put in a motion light indoors that will fire off and help out as well. Are these kinds of cameras going to have issues shooting against a bright backdrop aka window unless they feature WDR? Is the push notification an iOS only feature or does it work on Android as well? We only have DSL there so I am sure that the upload speeds are pretty bad as well.

I see OP has posted in this thread elsewhere about IP Camera software, looks like a long list of varied software packages to consider. http://www.networkcamerareviews.com/forums/about850-0-asc-60.html

Great work, can't wait to see more software reviews in the future.

Hi, I thought I'd start a new thread after getting overwhelmed with all the great information on this forum and seeing as there was a sub-$300 thread that mentioned there were a lot more choices in the sub-$600 range. Specifics -> residential use, outdoor with IR for good night shots in low/no light, both dome and bullet style in the sub-$600 range. Ones that the manufacturer offers free software to operate them is a plus! Thanks!

I saw in another thread you mentioned back in February that you were getting an OpenEye CM-715I camera. Did that happen and what are your impressions of it? http://www.openeye.net/products/cameras/camera-models/cm-715i/ Also, I suppose in this same price range would fall the 1, 2 and 3MP Geovision GV-VD120D, GV-VD220D and GV-VD320D if anyone has experience with those. Thanks, Chad

Hi, I am looking at the following cameras: ACTi TCM-1231 ACTi TCM-7811 Vivotek IP7361 Vivotek IP8335H/FD8335H Ignoring price differences and aesthetics, which would you recommend for a residential installation with minimal night lighting that will offer the best overall picture both day and night? Thanks, Chad

My temperature requirements are met on the high side of 122F but it can get as cold as 24F on rare occasions like this year though it usually stays above freezing. The Vivotek 8134V and 8133V cameras rate at 32F-122F, so how likely will it fail at temps that hit into the twenties on occasion? Also, I don't see temp specs on the 2MP dome? EDIT: Found it on the Dahua website listed at -10°C~+60°C. These have a fixed focal length lens. Is there a rule of thumb of the distance your subject should be for a certain lens size? Like a 3.6mm lens has a sweet spot of X feet from the camera +/- Y feet? Thanks!

Hi, I am trying to get back into a system setup so I can move forward. I am contemplating a hybrid system using both analog cameras for locations where the distance being recorded is close (i.e. front entry) and IP 2 or 3 MP cameras for locations where the distance being recorded is farther away and/or more broad in extent (i.e. driveway). I am going to add cameras in steps so that I can spread the cost out over time. For the analog cameras I am assuming I'd go with something like the CNB VCM-24VF camera and for the IP again, something like the Dahua ESIPMP3-1 camera. I understand that I'd need a hybrid DVR for this to work. I took some pictures of a few places around my house that I'd want to install cameras to get opinions on placement and camera type. Should I mix and match cameras in a hybrid system? Is it appropriate to get with the expense of the 2-3MP IP cameras for my use case at a residential location? I do like the extra level of detail you get with those but trying to be strategic with their use so that I don't go crazy with price. All advice is appreciated! Thanks, Chad Location 1 - Front Entry Proposed camera: CNB VCM-24VF Mounting: Ceiling, corner, aimed to get side shot (or any front if possible) of people as they step into the covered area. Pictures: Location 2 - Driveway also marked B in last photo Proposed camera: Dahua ESIPMP3-1 Mounting: ? Not sure since mounting too high will just give views of the tops of heads. Picture: Location 3 - Side Gate (near driveway) Proposed camera: CNB VCM-24VF Mounting: Wall, aimed directly at the gate to see if anyone goes through or over. Picture: Location 4 - Side Gate Proposed camera: CNB VCM-24VF Mounting: Wall, aimed directly at the gate to see if anyone goes through or over. Picture: Location 5 - Front of House, Shooting out to street marked A Proposed camera: Dahua ESIPMP3-1 Mounting: ?, Want to generally just view out to the street, walkway area. Picture:

According to the website, "four free licenses for Pelco IP cameras" so as long as you use 4 or fewer PELCO IP cameras then the answer would appear to be yes.

I took some pictures from the POV of the camera where I could. My camera lens only goes down to 28mm so I am zoomed in more than I would be with the security cameras but I don't have a lens that goes down to ~3mm. Again, my camera selection and locations look doable based on this additional information? Thanks! Chad Location 1, I couldn't get up in the corner to take a picture that was going to be worthwhile. Location 2, I took two pictures from the right corner of the house from the view of the original picture. One of the driveway/street and one of the garage door area. It is a low enough spot that anyone could tamper with the camera. I could mount it higher up the eaves and shoot more of the street/driveway but could do that with the ladder I had effectively. You can see the two motion light locations in the original picture. Location 3, Once I got out there I realized if I pulled back further I could get coverage of garage side door as well as gate. There is a motion light that would be behind the camera location. Location 4, Where should I mount the camera relative to the motion lights shown in the original post for this location, above them, in front? Location 5, This is a shot of the front walkway and street from a corner eave location represented as "A" in the original post. The only lighting is from the globes at the street and those turn off an hour after sunset and an hour before sunrise.

I am in the same boat. I lurked and posted on the forums a few months ago and eventually put my system on hold for lack of finding the "perfect" camera. I had figured on going with a Dahua based DVR setup and then was waiting for the 960H DVR (i.e. DH-DVR1604HF-S-E) that was supposed to launch any day at the time and just gave up. Then the wife sent me an email today for a Q-See 600TVL 8-camera setup from Costco for $500 after $300 discount and now I am sniffing around and trying to get back up to speed. I know you get what you pay for but trying to find the perfect setup is giving me a headache. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?whse=BC&topnav=&prodid=11612358&ec=BC-EC877-CatHome&pos=8&lang=en-US I am sure that piecing the Dahua DVR with some Qvis, KT&C or other brand of cameras would be superior and worth the extra cash but sometimes you just want to take the easy path with a canned system that is not top shelf. Anyways, sorry to hijack your thread....back to your regular programming.

<> Hi! My neighborhood has had a rash of crime activity in the last couple of weeks so the wife wants a security camera system installed and I am trying to just figure out the basics at this point. I do know that I want to be able to access the camera from the internet, smartphone and if it worked with my Vera2 z-wave setup that would be a plus as well. And I also know I want a standalone DVR setup and not something that will have to be run via a computer. I am guessing I need about 6 cameras to cover my property sufficiently (garage, front door, courtyard, back yard). Neighbor and his brother down the street and their parents are all using the Swann Alpha system from Costco which from what I have read is not all that super a system. We have an antenna tower at one end of the yard that used to have a weather station on top of it and a Dish Network antenna mounted on it towards the bottom. Does it make sense to mount cameras high on an antenna tower to be able to cover a large area (no trees to get in the way) or is it better to mount cameras lower (eaves or gables) of the house? My house is stucco so I don't want to mount a camera and then later move it so trying to do a lot of planning first before making a move. I'll probably post more once I have done more reading about cameras and DVRs. Thanks, Chad

I looked at 700TVL eBay cameras last week and typically they don't show the branding which makes me assume they are coming over from China and it makes me question the authenticity of the parts. ie Sony CCD. Anyone shed any light on this as well when answering the OP's question?

Hi Rory, This camera is listed as external focus and zoom. I believe I have read elsewhere on the forum here to stay way from external focus/zoom cameras. Looks like all the KT&C cameras are listed as external focus/zoom cameras too. Thoughts and/or corrections are appreciated! Thanks, Chad

I took an aerial and marked areas in red that I would want close up cameras and those in blue to give a wide angle shot to see what is going on. I have a need for 9 cameras at this point so I am guessing a 16 camera DVR just to cover future additions. Looks like I'll look for a Dahua made DVR though I have no idea on specific model. No idea on cameras at this point though it would be nice to have location 7 covered with a high resolution camera that could be used to get some details out further away. 1 = driveway (cars kept in garage) 2 = front door 3 = side courtyard 4 = side gate 5 = back covered patio 6 = side gate 7 = front yard and street 8 = side yard 9 = back yard

Thank you everyone for the replies. I am going to can the tower cam or limit to a single one giving an overview of the back yard and stick with cameras at the eves or gables. I still should be able to do what I want with an 8-camera system, I think. @shockwave199 - I am glad you posted here as you had the cameras that I had been looking at the other day but couldn't remember the brand name. As soon as I went to your link I recognized the stills from the other day and was able to see you were using Gadspot cameras. So at this point I am leaning towards the 700TVL cameras and some DVR of unknown make/model at this point as I have no idea if the Gadspot DVRs are the ones to use or not. Thanks again everyone for the help! Chad