Ben Miller

Yeah, from working with Geovision, they always suggest a full unintall then installing. If you do it in that order, all the old settings are still picked up by the newly installed version. Sounds like you're dealing with conflicting codecs or something.

It looks like an old Unitek. I don't know if it is for sure or not, but the inside of it looks like a Unitek. As far as the NULL hint, maybe that means no password or "empty" or none or something like that. I'd try to look for some kind of a model number.

I've loved Brickcoms since they came to visit us here. They've got great packaging and the software is excellent. I love Vivotek as well, just because they have most options you'd want, but yeah, Brickcoms are a step up, imo.

Voip-Ninja, I just realized we're using that exact camera at our office building. Granted, we're at an office, but this picture was taken just last night using it. I just pulled it from our server. Is this the kind of image you get?

I just posted this in another post, but I'll post it here again so you can see it. This is a shot of our office building this morning using Aimetis and Vivotek camera.

Have you looked into Zyxel's at all? That's what we use and we've had nothing but great performance from them. Oh I missed Razer's post. I'd definitely give them a good look. They've got great products.

I personally think Aimetis Symphony is my favorite VMS. It works with most cameras and we use it here at our office, and we sell this kind of stuff. It just seems to work the best for our purposes. It's a software based NVR in a server/client setup. Everyone in the office can connect to the server and look at the cameras and past videos. I'm throwing in a SS just so you can see what it's like. You can find it attached.

When you say you want to use another one, do you mean at the same time? Like two hooked up to the same keyboard?

You can use encoders to convert your cameras to IP cameras and hook everything up to what's called a farm. You can have multiple farms with Aimetis. We did a job for a college and they use it. They have multiple building and all their cameras funnel back into the campus police department. We can even view them from our office here. Aimetis is the best solution I know of to consolidate your cameras into one program. It is expensive though. But that's what happens with using the best usually.

Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but if your cameras support IR you could use an IR illuminator. That way you don't have a light going on and off all the time and your cameras can see quite well. I'll wait to see if someone else can confirm, to say for sure, but I'm pretty sure an IR illuminator would make your life easier.

Axis makes awesome cameras. I'm not sure about your exact needs, but yeah, check your PMs.

Good call VST, Arecont's are a little weird. Not to knock your choice or anything, but I've always hated their interface.

Let us know how it goes. And yes, follow the instructions exactly and don't be impatient. It's not a process you want to interrupt.

It sounds to me like something is failing. Has anyone restarted the machine since this happened? It could be a lot of things, failing NIC, failing HDD, full HDD, motherboard going out. It's really hard to say given the information you've offered.

The Xoom uses the Honeycomb OS, so it won't be compatible with Android or iOS apps. As far as Android goes, they have the same app as iOS https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mcu.iVMS&hl=en

Who says security cameras aren't green...

It shouldn't be too much of an issue for you. Especially if the other one is dead. I've never had a big issue switching out a hard drive unless the SATA connections were messed up. Either way, good luck. I'm sure it'll go fine. Oh and props to Soundy below me for remembering it's IDE.

Did you already check if there is a firmware update for your DVR that is experiencing the problem?

Are you able to get it to work if you disconnect the analog and try? I wonder if the system tries to make a certain range of ports similar to the first or switches into analog "mode" or anything of that sort. I'd try it alone and if you still have the issue, I'd double check with the manufacturer that that camera is supported by that DVR.

Sadly, Soundy's right. I know of no program that's really good at seeing a bunch of different cameras other than Aimetis and IE. Aimetis is awesome but expensive. IE is free and it works like it.

I haven't used that device, but I've had good luck with Geovisions USA Online chat support. You can talk to them at http://www.usavisionsys.com/ Of course, I know they don't always have that support live, but I would imagine the manufacturer would have some sort of answers for you.

My guess is that you've got some cracked, broken or otherwise damaged wires. A lot of times when electricity goes through old/damaged wires, it creates a break in the wire. Once the charge is released, it returns to normal and you can see your camera. I've seen this happen in car stereos and things like that. It's just a hunch, but I bet it has something to do with your wiring, especially if the manufacturer says they can't find a problem. It almost always has something to do with power or wiring. I'd check your voltages and wires for any cracks, damage, or animal damage.

I've seen ISP's charge to upgrade people to a "business" level class just to get port 80 open. That said, I really doubt that your ISP is blocking that obscure of an IP address. If they are, they MAY work with you, but I'd say it's a 50/50 shot at best. That said, it can't hurt to ask.

A 25% rate is pretty high. Does the ratio change based on which NVR platform is being used?

You mean you didn't think it was an impressive "article"?