GrouchoBoucho

the dahua mini-bullets and mini-domes i've used don't have alarm inputs anyway, so it makes that idea kind of moot. you're right, the way you're planning it is the easiest and most flexible. i can't speak for most others, but the dahua nvrs should allow you some very flexible options for each alarm input - such as triggering different record modes on multiple cameras, etc.

That sounds like a good idea. I use the F81 barrels on my satellite installs all the time with no problems. Guess ill pick up some F59 connectors. there's really no *functional* difference between this and using bnc barrels; the only difference is in the procedure for terminating the cables. as long as both are 75 ohms, solid copper core and braided copper shield, there should be no issue. rg6 is used regularly in cctv; the main reason rg59 is preferred it that tends to be thinner, more flexible, and easier to work with.

i've used barrels on dozens of jobs to extend cables, never had an issue with them. either you're using really junky barrels (or even the *wrong* barrels - make sure they're designed for 75 ohm impedence), or your terminations aren't done properly. there really is no other way to do it *properly*, short of running new cables. edit: one other thought, one thing i've done on a couple occasions, when extending pc-based dvrs that use the 'whip' cables, i've used vga or dvi extensions (depending on which connector the whip uses), then just left the whips connected to the cable runs. it may or may not work depending on the actual pinouts the dvr uses, but it's worked for all the dvrs i've tried it on. of course, if you're going to a standalone dvr without the whip cable, this isn't an option.

this is only a concern if they'll be exposed to direct sunlight. under the eaves, tucked into siding, on the shaded side of the house, uv isn't a problem.

the above is true in pretty much all of north america, too. 120v, 60hz is the standard.

where are you planning to get this equipment from? if you're getting it from a reputable vendor, they should be able to provide it already updated with firmware that expands that capability substantially.

the thing in op's case, is that he's in a bar, and so needs something that will handle low light well. i've never looked specifically at how ir works (or doesn't) with currency... i suppose it would depend a bit on what country you're in and what currency is used.

have you looked at their list of authorized partners? easy to find on their website: http://www.3xlogic.com/authorized-partners

not of cameras... of audio recording. most areas, it's a different law entirely. some places, video recording is legal with no signs required, while audio recording is illegal without a federal warrant. audio recording laws are probably more varied and strict than video recording laws. so before you worry about the capability, make sure it's legal first. of the ip models, the ipc-hdb3110 is the only one i'd expect to fit the bill. my experience with the hd2100 is that it's not great in low light; the hdb-3200c has even poorer low-light specs. the 3110 is the only one of the three that's tdn with a proper day/night mode that greatly improves your low-light sensitivity.

you realize none of these will work on a standard dvr? the first two are hd-sdi, the other three are ip. you should also check your local laws on audio recording - it's *illegal* in many jurisdictions.

ask them to hook you up with a local integrator. avigilon also only sells through integrators.

the problem is, to overlay data directly on an ip stream, you have to know the composition of the ip stream... and they almost always vary from one manufacturer to the next, and sometimes from one model line to the next - essentially the software would be "photoshopping" the pos text onto the individual frames. it's easy to do with analog because all analog cameras use pal or ntsc standards and it's very straighforward to process text onto that video (think of old tv shows from the 50s overlaying titles and other text on the show - same process). i know of one nvr/vms that will log that info from the rs-232 (it's just plain text) into a database, and when you export playback video, it can "overlay" the text on that, because at that point all the video is in the nvr's own data format; it doesn't have to deal with hundreds of different stream types. but you're right, those are expensive. unfortunately, expensive is probably going to be your only option if you *must* have *text overlay* on an *ip camera stream*. the other alternative i've used is an ip camera that has analog out, running the analog out through a standard overlay box, and recording it to a separate channel.

either you're looking at a different dahua-made nvr than i am, or the vendor you're looking at isn't providing the latest firmware. this particular model retails for $450 and originally had very limited resolution support, but with a recent firmware update now supports up to 1080p on all 16 channels.... specifically: 1080p IP Cameras (120 FPS total spread throughout all channels) 720p IP Cameras (240 FPS total spread throughout all channels) D1 IP Cameras (480 FPS total spread throughout all channels)

that's all an nvr needs. that's what the 'n' in the name stands for - *network* video recorder. by definition, an nvr plugs into the network, receives the camera video streams over the network, and records them to disk. that's not an nvr then; it's a dvr, or possibly hybrid dvr (records both analog and network cameras).

specs say it's only got composite video inputs, so no, you won't be able to hook it up to your pc... rather, you will, but it will require fairly esoteric additional hardware... and the results will be far from pretty. and since it only accepts analog video input, you won't have the high-def display.

3xlogic systems will do this easily with their 'hd viewer'. it can display ip cameras directly, or any mix of ip and analog cameras drawing from the dvr. there are video cards available with four hdmi outputs each that would probably do the trick; as well, many motherboards now will allow you to run extra video cards *in addition* to the onboard video.

that should be fine. as long as the camera isn't mounted in such a way that the grommet can collect water (such as, mounted on a wall with the grommet on top) it shouldn't seep in. suggest a little teflon tape on the threads of the plug when you use it to seal the back hole.

i think most nvrs do it this way... i know 3xlogic does (they also charge significantly less for camera licenses when you buy the cameras from them). i believe geovision does as well (and you pay no extra license fees per geovision-branded camera).

you'll have a hard time finding something that will do *text overlay* with ip cameras. there are systems that will log the pos data synchronized to the video, and overlaying text data on analog cameras is easy (look up 'honeywell smartpit').

it digitizes the analog video info and feeds it into the computer via usb. this is not something than can be done by direct wiring; anytime you want to process an analog signal, you need such a device. it's the same idea as plugging a microphone into your sound card. we've already been over that: the din connectors also provide the appropriate power to the cameras and must plug into the existing interface box you have. *from what you've described*, of having a box that provides scart output from the cameras... yes, all you should then need is the same type of scart-to-rca adapter that you'd use to connect to the vcr and tv, except instead of the vcr and tv, you'd plug into the video capture dongle.

try using a kia to pull semi-trailer, lol

this gets asked here fairly regularly. simple answer is, there is no quick fix solution. others have found adapters to split out the camera connectors to standard power, audio and video connectors, but they have to be designed specifically for that camera to work. of course not. those adapters are designed to adapt the *digital* signals from keyboard and mouse, to a serial data bus. they can't convert an analog video/audio signal to digital serial bus. maybe. there are readily-available adapters to go from scart to standard a/v, that you could then feed into one of the devices i linked to above.

like tom said, this is not just a simple matter of finding an adapter or cable that will convert one pin layout to another. the first problem is, you need to know the pinouts of the camera connectors themselves - which pins are video, power, and if applicable, audio? which is signal, which is ground? are there shared grounds? there are at least two dozen possibilities so you really don't want to guess. then there's the fact, as tom suggests, that the signal may be a balanced type, which means connecting it directly to an unbalanced connector may not work, or may give you a really bad picture. there's also the voltage required - some of these types of cameras run on 7.5vdc or 9vdc, rather than the more common 12vdc. feeding them too much voltage could fry the camera. if you have them mis-wired, you could also fry the inputs of your capture card. all that aside, getting video into your pc is easy and relatively cheap: something like this will do the job. but as noted above, converting your cameras' connectors may take a lot of work and extra expense.

heaters are put in cameras and housings to combat condensation, not to keep the electronics warm. did i say that? no, i did not. i specifically mentioned iq511s in sealed housings. not that there's any functional difference between that and a sealed dome, or a sealed bullet. a sealed housing is a sealed housing - whether it's a box camera in a separate enclosure, or just the bare electronics stuck in a dome- or bullet-shaped enclosure, the functional result is the same: the electronics generate heat, the enclosure holds it in. once again, the heaters are not there to keep the workings warm; they're there to keep the housing warm and thus prevent condensation.

it's not, actually, but you feel free to believe what you wish. don't confuse a manufacturer's temp specs with what a camera will actually withstand. as an example, iq511s claim operational temps from 0-40 celcius, but i have some in operation in housings in edmonton and northern bc, where it can hit -40 easily, and they keep running without fail. keep in mind that all electronics generate their own heat, and in any sealed (ip64 or better) enclosure, much of the heat is retained inside.