oldtimer

One posting said "if you have a vari focal lens, set it to auto iris".. That's wrong, All vari focal are not auto iris. Many are manuel. If you throw the switch to auto iris and it is not that type. The picture could go blank and if that isn't the case, the AES would not operate and your camera would not have automatic light control. (AES automatic electronic shutter)

It's strange to see problems with a IR camera with day time shots. How is the camera at night. I have had problems with some IR cameras when they are on the threshold of color going to B/W. With IR cameras you may find some problems with your power supply. They take a higher amp rating. Be sure to check this out and use the correct one. Plus make sure your power supply has good regulation.

Just general liability insurance for small business will fill your bill. Make sure if you manufacture any equipment, tell the insurance company. Also make sure you have coverage if any installed piece should fall, you have coverage if it hits old granny on the noggin. Another thing I should mention, make sure it covers you for any damage if you have to do any court testimony with regards to giving details about your equipment. If some guy beats a case and you say that's him on the video, you could be sued. Another thing for your protection, have a condition sheet that the custoner signs stating what you expect of the customer and what he can expect of you. State in this sheet that in the event of equipment failure and there is a loss for the customer, he agrees you will not be resonsible for any loss over $50.00. In the back of Security Magazines they have ads for Insurance companies that deal with the security business only.

What do you need instructions for these old cameras. Their operation is very simple. I hope you are not wasting time to repair them. email Panasonic, they have old copies available. They sell them for around 12 bucks or so. I don't like Panasonic and I don't use their products, so that's about all I can tell.

Sorry I can't help you. We don't make service calls that far away.

Sure running a line of 59U for just 300 feet, you shouldn't have any problem. I have run them at a length double that amount. The only problem is using a good camera. That's a must. If you know how to check resolution, you will see the difference. Long runs will give you a snowy effect like the old days when you used rabbit ears on the family TV. Make sure your wire is of good quality copper, both inner conductor and braid.

This wavy condition could be many things causing it. First of all, put another camera that works perfectly on the sane cable. If it still is wavy your problem is in the cabling. Many times it's either a ground loop or it could be double termination. Also move the camera to another input of the equipment you are using. It could be that input on a recorder or switcher. If you are using individual transformers (power supply) for each camera, try a new transformer. Using quality power supply removes a lot of headaches. I pay about double for a good supply, but it's worth it in the long run. If this all fails at last resort, read the camera instructions. That's a joke son. (we use Preferred power supplies made in Northlake Illinois.) They fuse each camera and the fuses are the same used in auto's. They have a heavy duty case and a latched door so you don't have to waste time with a screwdriver to get a door open,

You can use all the CAT5 you want to. For me, I stick with 59U of good quality. Make sure it's top grade copper/ So installers will make the mistake in an attempt to save money and use the same cable they use for stringing cable TV. What a mistake this is. Mostly they do it to save money. Because if you can make good contact with a cable installer, they sell the junk for 20 dollars per 500. Sometimes 10 dollars is the going price. It's all profit for them, because they steal it from the cable company. I use a lot of siamese cable with the power lines encased with the 59U. I haven't had any problems with it, if you use a quality power supply. That's the trick because the cheaper supplies do not have sufficient filtering. We run the siamese up to 750 feet at times.

I had a setup for remote viewing with that unit.You must use their client software. As for keeping the customer happy, it's easy. We never have complaints. Good service and installations is the answer. I've been doing this thing for 60 years.

We have been using some low priced H264 recorders for some time now. We install them on cheapy installations but we want a fairly decent recording. The fast food people wont pay big money for installations of CCTV. A good supplier is in Florida. 888 233 3478. Ask for Henry. Tell them John from Indiana referred you. Not looking for a comission, I send him a lot of dealers because he has good service and prices are right.

I just noticed the old postings about HDD's. If you are using them for video get a partnership with Seagate. They also own Maxtor. Seagate has a special heavy duty unit in the video line. The good thing about them, they carry a 5 year warranty. For your mother boards it's the same thing with Intel. They have partnership program also. I think Intels warranty is 3 years.

You do have problem that's rather strange. First of all find a small standard home television receiver with video input. Plug in your cameras individually to see if they are working. That is a good start. How you describe your problem, it is hard to pin point what the problem is. If you use this method, don't connect the DVR. Just have camera, power supply, cable to TV and that's it. Another thought, Make sure you have the correct power supply for the cameras.

Usually we only install hidden cameras in offices and the location of the DVR. We do blank out the camera on the screen. Someone with access to the dvr at times attempt to destroy portions of the recording and we catch them at the DVR doing so. They attempted to pass a law here in Indiana outlawing the use of hidden cameras. The bill was defeated. Our company installed hidden cameras in a power generating station that almost blew up as workers slept. These guys got fired and the union tried to eliminate us at the plant. Actually the only time around here that we must inform employees and customers, is the recording of audio. We post signs about this on the entry doors.

We use them on occasions. Mostly we buy direct, being in business so long. (60yrs) Where do you operate from? It's better to pick a smaller well stocked distributor in your own area.

We use them on occasions. Mostly we buy direct, being in business so long. (60yrs) Where do you operate from? It's better to pick a smaller well stocked distributor in your own area.

Now you have learned something. Never do a job for a friend. They want the world before it's over. They say things like I know your making big money in this business so give it to me for cost. Then the complaining starts. I never do any jobs until I get half down and a clause in the contract that the balance is due upon completion. Plus I have the right to remove my equipment for non compliance.

I have noticed many are asking questions about using the high pixel cameras in their CCTV systems. Some are getting good results and some are bad. Some boards will not except the high amount of resolution that they produce. How they connect the cameras are another thing. In the UK, the use of the cameras recording one frame at a time is popular. What has been your conclusion on how to connect the cameras to a DVR and what triggers your shutter or have you found a way to use the cameras with full motion? Let's hear some more about this topic. Best regards to all. The oldtimer

BSS I should have posted my reply on the open board rathet than the personal message board. This might be of interest to other CCTV dealers. I f I get a chance I will post it for others to view or if you have time cut and paste it on the open board. My problem is that I'll be away from my computer for the rest of the day and Thursday.

I built up some enhancing equipment on my own. Paintshop will do some of the job but not always. To do the job correctly it takes big bucks. I heard of Homeland funding a local area police group that serves numerous departments to the tune way over 1 million bucks and still many departments come to our company for better pictures. The trick of obtaining printable pictures in the first place is the installing of quality cameras and recorders. Then you have something to work with. Never install any of the junk on the market. Learn to read the specs and understand what they mean and your on the way to good quality pictures.The normal low priced digital TV camera for instance has around 360.000 pixels maybe even lower. We have developed a camera and have several out in the field with 6 million pixels. Enhancing is simple, it's like working with a 2 1/4 X 2 1/4 film negative. I know other companies, meaning the big one's will have something like this shortly.. Best regards The Oldtimer. p.s. we only make items like this camera for our own use.

I built up some enhancing equipment on my own. Paintshop will do some of the job but not always. To do the job correctly it takes big bucks. I heard of Homeland funding a local area police group that serves numerous departments to the tune way over 1 million bucks and still many departments come to our company for better pictures. The trick of obtaining printable pictures in the first place is the installing of quality cameras and recorders. Then you have something to work with. Never install any of the junk on the market. Learn to read the specs and understand what they mean and your on the way to good quality pictures.The normal low priced digital TV camera for instance has around 360.000 pixels maybe even lower. We have developed a camera and have several out in the field with 6 million pixels. Enhancing is simple, it's like working with a 2 1/4 X 2 1/4 film negative. I know other companies, meaning the big one's will have something like this shortly.. Best regards The Oldtimer. p.s. we only make items like this camera for our own use.

I have never heard of a association exclusively for CCTV. It could be a good idea if legislation attempting to control the industry ever happens. That could happen and groups can have voice. Many CCTV companies work out of Alarm Companies, in that era they have many associations. Many are local and statewide. It's my opinion that alarm operaters are not versed enough on the CCTV field. Time after time, we will go in and replace faulty CCTV syatems installed by alarm operators that believe it's just a simple thing. CCTV is a industry of it's own and can be very complicated if you do not know what you are doing. You can learn many things on this board if you are new to CCTV. I wish you luck in your business .. The oldtimer

What does anyone know about the BDS boards and where to purchase them.

I sent you a PM this morning. Maybe it will help. Keep in touch John

Sorry for your thoughts. The competition part was sort of a joke. Giving trade secrets out to the guy down the street I don't think is proper in the business world. To be a sucess in the business world you never give the other guy around you, a clue on what you are doing. From your language I suspect you are young and rather new to the field. Over the years numerous CCTV companies have come and gone. The industry recently has been flooded with a large group only getting in to make a buck and then tap it out. From what I have determined by the original poster, he is setting up business to stay. With store and looking for ideas. Now for your posting I haven't detected any value for this original poster in your posting what so ever. For myself I intent to ignore such coments.

You are trying to redecorate your store and the info you have recieved so far from others sounds good. We haven't a store, only offices and we have been selling CCTV longer than anyone, 58 years. We have found the biggest thing we promote is the end result. Printed color pictures, showing what the systems can do. Make the pictures as large as possible before they start to fall apart. You might get some pictures that are pretty bad taken with a CCTV system like the one's they sell at Sam's Club "etc" Try to get these goofy pictures in black and white. They will sell your systems more that anything. It's better if you have some actual scenes like a holdup and such. I hope your not a local competing with us. I'm in Indiana, near Chicago. Best regards John.