aibudo

You can start from here and move up: http://www.zmododirect.com/8-camera-surveillance-system-8-sony-ir-ccd-black-cameras-500gb/ Have not had an issue at all with this specific DVR and at least these camera's are CCD. Software is friendly too. As a move up: http://www.closeoutcctv.com/8-Ch-Camera-DVR-Security-Surveillance-CCTV-Package-p/cl-8propk34sh600.htm Software is friendly on this unit too.

It could very well be a power issue for some of the camera problems. Power supplies/splitters that come with some systems work ok on low current cameras, but if you add higher current camera's, the camera's will be "sick". Also, the size and length of the power wires to the camera's can affect operation. On a system like you're talking about, I would go the "wall mount case style" power supplies to supply power. To start with, hook only one of the camera's that you're having an issue to one of your power supplies and see if the issue changes. Let us know what you find out. Dennis

Thanks for the reply and fix. So many times, there is a repost to state whether or not the issue was corrected or not and what the ultimate fix was. Dennis

What are you wishing to accomplish with the camera? Good color - definitely CCD Resolution - Is D1 good enough? IR requirement (area/footage)? Focal length - distance/vertical/horizontal (or adjustable)? Dennis

Is this new and did it ever record? If it did and doesn't now, have you tried a reformat of the HD? That will tell us something. Dennis

Either one with F fittings and F to BNC adapters. Those footages don't even come into degradation play. I prefer Siamese 59/18-2, if you choose to use coax. Dennis

I will start with you and then leave it up to others to finish with you who are acquainted with the model specific software. Are you able to access the dvr within your network? If not then there's where to start. Have you determined what your router/gateway address is? Have you set your port forwarding in your router? If you are able to access the dvr within the network, then have you determined what your WAN address is? Enter in your browser "whatismyip.com". Answer those and I'm sure someone on here will be able to get you going in the right direction. Dennis

What footage are we talking about? What about future/upgrade thoughts? Dennis

Yep, you're right. Guess I need to change my glasses so that I can read what's on my screen right.

More than likely there was an internal IP conflict, between the DVR and something else on the network. Changing the DVR IP, naturally fixed the problem. Dennis

Unfortunately, we are in a time when it only takes one "complainer" to totally change the "rules/law". There can be "10000" in favor of something and "1" complaining about it violating there rights, and the "10000" end up having to give in. Well, at least, that's the way it's supposed to affect, but me,,,,,,,,,,,, Dennis

In my opinion, that's a CROCK of a rule. I just had the opposite thing happen to me. My business is on a state highway and I put up two camera's outside, looking both ways towards tha front of my business. Our local police department ask me if I would raise the camera's enough to catch the highway intersections either side of the block that my business is in. There are 3 banks on one of them. They said that my camera's could help the community in case of accidents, mischief, etc. Just as soon as the weather allows, I will climb up and change the angle and zoom to accomodate our police department.

The DVD "door" should open with only power applied to it, if alignment isn't the problem. Something must have happened during the swap. Just my opinion, but I've been wrong before. Dennis

In the manual address that you supplied, section "4.5.6 Restore" references to resetting to "factory defaults". Didn't that work or are you wanting some other default?

Have you setup the network and remote address info in the "address book" yet? Until you do that and connect to the dvr via that, you won't get the "remote config" button that you want. Dennis

I do that at home all the time. Use the PIP function. Works great. TV programming on the left and CCTV on the right. Dennis

If you're able to watch live feed when outside your network, but not able to search and playback recorded video, then the zmodo bulletin isn't your issue. How did you come out with my post above? Dennis

Still being misunderstood on the sata jumper on some sata drives,,,,,I guess. Here is directly from a HD OEM: Some SATA drivers have jumpers for extra features, or for troubleshooting. Example from the manual of a SATA disk: Set the Jumpers: The default setting for some SATA hard drives varies depending on the model. To determine the default setting for your drive, look at the drive label on the top of the drive. DO NOT change the default setting if you intend to use the drive in a desktop computer. Change the jumper settings ONLY if you intend to use the drive in an enterprise storage environment. Some of WD have 4 pins. An example of Seagate,,,,, On a Seagate ST3500320AS, there are four pins in the jumper block. You put a jumper between two of them to limit the drive to 1.5Gb/s instead of 3Gb/s, as explained in the manual. The other two pins (plus the nearest of the pair of pins used to limit the drive speed, which is a ground) make a serial port, which talks directly to the drive firmware! Dennis

What is the maximum footage from the DVR and cameras? What is the size of 2 pair cable wires? If within the acceptable loss of DC, then just use 1 pair for the camera power and the other pair for the heater/fan. If I understood what you were asking. Dennis

If your tv has 2 video (composite) inputs and it has PIP, then you could put all 16 on one screen without an issue. If your tv only has one video input, then you could output the video of one dvr to a rf modulator to the rf input to the tv and once again if your tv has PIP your could place all the cameras on one screen. Dennis

First off, do you have your DVR network cable plugged into the first router the outside world sees or into the internal network router? Easier if you have it into the first router (your ISP), Of course, now if your first router is actually only a modem, then that's a different story. Dennis

Just one thing. I had a dvr do something very similar to this once. The DVR was set to "not overwrite". It would record just fine until the HD filled up, then stopped. After that, it would no longer record or allow viewing remotely. I did get it to format, then set to "overwrite" and it worked fine after that. Just a thought.

Should have been more specific on the "jumper". I was referring to the "speed" jumper on some drives. Set too fast, the HD may not be recognized.

Good point "tomcctv". What about the "jumper" position on the HD? Dennis

If you contaced the DVR dealer or company, did they list the HD's that your model will accept? Was your HD on the list? Dennis