rory

if someone has time, if they can get all the threads with comparisons in them or even samples, useful ones so nothing from years ago (like many of mine LOL), then I can make it a sticky. My hands are tied right now with work so dont know if I have the time ... maybe though .. anyway

Check out cameras with the EM CCD if you have alot of money to burn. Eg: SHC-750N Samsung (dont know if its still in production) http://www.samsungtechwin.com/prd/pro_view.asp?pro_uid=1918&cat_uid=14&cat_biz=CTV&cat_lev=AA These dont say if its fc or not: 0.008Lux@F1.2 (Normal color mode) 0.0005Lux@F1.2 (B/W mode) 0.00006Lux@F1.2 (Sens-up mode) if its fc then its still good: 0.08Lux@F1.2 (Normal color mode) 0.005Lux@F1.2 (B/W mode)

According to the specs it is 0.188 lux (50ire) in BW, or 0.019 lux (50ire) with Sens Up x 10 (slow shutter?) Either way the CNB has that model beat. Cant speak for the other one as didnt check its specs.

I agree Im always looking also, Im still looking for a dome (and a bullet also), similar to that CNB, just a TDN basically, dont need DSS, 1lux color or 0.1lux color with an effective DN switchover, 0.01 lux BW or lower, 2.8-10mm IR Aspherical lens, has a similar OSD as most Korean cameras do these days (eg. Gamma, Sharpness, Iris, AGC, etc), Auto Backfocus would be nice but can live without it, and has the RS485 control for the OSD so I can change the settings remotely without having to go back to the location and up and down the ladder at night to adjust for each different application - but has to be around the same price .. well I would like it to be .. but whatever if it costs a little more then so be it .. thats what I want One issue I do have with the monalisa domes is they compensate way too much in color, Id rather it just stay in color in the day or with full light, and always goto BW in low light, basically the 24VF's DN switchover is not great IMO. This unfortunately is a similar issue with many current TDN cameras today. Im happy with the DFL-20s though, great price, good image for the price, and really simple to install - though most clients now want IR in their stores at night as they are not prepared to leave a light on, and thats a whole other headache.

Well if you are viewing the cameras already, thats just the stream, next you have to record it, so if all you want to do is record the stream you are viewing remotely, that wont effect the bandwidth anymore than it is already, but it will add alot of extra processing to your monitoring computer. But then depends on the DVR's desktop software, can you schedule it to record? Just to record what you are streaming, not to download video from the DVR 24/7? Then it could work. Still have the issue of the bandwidth to stream 400 cameras though, at least at the main remote monitoring site, that will need killer download bandwidth. If you are only streaming in CIF from each office only 4 cameras then they are fine, generally, but its still alot of uploading 24/7 and you will likely still have issues with your ISP.

Like wireguys said, need to know the brand and model, need to see if their software even supports that feature. Also like he said, that will take a ton of bandwidth for that many DVRs and cameras, even if only recording it based on the motion detection from the DVR, and the motion detection from cheap DVRs is not 100% accurate. Additionally the video may not be the quality of the recorded local video. And for that number of cameras to cut back on bandwidth you may have to use lower quality anyway like CIF, and lower bitrate. Will it work, well once you get past the bandwidth issues, yes you would get somewhat usable video, but that depends as it might not always detect the motion, or might get bogged down uploading the video from multiple cameras at the same site at the same time. I was doing this for the past couple months on my own DVR on my local network, to my PC as my DVR had no hard drive, at least one time when someone walked right in front of the camera it didnt record it (could have been my PC though). Since it is recording locally as well though in your case then it might not be that big a deal, but just have to realize there is the chance it wont capture a certain event remotely. I havent tested recording continuously and not sure if that is even available. Some DVRs also do alarm video monitoring, so you can have a camera popup and display for X amount of seconds on motion detection. This can be set to display on different windows or monitors. But like I said, not all DVRs have these options. Especially the cheap DVRs.

Reveal the secret prepared to buy from Korea? Or in bulk from a small USA office? lots of good Korean products out there, many just not in the US.

Yes, they have the VFL-20s, cant say how much it costs, but one of the cheapest outdoor ones they have. this is basically the dfl-20s, in a vandal housing: http://www.cnbusa.com/en/html/product/product.php?seqx_prod=1155 or this one: (ugly one?) http://www.cnbusa.com/en/html/product/product.php?seqx_prod=1158 or; (never used these) http://www.cnbusa.com/en/html/product/product.php?seqx_prod=1167 http://www.cnbusa.com/en/html/product/product.php?seqx_prod=1168

True. Also didnt Axis have a mini camera? They could maybe use that and hide it in their own housing.

They have a point though, I rent a single story appt and I wouldnt put an expensive camera on my eave either, even with a good alarm system in place. Something really vandal proof perhaps though. I dont have any kind of home owners insurance as I rent.

That site supplies pirated cards/software, which leads me to believe your card is a clone. Sorry but we cant discuss anything about those type of products on this forum.

Sell it and buy something that doesnt have a Sharp chip. Also, if thats not an option, mount it on the other side looking in so there is no backlighting issues from the windows/door. Also in that type of camera it would be Digital WDR, not True WDR, and how well it performs would depend on the manufacturer, Ive had manufacturers even tell me its okay but its nothing like True WDR.

http://www.boschsecurity.us/en-us/ProductInformation/Cameras/ex85/

Wow .. LOL .. I am lost for words

Is that Avigilon?

do you mean so you can work with it in C# as opposed to the C++ etc? It comes with some fairly vague VB6 and Delphi example code. I use VB6 myself. The calls to the API are pretty straight forward though. If you can understand VB6 I can send you some examples of how I created my own functions, then maybe you could port that to C# (I dont know C myself). BTW they also have a linux SDK, havent used it myself though.

If you use PSS software which is listed on GenIV's website as their CMS software, its definitely a Dahua DVR, and all the DVRs are SATA now. The GenIV other models are all Dahua, and although this one has a different face, its specs are identical to the Dahua 16 channel HE-T. If it is indeed using an IDE then its an older one or a totally different brand, as you mentioned maybe hikvision. http://www.genivtechnology.com/products-one/category-two/G4-RTAHD-D1 As for the no software on the PC, every browser app needs something installed, even if you didnt install it, its pre installed already as a plug in. The listed G4-RTA uses ActiveX in the browser which needs to be installed on the user's computer - personally I rather use the desktop software, which also gives alot more options and is overall better for Remote Surveillance purposes. Glad its working though, and you are happy

2.5mm fixed m12 lenses definately have blur on the edges, even 3.6mm have a little. The Varifocal lenses such as 2.8-11mm can be Aspherical which then gets rid of most of that blur, but at a higher cost. Either way with the cheapest budget cameras one is pretty much stuck with fixed 3.6mm lenses, if they are lucky its 1/3", so although one should always check the site out, when quoting the cheapest budget installs, it is what it is. I stay away from anything less than 3.6mm with fixed lens cameras now.

3.6mm is still wide angle though, especially with IR. 2.5mm is wider, 1.8mm even wider, etc. Many fixed lens bullets and domes, mostly the ones with IR rings around the lens area, cant fit a 2.5mm lens. The 1.8mm is even bigger, and much more blurry. 3.6/3.8mm is a good wide angle lens with the least amount of blur on the edges.

Which one did you hear of? Im thinking of testing them out, just not sure which to begin with? I think CNB might be a gamble but prices are good, seen others using the Geo's on here though the cost is more. thanks

How about Geovision MP cameras, comes with free 32 channel Geovision NVR software. Or CNB MP Cameras, also come with free NVR software. Both seem like decent options for budget MP. CNB also have SDK available. Geovision also have a Fisheye MP camera which is inexpensive compared to other brands. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BjlpAACkMs

Like compact cameras from other brands, maybe its so one can fit them inside domes and smaller housings? Although their regular camera is already pretty small anyway, just a little wide.

As I said it has nothing to do with the camera, there are no jagged edges on the camera's video directly on a monitor - plug it into a DVR then perhaps. But it will differ from one DVR to the next. Well we've been doing this for years and no problems from "jagged edges" LOL. Actually just look at my image above of the BW bullet .. no jagged lines right? Some cameras do though, but still not direct on the monitor, only after it has gone through the DVR. Thing is, you mentioned a CNB camera but not what system you used, the system makes a huge difference. Ive done licence plate capture before and it worked great. I dont know, even though the following is not a licence plate capture camera .. i think I can make it out just fine

All the current GenIV Intellicam's are made by Dahua. Are you sure thats a Hikvision?

One way is to look at how much you originally paid for it, clones are much much cheaper. You can always image the system, then if you have problems, restore that image back.