rory

The cheaper and easier way would probably be to just stick in a DVR in each building then connect to them from a PC running their CMS or multisite software. The good thing about that is if the network goes down then they are all still recording locally. Ofcourse if you have time and they have the money then perhaps IP based with onboard storage, such as the Mobotix cameras, might be the way to go. You could also just use IP cameras and an NVR in each location instead of the DVR. Really alot of options. I always look at the budget first though, that dictates what they can afford, not what they want or need. No point in spending days or weeks on a quote if they cant even remotely afford it.

also this will test an IP or DDNS name and specific port to see if it is open from a remote location: http://www.websitepulse.com/help/gadgets.server-test.html

I dont know that router so just going by the ones I have used .. make the DVR this: IP = 10.0.0.200 (or whatever as long as the last part is more than the number of PCs on the network including any wireless PCs that might connect) Subnet = 255.255.255.0 Gateway = 10.0.0.1 Then test that IP locally. Once it works, then port forward the port/s the DVR uses to that IP address. Next, from outside you can use either the IP assigned by your ISP, but that will change frequently, or setup a DDNS. Some DVRs have their own built in DDNS service, others you will need to setup something like DynDns.com in the router, just sign up for a free account and fill that info into the router - then you connect with that name instead of an IP. viewtopic.php?f=12&t=3287

Yes there are really no DVR manufacturers in the US (other than the large players but even those build overseas), so almost anything you find there, even if its a DVR card inside a PC, comes from Asia and can in most cases be OEMd by just about anyone. Where the difference in price comes into play is the amount of units they purchase, the more they buy the cheaper they get them for, the more turnover on the product, the cheaper they can sell it for, so some will be cheaper than others. Also some may give more tech support or warranty and charge more for that, or customize the software more or even write their own software for it, and also charge more for that. Some large companies though like GE, Bosch etc will have their own manufacturing overseas specially for their products.

No the VFs dont have IR...dual voltage though, 24VAc is very important for those longer runs over 200'.

Yes XTS sells to distributors only, you would search down the Intellicam model instead which though more expensive than XTS (at least at retail) is still almost half that price. Cantonk is a manufacturer in China, so would need to contact them there BTW PI's comes with a large harddrive included which is nice. Login should work but I havent tested it in a few weeks.

Wow, thats something new, I was there just the other day and it was there as normal. Now its gone and there is a whole list of new cameras. will check them out and see what they are about! Thanks for the reply as that got me to check it out Looks like the VBM-20S is our outdoor replacement for the dfl-20s. But the 20's arent replacements for the 24s as they are only 12VDC. Probably just a mistake on leaving out the 24VF in an update.

XTSvideo.. an OEM distributor out of Florida USA, they use the same manufacturer as the Intellicam DVRs, made by Dahua Security in China. CNB, also sold by other companies but with different cases such as Vsionis in the US, made by Indigo out of Korea. Thats just a couple I could recommend right now but there are others. Im testing an XTvideo DVR as we speak. You guys in the US are so lucky, we paid almost double the cost of the DVR to land it here due to expensive customs charges and international shipping! If for example you were feeling up to ordering from China you could check one of the recent DVRs from Cantonk (they are on the forum), its so cheap its not funny .. but they have great specs, has USB Mouse, all mobile phone's support, remote setup, etc. I tested their remote video and I am impressed by the speed of their CMS app's GUI and also their browser software - so many of todays software applications are made on super computers and they tend to forget the small guys that cant afford the latest to run their remote video apps! About 1/4 the price of the others, plus shipping ofcourse LOL. I should stop now .. but .. also there is a company called PI manufacturing out of California USA,really inexpensive 4 and 16 channel DVRs with hard drives included and Remote Desktop software as well as a claimed CMS. Nice remote video with quality/bandwidth options on the fly. ive used the big players already, GE, Avermedia, AvTech, etc, at least in the 2 I mentioned first they do alot more for either the same cost or much less - in both cases the quality of local and remote is also exceptional. If you havent guessed already, although I do still judge a DVR based on its local features and recording quality, if the remote video sucks I wont go near it.

All these I am working with / testing right now allow that actually, Remote setup. even the cheapest DVR ive seen in a long time, out of China, has that: http://bahamassecurity.com/images/samples/Cantonk_Browser.jpg still contemplating ordering one of those ... at least to test it. The 16 channel one I mentioned earlier is in town now, going to grab it in a little while and will put it online here in place of my cheap AvTech. The model from the manufacture is this: http://www.dahuasecurity.com/product_det.aspx?ID=675&p=cpyzc&p_kind=3&c_kind=262&c_kind2=&c_kind3= Im getting this from a company in Florida that sells only to distributors, otherwise Intellicam is available on retail sites, I dont know if there are any differences between them. Both of them have an Enterprise model which claims D1 30fps on every channel, it costs ALOT more though, hard to sell that down here when we pay 45% Customs on the combined cost of the DVR + Shipping (average $100).

Probably was just on sale. But to be honest I wouldnt touch either of those 2 DVRs .. well not for a client anyway. I can get some in that same price range that blow both away. Except whatever I get the customs costs half the cost of the DVR cost + approx $100 Shipping together so .. ouch That said, if you have any sample images or videos from it, it would be appreciated.

I think the avilgon 16MP would be perfect for that location

im checking out an XTSvideo slim line DVR either today or tomorrow, it is from the same manufacturer of the Intellicam GenIV DVRs .. can let you know how that one turns out. Has HDMI and 7fps D1 on every channel which is nice, plus all kind of mobile phone support from the manufacturer at the least - ofcourse I havent tested it yet to say for sure though. Otherwise the CNB stand alones are not bad, good price also, but no mobile phone support that I know of. There is alot of junk out there so beware of all the marketing hype.

You could either buy another PC to use for it, cheap, or build one, cheaper. Or using a stand alone DVR you could view it over the network or on a local monitor attached to the DVR. Yes the USB DVRs tend to have very limited software, at least compared to something as heavy as Geovision 8.3. If your card is an older one, pre 8.3 days, then you could use a basic P4 system, refurbished even if you want to save (needs to be a tower or cube though) and using pre 8.2 software, eg. 8.1.2 if the card is not that old. Ive got 8.1.2 running on a Celleron, and ofcourse stripped down XP

That Q-see retails for $269 from online stores. The $450 price I see is Home Depot.

So, I can get a DVR for $55 that blows both of them away! And for $100 more than the Q-see I can get a 16 channel

You will have great difficulty finding a quality 8 camera system for your price range. Even at first cost dealer pricing it will be difficult, then have to add in markup, wiring, power, labour etc. 8 basic but okay cameras alone will take out almost your whole budget.

Something wrong with that DVR or camera video samples of slightly cleaner standard CCTV cameras: *compressed during conversion http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=159423680738890 http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=159414440739814 the following are comparisons, shrunk to CIF forreasons below Top right camera is cheap CNB dfl-20s dome. bottom domes are CNB vbm-24vfs. this captured over the network from an 8 year old bad DVR with 256MB ram and an old celeron CPU, has poor evidence sharing, basically client needs a new DVR in this case ... no its not MP but hey.. just to give a better example of what to expect from a regular CCTV camera, not the cheap $10 kmart ones. - if you want an image on your PC like the bottom one that thewireguys posted above, then you will need MP IP cameras.

or add a dusk to dawn or spotlight.

Phew thats good to know. With everything else out there to worry about didnt need anything else

Now you got me worried, so I should run indoors when i see them or they might give me the ebola virus or something? Im on the main island, New Providence .. its an over crowded island. Went to Marsh Harbour a couple months ago for the first time and it was nice, a bit slow though. My family is actually from the south, Long Island, and my moms side is from Scotland. Spent a couple years in NY and went upstate in the Winter .. so yeah I know the cold .. but after the past couple months of non stop intense sun and heat ... especially trying to install cameras outside in it ... i dream about the cold now

yeah but you were using 12VDC .. the power boards on these cameras are just really cheap. Actually so are the video boards but anyway .. it doesnt take much to make a cheap camera go out of whack .. i use cheap cameras all the time .. trust me .. there is a big diff between a cheap one and a higher quality one when it comes to what you can do to it. Not saying that is the issue here but worth considering.

I have a couple wild parrots flying around my yard

That part is sweet but hows that gonna help me catch the barefoot bandit in my back yard? Yes please id love to see the closer fov cameras .. thats the dollar shots for me

CNB VCM-24VF Vandal dome and call it a day - 2.8mm wide angle FOV. Or look at the KT&C Mini Cube BW Cameras and throw on a 1.8mm fish eye lens. Get a 4 channel DVR with LAN if you want to record and view it over the network. If its too dark at night, get a separate IR source or add more light. Its just a bird

Rory you kill me Seriously though I wouldnt pay all that money for that dark night image .. but hey what do I know, all i do are day night apps.