rory

Not as in the drink ... wine is application virtualization, for Linux or Mac (Unix). Please note I am no expert on Linux or Mac, just been working with them lately to try and get things to work for me and a couple clients. Basically this is one way to run Windows programs on a Unix based Operating system - some programs will ofcourse fail to work for one reason or another, mostly due to a missing dependency file (something that is normally installed with Windows but is not included Wine and the user did not add it in themselves), or in the case of video related programs it might have issues due to directX or video card/display driver problems, not native to its Unix Operating system. If it is just a dependency related issue you could find out what those files are and manually copy them to the wine folders. Additionally Wine has its own registry. In the case of Linux you would goto the Software library and search for Wine then install it. Then in some cases you can just run the Windows Program Installer (or even just the EXE) and it may install properly and work great. One example of something that does install and run, probably due to it being a Microsoft product and including all the dependency files, is Microsoft Office 2003. I was even able to create desktop shortcuts with their Icons. It actually worked great on Ubtunu. I created a thread related to this though it is mostly for Mac, which can be a little more difficult with Wine in some cases. viewtopic.php?f=12&t=19615 this is also something for one of my own programs that I got working in Wine: viewtopic.php?p=116003#p116003 There are issues with Wine and Video apps at least in my own experience, though I am no Wine expert .. but it still might be worth a try. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_(software)

What im still looking for is some software that can take the video (eg over the network or plugged direct into the laptop via a USB composite device) and then tell you when it is the best focus .. yet to find this .. for all cameras not just IP .. if they have such a beast for IP cameras then perhaps we can convert to make it work with other software, see then it might just work good with a laptop as it wont matter what type of display we are using, even on a netbook ps. i realize there is the camera master but ... big $$ and not the same idea.

On the Video Insight link, click events. though I think those are all IP cameras/servers. Have you tried Wine with your DVR playback software?

Also look at -CNB - for IR Bullets, High Powered IR Cameras, and Many Dome types. -KT&C - for mini Bullet cameras, and mini cube cameras and boards (such as used in hidden cameras) -GeoVision - well known for home PC CCTV surveillance, not that cheap though. SDK available of use included ActiveX control. Skins and such very customizable. -Intellicam - for their slimline budget DVRs with HDMI output, great .. and I mean GREAT live video with HDMI on a 32" LCD for example (recording is CIF though). -HikVision - hardware compression PC Cards that work in Linux and Windows, up to 64 channels in one DVR - also stand alone DVRs - havent used any of them yet, but pricing is not bad. They also have impressive easy access to SDKs for their products, right on the website. I havent really used a stand alone DVR that I can say I am really happy with yet .. the HDMI is nice in the Intellicam (also sold under other OEM brand names) but thats only CIF recording, though they do have D1 DVRs also. There are literally thousands if not hundreds of thousands of them out there though. Most always have some kind of limitation when it comes to evidence sharing compared to PC based, even the more expensive ones. I havent tried everyone though, so I am sure there is something out there that might make me happy just yet

I would also suggest backing up (file, export) the Geovision registry section as it is now before you make changes, just in case.

What software version is it? Did you get the card from a legit supplier? (make sure it is not a clone) Is the motherboard an Intel, AMD, Nvidea, or SIS, etc, chipset? Is everything set on motion detection? What is the Source type (640x480 deinterlace, 720x480, etc)? What type of cameras?

Hi, its all under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\GeoVision\MultiView I dont have it installed right now but that is where I changed it all before. Rory

Also I just found this tool online, lets you check an IP and port from a remote location: http://www.websitepulse.com/help/gadgets.server-test.html

Update: Still working on it, okay been away from it for a bit but back at it again. Here is a sample video recorded of my screen while testing the new LiveVue GUI which is still under development. I will put more up as I update the code and add more features. http://www.bahamassecurity.com/LVGDevEg.avi (24mb, 1360x768) no remote video, just a GUI example. BTW I now have it successfully working with both Geo DVRs and Axis (via mjpeg, eg http://10.10.10.10/axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi). I would like to venture more into the IP camera/server area as time goes on, but for now it will just be Geo and Axis. If I dont completely finish the Axis part in time, eg all methods and events, then it would just be Geo for now. To view a screenshot of the Geo and Axis connected together download the following winrar archived image, pm me for password: http://www.bahamassecurity.com/lvgGeoAxisEG.rar Still to do: 1-add in settings section, will be using INI files, no database 2-fix a drag drop bug 3-add in basic features like record and save image 4-add in all necessary geo and axis events and methods (have all the geo code already) 5-add in audio and ptz support (may leave out until i release the beta) 6-clean up the code ... ofcourse. basically will have all sites, groups (for multi site) and general settings in INI files under a folder. This folder will allow easy export and import into other computers. No more activation. As it will support 64 cameras/sites .. that can get heavy .. the Geo's activeX contains alot of code and objects of its own .. in my app each camera is an activeX control, just like with Multiview. On a P4 3.2 Ghz old PC (my development machine) it can take some time to load 64 controls. Basically I have it only load what it needs to, so if you connect to 16 cameras/sites then thats all it will load. 64 does load on this PC but it is pushing it. Not to mention after about 32 cameras or so my cable modem locks up ... sometimes. that happens here with torrents also, not just me. I guess if you will do over 32 cameras then just need to know you need a good fast PC and alot of bandwidth. This new program is actually lighter and faster then previous versions. I use graphic buttons with skins but I will add an option to disable that, probably just by removing or moving the skin folder, then it will cut down on some more memory. And ofcourse this will be optimized for netbooks .. but will work on all PCs. In fact there will be a feature that lets you create your own custom screen size. Additionally there will be a couple versions of this, as I have done recently with another app I wrote: 1-A second EXE - this would be called for example, LiveVue2.exe. This is the full screen app, such as used with a shell other then explorer. Would also have shutdown and command prompt buttons (eg. http://www.bahamassecurity.com/tmp/vboxdvrshell3.jpg) 1-Standard Installer - installs everything on the users computer. 2-Single File - self-extracting exe, extracts to the temp folder, runs the app, then removes on exit. Contains the file dependencies in the path, including vbruntime files. Can add auto load and connect into it and password protect the archive. Can also use INI files and skins in the path of the self-extracting exe, to override the archive's files. 3-Folder - contains the file dependencies in the folder path along with the LiveVue exe, including vbruntime files. No install or copying, generally just works. May have issues on some machines. 4-Virtual Box - a setup geared towards running the app as a shell in a virtual box machine - so it works on Mac and Linux. Set it up on another computer such as a Windows XP one, then you can just import the virtual machine into Virtual Box on mac or linux. Already tested with another shell app, works great, no driver issues at all using Fusion on the latest Mac OS. Guest OS would be XP stripped down and tweaked, and user supplies the OS. Another option I am still looking at is a BartPe setup, using just an ISO within Virtual Box, first I need to overcome the network and video driver issue though. Thats it for now. Loading .. after hit connect. . Another skin .. ok nothing fancy .. want it fast, by the way for anyone reading that has not used my app before the extra space at the bottom is for dragging or resetting the window.

Thats normally the power for an Auto Iris lens, if the camera is equipped with one.

auto zoom and focus by default, you can normally adjust them manually also using the control keypad or software.

Do whatever is easier for you. RG59 Siamese and BNCs are so cheap these days and dont even have to give it a second thought.

Based on the specs, Sharp CCD, Low pixels, and no IR Cut filter: 1-Washed out colors especially in the day due to lack of a mechanical IR cut filter and due to the low low price any kind of digital image enhancements will be missing. 2-Blurry Image, even worse under bright lighting. 3-Probably wont see anything under low light outdoors, if anything might be a blur. 4-Low life expectancy - cheap power board and other parts. 5-Zoomed in far, due to a 1/4" 6mm lens. Maybe .... But yes you probably will get an image. Cheapest I go now is KT&C ... but every manufacturer has their crappy cameras, so if you go too cheap, then dont expect too much. PS. the link was removed as that is an online store that sells fake GeoVision DVR cards. Also it is located in China, so that is where you would be ordering from.

Also check this out for in the field focusing: http://www.fmsystems-inc.com/cw/details.cfm?prodid=160 This and your portable LCD and you are good to go. (for non IP cams though, unless they have a video port) its not cheap though .. but it has good reviews from some on this forum.

I normally prefocus all standard FOV cameras .. that way it focused in a controlled environment for best focus, and all that is needed is adjusting at the camera. For a normal application (eg. 3.6mm, 4mm, etc) you dont have to know the target, if its a far zoom or you dont know what the FOV will be, then it gets tough. I have prefocused for years and it works great, ofcourse there is the rare occasion when I cant, such as a 30mm zoom for example. Tip, buy a viewfinder to get your distances, and prefocus it based on that. Focusing it "properly" at the location can be difficult if not impossible in many cases, especially outside in the bright sunlight or in the pitch dark with IR (IR focus, non IR lenses), and definitely if using a small LCD field monitor. If its an IP cam you could probably do the same we sometimes do with DVRs and non IP cams, hook up a wireless router, then plug the camera into that with a short cat5 ... then use your laptop to adjust. Ive never used an IP cam though so dont quote me. With CCTV cams as scorp mentioned we focus them various ways, depends on the installer, camera, and the location.

30 minutes to 1 hour max. A vandal dome may take a little longer then a standard dome. BUT, every install is different.

In that case, its highly unlikely, most fixed domes only support microvarifocal lenses, and thats a standard lens.

if you go into the router, view the status and it should be there along with your ISP assigned IP address.

here are a few .. most not free but hey .. http://www.pure-mac.com/webcam.html If not perhaps check out one of the simple 1 or 4 channel stand alone DVRs.

Thanks, I added it to the Free Software for GeoVision DVRs sticky

its bundled by PEBundle, so perhaps that is the issue. I read on another forum that it checks for updates ... not sure how true that is though. http://www.blitzbasic.com/Community/posts.php?topic=28049 New version seems to be called PECompact: PECompact includes plug-ins to perform CRC checks, password based encryption, message box prompt for permission to execute, and much-much more. And since these plugins can all be combined in any order and quantity, each compressed file can be very unique. http://www.bitsum.com/pecompact.php http://www.powerbasic.com/support/forums/forum8/html/003037.html http://www.woodmann.com/collaborative/tools/index.php/PEBundle

Hi, you can normally buy a lens cleaning kit from a Still Camera/Photopgrahy store.

if they dont support the Kalatel Protocol, then no it wont work, they use the Kalatel Protocol only. If you feel adventurous you could contact GE and see if they would send you the Kalatel Protocols, and you "could" create your own program just to control it ... you will find many DVRs out of china will be lacking in this area, support for many PTZ protocols. Its surprising as Kalatel PTZ was a well known player in the industry for some time, but being more expensive perhaps the cheaper DVR companies didnt want to bother with them.

it can also be done right in the registry.