rory

Thats Infrared for you. Otherwise can spend $2000 on a Bosch Extreme camera, or a Panasonic DN camera and a Raytec IR ... and at least have some kind of guarantee. Here is an example of another camera a reseller claimed had and I quote: "36 IR LED's (Up to 95ft IR Range)" The farthest edge of the light in this image is approx 45'.

Honestly, specs mean little when it comes to IR cameras. Many even say they have ICR when they dont (stores selling products they dont know). So basically you wont know how the camera will really perform until you get your hands on it and test it.

that deep round metal cover doesnt look like it helps either. any LEDs pointing a little outward and may reflect back.

Fixed lens with ICR, rare. But possible if its over the chip and not on the lens. You dont know, until you use the camera. but if it says it is 1 lux, it wont be great for day night unless its really blasting the area with IR. Thats why they likely kept it to 6mm, which BTW is more like 8mm if compared to 1/3". narrow IR beam. Also, see this example for a better idea.

1 lux always. Meaning outside of the IR light beam it will still be 1 lux. Meaning its not as sensitive to the IR as other cameras. Eg. another camera with better sensitivity will likely for example see 50' with the IR where as this might see 20' (example IR range, not specific to this camera). Another camera with better sensitivity may take that IR and use it to spread outside the beam area for additional pickup, while this one may stop dead at the edge of the beam. Not having used this camera, Im just speculating ofcourse, but based on experience having tested alot of IR cameras. eg. Same IR distance (approx), 2 different cameras Cheap Color IR, 1 Lux TDN Exview IR, 0.02 Lux

cons: 1/4" 6mm 1.2a 12VDC 1 lux

White LED

Im sorry, I wouldnt know anything about that.

Obviously the more expensive KT&C is the better camera. Although Ive used TND IR bullets with much better IR than this. But I didnt buy it for the IR in this case. This is pitch dark BTW, I needed a flash light to walk out there. It does give a really good color image at night compared to others I tested. Will wait for the day time ..

this shows the IR beam only .. 600TVL 2.8-11mm Color IR dome Very visible IRs ... 700TVL KT&C with next to invisible IR They dont say what wavelength it is This is the $89 Color IR Bullet outside of the IR beam it is nothing but noise ..

Since we are on this topic, I just got my hands on a KT&C TDN IR Bullet, Sony Effio Exview 700TVL, its the one with 20LEDs, the slightly cheaper model (still not cheap compared to others). Anyway Didnt know it but was wondering why I could not see the LEDs ... well there was what looked like it might have been a very dim glow, so little It looked like they were not even on, and I could only see it if I was right up in front of it. No way anyone else would even notice those. Anyway, reading the manual turns out its what they call "invisible" and that would seem so, since compared to other IR bullets the IR in this case is barely 20' or so. Basically the camera itself sees like the CNB monalisa, sees in next to no light without IR so it works out okay anyway, with the dusk to dawn light on its in full color - basically if you want an IR bullet stay clear of this, its useless for that. Otherwise it will work fine where I need it, there are all kinds of street lights. Maybe the 45LED model is better for IR .. costs $50-70 more though and the client decided he didnt need it. In addition to that camera I have an $89 IR bullet branded by 123, its a color IR with 4-9mm and 600TVL. My dusk to dawn kills it, unlike the KT&C which handles it just fine. But this camera has alot of IR for a cheap camera, sees out to at least 50-60 feet in total pitch dark. Its going in the narrow back of a building and there wont be light, so it works out well.

Browser based will always be limited. The desktop software is the real software. Some have Mac versions. You might get it to work in WINE also. Most DVRs only have an ActiveX control for browser based. As far as I know there is no IE plugin for Mac computers. I doubt you will find anything like that, its an unknown DVR. If anything they might support brands like Geo, Bosch, etc. If your DVR supports RTSP then that is one way to do it, but you would have to leave VLC running on a computer all the time.

It would look good playing mp3s in my jeep

So it doesnt come with any real software?

How is the desktop software?

Covert cameras, cheaper to make your own. Putting a DVR in a box, best have some kind of air solution for it also. At least if using a hard drive. Anyway google has some links http://www.l-com.com/productcenter.aspx?id=3225 http://www.iprojectbox.com/ http://www.polycase.com/techtalk/category/waterproof-electronic-enclosures http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Overview/Catalog/Enclosures http://www.thewaterproofstore.com/hardcases.html http://www.omega.com/kwbld/waterproofelectronicenclosures.html http://www.boat-project.com/electro/nemabox.htm http://www.discount-security-cameras.net/dwdvr4.aspx http://www.serpac.com/

Dahua have various models and different sizes. The different models can vary on the hardware and chips used, eg. some models such as those which support D1 real time every channel, and the newer 960H DVRs, will have a faster CPU. Some will have their firmware customized, a different front face, and sometimes a different case color, but thats normally about it. Gain is checked by default on all Dahua DVRs. If its not, then someone either unchecked it or the firmware may be an old/custom version. There ARE various custom firmware out there but the models typically stay the same and can be compared to the actual Dahua model. Eg. Look at the specs on the right, which one is yours? LE-AS/AN 4 - 1U 1HDD LE-AS 8/16 - 1U 1HDD LE-A 4/8/16 - 1U 1HDD LE-SL 16 - 1.5U 2HDD LE-L 4/8/16 - 1.5U 4HDD LE-S 4/8/16 - 2U 4HDD LE-U 4/8/16 - 2U 8HDD LE-U 32 - 2U 8HDD HE-S 4/8/16 - 1.5U 4HDD Full D1 HE-T 4/8/16 - 2U 8HDD Full D1 HE-AS/AN 4 - 1U 1HDD Full D1 HF-AL 4/8/16 - 1.5U 2HDD Full D1 HF-A 4/8/16 - 1U 2HDD Full D1 HF-L 4/8/16 - 1.5U 4HDD Full D1 HF-S 4/8/16 - 2U 8HDD Full D1 HF-S-E 4/8/16 - 2U 8HDD Full 960H HD-S 4 - 2U 8HDD SDI 1080P

is this for a camera or DVR/NVR?

Im using an old laptop 2A power supply I got from a clients bad laptop one time, to power an Extreme CCTV EX26LED, a TDN IR bullet (with IR disabled as using the EX26LED), a Color Bullet, a BW bullet, and a Color IR bullet. No issues .. just check the current draw of all cameras you want to connect to it. Although at the most even if they are big TDN IR bullets they should draw no more than 550-1000ma each, unless they are Extreme cameras with 300'+ of IR and maybe 150 LEDs and dual color and BW cameras .. then perhaps they would draw 2A each at night when using 12VDC.

Good post Tom. Also we put them in the closet in many cases, and they normally hold up well even in a home here in the middle of summer. Since the stand alones we use are generally so small they fit nicely along side an APC voltage regulator, right on the shelf (unless its packed with clothes). And as mentioned it should go close to where you will be controlling it from - eg; will the IR remote work from the ground floor to the loft, or bedroom to the loft? in some cases you can extend the IR remote and even a USB mouse, but not in all cases, also depends on the DVR used. You could locate a 2nd floor room with a closet and put it in there, then stand a chance of running the USB mouse at least to where you want, or extending the IR to the other rooms/floors. And think about maintenance, are you going to climb in the loft every time there is a problem with the system, even if its rare. You could also tuck it away under a counter or desk somewhere (can even screw mount it), then put a dummy VCR on top somewhere and leave a tape in it to make them think thats the recorder.

Right so it wont let you specify the port, so it uses the default SMTP port which is 25. 25 is always the default SMTP port for every mail server - rarely it is changed. In that case you will need to find out your ISP's SMTP server, or IP address. It should be on their website, or you could call and ask them for it. Then you should not need a username and pass unless they tell you that you do. Ask them anyway. From email can normally be anything, even the same as the to email. To Email will be the email you want the alerts to be sent to.

right, for USB update need to name it update.bin

i went through 2 shirts on an install, its so darn hot. sliced my leg open on a metal light that was leaning over on some boxes spliced into some high voltage wires just pushed into the sockets. Almost knocked myself out slapping my head so many times with the RG59 siamese ... and yeah pulled the ole back and neck and shoulders out again But all in all I think I would take that over the cold livery stable PS. might be coming to london for a few days for some non CCTV work, is it sort of cold there now?

solder center cores together and heat shrink tube is the only way to do it

LOL .. no need for a photo, i have the UF100 and 2 UF500 940nm's sitting in the garage .. just dont go in there much these days ..