rory

Just checked and 4.0 also will play *.20D files, Jpeg2000. Perhaps the .D26 is the older Jpeg format ... No idea about the other file extension though. I wrote my own software for Kalatel DVRs from back in 2003/4 .. didnt have those extensions then either. EDIT: I found versions 3.1 and 1.9. They are both listed below: http://www.geindustrial.com/ge-interlogix/software/WaveReader-1_9.zip http://www.geindustrial.com/ge-interlogix/software/WaveReader_Ver_3-1.ZIP I have version 4 on my PC so I cant install the older ones to test. But these were the original versions they had on their site from several years ago.

Dont know. but WaveReader has been .60D and .rdb for the past several years, i was using it with the Kalatel DVRs from way back when, I started with version 3.0. 4.0 is the oldest version I have now. They have a newer version on the GE site also. Now, Phillips use to use WaveReader also (before they became part of Bosch), and a UK company used it with Kalatel DVRs under a different name (Vista). I believe they were all the same though. The company that originally developed Wavereader is Impac Technologies, but they merged with Kalatel, which eventually became part of GE.

looks like the audio cards for Geo, but only difference is they are normally green. The Multi-Quad card is blue so perhaps this is an accessory for that?

Nope, he is stuck with whichever software comes with those DVRs .. Even if they all look the same, normally they would have customized them to only work with their DVRs. PS. welcome to the forum.

They arent Wavereader files.

Where did you hear that? I have some still installed in some of the hottest locations here in the bahamas .. those things just run non stop .. Heck i got the Kalatel 16 channel mux here in my appartment now and its left powered on in the day while im out, and lets just say .. its reeaally hot in my appt without A/C! The hard drives will go before anything else ..

If they arent on a Voltage regulator, they are probably damaged physically. I had the same thing with a StoreSafe here where the client just would not buy a VR. He hasnt lost the monitor outputs but he has lost channels 14 and 16. But basically without a VR you are open to all kinds of power problems.

For recording purposes, ignore the TVL and rely on the Image Pixels, thats what matters. There are many OEM cameras that claim they are 480TVL or 540TVL and yet if you check their specs (where available) their image pixels are only 512x492. Since we are talking about the camera's maximum quality, I wont mention any other situations which can ultimately effect the end result such as the viewing monitor, lighting conditions, recording compression and resolution; as those are not applicable to the OP's question. To answer the OP's question, camera B, though that also depends on whether the specs are correct. Not every camera is made alike. Though I'd prefer the camera with 811x508 pixels myself. You get what you pay for.

I never got into SQL server myself, never had a need to .. yet. But remember, one can always pull the power cord on a PC ... or even the encoder .. so security will always still be limited regardless of the hardware, and basically if a criminal wants something bad enough, they will get it, somehow I hear you though, if its a big company and they have IT staff, let them handle it, makes sense. Done that in the past and makes life easier. Dont fear stripped down Windows though; 50% more or less of the services with default Windows XP are not required by a DVR, NVR, and many other applications. Many of the components are not required either (though thats where it gets a little iffy). Check out the Nlite community for more info on that. In fact you dont even need Explorer.exe. I use BBlean for some applications, as the explorer replacement, works well; Note - its just a desktop replacement, you still need to block other windows features such as Task Manager and Windows Shortcut keys (i do that also). Other than the XP login and Shutdown screens (which can also be disabled), you dont even know you are in windows. I even created my own non windows desktop. Close ALL TCP, UDP, and IP ports, but only add required TCP ports. Yes you can telnet to those ports, but if there is nothing on the PC side to interact with, such as an Exploit or other Service, then they cant really do anything. Most security issues with PCs really stem from users browsing the web or using some other 3rd party software though. Disable XP auto updates also - do any safe updates manually. Nothing is ever going to be 100%, even the RTOS embedded systems are susceptible to an extent, heck satellite boxes, cable boxes, cell phones, you name it, they hack them down here (call this the Hong Kong of the West!). In the end though, a simple paint ball gun, or high power surge, can bring even the best system down. You can only do what you can .. Anyway, also check out these links: http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=36977#36977 http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=7342

But the NVR has hardware dependencies .. the IP cameras, not to mention the PC, switches, etc. Though i understand what you mean (see further down). Correct, DVR software has had this for a long time now. Actually not all DVRs, but with GeoVision, each channel on the card is a separate network connection, which really helps when writing custom software - in other words I create my own multi views. Other DVRs I have tested though dont have that feature and you are somewhat limited. We are inevitably limited either way, to what the manufacturer gives us access to in their code. There are embedded RTOS DVRs on the market, which have been around for several years now. I installed and supported these for several years - example; Kalatel DVRs (now GE), and yes not susceptible to viruses and such was a selling point - at the time - however things have changed, once you setup XP properly it will be fine. Granted these dont typically have the features of the Windows XP PC systems. A Windows XP PC will only respond to specific ports, once you use TCP/IP Port Filtering, and disable all unnecessary services. I always block all ports, except those required by the DVR server, and disable many of the default windows XP services. However it is designed for other PCs to connect to, yet requires knowledge of the code to do so. Granted most DVR builders dont do what I do on setup. Bingo! See you now have something that a DVR cant do! Good point .. because you are connecting to the cameras themselves .. well the main switch/router, or over the net. Sounds good ... definitely sounds like you are on top of that .. let us know how it works out .. any demos, screen shots, specs, etc you can also share I am sure would be appreciated by others here that may be looking at similar applications. I WILL be looking at it in the not to far future myself Thanks Rory

You can still do this with DVRs .. simply using the network ., each video camera connected to the DVR is a seperate network connection .. so you can basically do the same thing .. just depends on the software developer and the DVR card in question.

Hi, what are the file extensions? .60D is WaveReader. here is WaveReader 4.0: http://www.bahamassecurity.com/uploads/WaveReader4.0.zip

Pretty soon, there won't be a choice as LCD panel manufacturers concentrate on HD 16:9 for the consumer market. and the thing is HD LCDs are pretty useless down here .. cause we have no HDTV channels ... with regular LCDs against similar HDTVs, a client has like 10 different models in her home now .. they all look about the same .. in fact the HDTV models are not as good quality, but they sure cost alot more ..

And 4 times the picture quality! Cant say, but going by the specs, the Viewsonic 19" $250 model is actually better - for PC based DVRs.

yeap, back in my alarm days ..

I hear yah man ..

I highly doubt it. CCTV companies will evolve with whatever the current technology is that best suits their industry, or more so each individual application; as they do now. IT companies have typically just jumped into the industry, without knowing its not plug and play, it is a whole other industry in itself. To get the right camera for the right job, is not 1+1, never has been, never will be. Now this is true with not just IT companies, it happens to techs from other industries, especially Alarm Companies, and even first time start ups. Only with lots of time and dedication will they ever become an expert ... and for that, they will need to give up time on something else. Anyway, there are reasons there are experts, an expert in Networking wont necessarily be an expert in CCTV .. neither the other way around. Its good to know a little of the this and that, but as the saying goes, "if one is an expert in everything, then one is not an expert in anything .." (well yah I just made that up ) Like survtech said, we dont really care about the network, its not our job .. its just a nice extra toy but its not the main guts of the Video Surveillance system. Now if one is ONLY installing IP network cameras, then thats their job to either know or sub it out, i say sub unless its a basic network, spend their time on the actual cameras and system, let someone else worry about maintaining the network, someone that is an expert in that "field". Heck, down here, most home users could care less about whether they can view it over the internet .. they just want catch they husband cheating or the murderer kicking in the front door .. most times its sad, but they dont even want to record it .. but hey, they are the lion share of the market .. Retail stores are so so, they are so used to buying their own product to resell, many like to just go online and order the cheapest thing they can find .. or the first thing. Anyway, we've been here before on another thread .. you know how I feel, IP software still has a way to go IMO, from what Ive seen so far, and so do most of the cameras. Only when more experts (i say more as many are now) from the CCTV world venture into the development side of it, will it then get much better, and eventually cheaper. Look at it this way, I can write software to do pretty much anything, but If I dont know the industry that Im writing it for . .. it wont be that good. Really though, if CCTV companies began to actually loose CCTV work to IT companies, i'm sure they would start venturing into IT as well .. its not that difficult if they are loosing money over it Lastly .. most IT companies and guys I know, arent about to go out in the hot sun all day and work all night, days on end, installing cameras, most of them have their mind set on A/C and easy work and big money

First, I havent used the Panasonic model mentioned, but have used other well know brands, and some not so well known. An LCD is always a trade off for space saving over quality. Most ones labled CCTV LCDs simply have a Composite to VGA Converter built in. That only really matters if you are using a stand alone DVR with no VGA output, and still you can just use a convertor to a decent non CCTV LCD for the same end result. Cheaper LCDs will not look as good regardless, primarily due to the lower specs. Check the specs. If its too cheap, then there may be a reason. As already mentioned, the video is smaller than the native resolution. If you do not have the LCD set to the native resolution, it will also look worse. If using a PC based system with an LCD then use DVI for higher quality. Also, dont use WideScreen LCDs for CCTV. But no, it still wont match the CRT. Panasonic, GE, etc, CCTV LCDs, will basically around 4 times the cost of a decent consumer LCD.

XP is only unstable if left in default installation mode. In other words, with some minor setup you can make it as stable (near enough) as any other, with a decent DVR software application that is. If you run it on XP without any tweaking, other 3rd party apps, bad drivers/hardware, bad DVR software, automatic updates, and all ports wide open .. expect the worse. If you want something theoretically more stable than that (out of the box), look into embedded RTOS systems. Though even with them, they can have issues.

Optionally, you could use IP Video Decoders, and then you can put that signal into the DVR as you would with a regular CCTV camera.

Yep sorry, forgot the warranty thing .. we dont typically use them down here .. unless its like a $1000+ item ..

i did search on google and it came up right away, dont know if that is the same one, but you could check with them. Edit - sorry the Platinum 480 I saw uses Windows 2000. Do you have a brand name for this DVR?

sounds like you need a new power supply. Some cameras will operate as low as 10VDC but not all. Id change it. You can also just get the power supply itself without the box etc, Altronix make some of those, should be able to get one from your local electronic/electric shop, if not they can be found online easy enough. If the box has 2 power supplies, one for each board, have you tried just using the 2nd board instead?

Cant speak for Kodicom, but as for Geo, depending on the card, you could try BtSpy and then use the BT Drivers, then you will be able to use LuxRiot. I know the GV250 works like this as I did that myself, but do not know if the other cards would. LuxRiot also sell cards BTW.

Are we talking about legit cards?