rory

just a couple points ... as id like clarification on at least the first one. Dont see how that can be, though I'd like to know otherwise. Milestone is $5,495.00 retail for 36 cameras, thats $10K+ for 64 cameras. Since the speed from the network wont be the same as the combo card, nor need the DSP output to compare, It would be best to compare with the GV650, but either way the Combo card is $1500 retail for 16 cameras, so thats $6,000.00. Ok another $1000 per PC x 3. $9,000 .. near the same cost. Now add the $200 difference per IP Camera ( but the cost of either IP Servers or Cameras are generally much more from what I have seen), thats yet another $12,800. Then lets not forget its own high bandwidth network as it depends on the network to work (CCTV does not), for 64 cameras for certain it wont just use a Linksys router, so that cost just went up even more. Okay, so we need cable for the CCTV gear, well so does the IP network, and even if it is wireless, that wireless gear will no doubt be as much as or more than the CCTV cable, unless ofcourse we are talking about OEM IP and Wireless gear from Hong Kong. I didnt get his point either, both would be recording offsite anyway. Same as you, with the aide of a video decoder, which nearly any IP manufacturer sells, the DVR can use nearly any IP camera also. One thing though, the DVR can use a $50 camera, where I dont think you will ever find an IP camera or a video server for that kind of cost, besides a consumer webcam, which will not come close to matching the quality, even as low as it maybe with those $50 cameras. Not to mention we can use something as cheap in cost as the GV250 and still have the full blown geoVision software ..

i have a client that is using: Parallels Desktop on a new MacPro Emulator lets you run Windows on a Mac So he can use my activeX orientated software without any issues. Optionally, you can get a DVR that also uses Java or Javascript, such as geo, video insight, and many others.

I'll have to see about adding that in the next release. thanks Rory

is that snow ...

first make sure you have set the Video Source to 640x480, either standard or De-Interlace (DI helps prevent lines on moving objects). then under the first camera's individual setting, you can switch the video size from 324x240 to 640x480. Click the "hand" icon to set the same to all cameras.

Yep .. will wait to hear back from him .. an image would help also. i guess he has the weekend off unlike us ..

it probably uses the CDS switch only for the IR .. and digitally removes the Chroma (or adds it to the BW) so it gets the BW effect .. a cheaper way to do it .. and not that sensitive. I'd like to know what type of camera it is also, brand and model number (no store links please). I'd be surprised if it was actually a Sony.

It could be seeing too much light from the reflection to make it switch over. I have experienced similar with True Day Night cameras, where they would see too much IR and keep switching back and forth. With a True Day Night camera, it has a mechanical IR cut filter, meaning when it is in color mode, it picks up no IR at all. If the light falls below the switchover level, it then removes the IR cut filter and switches to BW mode, picking up the IR. If there is too much IR, or it sees it as too "bright", it will think it is daylight and switch back to color. When in color mode, it sees nothing and so it switches back to BW. This will continue until the mechanical IR Cut Filter goes off track and needs to be fixed. With a Color/IR camera, it is different, as in color mode there is no IR Cut filter, so it still sees some IR; hence washed out colors in the daytime . If there is too much IR or it sees it as too "bright", it will think it is still daylight and never switch over. Now, if it is not too dark in that location, you could simply open the camera and pull the power from the IR, so it just works in color all around (may switch to a Mono mode also depending on the camera). Also, the higher the camera the less IR range, so if it is lower down, you could move it higher up. Also perhaps place it in the corner to get rid of some of the glare, try to position the camera so it does not bounce right off the wall. Either way, all Day Night camera positioning must be done at night.

you can adjust each cameras frames per second, size of image, and quality, all seperately. Dont know if thats what you mean?

Probably, but it's a lot harder to charge for the time involved when you can get a decent prebuilt. At least that's been my experience. If I had about 36 hours in a day I could probably justify building my own. i timed it the other day, it took me less than 10 minutes to build it, and saved considerable money over buying the same specked product from a name brand. Also, since i automated all the software installation, tweaks etc, that part only takes one and a half hours now, mostly unattended.

i asked someone tonight, ill see if I can get it tomorrow (almost 6am here now). The program I used before sent the images fine over ftp, will let you know once i get my hands on it.

have you tried to contact AVtech yet? http://www.avtech.com.tw/english/contact.htm#03 ive used their DVRs in the past and sending a Jpeg over FTP was a breeze .. Those were also older versions ... Rory

yeah its like basically having to remove every single tile and pushing every wire under the AC duct or if you have room, over the duct ..its no fun man .. thank goodness I dont actually do it for a living anymore .. i pay other people to run the cable most of the time now .. and if they dont have duct .. well actually all businesses here do so .. and then they are so dirty too .. then there is the exposed high voltage as we dont have enforced codes here .. been shocked by 120 so many times i lost count now .. got 2 holes in my head from nails, from running cable in attics during my alarm days .. And if there isnt AC Duct, its most likely a weave of metal bars and lighting and you just cant get many straight runs .. took me 30 minutes to run 10 feet of cable the other day .. cut my hands and arms right up too from exposed screws all over the place, while sqeezing the cable under metal bars and the AC duct etc etc .. i had issues even mounting the camera where i wanted as the darn Ac duct was 1/2 inch from the drop tile! (had to apply some tape to the holes in the duct needless to say ) So someone mentioned poles ...

Rory, Remember this. The amazing stuff only happens in Hollywood and in advertising. The only time I ever saw a ceiling like that was in a new school over the Large Group Instruction LGI rooms. Only challenge there was the back of the room the ceiling there was at about 9 feet and at the front was about 21 feet. The LGI was on an incline the ceiling was level. Otherwise most drop ceilings are as you describe. And if the installer was not careful the whole this was racked to one side which make it impossible to get the tiles out with out breaking. But give me a basement with drop ceiling over drywall any day. Later, LOL .. yeah if we start poking those poles around these ceilings we'd have all kinds of ripped up AC duct . .. unfortunately it is mostly hands on here ..

Geez, sorry to hear man .. Where are you located? Thats a GE DVR by the looks of the software? The quality wont be as high through the WaveReader software, best thing to do is using the monitor output on the DVR, either get a standard Video capture card, and place that in a PC, then output the video to your PC where you can record it in higher resolution. You can even just get any generic 1,2, or 4 channel card, and use something like AmCap or VidCap to capture the raw data in AVI then convert it down to WMV to cut back on the size, or even try another codec installed on your PC .. See the section under DVR cards on this forum for Generic Software, etc, that shows how to do that. Even so though, it does seem the cameras may still have been an issue with the quality, but definitely try the above first before giving up, if you still want to try and get better video evidence of the crime. Rory

Yes, they should work. See Geo's Tested list here. A version of that is #58, just doesnt have the "3" in the model number. http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=7065

Do you guys actually have drop ceilings all open like that in the US? man everyone ive ever done here has been only a foot or two high, either had AC duct blocking every single way, or beams/bars and goodness knows what else blocking the way .. hardly ever seen a straight run..

it's well lit.. yes i like the auto focus idea. which model would that be? There are various models. http://www.sanyo.com/industrial/security/cameras/pan_focus/

its alot cheaper to build your own, plus its a better end product.

cool .. anyway ill be posting the automated installation script later today once i do a write up for it .. and upload the files .. its a script so one can edit it however they like .. im tired of installing 8.1 so many times on my PC to test it, i just gotta upload it as i know it works great

Yes thats a decent day night box camera, though you originally asked for a dome? They also have the Day Night Pan focus dome. No focus needed, it auto focuses Manual zoom though, but makes it easier to setup. How dark is it though at the cashier? Rory

yeah should work once you use a balun at each end. You will have some video quality loss for 300' and ofcourse the extra splice, but will work either way, once the baluns are good. Also, you need a Balun on each side, so essentially you can use a BNC adapter at the splice, but you cant just tie the 2 cables together without the Balun and BNC connectors. You'll need the BNC-female to BNC-female adapter also, to join them both together.

.. yeah sorry , same error when posting links .. the admin is working on that .. we had alot of spammers over the past couple weeks and was implementing some code updates ... sorry about that .. maybe have to wait until tomorrow and then will see if it is fixed then . I'll let him know it is also doing that with posting images .. thanks Rory

Its probably just the DVR codecs from Asia then ..

Yeah i realize .. he might want the 4mm version though for a wider shot (though the 6mm versions will normally provide longer IR), normally you can get the 4mm version for $50 cheaper also. He's got to understand though he inst getting a True Day Night camera for that cost .. if his budget is that strict , its all he can really get (hey thats all i could afford myself!).