rory

on the same subject, when do you think GEO (or other using similar to the C2 software) will come out with a neat little 4 channel stand alone embedded DVR, that works just for the C2/Monitoring software. Asking cause cant stick PCs in these ghetto homes around here, they wont last and to large, but there is a market there for sure if it was cheap and small and tough enough, and all it was doing was sending video via Burglar alarm motion or door sensors, like a wall mount DVR right next to the alarm panel. When i say small, something like the March Network Wall Mount DVRs, but at much less a cost as they dont need any Firmware features besides sending the alarm triggers, and perhaps an RCA out for the home TV.

Lockbox and or external RAID. cheapest way is to throw in an old quad and loop out to that, put a VCR and BW monitor in thei face so thats what they take ..

sales sucks

yeah the crackers down here just up and blocked port 25 one day ... it was such as pain in the butt. .. they arent blocking port 80 yet though ... but there are ways around that ... just like with port 25. Their view on the port 25 thing is you have to be a business to have a web site or email, so then you have to pay the business acount price starting at $150 a month ... morons .. they just want an excuse to make more money is all, with doing less work

I looked at the existing cameras breifly for him, online. Seemed like 8 cameras are atually more than he needs, or they are placed in mostly the same areas. Also, the neighbors house, from what I can tell, are side by side with theirs, like 8 feet away or so. Thats what it looked like at least. There didnt seem to be any fence blocking the 2 houses at some areas. And the dog was running arounfd having alot of fun ... so Id say a full perimter alarm is out of the question, at least as far as the side areas go. Though he could alarm his doors and windows, and maybe a beam across the front porch, some motion detectors also, and a couple Loud Sirens with Strobe Lights, one on either side of the home, Front and back corners. Id say definately take back the existing system, camera images look horrible, and the DVR is a dual quad not a mux. Its 4 BWs and 4 colors, all washed out, and cant see much with the BWs, not sure how the night image is though. I would get the new system first though, and just plug and play, then think about moving them to better locations, so you wont have any down time, and the wire is already run to those locations. I imagine its using RCA cables, ready made, with BNC ends or similar? If so, get some RG59 18AWG siamese if you are going to re run, and you may still want to replace the existing wire anyway to obtain a better image. Would need to see it at night to comment on what cameras to use. As for the DVR, if you really want to save money and get something running at this time, then the AvTech is a good choice. They sell that in some of those Sams Club type places also, normally the version without LAN though. But if you want something more, better remote video, check out the WebGate or Hunt 8 channel DVR. Need to know your approx location to be able to recommend someone maybe from this forum that can get you a good system. if you are PC literate and feel okay building a PC, then may be worth your while getting a PC card, such as the Iview, Geo, etc. Id buy it legite though, so its not a waste of time and money for future updates. You definately need more than 4 cameras for that location though,from what I can tell by the size and layout of the home. Rory

the Divar is decent, but pricey. If you're going into that price range, a GE DVR would be a better choice. The DISS I cant comment on. Ive heard of it, never known anyone that used it though. The AvTech 16 channel is the ultimate cheapest 16 channel Stand alone DVR. It actually still does give you email or ftp on motion, but its motion is very basic. Expansion, would need to use a PC based DVR for that. Ill PM you my email. Rory

Looks like its creating even more real looking names ....

The phone part is easy, use a phone dialer, simple to hook up to any alarm system: http://www.unitedsecurity.com/autodialers.htm As for TCP/IP, not sure, but why would you prefer a less stable form of transmission? Some alarm panels have additional modules such as Napco: http://www.napcoinsider.com/netlink.htm

Its a HiSharp DVR, 30fps recording in high quality mode. Software is generic used on alot of OEM DVRs out of Asia, nothing special. Forget remote playback as slow and locks up the DVR sometimes. Reviews on this forum somewhere under DVRs, from a year ago I think. Compared to other DVRs for the price its not worth it. AvTech is 1/2 the price and just as or better than this DVR. This DVRs Remote Software is somewhat better, as far as quality goes anyway. Stability though the AvTech is better. Otherwise there are other Stand alones, costing more though, or PC based if you can get a spare PC. PC based will give you more features. Like the others said, the cameras are very cheap. Trust me Casinos dont use cameras like those I wouldnt mess around with the inside unless you want to. If so, then maybe 1 or 2 cameras in the general areas. Depending on the layout of your home, that would really be thing to decide what cameras to use, as well as lighting at night. Use domes if you want to make it harder for them to damage, look at WizKid: http://www.wizkidoptotech.com Color where there is alot of light, and BW or Day Night in the areas that are dark at night. Use Motion Detector lights in those areas, cheaper than Infrared, which you would need some Real Infrared Lighting, not the ones on those cameras in that Ebay sale. Email notification is actually a pain in the butt. Especially when using DVRs motion, unless you tie in your Burglar alarm system into the DVR and use that for motion. Such as the motion detectors in the house, or Yard Beams, Door/Window Contacts, etc. Otherwise using DVR Motion Detection, and outdoors, you can get alot of email. Get yourself some RG59 18AWG Siamese Cable, and some weatherproof electric gang boxes for the outdoor cameras where there is nowhere to hide/protect the connections, and a tube of caulking. Best recommendation at this point, after you have already spent so much time and seem to really have a problem, is contact a local CCTV professional, and I dont mean one that does 20 different other things. Or, take some photos of the house, and email it to me and I can make a diagram for you, and post that on here for others to comment. Rory

Can get a DSP card which gives real time video out with RCA also.

No, a beam is just an Invisible beam that goes from one to the next, when it is crossed, sends a signal to trigger the alarm. Ive never used the fence systems, never had a need to down here, but: http://www.safeguards.com/index.cfm?pg=10&level=3&sid=0 The buried sensors are also quite neat.

http://www.sharpvisioncctv.com/

well ... first we dont have any licence issues here, so I can use 5.4Ghz Encrypted, or any other down here.. Second, the tower we were going to use, were well over the height of any trees inbetween, hence the cost .. Our pine trees here arent as tall as yours in the US. Wireless Eye, send me a PM maybe we can work on something with this .. thanks Rory

Are you in the US or UK ..? In the US, Optex for normal outdoor beams, id stay away from their PIRs as they still fasle alot, or dont work half the time if you have them in PET or turn their sens down. I use beams on most jobs. Redwall if you want ultimate protection. Or like what Baywatch said about the fence sensors ...

this "may" work, you could email them and ask ... its not that expensive. You can send alarm signals, so you may be able to send pTZ data. http://www.foresight-cctv.com/VDS2500.pdf

Cheap = Provideo Great = Pelco Stainless Steel = VideoTec

check grc.com, open port 80 in the router, if it is not open on shields up, then it is blocked.

we need some peer to peer video transmission

Are you connecting with Mpeg4? Wavelet will be slower, and very slow on DSL.

Maybe depending on what they are using, you can ask them to increase the bandwidth for the DVR ... they may be sending large traffic from the other PCs/POSs.?

bestest?

no you have to get the split before it goes off to the other TVs.

well, at least it has a disk map

or lego style ....

goto GRC.com, Shields Up, and test the ports from there .. thats another way ..