rory

if you want it to run on another computer, then you cant use the XPs burning software as it doesnt work 100% of the time. Nero or Roxeo is the best way to guarantee it will play in any computer.

WZ30? Very tight, but yes. ... but, you shouldnt normally do the connections inside the dome anyway, normally use a gang box. Rory

I just recieved info from them, a mini CD, docs, etc. I will post my findings. For those that dont know, check out: http://www.fmsystems-inc.com/ Solutions to all CCTV signal issues. Rory

eyecu ..I didnt get an email yet, do you want to try to PM .. Rory

It seems nothing is the end all to a system these days, like AV said, everybody has different wants and needs, and budget I just switched out an Eclipse PC system for the AvTech 16 channel ... the eclipse had way more features, better remote video, etc etc, still a budget PC system, but did more than the AvTech ..but the client decided he wanted a plug play and forget about it system, and since the AvTech was so cheap, he bought it. I got another client, who has a DM 16 channel Sprite (geez doesnt come close to the Kalatel units by the way ..) and we are switching that out, or at least quoted for it, as they want all the features, and faster recording (licence plate capture), to a PC system. And .. i got another client, who needs something like the Iview .. real time,. stand alone ..not RTOS no, but push buttons make it more unlike a PC, and embedded XP make it somewhat more secure ..besides the other features a system like that has over an RTOS or the cheaper Eclipse PC. Then I got tons of clients that just want the dead cheapest 4 channel i can get, in comes Power Tellecoms 4 channel .. and for the DIYer, Say Securities 4 channel with cat5 cameras .. Another Im looking at is Video Insight, as it has cross browser web client, Java based, multi servers, with Analog or IP conections .. I can basically use it to set up a full blown video monitoring station down here, next to the alarm monitoring station, and the programmers are right there in Texas .. Selling one DVR just hasnt cut it for me over the past few years, so time to eat up the market and sell a variety .. Thing is you can go on and on and on, there are plenty of good DVRs out there. just have to know when to say stop, enough already, the ones I have will cover any application or need. .. I have a client right now we did a quote for, money is not an issue, so we will probably use a 480pps PC Dvr, with all the features, PDA, etc etc etc, then loop from a Kalatel RTOS to the PC DVR, so best of both worlds ..the Kalatel would only be a back up, plus local monitor playback as the quality is Real DVD on the CCTV monitor. Rory

yeah, a hard drive is a hard drive. When i was saying crash though, on those units, I meant, it locks up, system/software issues. Rory

VB is what I do all my web code in, asp (vbscript) ... so no time to go C++ .. heck no time to do VB right now .. VB is soo easy though .. rory

im toying with video capture now in VB, but looks like it will take a long time to get a very productive product, and alot of money on cameras and Ip products, just worth it to buy it one time from someone that all they do is that ... hey Thomas

yeah actually that is one thing I forgot to mention. The Provideo 9 channel is not real time display in 9 channel view, but the GE Kalatel is real time display up to 9 channel display. Though the display speed does not affect the recording speed on multiplexers as that is seperate. The quad though, it does. Quad would be real time either way, just smaller image in quad record, so less quality. You may want to get something now though, that can come in useful when you get the PC system, as most PC systems dont do multi view output, just sequencing, I havent tried it with the ones I have here yet though, havent had the need yet. Rory

Have you looked at their 9 channel Multi viewer? I havet used it but remembering it being around the same cost as the 4 channel mux.. A quad is probably all you really do need for that app, when you get into recording, then you can invest... I dont have any shots of the back of it sorry, didnt have the camera when I was installing it , it was an after thought .. Rory

Well, there you have it .. Thanks Dave ..some good info .. Rory

Yeah it is 25fps im the programming,. but I think that is PAL, they probably just didnt write in the changes for NTSC for 30fps. I have used the same exact model, but it is the LAN version. It is an Avtech Model. I can get you pricing in the US if you want LAN, if not, the price there is the NON land price anyway. I get it from a US distributor though, not from Sams Club. Well, it IS the cheapest 16 channel on the market. If you want the rock bottom in the RTOS Embedded range, this is it. The $1200-1400 Everfocus, HiSharp, Provideo, just dont even cut it. They each have their PRos, but too many Cons for their prices. I posted a review on them here before. They would crash all the time. I had this one for 2 weeks in my appt, on the internet as a demo, and people would connect every day to view it. Features - Pros and Cons mixed together -Motion detection records all cameras when it only picks up 1 camera -Network Software is a basic server 1 channel - so multiview is pixelised, but single is fine (LAN version only) -No Local Back up - no USB, FireWire, or CD/DVD on board - though this is the same with other low end that cost more, except the Provideo has a CD and the Everfocus has a USB - LAN based version allows saving images/video. Though you can always buy a simple PC capture card and back up full 748x480 video to AVI and WMV. -LAN version allows multiple users and multiple user levels for LAN/WAN access -LAN version allows DDNS and uses Port 80 for browser access -On Motion Detection in multi view, you see a Motion Symbol on the particular camera which is picking up motion, so you know which one it is - if in Fuill Screen on 1 camera, if any other camera picks up motion it shows the Motion Symbol anyway. -Hard drive is changable, you can use any -Selectable Image Quality Levels - global -Selectable Recording Speeds - global -Selectable Internal/External alarm on Motion - global -Search by All/Event/TimeDate -No Disk Analysis - well who does have it in the low end .. noone -To access the menu you have to hit stop if it is recording -Password to access menu -Must enter password to enter search mode -Can lock front buttons -No mouse, no nothing, just plug it in and forget it, hopefully! -Very low price -Lastly, my hand held radio, when pointed at it, would cause it to freak out, that is the only time it would do that Thats all i can thing of off hand as I just replaced an Eclipse CCTV PC DVR with this, less features than the PC one, but thats what they wanted, a simple machine that required no intervention. Remember it doesnt have all the bells and whistels of the more expensive ones I listed before, and no features like a decent PC Card, but depends what you need. It was all I needed for my appartment ..if thats all I could afford and didnt want to leave a PC running. Best of both worlds would to have an Embedded RTOS plus a PC Based unit, loop from the RTOS to the PC, then you have a back up machine, plus all the features of the PC system. Rory

Yeah, I downloaded and installed, but like the GE Kalatel, you need to set up a DVR to even see the software. Ill see how it goes, I may just order one for my next quote, cant go wrong either way. Rory

Not this one It only has 1 monitor output. The VCR out is multiplexed so you just get super fast switching video .. The higher end muxes like the Kalatel have that and many more features ..but more $$. The Kalatel 4 channel is around the same price as the Provideo 9 channel. Normally you will also get an analog output for sequencing. It does have S-SVHs though, and PIP .. And if you want to delve into some coding like VB or C++ they give you the ASCII commands .. make your own Pocket PC controller software or something .. ) Rory

thats cause we peeps in da poor tird worl countries is work for pennies!

Im not disputing that. Sanyo is a good company, I know they are, I have used their cameras. Warranty doesnt do anything for me over here though, its what warranty my distributor gives me. I just wish they would update the look of them.

Depends on the quad, most I have used, will only allow, either or, in other words, you can only view either Quad view, or Sequencing view, not both at the same time. This one looks like it may do dual monitors, and has loop throughs so it is a better quad. Though, what I was meaning was, if you wanted to record, a Multiplexer will record each invidual camera in full screen, so you can play back any camera in full screen 740x480 or whatever the highest resolution is of the Mux and DVR/VCR. Whereas with a quad, you can only record what is on the screen at the time, such as quad view, which means each image is actually 740x480, divided by 4, which is much lesser quality. A multiplexer is basically a super fast switcher, It sends each camera to the DVR in the multiplexed signal. The speed it sends it to the DVR depends on the speed you set the Mux or DVR to, they must correspond. So you get much better quality images on playback. A quad is not suggested for recording. As for the Provideo Mux, yes you can view 4 channel (quad view) or 9 channel. Either way it will still record each image regardless of what view you have it in on the screen. I actually use the Privideo Mux, along with a Kalatel Mux, with 8 Hidden cams, and 8 IR cams, all modulated to the Cable TV channels. Plus they have a single channel Kalatel DVR for recording, and remote video. Rory

Ive used Quads way back when, and I have used Muxes and even the Provideo 9 channel Mux. There are major differences, first the quality is much better with a multiplexer, it also sequences smoother. Recording is ofcourse the main advantage though, as a mux records each image seperately, while a quad only records what you see on the screen - when used with a DVR or VCR. Personally, for the Extra $100, I would get the multiplexer, it will have more menu options as well as be slightly better quality. Ofcourse for that price, you may just want to jump up to the 9 channel one time, incase you ever want to add more cameras. You may also want to look into a Budget 4 channel Multiplexer DVR, they range around $500 retail., and come with LAN for remote video. Rory

Its a no frills DVR, it works. First thing, that version has no LAN, meaning cant view remotely. A Lan version will cost you a couple hundred more, retail. As for the Unit itself, not bad, doesnt crash, has motion detection recording, alarms, etc. Doesnt work well with Mixed BW and Color cameras, so stick to Color only if you are going to use it. 30pps on 16 cameras, means, divide that 30pps between the amount of cameras you have. I have 14 cameras on one now though, and its fine. Motion Dectection records all cameras, even if only one camera picks up motion. Other than that, it works and does the job. You can change the Hard Drive yourself also. It doesnt have the features of a DVR such as the GE, Nuvico, Hunt, Bosch, Kodicom, etc, which are all mid to hign end, but it is just as good or better in my testing, as the Everfocus, HiSharp, Provideo, Intellicam, etc. Low end DVRs, but for half the price. I like this, If im going to buy a cheap DVR, then I want the price to be cheap Bang for buck, this DVR is worth every penny. That said, I wouldnt buy the non LAN version myself, but thats up to you. If you need a source for the LAN version of this, let me know, I can get you one. Rory

where in South Florida are you? I can point you to seveal sources in the Miami/Ft Lauderdale area. Rory

Yeah, 3 years is a norm, for real. I wonder if they would ship to the Bahamas for free, and pay my customs Duty also Man, if they could only make their products look a little better ...they still have the 80's design going on.

Well, they arent Explosion Proof per say. What they mean is that they are designed to prevent the chance of an explosion such as from sparks or such. They will not survive an explosion!

I dont think its so much the cable, as it is the conduit used to protect the cable from sparks, etc. I would email Extreme CCTV, just let them know you are interested in their Explosion Proof cameras, what application it is for, and what conduit/cables, etc, they recommend to go along with the cameras. Rory

Hi, to start with, you will need Explosion Proof Cameras. Check out Extreme CCTV: http://www.extremecctv.com/expproof.cfm and check out this link: http://www.explosionproofcamera.com/explosionproofcameras/id41.html

has anyone physically tested this camera yet? http://www.covitechnologies.com/?id=46 Pretty cool demo here: http://www.covitechnologies.com/?id=39