rory

how many cameras are there total? Not sure, I wouldnt trust it myself, maybe someone else can voice their views on that, ive only ever used the supplies by the manufactuter or a multi power supply.

thanks guys, im actually right now looking for a portable battery LCD that is maybe 7", any ideas? thanks

both matter, but 500ma is not that high. Id try for a 200ma power supply if you can get one, or 300 ma.

do you want the best cameras? What type of cameras are you interested in, Bullet Cameras, Pro Traditional Cameras, Fixed Domes, Wall Mount, Hidden, Other Discreet Type?? can you use a basic 4 channel multiplexed DVR, or want one with CD back up, great search features, etc? Never say never. For example, you can get a BW quad for $100, 2 Decent BW Bulllet Cameras for $80 each, and a Video Digital Recorder for $400, no Lan or Audio, but it is digital recording at a VCR price ($660), or a 4 channel Multilexed DVR for $600 (low low end but with basic LAN software), and 2 BW Bullets, thats $760-800. So it can be done. That said, those are dealer prices generally, and the normal retail pricing for consumers would be more, but like you said, its available on the web at dealer prices anyway. Rory

Same here. I only sell what I know, and wont sell it until I have tested it fully and know it inside out. That isnt the same with just about every other security company down here, they do this that and everything, and never really do any of them very well.

Where are you looking to buy them from? Im looking for a place to get them cheaper. Ive emailed www.CCTVtime.com as they have some good prices. My distributor doesnt really cut deals on this stuff.

cool thanks, it wasnt in their regular DVR list from the front page...still waiting on a PDF file, I got prices, a little more than the DVMRe-CT.

Where is it? I cant find it anywhere on there.. thanks Rory

if you buy an eclipse camera, it is generally cheap video quality, if you buy a phillips, or similar, it is much better quality. But there is a big difference in price. If this isnt a Sony Camera, or not another name brand, if it is generic (no name, or eclipse, etc), then you are getting ripped off!

The stand alones (most of them) do this with ease and have been doing this along time before PC DVRs were released. No, not the standard storesafe or the EZ, but all the rest. It doesnt restart, it just finds them.

have you tried any other embedded CCTV DVR units?? I just tested the hiSharp DVR, its not Linux, it is another embedded cant remember the name, quality is almost equivelant to the GE DVRs, though less features but still great for home or small retail use, remote software is limited but clear remote video. Do you have any video shots of the network software?

you've got to invite me over one day to use that pool!! not just work around it like i usually do ... or make it look like i do ...

thats all it has, thats the highest!! Hey, I didnt buy it, the client bought it himself and just called me. got the info by the way thanks havent had a chance to go over it yet. darnit, summer power outages going strong ,every day now!! Rory

why i love embedded stand alones, plug and play, camera or not. ) Mind you it doesnt do that restart thing with a PC DVR i just installed, we had no cameras hooked up and still came up ok, and stayed up. Mind you it was an American DVR card The PC full screen 700x400 res suks compared to full screen standalone though, but real time playback, though i prefer quality over speed.

Yes Robert is right there, that slipped by me. Use a 1/3" especially if you are spending that kind of money. GE Kalatel all use 1/3" lens. You get a wider lens with them also, but also the image is normally better. Im sure Sony must have some 1/3" versions also, and other brands do also. Im sure the installer is quoting what they use, but request a quote for 1/3" cameras. If you like, email me offline as to what you want to use it for, where it will be, lighting conditions etc, and I can recommend some products. It would be best just to get a pro in your area to quote you as they can see what needs to be monitored. OR take some digital shots of every location. Either way you are the client and the client is always right I had a client just have me quote him on specs he gave me, no questions asked, included all B/W cameras, B/W Monitor, Time Lapse VCR, Mux, etc!! He knew waht he wanted and even though I recommended what else is out there, i was more than happy to quote him on what he asked for. Sony is a good name, but dont know many people that actually use them in the CCTV business, except for their technology that is in many other brands of cameras. Some of the best are Ganz, GE, Phillips, Panasonic, Ultrack, and even Sanyo has some good quality Fixed Domes. If you can stay away from fixed domes, it is even better to use a traditional box type camera, better choice of lenses, and better quality generally, but no doesnt look as discreet as a Fixed Dome. But then there are many other discreet cameras besides fixed domes that can give you the same image/specs as a fixed dome, but are more discreet. Whereever you want to put a camera or whatever you want to see, there is a camera made for it nowadays. Sony is still a great camera, just be aware there are many others that are just as good or better, and have a wider range of products. What type of DVR are they suggesting? Rory

Edit: just realised you are probably talking about parts and labour?? If so thats abour right. I just did a quote, $50000, Labour was $8000, PTZs, Day/Night cameras, UF500 Infrared Bulbs, audio, etc. wiring pre run, somewhat, but many many many trips and time spent with electricians and even before quotation, and much more, and markup on parts was not high for our area. My average 10 camera jobs are around $13-15K, 16 camera jobs run around $16K-30K. These are high quality cameras and DVR though. You get what you pay for in the CCTV industry. That said I have some kits now with bullet cameras and a low end DVR for around $5K with 10 cameras installed, but the quality of the video is not the same as the above mentioned as they are cheaper cameras and DVR. Another thing our prices here have to be double the US due to import taxes. Hope this helps. Rory

To answer your question, yes they will work, but not far, maybe 10-15 feet if your lucky. Here is the new Speco (provideo) Nitrogen Injected, 120' depth. Its BW though: http://www.specotech.com/cart/products/productDetails.asp?prodID=252 Here is a color: http://www.specotech.com/cart/products/productDetails.asp?prodID=267 And ofcourse Extreme CCTVs: Thermoplastic PVC Industrial Surveillance System http://www.extremecctv.com/products/index.cfm?img=33

I noticed the HiSharp Embedded Linux DVR uses this control. Anyone got any links to connecting to an embedded linux device, using this control to display streaming video? Their software is very limited, would like to make my own if possible. They say they dont have an SDK or developers control. Its the same software used for many other OEM DVRs. thanks Rory

#1 - After having used the COP cameras when I first started doing CCTV, and having just installed 14 of them for a client who bought them himself, its definately a COP thing, they are just terrible cameras, on the whole. But you get what you pay for when it comes to cameras. However, what you talk about seems to be more. What you should do, is take the camera down, plug it into your TV in the shade somewhere, not in full sunlight, and focus and set it up there first to make sure it is generally giving a good clear image. According to specs, its just a 380TVL camera, so its not High Resolution, its medium resoultion, high res would be 480TVL. Indoors will not make a huge difference, but outdoors definately, and the color system in these cheaper cameras really arent great. From the specs, do the following: turn off BLC turn off Auto gain Control (AGC) I cant read the other dip switches from the PDF as they are too blurred. But the switvh on the right sais from top to bottom: DC AES Video Set the switch to DC as the lens is CS-DC lens. Once you are using DC then you have to adjust the Pot, do this where it is bright outside so you can turn it up (bright) just enough to not be too bright. dont point it at the sun, just do it where there is full day light. If you want to make life easier, just set it to AES and dont worry about that, but then you are relying on the camera to adjust the lighting. Once the Auto Iris (DC) level is correct, you can either focus it there, or take it in the shade, or wait until it gets evening time, as that would be better, not dark, just dim, focus on your car licence plate or something like that, at 50-75' away. Dont go too wide as with that lens, the edges of the video will get washed out, its an Aspheric lens. Either way it would be easier to take it down and set it up before you put it back up. A smaller TV like a 13" would be better for focusing than a 19" or bigger. If you cant afford a CCTV 9" monitor, Portable Monitor, or a Camera MAster for Focusing, then a 13" color TV is very very cheap and works for me most of the time. Here is a link to the specs on the camera and lens for anyone else who wants to check it out and give their feedback on the problem: http://www.isorainbow.com/specs/dc4p/l298avdc4p.html http://www2.cop-usa.com/ebproductdetail.asp?id=17 The camera specs in the title say 420TVL, but the PDF sais 380TVL, i tend to agree with that, plus it's super low lux level is only 0.1 lux, though the IR version also picks up IR lighting. Another thing, cut out as much of the sky as possible, you dont need to see that as the sun/light could also cause issues, incase it is also catching the sky. If you can, post a picture of it. Rory

what camera and lens is it? How far away from the camera lens is the object? How much light is in the picture? Also what size and type TV is it? Is the quality good in live, and just bad in playback? What kind of recorder are you using? Lastly, what type of cable are you using and what are the distances? Rory

I already emailed them but havent heard back yet, weekend i guess. I looked at everything, except the registry, maybe there is sa setting in there i can change, I cant get to the DVR until tomorrow midday, so ill check then, if no luck we'll call them. Also, any idea why a color bullet camera would go BW, was color until I pointed it a different direction, its not supposed to be day/night,just color. Its a cheap COP camera though.

Hi I installed a NetPro Max PC system. Firstly quality is not great, but then the cameras are only 330TVL I believe, the client bought some cheap COP bullet cameras. Anyway, my problem is this. I originally only had 3 cameras installed, and they were found and worked fine. Just hooked up 12 more today. Problem is, when I reboot it does the search for new cameras, but only loads the same 3 inputs. All cameras work, as I can put them on the 3 working inputs, and see them ok. basically it is not finding the other ports, 4-16. Any ideas.I looked at the config.ini files but nothing in them on number of cameras that are enabled. Its a grey PC tower, not the Black Server case as on their web site or on their manual. Got the remote video to work fine, but only seeing 3 cameras, darn!! Client paid $1500 for it, he got ripped, he could have got the standalone with same features from HiSharp for $1000, same recording speeds, etc. Better quality video. Though he did get a fast PC with it and windows XP I didnt check what size the HD is though so maybe he is paying for that also if it is a big one. Thanks Rory

its all good, i use to drink fosters in NY though! the oil can type, messed me up bad!! Ill have to try the XXXX sometime they probbaly have it here at the local UK bar/pub, they have many international customers.

Dude, dont worry about it, if I was to use a GEO im sure I would love it. It is all about market like you said. I have no love for GE, I just 'like' their DVRs as they are so simple to install and work great as a standalone, but the price is way high. I mentioned before you can buy a 40Gb version and switch the HD yourself, saves on the HD cost, which for some reason they and other big name brands charge so much for. Really, I just like small, compact all in one devices, even PCs, I like the small desktop versions. Would be nice if someone could make a PC DVR using a cappucino PC (http://www.cappuccinopc.com), its made in asia resold in the US under this name

DVR, i do agree with you on most if not all of this, but thing is, it is more realistic for me to buy a US made product, whether the mother board or memory is made in asia, because i have great support from them. I just tested another OEM from taiwan, stand alone DVR, tech support is almost non english, and took 2 days to get back to me with no actual help on the matter. They only gave me one manual, GE gives me 3 with tons more info on other options to edit. Video quality was the same as GE's and the DVR is actually pretty good, no back up as video just Jpeg, but still a good unit for low end, So im impressed there. I bought from a Us distributor that told me it was an Apro DVR, when it as made by HiSharp! Ive checked with Sunell and a couple others and they want volume only, which I cant give them, I cant pay for a trailer full of DVRs. So you see, I have to buy US due to my location, even if the memory or mboard is Asian, as I get great support. My distributor doesnt even know who makes it! And I agree again, when buying Pelco, GE, Phillips, Sony, etc, you are always paying for the name. But still after using several other DVRs, PC and Standalone, GE is well on top of the rest, but yes, you pay for it, thats the major problem, and maybe one day they can come to their senses and drop the pricing some.