rory

Looks pretty good. Any pricing, Reviews? http://www.fastechinc.com/dvr1612.asp

WaveReader has all of these features. http://www.geindustrial.com/cwc/products/ge-interlogix?pnlid=9&famid=63&catid=1088&id=WaveReader&lang=en_US http://www.geindustrial.com/ge-interlogix/kalatel/clearcast.html http://www.geindustrial.com/cwc/products/ge-interlogix?pnlid=9&famid=63&catid=1088&id=VideoIQ&lang=en_US http://www.geindustrial.com/ge-interlogix/facilitycommander/index.html http://www.geindustrial.com/cwc/products/ge-interlogix?pnlid=9&famid=63&catid=1088&id=DVMRe_Triple&lang=en_US http://www.geindustrial.com/cwc/products/ge-interlogix?pnlid=9&famid=63&catid=1088&id=DVMRe_Matrix&lang=en_US

Also, the size of a stand alone compared to having a PC in a small compact location. We can slap in a standalone with no Monitor throw a cable modem on top of it all in a small lock box, and its ready to go, the PC will require more space, and will always require a keyboard, mouse and monitor in case of local administration. For local admin of the stand alone, all we need is a portable LCD, but all programming is also accessible over the internet, so there is really no need to go back. And it does what the majority of clients want it to do. Only thing I have ever seen yet that would be nice, is streaming audio in live view, but its something I can live without, or use a small compact stand alone video server for. The pps is sufficient for CCTV recording. Ofcourse, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Personally i dont install computers anymore, too much a waste of time and money building and loading and testing, so unless I Decide to go back into that industry, which will never happen, Ill stick with standalones whenever required, not just in CCTV. Sometimes PCs still have their place, for User Friendly software, in addition to a stand alone device.

You can do all this with the GE standalone, i beg to differ. I have only ever done high end jobs, which do not include home PC's. In fact, I have taken over jobs that had PC based DVRs intalled, which for security measures and lack of evidence features, had to be replaced with the DVRs I sell. You didnt seem to do as much research into the SDVR as you claim to have, and also, the DVMRe is cheaper, has more features, and is faster in the PPS area.

If I knew so much about DVRs, Id be working for a major manufacturer of DVRs, or making the actual cards or stand alones, not saying my PC built DVR and PC parts, which I bought from another company, is the best. I claim nothing, which is why I buy the DVR from someone that makes it for a living. Anyone these days, can build a PC.

Hmmm. GE is using the same OS that is used in a cell phone, coffee machine, so you still think GEO is more stable, not. Im sure DM is also using a RTOS similar if not the same, I will check it out and give you some links.

You can upgrade a Standalone as easy as a PC Card, which one have you been using? Sure, if your VCR or TV dies you have to replace it also. You can have 2 way audio if you want. Throttling Bandwith is a norm, nothing new. you can do all this with the standalone, depends what you want and need. you can say what you want, but their DVRs are built in the US. Never had a machine crash on me, you must be doing something wrong. Sorry, dont play games, I work in the security industry. Hmm, so you think still. Havent seen any limitations yet, they are designed for the CCTV industry, not the PC industry. Ganeral PC machines are considered unprofessional, used alot by computer companies, who have no experience in the Real CCTV industry. Good for home users. Since you brought it up, ever used matrix and muxes, real CCTV equipment? If I did go PC based, Id go with a US company over an Asian one anyday, call me prejudice if you want, but thats the world we live in, USA all the way. I live on this side of the world, not anywhere near Asia. PS. Geo's SDK doesnt compare to Ge's, and nor Chance-I, since we are on the PC Card area. If we cant adjust the software, it's useless.

you can use a browser also, but it is activeX. Small download.

With the standalone you can download any video you want over the web and do what you want with them.

Cmon rory.. make it harder than that.. you know thats not veen close. In your kneck of the woods you may be right about no need for features but its a small neck! What features do you need? THe stand alones have all the features Ill ever need. I dont see anything that GEO has that is something I need besides what I already have in the GE DVRs. In real world situations like a murder last year, continuous stealing, armed robbery, etc, Ive never had to say, darn I wish I had that feature! It always did the job. Tested, Stable, Compact, Support, thats the reason to use a 'good' stand alone DVR. Most computer companies will sell you a PC DVR Card, while most CCTV companies generally use stand alones. Remember the VCR days? Matrix systems, rackmounted galore, muxes, etc, that is CCTV. Its great that PCs have given us the technology to use windows to do things we never were able to do, but with that and with its extra features, come other problems. Simple is key. Simple to install, simple to use, simple to maintain. Too many people have come use to realying on their desktop PC to do everything. In anything, not just CCTV, if there is a stand alone device, I will use it over a desktop PC anyday. We use them in the alarm monitoring industry, a PC could never act as a reciever, they only use the PC to make it user friendly for the operator. XP still crashes periodically which is something the old DOS machines never did, but the XP monitoring software has more user capability and easier than DOS. Stand alone DVRs are just as easy to use as a VCR, no need to learn to use a PC if they dont want. Im sure you guys have regular service trips to the DVRs you use, as they are PCs, whether it is from User errors, I have not had a stand alone yet that I had to go back to, it just sits there working year after year. I can install a stand alone in less than 5 minutes right out of the box. The price will come down, eventually, until then I continue to use them, for the reasons listed above, and it wouldnt matter if I lived in Australia or Jamaica. Now that we are talking about stand alone DVRs, etc, I still would use a PC in adddition to the stand alone, in cases such as this: http://www.geindustrial.com/ge-interlogix/facilitycommander/index.html Or for enterprise level systems where they DO need some additional features: http://www.geindustrial.com/ge-interlogix/kalatel/clearcast.html

well im getting so far 3 months on motion only recording, on a 4 channel GE StoreSafe DVR 40GB, so thats not bad is it? Playback is generally real time also, unless all cameras have motion then it splits it up.

you can also use a small color TV, with a long extension cord, thats what I use most of the time right now, as my handheld monitor went dead.

they all look like a video card!!

I agree, I would go with 2000 over XP any day. But, as I will be develloping software, I have to test on XP as alot of people are using it. Even now, I have to use other's PCs to test Windows 2000, and Windows XP for the software, then I see issues and have to go back and fix them, then test again, it normally only takes on fix, but ... I must say, Windows XP is more user friendly than ME or 2000, more drivers, etc, but way too much menory and CPU required. Though, i have my parents using it as they have a new PC, and I just want it to work, its a fast PC so it doesnt matter much anyway, plus all they do is check email and browse the web. I did notice XP has a nice repair option that is run from the CD in case of a windows error, helped me one time with a client. Personally ill stick to the faster OS for my personal use, ME, 98 for some, but ofcourse evenatually Ill have to buy the faster PC to support XP, as ME will eventually not work properly as more worms are released and microsoft has no more fixes for it! They say they dont support it anymore, but they do, there are still regular updates, unless they are archived updates. Another thing MS said, they claimed PWS wont work with ME, I have never had an issue, thats all i use for my web sites, PWS, IIS on XP never did me much justice, yet. Windows 2003, whats up with that, havent tried it yet, is it any good??

Stand alone IP Video Servers with DVRs built in, are the future, people are always going to try to stay as far as posible away from windows PC's if they can, if and once the embedded on chip systems can do what they want them to. I really have nothing against windows, in fact I love it and love VB programming, but it is simply not that stable, thats why we use machines for alot of things in security like Alarm monitoring (alarm recievers), then just use a PC to make it more user friendly. I dont see where PC cards are as cheap, unless you are comparing to brand name DVRs like GE, Phillips, etc. Geo Cards from prices I have seen online are not cheap, remember to add in the PC and the installation and testing, i charge $150 an hour for that, so it pretty much comes to the same cost as a stand alone, but takes longer and less stable (*flame me, yeah yeah!) I still dont see what other features are really needed in a DVR than what a stand alone does already. None of the additional features of a PC card will ever be required by most consumers. Speed is the only issue, and that has already began to rise on all stand alones, even GE's.

Ive never had a problem with ME, in fact, its much faster then XP and requires less security Updates. I have a client with a 42" plasma as a monitor, and a 3.2Ghz P4. 2G DDR, etc etc, windows ME, it is so fast it leaves me in the dust. We had Windows XP on it by default originally,then loaded ME as the Plasma Video card had too many issues with XP, and it cant compare to the speed of ME. But like I said, Ill have both. My current system cannot even run XP, it needs more memory. Sorry, Im a speed freak! You need to let me put ME on one of your machines, you wont be dissapointed. Its all I have used since it was released. Maybe I am doing something that others arent?

How can they: "We understand 100% the importance of monitoring your home or business, we Guarantee our remote video surveillance products to work as they are designed or your money back within 30 days! " Unless they build the PC themselves!

check this out from their site: With our professional DVR Cards we do not recommend & WILL NOT support Compaq Computers HP Computers Gateway Computers eMachine Computers Dell Computers ALL "off the shelf" Computers What does this mean, that they just dont do PC service or repair?

i only see GEO on their site

i need a new 'puter bad, this is a slow sis, 128mb ddr, 2.2 celleron, all in one board, that was crap from day 1, no matter what OS i put on it, time to move on Was a cheap package i bought over here. Im building a new computer for someone that bought all high end parts in the US, and if it runs as good as I think it will, will buy the same and load ME and XP on it for myself Dont have the parts yet nor remember wht I suggested, but will let you know.

Do they stock the products in the US, or are only there for support. Is it the actual GEO company, or an affiliate? Rory

It does look good though!

never tried them, also, I cant get my hands on them as the miami distributors do not sell them. Another thing, if they had a software demo, it would help with some decision making! Seeing as they are a direct Asian Product, its hard to tell from this side of the world, see all the miami distributors generally sell US products, even if they do produce some of their products in Asia ( i know im going to get flamed on this). Met with a miami distributor today, he was down here pushing GE products; doesnt need much pushing this way, but, his main claim was he pushes them as they are a US company, along with others. I imagine he pushes Phillips also for that reason, even though it is worldwide, it is US based for support and distribution on this side. GEO may have dealers over in the US, but do they have a major branch there, that has full support, distribution, etc? And is that branch selling to end users, dealers, or distribuors? Just curious. Other than that, from people on this forum everyone sais they love GEO, I cant say as Ive never tried it, their browser based software is terrible but I cant judge on that. Rory PS - he is getting me pricing on the new PRO DVRs from GE, SDVR-PRO and DVMRE-PRO, so will post them here in the dealer section once I get them.

i wish it only cost me that much! make that $6-900 time i land it here, if im lucky. And if its a machine like you quoted, more like $2-3000

I just deal with the closet distributor to me, which is in Miami, as shipping to my country gets heavier the further north you go. Spytown has dealer pricing and alot of products, never bought from them myself, but seen them around for a long time.