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Id like to get some feedback from people using the PSS software .. or even if just backing up .dav files from DVRs that use that format .. eg. Dahua. (not sure if any other DVRs do or not). I put together a custom version of the Dahua Player which just opens up the convert to avi dialog. I put it on my site for download. Anyway I am now testing PSS for offsite archiving and video monitoring as an option. Works well either in just archiving mode or with the video alarm window. Problem is everything is in .dav format .. so if need to open up a video right away need to either open the player and convert it or use the PSS software which is busy with alarm video at the time .. I really want them in AVI and wondering if that is the general consensus? Ofcourse the AVI will only play with H.264 codecs installed but thats taken care of with a basic Divx codecs download. So last couple days (and nights) ive been working on a program that you drop in a single folder (for now) which is say the folder by date that PSS saves the alarm video to (alarm video in this case being motion detect from the DVR). When you run that program it monitors the folder for new .dav files and converts them to avi which goes into an AVI subfolder .. and removes the .dav file .. had issues with the file still being open on longer motion detection as PSS can be saving it in chunks and it closes and then reopens it doing this several times before finally closing it .. anyway fixed that by trying to rename it in the code, if it fails then it is open and we bypass that file for the time being. It checks the .dav files every 5 seconds which seems to be a good timespan for now - I also tested it with a folder of a few hundred existing .dav files and it works. It only converts 100max in one go, and only 1 at a time, and at the 5 second check it bypasses the process if its still busy converting - I am opening the external player program and i need to also terminate it before running it again, also perform a bunch of checks inbetween to make sure it is either open or closed etc. Code is rather rudimentary, old school VB6, dirty little do until loops with system time checks called from a timer so it will move on if it takes to long, or error if the external player gives a problem opening or closing out - but CPU and memory is low (even on my P4) except when the player convert program is running which is out of my hands. Id like to make my own converter and not have to use the customized player but the player SDK is mostly in chinese. So for right now I will use the player. Okay enough with the technical part, so it works, somewhat anyway. Do you think this would be something useful to go further with? Like to make it monitor any folder that is created within the record folder? Any suggestions, comments, more ideas .. welcome.

It did? Normally they dont. Its an option the USA ones never typically come with, the Blue-i domes are the ones that normally have that. Yes you should be able to connect it to DVRs and Keypads etc. using Pelco Protocol. Or to this: http://cnbusa.com/en/html/product/product.php?seqx_prod=1185 I never tested the feature, but it would be cat5 and if using multiple cameras, CNB recommend daisy chaining with the last equipment in the chain properly terminated. Here is a doc CNB USA tech support sent me when I asked about it: http://www.rs-485.com/download/485%20network%20topology.pdf

Just a heads up, most TDN cameras (bullets and domes) which come with a 2.8-11mm lens typically have most of the same OSD features now. Dont know what it is but its as if there is one person making the blueprint for the OSD feature and the manufacturers customize it, or they all just copy each other

O. M. G. !!!!!

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If anything one might adjust the shutter if they need to capture fast moving cars. Or, by slowing down the shutter it will see more under low light but it is not ideal.

the default setting is the best

Only experience I had with PAL was with the Dahua Firmware, if its PAL its still a BW wavy image even over the network where everything is NTSC here, same on the VGA LCD.

Will get more artifacts, less realistic image.

http://winebottler.kronenberg.org

If you are mounting any to an eave might also want to look at the VBM model, as the connections could then go in the eave.

Make sure the ActiveX installed properly, and the codecs. Without the codecs wont see any video. Also if you are using IE9 lots of DVR's IE interface are not compatible yet. Can you see video with the desktop software? Whats the name of the software?

Ive used them but under another name, they are made by a manufacturer called Indigo. CNB has made their own custom CMS software, and it is great. Fast GUI on even slow computers. Anyway, with those DVRs the software gives you a remote desktop like feature to config the DVR. Network quality is very good, though unfortunately there is no way to dial it down so need a fast connection. Stable DVRs, never seen one crash, still have them in the field. Not the CNB labelled one but made by same manufacturer, going by the CNB manual everything is exactly the same as well. They have limited mobile phone support though, and the network software only works on Windows. Dahua was much cheaper though, so I went that route instead.

Default settings are typically the best. Sharpness is a typical setting that is adjusted by installers. Which DVR is being used will determine the sharpness setting, most you can turn it up to the max, some like Geovision, the image can be distorted (it digitally enhances anything over the default sharpness level). As features are turned on, current draw rises, and overall quality can suffer for long runs. Best to prefocus in controlled lighting. I normally do that inside my garage in the day time so I can do it with lights on, off, or the door slightly open for low light, and directed outside for full sunlight adjustments/testing. Also if using Infrared should check the focus in pitch dark with Infrared and adjust slightly if needed, going back and forth between full light, low light, and Infrared. Use an object with alot of contrast to focus on. Eg. Some kind of fence or grill, or even a ladder or license plate. Focus it in the center but also focus the object on the left and right sides of the image, until its focused good left, center, and right, with center being the best. Distance from the camera to the object you are focusing on will depend on the zoom you want, average around 20-30' from the object, though at 2.8mm you may need to bring it in closer, and at 10mm would need to be further away. Prefocus is not always available so otherwise focus under low light (not in full sunlight), and at least on objects you can see clearly on your monitor. Preferably use a larger monitor like a 9-13" or so (CRT if available) for best focus. Bottom line is everyone has their own way of focusing and equipment used and it can also vary from one location to the next.

I remember not too long ago, well maybe 5 years now, those generic Chinese stand alones .. they used to crash left and right, especially when someone connected over the network. And even not that long ago, DVRs like the AvTechs with barely any features and horrible software ... got one sitting in the garage ... even the avermedia 4 channels just a couple years ago .. so basic and limited. How things have changed ... BTW I have a GE Kalatel DVMRe still at a clients location from several years ago and its rock solid .. but featureless compared to these we use now.

I just picked up a Bosch EX30 (Extreme Single CCD 5-50mm) to test this weekend, will post results here.

Yeah but they dont need to be actual href links to be picked up by the search engines .. for example

Monalisa is good, so is Exview (or was). I havent had the chance to put them up against each other. They both pixelise alot in low light though, especially if they dont switch to BW.

Oh. ... it is spam LOL!! Check how they edited the signature .. Spam for money is a big thing in India now. Basically they get paid to post on forums and include signatures for websites, to aid in their ranking on the search engines like google.

The Acer all in ones come with i5's now, also no speed issues from the iMacs with Core 2 running raw XP That said, all expandability is via USB, and their DVD or Blueray drives are typically slow and problematic. And overpriced is an understatement, $1000+- for the ones with slow Atom CPUs

Without the make of the DVR it will be impossible for anyone to give you a better opinion than they already have. YOU are paying for the DVR, I dont know what that is in US Dollars but it doesnt look like free. Ask them for the make of the DVR (the manufacturer, not their company name) and preferably the model number, then we will be able to check it out and let you know.

WD Blues or Blacks .. work great. SSD is fine for the OS but not for recording video. Its common practice to record D1 30fps each channel for 16 cameras on 7200rpm drives. Also it should be noted 7200rpm drives are almost twice as fast as they were just a couple years ago (from 55 to 135) Rarely ever see a hard drive fail when the system is on a good AVR. And this coming from a 3rd world country where I had 6 power cuts between Saturday and Sunday alone, and 1 a day since Monday - along with the subsequent brown outs, the king destroyer of hard drives (next to dropping it on the ground)! PS. Make sure to tweak the DVR's OS otherwise it still wont be fast enough http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=030htVp7KLE

Might notice a difference if the camera is plugged directly into a CRT composite monitor/TV, otherwise same pixel size on the DVR end (converted to digital) so same live and same recording pixels. Typically there is no difference between a 540 and 650 TVL camera when it comes to total effective pixels.

Yeah thats what it says it does basically, blocks visible light which the lamp would be. During the day there is alot of Infrared from the sun so much of that should pass through.

@ Survtech, if your reply was to me, I never said nobody uses CS lenses, I do myself, I said that fixed or MANUAL CS Lenses are not easy to find at distributors, compared to Varifocal lenses (CS Mount). BTW with new (current) Domes and bullets you should be able to interchange M13 Varifocal lenses between at least 90% of them, and buy new lenses that will also fit. But ofcourse box cameras still have a huge advantage over them in that area.