low_voltage

Hi, I have around 8 years experience installing/servicing analog CCTV, and have recently (within the last 12 months) started installing IP based systems. I typically install 8-16 channel systems. So far my experience has been almost entirely with Dedicated Micros products, and I am not very impressed. Their products cost far too much for the poor quality and problems you get with them. As such I have a few questions for those in the know around here. As far as IP camera manufacturers go, which are the best? Which cameras should I be trying to pick up and sell that are the best bang for the buck performance/quality wise? Are computer based solutions viable or better? I typically have avoided them like the plague in favor of standalone DVR/NVRs. Should I rethink this approach? Customers have started to get more savvy recently and I find I have a lot of people asking me for real time recording. Unless I go with a $7,500+ DV-IP NV8 from Dedicated Micros, I can't get real time at D1 or 4CIF. What kind of NVR products should I look to that are more reasonable? Thanks.

Sort of conflicting request, which are best, which are best bank for the buck. If money was no object, I would go with Mobotix or Axis, both good quality cameras, built to last, good support. It's what I used in my commercial projects. If bang for the buck is the priority, I would say ACTi, they have a good mix of cameras, well build, good support. They just replaced almost their entire line of cameras in the past month and some good pricing. For example, they have a 5mp IR bullet in the $500 range. Are computer based solutions viable, yes, better, maybe. It depends on your school of thought. Clearly an NVR is a PC with software already preloaded, so less work, but is limited to the task at hand and many are not expandable, meaning if you get an 8 channel NVR, you want to add two more cameras, may not be possible. A PC offers the expandability factor as most NVR software is sold per camera. Also, it seperates the two investments. For example, in an NVR, if it broke or you outgrew it, you toss it, 100% of your investment is lost. With a PC and software, the investment is seperated. So if you PC breaks, you can easily get it fixed at many places, including big box stores like Best Buy, who can you take the NVR to when it doesn't boot up? You can also replace the PC without loosing your investment in the software. For example, a new PC comes out, twice as fast, half the money and you want to add more cameras, you have the option to repurpose the old PC and preserve your investment. Lastly, a PC can do more, for example, if you wanted to run LPR software, if you want to attach multiple monitors to it, if you want to control it remotely, if you want to embed video into a webpage, the extensibility is there. Thanks a lot, Buellwinkle. Great information. I should have been a little more clear with my original inquiry, it is a little confusing. There are essentially two customers I, and I suspect most CCTV trade guys deal with: the customer with deep pockets who wants the best, and the cheap customers who want the best they can get while spending the least! This is great information to get me started with some more Googling on the subject, though. I appreciate it. I have a background in computer programming, so I suspect I might get more mileage out of a PC based NVR solution. I'm going to have to play around with one. I like the idea of it being more modular so as to reduce the cost of component failure! Thanks again!