visualspirit

Hi Cliff, The disconnection problem I have experienced seems to be related to the alerts on the VioStor. When I schedule an email to be sent out for example, that is when the problem occurred. I did let Vincent telnet into it and the problem was fixed, however it did re-appear and he had to log in again to correct it. Recent firmware updates seemed to have corrected the issue. However on a recent install, again after programming alerts, some strange error messages started appearing. This time it didn't disconnect the cameras and Vincent logged in to look at it; I'm still waiting for a resolve. I have installed the VioStors on some large sites, the biggest has 26 cameras each streaming 2MP. It is an install I am really proud of as the images look fantastic and the VioStor performs well. All in all I do really like the QNAPs, however there does seems to be some serious flaws in the operating system, but with this sort of technology, this can be the case. My real gripe with QNAP is the abysmal technical support (agreed Vincent is of great help, but surely he can't be the only tech support guy QNAP has!). Last week, I was in the big IFSec (CCTV/Security) show in the UK and I couldn't see anything that I could seriously replace the VioStor with. Every other vendors' offerings had complicated GUIs and on most you had to buy licences for the channels. The great thing about the VioStor is that it is plug and play, and the user interface is clean and easy to use. Hopefully QNAP will sort out the glitches. I saw them at the show and they had a new firmware on display which they are about the launch. Regards Rob

I was wondering if anyone else has any experiences with contacting QNAP's tech support? I am currently experiencing a problem with a VS-4016 pro. It has happened before and occurs when you attempt to set up or alter alarms. A Relaunch error appears in the logs, the NVR stops recording and all screens show disconnected. You can still review recordings, prior to the fault. I had the error a few months ago and to be fair they were pretty swift in logging in and sorting the issue. However this time it has been 3 days, and even though I have been told their R&D manager is looking into the fault, there has been little other communication. I have updated the firmware to the latest (Version 4.0), but the fault has not been resolved. I can't default it either as the client wants to keep the recordings for the last couple of weeks.

I install HD IP Cameras and NVRs and the quality and ease of install out way anything analogue systems have to offer. I've also seen a demonstration of the half way house solution of HD SDI. The only advantages I see is that you can replace an old analogue system and use the existing co-ax to install HD cameras but only up to around 2MP. I have just completed installing 28 x 4MP cameras around a site of the size you mention. We had to put 5 cameras on poles around the perimeter of the premises and the rest were placed in and around buildings on the site. For the cameras on the poles, we had to run fibre optic cabling as it was much too far for Cat 5e/6. Other buildings around the site were linked back to the main data cab also with fibre for the other cameras. I think that the HD SDI solution will soon disappear. It is only been created to use existing co-ax infrastructure, but as IP cameras & NVRs evolve, it will soon look as redundant as analogue now is. So my advise is: 1) Learn some networking skills. Go on a week's course. It's a lot easier than you think and IP is here and IP will be everything in the future - not only CCTV! Don't get left behind. 2) You say you don't want customers calling you up complaining things are not working. Well when you get your networking skills, you will be able to set up the cameras/NVR/PoE Switches so you can control everything remotely from the comfort of your office - viewing the cameras, resetting them, altering the focus on them and also any of the settings. Also the NVR will email/text you with faults & camera failures, probably before your customer has even noticed! Remember IP cameras are computers in themselves, not the dumb devices analogue cameras were. In all honesty, we get a lot less call outs to the IP cams/NVRs than we did with the old analogue systems we used to install. 3) Cat 5/6 is far easier to install than co-ax. Also it supplies the power and control - so no extra cables! Don't be afraid of installing fibre optic cable. It's cheaper than you think and terminating it is a breeze with a fusion splicer (which you can hire for a few hundred quid/dollars/euros). Fibre can go for miles! 4) Advise your customer not be a cheap skate. He wants his site to be secure, but doesn't want to pay much for it. Well more fool him! Put cheap cameras in and reap the disappointment when some incident occurs. Hope this helps.