Dontheo

Foe recording, viewing and functions it is really a preference on you applications if you use an NVR or other software running on a pc. A lot of NVR's Re Linux based but it all comes down to hard disk storage. NVR'S and servers can be linked together so it will come down to the software. Some require licensing per camera too. A NAS is just networked attached storage for increased storage and recovering data. A SAN or storage area network provides the same as a NAS except they are networked and can store 100 of TB 's and has greater flexibility for access. Mainly though, they provide redundancy. NVR'S are easy becase you only need to specify the storage. They will come properly configured for optimization. Half the pc's I see running software for IP cameras were optimized for the seller starting with a poor graphics card and too little storage. The camera has its own processor. One could write a book just on this. lol

I don't get the question. You are already working in the field but part time? As an employer I am not as interested in experience as I am capability, dedication and professionalism. I can train anyone if they are capable and I don't hire anyone's bad habits. Pluses Neatness, job longevity (not 10 one year jobs), education, military

It really depends of the equipment including your GSM. What type of input does the GSM have? You would need to measure the voltage to the buzzer possibly take that to a relay that would trigger the GSM.

I try to stay away fron NVR's with built in POE's. Unless they are of high quality the power seems to fluctuate and it seems like one of them is always going out. That's why I like to run the 485 to the PTZ too. It just seems cleaner with bandwidth and power. Typically, my output module is part of the network too so there is no outputs or inputs on the NVR. When I have to get in a good price range I will use the NUUO. This probably does not apply to your application but I don't feel like working today. lol PS: Is there a spell checker on here?

I am not familiar with the product you mentioned but there is a lot of junk on the market in the smaller board cameras. We use ICRealtime and you will be impressed with the quality. Just do a web search on them.

Yes, it is very specialized. Usually above 10 mega pixel and are used to supplement other cameras as the resolution can get so high you will get 3-4 frames per second. Try the Pelco website. I think they make one.

Vivotek provides free software with their cameras.

I do agree, but analog has its place. That's why the wire is critical. One can always migrate over to analog or have a combination.

Nice. I went to college with a girl whose Daddy owned I think it was La France. It was the Cadillac of fire trucks. Unfortunatly, she did not like guys. Do you use much infrared to see or read temperatures

I install professionally so I know how confused everyone is. I also buy direct from China for some of my product. The exact camera here, from one of my distributors will cost 400 dollars and I can buy it for 24.00. However we do use Axis and Vivotek and buy that here. Here's my rules I tell my employees. Wire is cheap. Pull a cat5 or 6 hen in doubt and pull it everywhere. Map it and label it. As a rule, cameras should have a 5 year warranty and a DVR a 3. Check out www.apexcctv.com. Plus they have a ton of tutorials. GEOVISION is not bad.

With such a large project and not a lot of experience I would go to some place that can help you with the design and support. The higher end companies won't help yp much because the are selling to dealers like me and want you to know it or go to their training. I would go to www.apexcctv.com These guys seem to sell a good product and have a ton of how to videos. I have had rxcellent luck with wireless assumiing direct line of sight and not using the cheap type built in to the camera. Check those guys out, or at least their videos.

I should have said that there are DVRs that will do that through a matrix video output. But they will start at about 1700.00 and will have two HDMI's or more. A good video splitter is your best choice if you are in the wiring phase. If you run the HDMI and/or the VGA you will alsways be limited to that wire in that exact location. We run everything from the head end or hoime run location in a star topography. Get some cat6 and run it to all the possible locations. Put the cables on the Bay. I also only run cat6 to all camera locations also. Gefen makes a good HDMI spliter 1x3 for about 250.00. I cringe when I hear Costco but I probably shouldn't. The market is changing so fast. It is definitly moving to IP megapixel cameras and I see the only way to do this for residential use will be large, on board storge cards out "at the edge" as they say.

Ok i looked at it. Did you check your USB port? If you put in a new module and upgraded the drivers, and you have video but control at any of the cameras, i would first look to the USB. Try a different one and one you know is working.

I am not sure of the camera and what it looks like, but sometimes the PTZ function of the camera has it's own power supply. I would look at the camera and how it is wired.

It is all about what kind of performance you expect. Monitoring for activity, people recognition and the actually identifying the person. If you go to the Mobotix web site they have a lot of tool where you can put in your parameters of the area to be viewed and what you will be able to actually see. You can play around with the lens selection there too.

H264 is a video codec standard and is 640x480 and Onviff is just a standard by companies trying to give the industry some standardization to this crazy product line. Typically, the camera specs that get as high definition mean they can ce viewed on a nomitor at those specs. There are some HD NVR recorders but you sacrafice a lot of staorage space. When we have a need for true high def recording we do this at the edge, or on an SD card in the camera. Its not a lot of storage but it is true high def. One can download to the NVR for good video and when the HD is needed, one can go right to the camera and view it in true HD. You just have to be aware of the alarm to tell you to view as you will capture about two hours on the card. It works great for a camera that is activated by motion only, during a set time period, when there should be no motion. I have herd they are developing better camera engines that will accomodate very large cards and we should see this by the end of the year.

They made many different spectra models and accessories. Do you know what it was connected to before? I think it communicated in a pelco 422 format? I would go to the pelco site and see if you can find your model. If it is no longer made they usually post the manuals and you won't need a password. As transmission methods grew they seemed to come out with a new interface and I think got as far as some early cell phones. Nice camera though if it is in good shape.

Here's my best guess as I am always a better visual learner. You have IP skills so lets step into the real world and network these cameras. It will also allow you to grow with future needs. I would take the two Lorex cameras and put them up front in the showroom. Use on of the displays and let customers see it and them selves as they enter. No messing around in here! Now the IP cameras and what you want to view. Go to a decent website like Vivotek or even apexcctv and you can use one of their field of view calculators for free. You have to decide if you want to view activity like motion, recognizing it is a person or a dog, or recognizing who the person is or if the dog has a bone in it's mouth. The more you focus in on he object the narrower the field of view. But here is the good news, so far you have not spent a dime and you now have a deterrent in place and an extra monitor. So lets say we buy two new IP mega pixel cameras that are outdoor rated, 2megapixel, 3-8mm lens with 20ft IR capabilities. I am sure many have ther own software but I use a lot of Vivotek for medium priced jobs and they come free with a Central Management Software. That goes right on to a PC and the cameras go into the PC via a input card. PC's are cheap and even cheaper if you can build them. The important part here is the video card. Look in the gaming section. lol The vivotek and all will cost about 1500 but if you go apexcctv and geovision you cam stay under a 1000. The networking will be self intuitive for you and the applications that come with it (for free) will let you view from any internet connected device including Ipads and smartphones. Just make sure your bandwidth "up" is good. And I also dont see why you could not throw a 2TB drive in there right now for about 130 bucks and start recording too.

Probably not but it will depend on the DVR. Mosy give one or the other. The best way is to split the HDMI output. Like a 1x2 or 1x4 HDMI splitter. So come out of the DVR to the splitter then transmit using baluns on the cat6 and back into the TV on a separate input.

There are several ways you can do this but you want to get it to a smart phone. In the early days, we would use a video switcher.or a combiner. I think the switcher would work better with the sling box. You put up to four cameras into the switcher, and then they rotate the signal output to the monitor, or in your case, the sling box. I just threw one away so I imagine you could find one on the Bay pretty easy. You can also adjust the dwell time or how long it displays the image before moving to the next. I still like a good dvr due to the functionality such as emailing or texting on motion, video loss alerts, etc. 80 bucks is cheap though for a dvr. Check out the Bay for a switcher.

You could try narrowing down the detection window and adjusting the sensitivity in that particyular area of the view. But that is just an attempt before recording 24/7 or buying a better recxorder

Most of your better IP NVR's will have the basic functions of loss of focus, missing objects and video loss built into their software. It is important that the camera you select is supported by the NVR or Software. When you get beyond the basics of video analytics then it is important to look at the technology partners that are supported and the IP cameras for those particular analytics. Meta data applications can be tricky such as license plate recogniyion. There is a huge difference between recording a license plate and recognizing a license plate checked against a data base. Typically, like at the last installation we performed for this purpose it took two distinct cameras. Usually, it is a learning experinece for everyone until you actually install a system. Manufacturers never give you enough information and the application was designed around how the engineer envisioned it or how they designed the first application for a special purpose. There are also some good PTZ camera on the market that perform tracking based on movement and even audio. One has to be careful here as the tracking can be diverted by somehting else larger or closer then the original object. Facial recognition is also possible and there are large retailers that store databases of ID's globally. If you fit one of those profiles, you may be tracked the entire time you enter the store. Many airports use then too. Don't shy away from it though. Just pick your application and start the research. And think about the amount of meta data that can be analyzed by one device. Too much and it will just shut down.

Yes, that is why I asked what you are doing for recording. Some recorders will have inputs which can activate various functions, in your case a camera. Your camera does not have this capability. Typically, you will need a camera that can take an input and then go to,a predefined location. In addition, you will want it to do his at a very high rate of speed which can also auto focus. I like ICReal Time for analog and Vivotek for IP. The cheapest or least expensive of these start at about 1200.00. There are bases that are made that you can mount your camera to but you would need to still focus and maybe adjust he FOV. So yes, it can be done. I just installed a Vivotek in a neighborhood pool that patrols at night, tracks any movement and will focus in on sound if a certain volume is detected once the alarm system is set, so it knows the pool is closed. The camera was 2400 dollars to the HOA but it saved them enough on insurance premiums it paid for itself.

Almost all newer DVR's support your needs with the applications. Storage will depend on the hard drive and the resolution the camera can send to the DVR. If you are not a dealer, I would go to someplace like apexcctv and look at the GEOVISION line. When you want storage on a DVR they can do it. They also support all the apps and I think offer a free DDNS service. Pricing is good too.

Axis may be the best camera made and I like Mobotics too. Not sure of your applications but make sure you are okay with the audio. Even if it is your home, you can violate someone's 4th Ammendment rights. The world has gone crazy. lol. But I would check.