SB_Jim

Okay, How do YOU spell frustration?? Here I've learned what I believe might be some appropriate settings to tweak my cams (i-frame interval, etc.), and the settings dont stick once I log out of the cams and come back later!!! Zik - are you still running the Swann NVR? Can you please check this? I'd set a specific "video quality" level, and 30 for my i-frame interval on both Main & Sub. I come back later and the Sub is set to an i-frame of 3! Arrrrrgh! Below is what resulted after setting Main to Constant - it forced the video quality to lowest and i-frame back to 3 from 30!

Thank you, dexterash. I have confirmed that my currend DSL upload is 0.7 maga-bits, so if that's equivalent to 700 kilobits, dividing by 5 cameras, I get 140 for a bit rate. Now, in my Swann mobile app the lowest "max" bit rate I can select is 768. Being that it says "max", is this a possible issue which may prevent fluid streaming of the SUB to my mobile device when I'm away from my LAN? If I'm viewing by remote, then there will not be any other demand on my bandwidth (that I can think of) from other users or devices. Thank you for your assistance. PS - Joey - I'll reply separately. For now I'm trying to get a baseline performance by using the Swann NVR mobile app, and at a later date I'll give a try with another app. BTW, seems like you have a really high fps set for your sub-streams! Is the iVMS-4500 s/w a mobile app or a client s/w?

As far as the Wifi goes, this past weekend I was on a home network (remote) that has a download speed of 30 Mbps. So I was in a great environment for testing. Unfortunately, I had lots of long pauses - much longer than I would like to have (anywhere from 2-12 seconds). If my settings in both the sub-stream and mobile app are approximately correct - and I believe they are, perhaps it's an issue of the very low upload bandwidth from my home? My upload speed - as just tested via iPod right now - is 0.7 Mbps. J.

Okay, I'll set them to VBR. Can one of you really smart folks please give me the "short answer" to my previous question re: i_frame rate setting? Here's what I wrote in my last post: "How do I interpret this? Obviously the Main Stream is providing me maximum viewing resolution & quality when I'm at home on my LAN, but what does these setting imply? Are there 100 "actual full" frames of video streaming before an I-frame is displayed during Main Stream, and only 3 "actual full" frames of video streaming before an I-frame is displayed during Sub Stream? This is in reference to the current cam settings of 100 / 3 for Main / Sub i-frames in my cams. Vector18 - I believe that I did have my sub-stream and mobile app set at some reasonable low setting - hoping to get some fluidity to the video - even had a lower quality image. However, there were numerous times when the video "froze" for several seconds to 10-12 seconds of hesitation. Thx, Jim

Thx Joey - nice article on I-frames. In the article it says "When intervals between I-Frames are longer, the video transmission uses a lot less bandwidth, but the video quality is lower." So in my case, my Main Stream I Frame is set at 100, and the Sub Stream I Frame is set at 3. How do I interpret this? Obviously the Main Stream is providing me maximum viewing resolution & quality when I'm at home on my LAN, but what does these setting imply? Are there 100 "actual full" frames of video streaming before an I-frame is displayed during Main Stream, and only 3 "actual full" frames of video streaming before an I-frame is displayed during Sub Stream? Vector18 - did you mean to say that since many of us are streaming video to a small portable device (such as my iPod) - that having the resolution set higher than necessary is rather pointless since we're already viewing on a 3" screen - where it'll look decent anyways? Jim

I've considered upping my service level. I'd still stay w/ DSL currently - since I currently have 3 down / 1 up, and I could go to something like 15 / 3 mbps w/out changing devices. But, before I do that I want to optimize my settings to see where that gets me. I'm using the SwannNVR mobile app on my iPod (don't have a smart phone yet). In the app the resolution option (highest of the three, but still very modest) says 704 X 576 (CIF). In the camera menu the closest setting to that (and the one I've selected) is 704 X 480. What is the I frame interval? I didn't select the "3" - it was there by default. Regarding Variable vs Constant Bit Rate, wouldn't selecting Variable potentially put less demand on the NVR if it can "run itself" sufficiently at a lower than specified constant rate. Obviously I don't get this concept yet. Thx for your ideas. Jim

I'm finding that fine-tuning my motion is a bit challenging. I understand the principles and have been very strategic in selecting the portions of the image that are sensitive, but for almost all of my cams, there are so many shadows from moving plants and or trees. Primarily on my neighbor's property - that leave long shadows of "motion" on my driveway, fence, etc. I may have to just live with that. When the wind isn't blowing (like a gale lately), it settles down really well & I like the performance. I have WDR set to varying degrees on my cams - none more than 35-40 on a scale to 100. How much noise (in low light) does WDR induce? Wouldn't it be sweet to set a profile that could disable WDR in the evenings! Not on these Swann (Hik) bullets. Here's the image menu from inside the camera: Other than turning off WDR - or perhaps setting the level to no more than 20 out of 100, what improvement might I see from increasing the Noise Reduction to a level greater than the default 50?? What impact will that have to the image? Is there a trade-off? Thx!

Zik.. Please qualify your suggestion that the Lorex domes "have a better picture". Are you comparing a bullet to a dome, or bull to bull? Day or night, IR or w/o IR, etc. How would you define "better" as you've use the term here? Thank you, Jim

Sounds cool - but that'll have to be another day's playing. I don't envision much need for that currently. Getting to the NVR will do me good as it is.

Success! I was able to connect my laptop via ethernet to an unused PoE port on my NVR, change my IP on the laptop, and connect to a camera of choice. Very happy that I can finally access the camera menus directly, and didn't need to purchase a switch to do it. Many thanks to Shockwave199 for the great tips and assistance. Jim

Shockwave199, Thx for the well-written steps. Looking forward to giving this a try very soon!

Zik, Are you saying that you've heard that there may be some domes coming out for the Swann NVR? That's be great - cause I have a couple of spots where I'd rather have that than the bullet. I may end up w/ 8 cams after all. Just received my add'l two bullets today.

I have tried several times to download the software that several of you have recommended - to use in accessing my Hik (a.k.a. Swann) cameras. After hours, the download times out. Its only 13 MBs. I even had an IT friend at my office give it a try over our T-1 line. No success. I'm sure one of you folks have the file, and if you'd be so kind to PM me, I'll provide my email address and would be grateful to have you send it to me. The link to their site is: http://www.hikvision.com/En/US/download.asp The file I believe I'm interested in is shown in yellow highlight below: Thank you!

Looking fwd to trying this. Thx for tips. Now if someone just had the s/w I was looking for as the primary topic of this thread... You never confirmed which of the two s/w items I asked about - that would allow me to see the cams.. You didn't go that route I take it? J.

Well, that's promissing. So if I had said switch, and if I wrote down the IP for each cam per the NVR screen, are you saying that you then accessed via the NVR, or via your computer? It appears that the cameras kept the IP that was assigned via the NVR, and then you used a switch for the cameras, plugged the switch into your router?? And then used your computer w/ what s/w to access the cams? Sorry that I'm not proficient in this at all! Quote from Zik: "I looked at the ip that the nvr assigned the cameras then connected them to my poe switch. when 192.0.0.64 didn't work I tried the ip in that was in the nvr and it worked....another way is to just put a switch in inline. on a side note you can actually put these cameras on the lan interface with the swann software."

Well, what did yours do?? You put a switch inline between the cams and the NVR, yes? And then, are you saying that FROM the NVR you were able to access the camera menus?? Mine didn't!

Thx Q. Perhaps this weekend I'll grab a pwr supply and give a shot at accessing one of my cams while it's plugged into my router - using that IP. Didn't you tell me previously that I'd also need the default port (i.e. :80) or something? The cams all get one set of IPs from the NVR, so it'll be interesting to see if they revert to their default if simply plugged directly into my router - one at a time. These are the Swanns, so I believe the default UID and p/w will be admin and 12345. Thank you. Jim

Zik, Are you suggesting that the Ivms 4000 or the SADP would work for this?

I was hoping to use the Hik S/W, and simply plug a cam into my router and my laptop as well, hopefully be able to ID the IP of the camera, and then log into the cam to access it's menus. Will this not work? The Hik s/w was to help me id the items on my LAN. Thx.

The website says this about the software I showed above: " Main function of SADP Software: SADP Software supports to search all the online devices in a LAN and show the model, IP Address, Port Number, Device Serial NO., Subnet Mask, MAC Address, Software Version, DSP Version about device. It also supports to modify IP, mask IP and to resume default password by inputting the secure code." I think it would be exactly what I need, no??

Nice work, Q! Which pics were taken by the domes - if any of those you posted? That's quite the facility to keep an eye on. I'm sure you'll be pleased w/ being able to keep such a good view of it all now - from your easy chair!

Do they personally escort you to the camera isle when they see you coming??

Not everyone has a soft edge.

Thank you. I'll place a cam at each door and will purchase a prev mentioned TrendNet switch that'll allow me to access the cam's own menu to enable WDR. As options arise for other cams to be used w/ this NVR, I can look for a tighter lens. I guess the trick is having an adequate number of cams.

Thank you very much, K-12R. The garage & driveway pics shown are from existing analog cams. I'll be replacing the "garage/gate" cam w/ the new Swann (Hik). I have four to begin with. When I buy another two cams, I'll also replace the driveway cam. Not sure I've got lens options on these Swann / Hiks.. yet. The somewhat grainy view of the two back doors is not from a security cam - it's just a picture to display the area I desire to cover - from a yet-to-be installed new Swann cam. I'll have to mount that camera on the house. The view i'm showing currently looking down at the back door landing is from my cheap analog. This is a scenario where I'm trying to decide whether or not it may be better to move the camera to a location under the eave that is (as you stand and view the back of the house) just to the right of the right hand door. This would give me a view of both doors - although not as close a shot of the first door that's nearer the driveway. If I went that scenario, I could also get a view of my side garage door. The house is just a rectangle, and the garage is detached behind the driveway gate. In your comment "If you can't easily relocate the cam with the closeup view of the eave maybe try turning off the built-in IR and using a separate illuminator mounted lower down or more white light that doesn't light up the underside there. You could also tilt it downward a bit, but then you'd probably lose the heads of people walking at the extremity of the shot near the fence." I believe you're commenting on my existing cheap 420 TVL 9 yr cam shot. Yes, the eaves and rain gutter are my biggest hindrance to having a better view. I can easily mount a new cam in the same spot, or could mount one just below the gutter - but flush to the stucco such that the cam has a much better viewing angle. Would that be your choice - if given this scenario, or would you simply purchase another camera and install one at each door - mounted to the eave, well-sheltered - and having a limited but a tight shot?