triangledave

Was planning on testing with cable and cameras I've got just to verify they'll make the 200 ft run. If that works, actual install will be one 200ft cable (cat 6). I will be doing multiple runs for multiple cameras in 1 or 1.25 in conduit. The place is a rural farm, so noisy and annoying is the point. No neighbors. Will only use tamper and masking alerts on cameras, not motion. I only want the alarm to go off if someone is messing with the cameras (covering or clipping wires). Otherwise, I just want to record the feeds. That's the main reason why I'm not starting with an alarm.

Hello, I am in the process of putting together a solution for my mother-in-law that is simple and does a couple of things. I am looking at the core of the system being something like a Q-see 808 system that you can get at Costco (I just picked one up and so far, so good). Two particular questions I would greatly appreciate input on. 1) Many camera systems come with 100ft ethernet cables and run POE. Ethernet in general has a 300ft limitation. Does anyone know how far you can successfully run POE of of a Q-See type NVR? If I can use a 200ft cable or snap 2-100ft cables together, part 1 of my plan will work. 2) The Q-see system has alarm in and out ports. Mother-in-law does not have an alarm system. However, I'd like to use the alarm out interface to do something like sound a siren or turn on some flood lights. At this point I am planning on setting tamper and masking alarms which seem to be more robust and reliable than motion. Does anyone have examples/ideas for a "simple" alarm triggered by the alarm out that is not necessarily an alarm system? Thank you for your input and suggestions. Mother-in-Law has had some significant vandalism lately and is loosing sleep over worry. I'm wanting to come up with some ideas that may give her some piece of mind and give us a chance at catching the dirtballs. David

Thanks for input to date. As far as I can tell the Q-See is a true POE ip system. I think step 1 will be to use a female-female Ethernet connector to connect 2-100 ft cables to see if the cameras still auto connect. I have the cable, so that won't be too bad. With the particular idea for the set up, a number of the cameras will be in a separate building on the road. This building has no power. The vandalism happens along the road side of the building. Relatively near the road bldg is a pump shed that has power (hence the need for the 200ft run(s)). I'm planning on running the Ethernet underground in conduit. The primary purpose of the cameras is to hopefully collect evidence. The idea of a low tech "alarm" would be to hopefully scare folks off if they mess with the cameras (set tamper and camera covered triggers). While I completely agree that a true alarm system is the better way to go, I'm trying to reduce costs and keep things simple. So either I find an inexpensive alarm that will accept external inputs that will sound a siren and turn on some lights (any suggestions?) or I rig a simple trigger mechanism yo sound a siren and some lights. Any suggestions on alarm options? Thank you again, David

I purchased a Lorex 8 channel POE NVR system. (mostly from recs on this forum, thanks). So far so good. I've got the system set up and, with some forum help, worked through the HDMI activation. It looks like the system software can do a lot and I'm just starting to play with the settings. My question is how can I keep the system on live view by default unless I ask it to show something else (via mouse or remote)? I have the NVR plugged into our TV via HDMI. I can click HDMI 4 and the cameras come up in short order. However, often I'll click to the NVR and there will be a static image from the night before. I have to click the mouse and exit that to go back to live view. My preference would be that any time I select the NVR on my TV, it is always in live view. Do I need to turn off motion sensing on all the cameras? I have an IR Blaster and home automation system that will allow me via IR to automatically change TV input to HDMI 4 when the doorbell rings or driveway alert is triggered. That is the mail reason I need the system to be in live view by default. I want to be able to see the cameras, not a freeze frame from the night before. I've had a help ticket into Lorex for over a month. Their support is so bad, it would be comical if I did not actually need it. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Does anyone know where the setting is on the NVR to keep it in live view by default? Often when I switch HDMI sources on my TV to view the cameras, I am presented with an older image from one of the cameras. I can use the mouse to exit this image and go back to live feed. I'd really like the NVR to always be in live feed unless I do a direct action. Thanks for your help, David

Thanks for you help on mirroring set up Joeyjoey!

JoeyJoey, Sorry to bother, but I do see any mention of mirroring in the manual. What section can I find it in? Thanks, David

JoeyJoey, How can you set up mirroring? That might be the ticket. Thanks

Is there any way to remotely back up the HD on the Lorex system with a same-sized HD on the same LAN?

I'm finally done testing and will be mounting cameras this weekend. I've never worked with dome cameras. All the materials show the camera mounted horizontally, pointing down. While I can mount the dome cameras that way, can you mount the dome camera on the wall and orient the image (either in camera or NVR setting) so that the image has the correct orientation? Just hoping to save at least a couple of minutes of frustration Thank you.

I am a relative video system newbie and want to make sure what I am getting will work the way I need it to. I am fairly tech and network skilled, I just have not worked a lot configuring camera systems. I am about ready to get a Q-See 808-461-1 8 channel NVR and 4 camera set. They are going for $861 on Amazon with free shipping. There are a couple of reasons why I am interested in this system: 1. Up to 8 cameras, which is a good max for a home system with my needs. 2. Can interface with Micasaverde home automation system for viewing cameras, alerts and integrating with alarm system (If alarm triggers, all cameras record and/or using alarm sensors that are available via home automation system as potential camera triggers) 3. Price point vs features appears to be good. It looks like it is very easy to spend many thousands on a system. Since I've had a not fun experience with an AVtech push camera (decent camera, push was a pain and tech support not very good--plus to end up with a similar AVtech based system would end up costing 2-3 times the price. Push video is cool, but not that cool). I want to double check a few things before purchasing. I'll incorporate things I've gleaned from other posts on this board. I've seen a fair amount of discussion about the 4 POE ports and how to connect additional cameras and have a set up question about my layout. I have a network connection where the NVR will go. However, what I'd like to do is get a POE port switch and plug all (up to cameras into that switch located centrally from the camera mount positions. Then I'd run plug switch into network and plug NVR WAN port into network. My plan is to use the 4 B&W 1.3 mp cameras that come with the system and add up to 4 more Q-see ip cameras, probably color ones. I'll start with one additional color ip camera for the front door. With the caveats noted about presetting/reserving IP addresses, I will reserve ip addresses for all of the cameras and the NVR on my router, so they will always have the same address. There was also a note about portmapping and conflicts between the NVR and the cameras to provide external access. As suggested elsewhere in the forum, I will use the NVR only for remote access and set up port mapping/forwarding for the NVR address only to be able to remotely access camera feeds. With the information provided, do folks see any potential hiccups of things to be aware of when setting things up? Will this set up work and will it be easy for the NVR to find the cameras? I'd like to have the NVR and cameras all on the same network. I am asking this question because the Q-see graphic on adding cameras shows additional cameras having to go through a router, not a switch. Any thoughts or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, David

FYI-I went with the Lorex system from Costco. I've tested it and will be running wires for cameras next weekend. I'll be running two additional ethernet cables for when and if I end up getting the additional two cameras. I think I will live with the 6 camera system for a while and then decide. Thank you for input and suggestions.

I am on the home stretch of getting my system set up. Thanks to help from folks on the forum, my feeds are now available via HDMI and look very good at the high resolution. Labor Day weekend sees the cameras get mounted (ah, the joys of running wires in the attic). Does anyone have suggestions for what the camera options are for the "last" 2 cameras to bring the total to 8 for the system? If I go to Lorex, they want over $400 for a pair of bullet cameras. I'm not up for paying nearly half of what I paid for 6 cameras and an NVR for two additional cameras. Are there any other compatible options out there for bullet cameras? Thanks

Changing the resolution did it, thank you! " title="Applause" /> I now have the Lorex system coming through my HDTV. Why Lorex would not ship with that resolution as default is a question. It would save a lot of hassle for noobs like me and the feeds look better. Next step is to mount the cameras and get good with the remote since I do not plan on using the mouse much after the system is fully set up.

I brought home a monitor from work and have it hooked up to the NVR. I can see all 6 cameras on the monitor and, for the first time since I purchased the set, I can see the system software that is addressed in the manual. Under the general tab, I can see the resolution settings and under the More settings link, I can see Menu Output Mode. Right now it says HDMI/VGA and that is the only option. What is the specific setting that I need to change in order to activate HDMI output? Previously I've connected the NVR to the HDMI input on my HDTV. The TV recognized that something was plugged into it, but nothing comes across--blank screen. Thanks in advance for assistance.

I was afraid of that. I guess I'll borrow a cable and monitor from work if my TV doesn't have a VGA port. Silly is a polite word for it Thank you for help. The set up and testing journey continues.

I picked up the Lorex 8-channel on sale from Costco online. I am working through the testing/set up process (as a relative noob). Minor frustration that one of the ethernet cables was bad and Lorex wants me to mail the bad one before they'll send me a new one. Pretty poor customer service, but I digress. I cannot seem to get HDMI output to work to view output through my TV. The manual lists a menu and process to change the monitor settings, but those menus are not anywhere to be found on the Windows, Mac or IOS versions. Can anyone tell me out to change the setting to get the HDMI output working?? Kind of a deal breaker if it is not working. Also, assuming I can get everything satisfactorily working, what are the least expensive options for adding the last two more bullet cameras since the package came with 6 cameras? I am hopeful that the picture quality will be good. There are some posted pics of a Hikvision 3mp feed that are crystal clear. My cameras set up inside have OK image quality, but nothing like the ones posted elsewhere. Thank you in advance for any assistance. David

buellwinkle--The image looks pretty awesome from a $165 camera (Hikvision). What NVR would you recommend to go with those cameras?

Just ordered Lorex system, will update when set up.

Wow, at least based on the specs, that is a great system. I like that it has 8 POE ports, so no messing with POE switches for a basic install. This does look considerably better than the Q-see system. It'll be nice to get the system and pretty much be done since it is unlikely I'd need more than 6 cameras for a long time. This system is actually cheaper than the Q-see system if you added the two cameras to it. Thanks again, David

Thank you for the info. It is good to know and I'd much rather spend an extra $150 now and get a system that I am happy with. I am going to look into and probably get the Lorex system. David