CPT1911

Hi guys, really need some help here. I have just completed an installation of a Swann 1080P system with PIR triggers for the cameras. This system replaced an older Samsung product that had stopped working. Everything on the new system is working perfectly, except for one silly remaining issue… Here is the rundown: 1. The NVR is in a concealed location in the house. 2. We have a monitor in the kitchen that my wife uses to check the front door, etc. before answering. This was left over from the previous system. We used this monitor a lot and want to keep it. 3. The kitchen monitor was fed from a run of RG6 from the equipment cabinet. The old system had a BNC output which I fed to the composite video input on the monitor in the kitchen via the RG6. 4. The new NVR has an HDMI output and a VGA output 5. I am trying to figure out the best way to get the signal to the monitor in the kitchen. I have tried: a. A HDMI to composite converter that I located with the NVR and connected to the coax. I bought the one with like 500 reviews on Amazon. The image quality was terrible/parts cut off and I returned it. b. I tried the $180 IOGear wireless HDMI 1080p transmitter/receiver. It worked very well, but has a range of about 20 ft, not 100ft as advertised. It can’t reach the monitor. c. We don’t need crystal clear image quality on the monitor in the kitchen, just good situational awareness. Does anyone have a recommendation on how to get the signal to the kitchen over existing Coax or wirelessly? We just pumped A TON of new insulation in the attic and it would be a long crawl to run a new line. Thanks!

Thanks, MindTwist. The rikomagic mk802IIIs product looks very interesting. If I go the other route, is there an HDMI to analog product you can recommend? I tried one (about $60 on amazon) and it was a real disappointment.

First, a big thank you to the great folks on here, especially the pros to take the time to answer newbie questions (like this one). As far as I am concerned, you are helping me keep my family safe and it’s hard to think of anything more important than that. Thank you! So here is my situation, bulletized to make this a quicker read: 1. Installed a Samsung 4 camera system (SDE-3003N) about 18 months ago. This was my first foray into CCTV so I tried the $500 Sams Club special to see if I liked it. It provided crucial service a few times, but the hard drive is failing/has failed. Image quality was terrible, as you’d expect. 2. The Samsung system was POE to the cameras so I already have Cat5 run to the locations where I want coverage. Incidentally, I located the DVR in a concealed location and ran COAX from the DVR to the monitor in our kitchen. So my output from any future NVR will have to be converted to COAX. I’d be happy to crawl and run something else, but after the cameras were installed I blew 18 inches of fiberglass in the entire attic… Might need some advice on how to get an NVR to output to COAX. 3. I am debating building the system from piece parts vs. a complete package. My impression is that the Asian cameras from Hiki and Dahua are pretty decent (and can be upgraded later), but I am distrustful of a cheap NVR after my experience with the Samsung harddrive failure. If, for example, I used hiki cameras with a GeoVision NVR am I going to have compatibility issues/other headaches? Who else makes high quality NVRs for at least 4 channels? Model numbers appreciated. 4. My other hesitation: I relied on Samsung’s tech service (which was actually very good) to help get my system connected to my home network. Because my old DVR was in a concealed location without a network drop, I used an extra AT&T U-verse set top box (which has an Ethernet drop) to connect my DVR to the network. This, and other things, would have been a struggle to work through without Samsung’s support. If I buy piece parts, am I up a creek as far as technical support vs. buying a complete solution? Thank you so much for the help.

So I've installed the 8 Channel SWANN Costco special. I've moved the motion sensitivity as low as it will go and made the detection area tiny (three boxes total on at least one camera). I'm still getting flooded with 100+ emails per night and I am interested in PIR triggers. The cameras can be triggered from alarm inputs on the DVR, but I have never implemented PIR triggers on a CCTV system before. A few questions: 1. I see a lot of "wireless" home security products out there. I know they are less reliable, but I am wondering if it possible to use one of these wireless PIR sensors with some kind of receiver co-located at the NVR to trigger the cameras? 2. If not, do the alarm inputs provide any kind of power to the PIR device if it is wired? I would assume the PIR device would need some kind of external power input? If you've done this before and can recommend specific PIR products, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

Hello I'm installing a Swann NVR with four 1080p cameras. My NVR is in a concealed location and the monitor is across the house mounted in the kitchen. The NVR outputs VGA or HDMI. What would you recommend for getting the signal across the house? It would be approximately 100ft of wire run or 60 ft straight line distance. I've run across units that convert HDMI to two Cat5 lines, VGA to Cat5, and of course the expensive 100ft HDMI cable options. Wireless options? Many thanks.

We have been using computers/cellphones on the previous system to monitor in the past, but we liked having a fixed monitor in one room that we can glance at on the way to the door before answering. Great point on the cost of the extra set top box! Just talked to my wife and found out it was costing us $8 a month! I'll run that extra drop, 18" of insulation or not!