luckyfella

I think even the cheaper analog cameras would look fine as long as they were installed in a suitable environment. Technically, there are not bad cameras that anyone sells, it's when people install them in areas that the camera cannot handle.

and what does this hack accomplish?

Is the arm of the camera hollow? You could have just drilled thru the wall and than covered with the bracket than siliconed around it. NO?

Does your DVR have HDMI output? If yes, you should use it rather than VGA.

Nicely said Mark! And I'd still like to know why he linked a youtube video to the company selling these things!

You need to get in touch with building management and ask them to have their IT department to get in touch with you. Than you need to let them know what plan on doing. Chances are they are managed switches and he will need to assign you a static IP range for you to use. I honestly do not think you can just use what ever you see is available. Another option is to use outdoor wireless bridges from building to building. Create your own network and tie it all into the NVR.

Are you saying this image from your camera: Is better than a 2mp IP camera?

When you see license plates and signs, the camera is on your dashboard 4 feet off the ground and 20 feet from a license plate. Even the worst analog camera would see a plate clearly at those specs. Your original post is claiming that for less money this camera is better than a megapixel IP camera. I'm simply stating that it is not if you compare dollar value. Like I said in my last post, your camera does not have IR's, is not waterproof, does not obtain an IP, and does not have video out unless you use a USB convertor. I clicked on 1080P on the youtube video and again, like I said, I was not that all impressed. But, if your happy with it, than go ahead and use it any way you choose, but just don't say that it is less money and better than a megapixel IP camera since it is not.

I've run 50 foot hdmi cables with an issue

I'm sorry, but I watched the video and that was not better than an IP megapixel camera. It was hazy and not crisp. Also, it is not weather resistant and it does not have IR's if it is dark out. And lastly, it does not have network ability to assign it an IP to connect to a network. That is why it is less money than an IP megapixel camera in case you were wondering.

I buy every one of my recorders without hard drives and I go to Microcenter and buy a PC hard drive and slap it in. I've never had a problem with any of my recorders or hard drives. Send the dvr back to the seller and demand a new one. If he resists, contact ebay customer support.

I had the same exact issue and it was one of 6 cameras all on the same POE switch. The camera in issue was not the longest run. My seller sent me a new one, I swapped out the camera, and it's been fine ever since. Do not listen to your seller, you have a bad camera and it needs to be replaced.

I would install one on the porch and one above the garage doors facing the steps.

My personal choice for your situation would be an LCD TV. The smaller ones are so cheap, thin, and light these days. As far as the converter goes, you do not have a choice where it goes. It must go at the TV because your running a coax from the DVR to the TV and you have to convert the BNC on the end of the coax to VGA so it can plug into the TV.

I'm liking the HIKvision cameras more and more, but I want to use Dahua nvr for personal reasons. Has anyone tried this combo? Does anyone know if they will work together?

If your budget is under 1000 for an NVR, HDD, and POE switch, than you probably will not find the specs that you are aiming for. If you want the best NVR for your budget, than the 5232 or 5216 is the way to go. 15fps is more than enough fps, or you can use 1.3mp (720p) cameras and get slightly more fps.

You can use hdmi

you have to see what the sensor is rated for, i've seen a lot of ratings that say hdtv 1080p, but in the end they aren't always megapixel it is a mega pixel camera when it has more then a million pixels for resolution for example, camera that works at 1920x1080 resolution = 2.07 megapixels, give or take a few. WHAT????????

Just make sure the IP camera you order has audio out. Some do, some don't.

This looks like a really nice camera. I would love one like that. How do you get the ptz controls to work on your smart phone Vector18?

I am just getting into the cctv business and would love to learn from this website. Is anyone from the Florida area?

When you criss cross them, don't focus each one to the far points. Do what you were doing when they were centered. Use them to view the shorter distance and cut the yard in half.

Numbnuts, good advise, but it sounds like what your saying is this guy was not careful so that is why it happened to him? Does that what you mean when you said you have never needed one of these because you are careful? If so, how can someone be more careful like yourself, to prevent needed a ground loop isolator? I came here to learn.

Install the rear cameras on the corners criss cross so you don't get that dead spot in the middle.