srfrmac87

Hello, I know there are guides on how to what to look for in purchasing a new IP camera surveillance system but my questions are a little more in depth than that so that is why i am posting here. I am looking for more of personal preference. I am trying to decide between using my home server computer and a bundled system. I have a home computer that is a little bit of an older Dell XPS i7, 8gb ram, and looking to expand HDD for more space. I am currently using it as a media server (tv tuner/PVR) and webserver for my own personal website. I was also going to put a part time game server on this computer as well. I was considering using this computer to also manage IP cameras (4- on my network. Based on recommendations here and through a couple professionals I know, i was considering either Hikvision or Dahua. I wanted to know if you think this was going to bog the computer down too much. My initial instinct was to set up the cameras using the computer because i was going to integrate the computers onto my personal website for remote viewing and management if need be and for simplification purposes (less overall equipment). Eventually it would also be part of my home security system which is otherwise irrelevant at this point. That was my plan until i saw this posted on woot: http://electronics.woot.com/offers/q-see-16ch-hd-ip-nvr-w-8-3mp-cameras?ref=el_cnt_wp_2_9 I realize that the cameras and NVR are refurbished, which really doesn't bother me too much, but I was curious if you guys and gals thought this might be enough of a deal to get me started. And i wanted to know your thoughts on refurbished equipment. I have several hurdles in my mind to jump through for my own decision and your opinions will help me with that. I will get bigger surveillance HDDs to add to this system, 3TB probably is not enough. I wanted Hikvision based on the support in this forum and quality of videos and ease of use I have personally seen from this system. I do have one of my professional friends willing to sell them to me "at cost" but I don't know what the price might be. I have a feeling it will still be a bit too expensive for me but I am looking into that as an option. So if it is too expensive that route, that would also mean taking a chance on buying the cameras from a place like aliexpress. I am not against it, but at the same time I am not for it. Just another factor in my decision making. When I stumbled upon this Q-See system at woot, I thought this was an elegant and simplified solution to my problems. I just don't know about quality vs. price. Finally, this has been a question on my mind since I considered getting security cameras. What are your thoughts on interior cameras? Obviously, I am not trying to invade the privacy of my own guests, family, etc. but I want to know if you guys use them or recommend them. Do you use covert, or overt cameras? Any other thoughts on interior cameras? TL;DR 1. Will 4-8 3MP cameras overload my older I7 that is already being used as webserver and PVR and stuff? 2. Is this system a good deal? http://electronics.woot.com/offers/q-see-16ch-hd-ip-nvr-w-8-3mp-cameras?ref=el_cnt_wp_2_9 3. I realize that Q-See isn't exactly high end equipment but are they a "stay away from" type of equipment company? 5. Would I be able to add other branded cameras to this NVR? (best guess?) 6. Is refurbished equipment frowned upon? 7. Will I notice a significant difference in performance between using the above Q-See system vs using a couple "better" cameras and recording software on a computer? 8. What happened to question 4? 9. Would I be better off buying equipment in a less expensive package like this or buying a couple cameras and adding them later down the line? 10. Personal preference on interior cameras? Whether to have them, not to have them, locations (obviously not bathroom you pervs), hidden vs. visible, etc. I realize this is a lot to digest but i truly do appreciate all of the help! -Kyle

If you dont mind me asking, where did you order these cameras from?

Will-Burt Company (from Orrville, OH. 44667). Model number 5-20 906021. It seems like an older mast. Thanks for the input. I will research Hikvision some more. Is there a special kind of SSD (like how you have special HDDs) for a DVR? Will most modern DVRs work with a SSD?

I was able to get some more specific information about the camera. Pelco ES30CBW24-5N appears to be the model number. (24X EXview LowLight Day/Night). Also updated the first post with some more info. Data Sheet available from: http://www.123securityproducts.com/downloads/dl/file/id/2341/es30c_es31c_series_data_sheet.pdf

Hopefully it is more data and not someone that knew about the camera system.

If you have the resources, go on ebay, craigslist, etc. and buy the same make/model (I saw you weren't sure if you had the right one). If you do it that way, then you won't have to shell out the amount of money that is needed for a new one, just please make sure you get one that is still working. Take your time to view/extract what ever files are needed through the DVR. When your done with it, sell it again. We have had to do that a couple of times. I hope it all works out for you, I know that feeling. Let us know the result if you are able to get anything, I am interested in learning what happens.

Hello all, I have been using this forum for a few months for research and finally found a question to ask. I need some help finding a DVR that is capable of my use within the $300 to $500 range. This is for a pole mounted camera on a telescoping mast on a vehicle. The camera appears to be a PTZ Pelco Esprit camera very similar to this (I am hoping that it is a Pelco Esprit and not just an enclosure): Think this for the application: I was not given any information in terms of model number or specifications of the camera, just that it at least 2-3 years old but might be up to 5 years old and it has somewhere around 48x opitcal zoom then digital zoom to something ridiculous like 208x. It is an analog system. The DVR previously used was a GE Kalatel VDR 0150-0255C. This DVR had a hard drive (Maxtor 80 GB IDE/PATA) that went bad (click of death) I used two different hard drives trying to get the system working adequately but one was too large of a hard drive (~160 GB) for the Kalatel. The other when put in to the system would cause a dimming/darkening of the picture that would not go away. I do not know how the recording is on it, whether it is dim or normal. Putting in the old Maxtor would fix the dimming/darkening but obviously would not record. The Kalatel also had a Compact Flash card reader for storage but several pins are bent/broken. Administrator access is also gone (default passwords and any possible other "emergency" passwords will not let me in to the menu). Needless to say, I think it is time for a new DVR and convinced my employer of the same. The camera is not used very often, basically it is for an emergency response so its use can vary from a couple times a week to a couple times a year. That being said, I need a DVR that can be powered up/down regularly, endure long term wear and tear, good quality recording/fps, easy to pull and export video to a common file format(optional), and survive being bounced around a little bit in an large vehicle (can pad and cushion a little bit if needed). If the hard drive is included that is a bonus but not absolutely necessary. Currently, there is only this one Pelco camera on the system and the Kalatel was a 1 Channel DVR, I am open to having more channels available, and would prefer it in the off chance we decide to add more cameras. This might be more difficult being that this is a mobile application so additional channels are not absolutely necessary. If the DVR is more than 1 channel, needs to have the option to have full screen for the 1 channel. The outputs I would prefer would be at least one BNC (to fit current application) and HDMI (for future upgrades to our current system), but again open to any suggestion. Feel free to post DVRs out of the price range if they are that much better, because I can negotiate with the bean counters a little bit when it comes down to it. I understand that Dahua are regularly recommended for their economy cost and quality performance in residential and small business, but was wondering if they would hold up in this mobile application, what specific model(s) would be best for this unique application, and if any other company may offer a better product towards the higher end of my price range. If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to ask, and I will do my best to find out what is needed. Thank you very much for any help!