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I don’t like to answer my own questions, but in this case I feel it may benefit others. Before I posted here about I-frames vs FPS I had been scouring the Internet to try to find something that explained it to me. After I posted here I continued to look. I finally found something that I believe is an answer to my question. I found a page at: Understanding H.264 Encoding Parameters - I, P and B-frames http://www.streaminglearningcenter.com/articles/producing-h264-video-for-flash-an-overview.html?page=4 It explains that I-frames: Also known as key frames. I-frames are completely self-referential and don't use information from any other frames. These are the largest frames of the three, and the highest-quality, but the least efficient from a compression perspective. P-frames: P-frames are "predicted" frames. When producing a P-frame, the encoder can look backwards to previous I or P-frames for redundant picture information. P-frames are more efficient than I-frames, So from this I gather that I-frames contain the most information and that they are not very compressible as they contain all the information about the scene. The majority of frames are P-frames and contain only the information that has changes since the last frame. And that you don not require a lot of I-frames to get a good video. I have set my FPS to 6, and my I-frame interval to 18. That means that I get one new I-frame every 3 seconds. I have noticed that doing this has produced a significant decrease in the load on my DS-213j. For those interested I suggest you read the page referenced here as I believe it can help to optimize the camera settings to help get the best video with the lease CPU and network usage. IHTH Andy

Still adjusting parameters on my Hikvision DS-2CD2142FWD-I cameras (2) and Synology DS-213j Surveillance station. I think I have some pretty good settings so far, but just not sure about the FPS vs I-Frame settings. I tried setting my FPS and I-Frame settings to the same (6 FPS and 6 for I-Frame interval) and my Diskstation (DS-213J) started to peak on CPU usage hovering around 90% (or more) most of the time. I then left my FPS settings at 6 and changed my I-Frame settings to 12, and the Disk Station CPU seems to be in the 50-70% range most of the time, sometimes a little lower. Not sure I completely understand the I-Frame settings, but from what I understand a higher I-Frame setting means that the camera sends an I-Frame less often than a lower I-Frame setting. Posting here because no response on Synology forum, maybe not many there familiar with I-Frame setting. Any problems I need t be aware of with my FPS and I-Frame settings? Any help much appreciated. Andy

I am considering a home system. I found a couple of HikVision cameras that I think will serve me well. I looked on Amazon and the first review said that Amazon was not an authorized reseller and that HikVision would not provide tech support or warranty to cameras purchased from Amazon. What USA reseller is recommended? Thanks, Andy

This looks very promising, especially the bidirectional audio. I will look very closely at this. Thanks, Andy

That may be a good idea. Tomcctv said that I would need Windows to set up the cameras. Maybe I can ind a way to have the best of both worlds. Get the Mac Mini, use Windows to setup the cameras, maybe try the Mac SW solution for an NVR if things don't work out I can always look for a Windows NVR solution. But, the most important thing is still the Front Door solution. If I cannot find a good Front Door solution, I'm not sure I want the rest. (Front Door Solution is video to see who is there and 2-way audio to/from the Front Door and my iPad) Thanks for all the responses and helpful pointers, Andy

The Zotac Atom is both very small and very low priced, but if you are looking for ease of setup, you should probably consider solutions other than the Zotac and Mac mini. Best, Christopher So don't do the Zotac, what is a good small Atom based system. Thanks, Andy

@buellwinkle Did you look at the DC Complex IP camera view / IP Camera Recorder software?. the URL is: http://dcomplex.com/mac/ip-camera-viewer/ BTW: They list some 30+ cameras, among them some of the more popular ones listed on this forum. Also they say they can support just about any ONVIF-compatible camera The most important thing I want is a good Front Door solution with video, 2-way audio and IOS support so I can use my iPad to communicate with whomever is at the front door, while I make my way to the front door. I am willing to buy a dedicated Mac Mini just for the purpose, in fact that is my intent. @Christopher When I said single function I meant that if the solution did not work out to my expectations I would still have a new Mac Mini to use for something else. Do you know of a good Atom based computer that has the form factor (or almost) of a Mac Mini? I might consider an Atom based solution based on price and physical size. I really want small. I also don’t want to build a computer, I want an out of box computer, take it out, plug it in, warrantee by someone else. Thanks to both of you for the input. Andy

I have been using Macintosh computers since 1984 (when they first came out). I have several Macintosh computers and several iDevices (iPhone, iPad, iPod) and many, many $$'s invested in software that runs on MacOS. I really see no reason to purchase a Windows system just for one function, and while I am sure Windows is OK (I use it at sometimes work), I don't have a lot of experience with Windows OS and really don't want to spend the $$'s on a different computer platform and software and I really don't want to devote the time to learn the insides of an additional OS. One of the key criteria for any computer related device I purchase is that it must interact well with MacOS and IOS devices. BTW: I have been reading more about AIrBeam, and it appears that it needs more work to be a viable solution. I will have to keep searching. Still looking for an IP Camera (preferably PoE) that will work with FaceTime. Just MHO, YMMV, Andy

I have been scouring this forum and the Internet (Google is your friend, but you have to ask the right question or you get the wrong answer) and I have finally found a Mac OS solution that looks pretty good for a system it is from DC Complex their IP camera view / IP Camera Recorder software sounds pretty good and seems well reviewed (most of the Mac software solutions are not well reviewed and seem like crap). the URL is: http://dcomplex.com/mac/ip-camera-viewer/ BTW: They list some 30+ cameras, among them some of the more popular ones listed on this forum. Also they say they can support just about any ONVIF-compatible camera I am still looking for a good front door solution. I want 2-way audio and to be able to see and talk with whoever is at the front door from my iPad. I have an exclusive Mac networking my house, I have several Macintoshes, and I really have no use for a Windows computer (they are OK, I just am fully invested in Macintosh hardware and software and don't want to start investing in Windows) For a front door solution I have been thinking about FaceTime, built-in to Mac OS and iPad and iPhone and in my testing it seems pretty good. The only downside is it requires the Internet to be up to work, so it is not a good stand alone solution. However there is a software solution by: http://appologics.com/airbeam called AirBeam which works on IOS and Mac OS devices and does not require Internet access to work. Now I just need to find an IP camera preferable PoE camera that I can use with it. Any input, thoughts, help would be much appreciated. Andy

Still searching! The only Front Door Intercom systems I find are either not available in the USA or are total crap, and the DVR based systems, or PC based systems do not have 2-way audio available. Maybe someone should make something like this. IOS and Android integration would be real helpful. Thanks Andy

I have been searching all over the web, Googling everything I can think of and searching threads on this forum and coming up more confused than I was when I started. I have run the gambit from looking at and examining specs and reading reviews on full 8+ camera systems. Today I looked out where I would install cameras and the locations mostly face South with much glare, so I believe all I would get are well lit black outlines of people approaching on any camera I might install, so it doesn’t seem to effective to me. -- What I really want is just a 1 or 2 camera system to do front door monitoring. -- I would like 2-way audio -- I want an to be able to use an iPad or iPhone so I can answer the door from my family room (I move kind of slow) -- I want to record who comes and goes from the front door when I am home or away. -- I would like to be able to use a Mac OS computer to control/configure using Safari web browser. -- I would like to use a physical NVR (not a software solution on a PC or Mac) -- I want IP cameras with HD capabilities. I know what I want must exist, but I am no closer today than I was when I started. Any help would be much appreciated.

I've been reading the forum off and on for awhile. I am now getting serious about a limited system and this forum seems to have a lot of knowledgable folks here. Thanks

@ StanLee2066 Your Front Door solution looks really great! Thanks for posting this. Do you use a NVR? If so, what kind? I am also looking for a good Front Door solution, In addition to a good camera I would like... It would be nice if the camera had two-way audio built-in System should be HD, using PoE cameras. Two way audio iPhone/iPad integration so I can see who is at the door and talk to them from my family room. A good easy to use dedicated NVR that will work from a Mac OS computer using Safari. I am relatively new to this whole thing, and I am learning as I go. Whoops... I just discovered that I am asking about an NVR sulotion in a pc and software area of the forum. I hope this is not a problem. Thanks