ArtP

My Synology NAS has those stats, live, on its startup page. If you're using Windows you can, control-alt-delete, task manager, networking tab, then do the math. (make sure nothing else is running that uses meaningful bandwidth) Example: My PC has a 1Gbps link speed, that is 1,000 megabit. It does not matter my cameras are connected at 100mb. And.... Windows is only looking at one way traffic, not the full duplex, which is 1gbps each way (I've never seen it documented, but testing proves it). If my network utilization is at 3%, that equates to 30 megabits per second , or 3.75 MegaBYTES per second. (8 bits per byte). You may have a 100mb connection, so you would be dividing and multiplying by 100, not 1000 as I am doing. There is network overhead and background tasks eat some of this bandwidth (DNS queries for example), so the numbers you get are rough but easily accurate enough to trust. Try the same test with nothing running and you will find your utilization is somewhere under .02%. If I "floor" my system by copying a 20 GigaBYTE file from my NAS to my PC, I can see my network utilization bounce between 75-98% while my NAS is showing speeds around 90 MegaBYTES per second. For fun you can do the same while you perform an internet speed test. I should also mention, my two cameras look at mostly static views where compression plays a big role. Viewing a busy downtown scene would certainly use more bandwidth and compression would not play as large a role.

I've played with the bitrate on my two HK 3mp. No matter where I set bitrate, the actual stream coming from two camera's combined, never exceeds 2,700 or so at 25 frames and 1920x1080. I don't notice any image quality change either, regardless where I set bitrate. I think I have mine set at 8192. Mine are recording full time to a powerful NAS, without much other network traffic, so the network is certainly not saturated and the NAS can handle anything thrown at it. Lovely documentation from those guys, eh?

Hi, Until 30 days ago, I had no experience with IP camera's. But I am a long time network administrator by trade, so I'm baffled with only half the issues, I hope. I pre-sold a surveillance solution to an existing client to cover their vacation home. One of the most important features is accurate alerting of humans via SMS/Email. I've put in many, many hours experimenting and learning, and I don't mind, as I'm very interested in offering more of these solutions and I really enjoy it. I started with a couple Foscams, got rid of them, and now have a couple Hikvision 2032's. I believe I'm going to buy different camera's, as these - I don't think - are going to cut it, simply because they don't offer alarm in and out channels, neither am I thrilled there is no auto exposure control. I believe I need alarm in/out because I've given up trying to accurately alert on motion detection, outdoors, based on visible image analysis (cam or software analysis). I've tried the native software the manufacturers offer, but it's horribly documented and I find it limited on features. I've also tried iSpy, Blue Iris and Synology Surveillance Station (NAS). They are all good in some areas, but none can accurate detect human motion, outdoors, with all the image changes an outdoor environment is - without false alarms. One false alarm a day is too many, and I can't even get close to that. I'd like camera's that have simple, normally open or normally closed circuits to invoke alerts/alarms which afford me the ability to choose my own human detection scheme and change it later if I want. I'm looking at Bosch PIR/microwave combos, Leviton PIR/ultrasonic, pressure sensitive mats (lots of outdoor stairs), and simple magnetic switches - or a combo. Unlimited possibilities here. I'm looking for a camera recommendation, for under $350 each, with the following features: Auto iris, or auto exposure Day/night - I don't mind using supplemental IR illumination In/out alarms PoE Max resolution at 1920x1080, will settle at 1280x960 or 1280x720 Extra credit: Reasonably documented software Am I asking too much at my price point? The Dahua IPC-HDBW4300E claims to offer these features. But I can only find it at eBay, and I'm quickly tiring of Chinese stuff with no western "office" supporting it. At $165 new, seems too good to be true. The alarm the spec sheet claims is very ambiguous, there are no schematics, no photo of the interfaces, no user manual - and I don't trust the word "alarm", on their spec sheet, translates to what I expect it to mean. This being my third camera purchase, I am slightly frustrated, but I'm way more frustrated after spending 25 years knowing to avoid poorly supported Chinese garbage - I mean Chinese technology. But choices appear limited without spending $600 per camera on an Axis, or like solution. But if that's what it takes to do it right.... I'm totally open to suggestion if I should head in a different direction. I'm also open to paying for someone's time via email or phone, if expertise and experience command it.