scorpion

Hello! I do not envy the weather you are having!! I stay right here in Florida if you do not mind!! LOL!

Boy are we going to have fun picking your brain apart!!! See you on the forum!

Holy smokes!! If that is video, then I would hate to see the data lines!! Can you give me more details? Is this a telecom server room, or something? What is on the racks? It looks like the back of my entertainment center!! LOL!

The following has been stolen, plagurized, and used without written permission from: http://www.lanshack.com/cat5e-tutorial.aspx also see: http://www.lanshack.com/make-cat5E.aspx ____________________________________________________________ Definitions and Information Category 5 Cable (UTP) (Unshielded Twisted Pair) A multipair (usually 4 pair) high performance cable that consists of twisted pair conductors, used mainly for data transmission. Note: The twisting of the pairs gives the cable a certain amount of immunity from the infiltration of unwanted interference. category-5 UTP cabling systems are by far, the most common (compared to SCTP) in the United States. Basic cat 5 cable was designed for characteristics of up to 100 MHz. Category 5 cable is typically used for Ethernet networks running at 10 or 100 Mbps. Category 5 E Cable (enhanced) Same as Category 5, except that it is made to somewhat more stringent standards (see comparison chart below). The Category 5 E standard is now officially part of the 568A standard. Category 5 E is recommended for all new installations, and was designed for transmission speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second (Gigabit Ethernet). Category 6 Same as Category 5 E, except that it is made to a higher standard. The Category 6 standard is now officially part of the 568A standard. Category 7 Same as Category 6, except that it is made to a higher standard (see comparison chart below). The Category 7 standard is still in the works (as of this writing) and is not yet part of the 568A standard. One major difference with category 7's construction (as compared with category 5, 5 E, and 6) is that all 4 pairs are individually shielded, and an overall shield enwraps all four pairs. Category 7 will use an entirely new connector (other than the familiar RJ-45). Category 5 Cable (SCTP) (Screened Twisted Pair) Same as above, except that the twisted pairs are given additional protection from unwanted interference by an overall shield. There is some controversy concerning which is the better system (UTP or SCTP). Category 5 SCTP cabling systems require all components to maintain the shield, and are used almost exclusively in European countries. Category 5E, RJ45 jack (Work Area Outlet) An 8 conductor, compact, modular, female jack that is used to terminate category-5E cable at the user (or other) location. The jack is specifically engineered to maintain the performance of cat 5E cabling. Category 5E Patch Panel A Category 5E Patch Panel is basically just a series of many category-5E jacks, condensed onto a single panel. Common panel configurations are 12, 24, 48, and 96 ports. Patch panels are typically used where all of the horizontal cable sections meet, and are used to connect the segments to the Network Hub. Category 5E Patch Cable A Category 5E Patch Cable consists a length of cat 5E cable with an RJ-45 male connector, crimped onto each end. The cable assembly is used to provide connectivity between any two category-5E female outlets (jacks). The two most common are from hub to patch panel, and work area outlet (jack) to the computer. EIA/TIA 568A Standard This standard was published in July of 1991. The purpose of EIA/TIA 568A, was to create a multiproduct, multivendor, standard for connectivity. Prior to the adoption of this standard, many "proprietary" cabling systems existed. This was very bad for the consumer. Among other things, the standard set the minimum requirements for category 5E cable and hardware. The 568 "standard" is not to be confused with 568A or 568B wiring schemes, which are themselves, part of the "568A standard". 568A and 568B Wiring Schemes When we refer to a jack or a patch panel's wiring connection, we refer to either the 568A, or 568B wiring scheme, which dictates the pin assignments to the pairs of cat 5E cable. It is very important to note that there is no difference, whatsoever, between the two wiring schemes, in connectivity or performance when connected form one modular device to another (jack to Patch panel, RJ-45 to RJ-45, etc.), so long as they (the two devices) are wired for the same scheme (A or B). The only time when one scheme has an advantage over the other, is when one end of a segment is connected to a modular device, and the other end to a punch block. In which case, the 568A has the advantage of having a more natural progression of pairs at the punch block side. More on 568 A&B later on. Four Pairs Pair 1: White / Blue Pair Pair 2: White / Orange Pair 3: White / Green Pair 4: White / Brown Wiremap This is the most basic test that can be performed on a category-5E segment. Wiremap tests for the basic continuity between the two devices. In 568A or B, all eight pins of each device should be wired straight through (1 to 1, 2 to 2, 3 to 3, etc.). A wiremap (continuity) test, should also test for absence of shorts, grounding, and external voltage. Crosstalk Crosstalk is the "bleeding" of signals carried by one pair, onto another pair through the electrical process of induction (wires need not make contact, signals transferred magnetically). This is an unwanted effect, that can cause slow transfer, or completely inhibit the transfer of data signals over the cable segment. The purpose of the wire twists, in category 5E cable is to significantly reduce the crosstalk, and it's effects. Two types are: NEXT (Near End Crosstalk), and FEXT (Far End Crosstalk). Fiber Optic cable is the only medium that is 100% immune to the effects of crosstalk. Ambient Noise or Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Similar to crosstalk, in that it is an unwanted signal that is induced into the cable. The difference is that ambient noise (or EMI) is typically induced from a source that is external to the cable. This could be an electrical cable or device, or even an adjacent category 5E cable. Attenuation Attenuation is the loss of signal in a cable segment due to the resistance of the wire plus other electrical factors that cause additional resistance (Impedance and Capacitance for example). A longer cable length, poor connections, bad insulation, a high level of crosstalk, or ambient noise, will all increase the total level of attenuation. The 568A standard, specifies the maximum amount of attenuation that is acceptable in a category-5E cable segment. Notes and Explanations for Do's and Don'ts Think of a category 5E cable segment as an extension cord to extend a network hub port to a remote location. Since we do not permanently connect it to a live source, and all of the segments are wired "straight through", that is basically what it is (a data extension cord). If all of the computers and devices were located reasonably close to the hub, we would be able to connect them to the hub directly, with patch cables. In most cases, this would not be practical, so we install cable segments to distribute the hub ports to the remote locations in an organized manner. Ideally, the data extension cord that we install, should smoothly pass the data, from one end to another without altering, the signal (transmitted from device to device) in any way. Consider this fact to be Rule #1, and is perhaps the most important statement that we can make. There are many very technical issues concerning UTP cabling. No matter how technical, these issues all boil down to that one simple fact. You would probably need an Electrical engineering degree to fully understand all of the theories that go into transmitting data over UTP cabling. All that you need to know as an installer is a few simple facts, or do's and don'ts. It is really no more complicated than that. Almost all of the rules (do's and don'ts) above, are designed to adhere to Rule #1. The others are necessary to promote a neat, orderly, safe and professional installation. I strongly recommend that anyone who installs cabling, takes the rules very seriously. An ill planned, or poorly installed cable plant, can easily become a nightmare in the future. Please also be aware that the faster the data speed, the more important the rules become. Many poorly done installations can run 10 megabits with ease. They may very well, run into trouble, when they upgrade to higher data speeds. For more info see the two links that I have posted, and also see http://scorpiontheater.com/videonetworkingwithavtech.aspx

My guess is that you are not recording at all.

WOW! After reading all of these posts I think my head is going to blow! I do have to say that analog or IP that each has it own place in an installation. I am more of a low budget, and/or a residential installer, therefore I will not qualify myself as a professional installer, although I take my "profession" seriously. I am amazed at how many different events that I have been involved with. I have installed CCTV system in many mom n pop businesses, and some very small Professional companies. I have been treated as if the server room was a dark secret, and only known how it operates by a few selected individuals of the company. Once I get a key to the room all I do is plug in an RJ 45 connector shake the IT managers hand and leave. He is still standing there in confusion has he probably had some dumb speech that has been well rehearsed about what an IT god he is, and what a gift to the company he is, and how lucky that he stays with the company, and how he is only there as a favor to some relative, or friend that works there, and the company should be greatful. I check in with the president of the company to make sure he can see the video, and then I am off. The President of the company surely had to go back to the IT guy, and ask for an explanation. I thought you said this was not going to work? I thought you said this was going to take a long time to make this thing work? I thought you said this was going to be hard? Days in advance to the installation I had to beg for the IT manager to punch me a hole in his sonic firewall. I think he had more fun with the power then the actual job of managing IT. I do not know why I had to go back to my office, and send off emails till I got a password to the system. A one day job became an overblown pain in my neck, but three feet lower. On another installation they gave me the key to the server room, and I was surprised in how much trust they had in me going in there unsupervised!! I had the system wires ran from one building through an open entrance way, undergound, and into another building, and I ran wires to isolated corner "towers". It was a very fancy building, and pulling wires was a pain, and I was really lucky being able to find travel paths for all of my wires. I had the system working at the end of the day, and everything was setup on the sonic firewall as soon as the IT manager could put his fingers on a keyboard! Wired, setup, operational, and remotely operational in less than 10 hours!! I love jobs like this!! I have been brought in to a large number of business that request that I solve some kind of problem of theirs. Some just invite me in to suck me dry for info, and then they resolve their own problems leaving without any income for my time. I do not allow this. They feel as if they do not have to pay for my time. They are not paying me for my time, but for my experience. I have seen many problems. It can range from ground loop issues, or the wrong kind of coax, or some kind of settings that need to be configured, or wireless cameras that are working outside of their design specifications, or any kind of equipment that is operating outside of it's design specifications. There are some IT managers that I can spot in five seconds flat!! I know that if I make them look good in the process, and I know that I am going to get paid, then I also know that they will intoduce me to the "network" of other IT managers! I have talked to a senior member of the business ownership, and I have explained that the IT members did everything right, and the problem is........(make up a good story that keep the IT guys out of hot water). Your problem is wink wink a firmware problem. If you pay me $blank I will get you an updated version, and I will have installed by noon. Now I go back to the IT guy, and explain to him why he cannot do..... (use two wire conductor for video, use some wierd BNC crimp, or use a 2.5mm lens for facial recognition at a distance or what have you). I now get calls from other companies that know that I can be descrete in resolving problems. I look forward to the day when I can do everything from an IT perspective. Yes IP is going to be the standard someday. Security whether physical, or IT, or CCTV is going to need plug, and play systems that can integrate with other systems. It is nice that we have systems where you can swipe a card at the restaurant chain's headquarters, and your camera brings up your image to the security team, or it records it for review later, and then the access system opens the door, and you are clocked in, and the lights to the building come on to give you a lighted travel path to your office! The AC was turned on remotely by a computer one hour before your arrival, and the temp is comfortable. You can sit down at your desk and you can scan all ten of your restaurants various walkin, and reachin refridgerator temps before you find out that you have an issue, and that you may have to throw all of the food out that is loaded in to them because the compressor failed, or the fans quit blowing!! Aw! technology at it's best! I hope the prices keep coming down, and technology comes up with ways to do things we have never thought of! I am surprised that the company Google has not paid the Star Trek franchise to reedit the actors words. "Computer google me the Klingon Empire"!! LOL!

I have refrained from this contest as I have read in older posts that there were some issues where there are moderators on the forum who had entered the contest who were not moderators at the time of an older contest, and someone raised the question about that. Although I am not a moderator of the forum, and I do not have any connection to the forum I could be perceived as one due to my high post numbers. I would rather keep a low profile.

I have never had that problem!! OK! I am lying! I admit it!!

What price range did you have in mind for the night vision cameras? For a cheap budget system then you cannot do as you have asked. You can have night vision, or you can have zoom capabilities. For a high end system with a big budget then I would use PTZ cameras, and I would have electricians install lighting through out the area that needs viewing. You can use a variety of lighting such as lights on fancy poles, and you could use plant scape lighting as well. Up lights in trees, and border lights can be used. The more lighting you use the better your video is going to look. I would even put lights inside of garden products. What I mean is to look at the Christmas cottages in a village scene where you install a small light bulb inside of the house. When you look at the village with your house lights turned off you can see how well lit the village is. I was curious to know what kind of coax was ran for the cameras. Strip back the coax, and hope that you have a solid copper center. If it is copper clad center conductor then you may, or may not have problems with the video. What do you think?

The question that I have is "how well do you know computers"? If you read the DVR Card Section then you can see how difficult the do it yourselfers have it with the cheap equipment, and you can also see how difficult it can be for the pros to set up the "perfect" system. If the customer is using the computer for other things then I would discourage you from using it. If it is a "media system" then I would discourage it as well. I would recommend a stand alone PC based DVR. I would recommend a Geo Vision card, or an Avermedia system.

Please excuse me for dividing up this answer among various posts. I have been told that two power plants are shut down, and that they are going to be bring down the whole grid for the state of Florida. I wanted to submit what I have already typed before my battery back up system runs out. I did not realize that we have been running on battery back up! Every business in Melbourne is freeking out that depends on their computers, or the internet for business.

There are many ways to do what you are asking. Each have their own advantages, and disavantages. First would be knowing what kind of a budget you are working with, and then using the "teeter totter" method to put a parts list together. First I would find out how he went about doing this with his old house. If it worked for him then, it should work for him again. There is also the fact that there will not be much training as he would be familiar with it rather than putting him in to some new equipment, or a new technology, and then you would have to spend the extra time with training, and then getting those phone calls where you have to "troubleshoot" in your head to determine why the system is not fuctioning, and you have to guide him through something that he is unfamiliar with. If I could not duplicate what he had before, then I would put him in to some equipment, or technology that I am familiar with. When he calls with a problem you will know real quick how to get him going fast, or you will be able to go there, and troubleshoot the problem easily. I would recommend using a DVR that has an internet setup. This will allow you to hook all of the cameras up to one "box", and it will do the recording for you, and you can access the video live, or recorded from any PC in the house, or from somewhere else. As for watching the the cameras on any TV: In the old days this was extremly simple as all you had to do was modulate the cameras on different tv channels. Nowadays it can be a real hair pulling event! Cable system have migrated from analog to digital, and it is not so simple to throw a modulated signal in to the system. Sometimes you can get a good modulated system going, but find that you have "crashed" the digital cable system!! Here is a quick work around for new, or retro installations: http://channelvision.com/index/15/25 http://www.channelvision.com/pdf/flyers/affinitycut.pdf

I am really impressed with how you go about getting your customers!! The way you are doing it is just perfect. To the customer what they see is what they get! I like the fact after you do an install you will not have a customer coming back to you complaining about what the video looks like, or how they wished for a different camera angle! I do the exact same thing that you do. I use a 13" monitor as most times I am outside standing on a ladder allowing the customer to see what the camera looks like from the position they had in mind verses where I would suggest putting the camera. I use a varifocal camera so that I can show wide angle to normal to telephoto shots. One of the few things that I use is a suction cup mount. This is used rarely, but I use them at strip plazas for a quickie demo. I just lick, and stick to the front glass to show a parking lot image so that I can take them through the lens selection. People always seem to think that they can have one camera on wide angle, and they will also get facial recognition at the same time. This quick demo lets them see someone walking around the parking lot, and it lets them see how small a face can be at a distance. Another device I use rarely is a DJ light tripod. I put the camera on the tripod, and then I send it up in the air to the 10 foot level. Now I am not on a ladder, and I am free to talk to the customer. I can also rotate the pole to get a different direction's view. I do have a lens selector, but I do not use it. I do hand it to the customer, and I let them "play" with it, but that is about it for using it. For the cost of a lens selector I would tell someone starting out in the business to just buy a varifocal camera, and save the money on a lens selector. I have a Swann wireless camera. I use this as everyone has a false sense that a wireless camera solves every problem. I do not know how this "myth" got started, but everyone in the budget category that walks in to our shop seems to want this kind of camera right off the bat! I can show them that they do work if mounted correctly, and the "system" is designed correctly. I then show them the limitations, and the failures of these devices. WHAT! I HAVE TO CHANGE A BATTERY EVERYDAY!!! FORGET THAT! Wow! If I have to run a wire for power then I may as well run one for video too!! What do you think?

I would like to help you trouble shoot, but I have a dumb question. Looking at your monitor, and pressing buttons on the DVR can you access stored video in this manner? Are you recording 24/7, or are you using motion detection? I just wanted to see if the DVR is in fact recording before we get to the USB connection. Thanks for enlightening me.

Welcome to the threads! See you on the forum!

Sounds like you have a pretty good business going!! See you on the forum!

Welcome to the threads! See you on the forum!

That is an AVTech AVC 785. If budget is of the essence then I would recommend this DVR. Would I recommend the ICRealtime over the AVTech? Yes, I would. You can download the instruction manual from CCTVFACTORY, or from my website, and you can read it before you buy it. I have installed alot of these DVRs, and in the budget range that work great. They do have their limitations, and there are other options to buy if you do want to spend more money. You need to ask yourself some questions though: What will I do for recording when the power goes out? How will I keep a copy of video footage? How will I give the police a copy of video footage? You will need to buy the best UPC battery backup that you can afford. A simple VCR connected to the video out of the DVR will work great for quick copies for yourself, or for the police dept. You may want to buy a DVR lock box to keep employees out as well. What do you think?

I am really confused about your request. You say that you want to copy your hard drive to a another computer. You do not want to use motion activation as the cameras record constantly due to a lot of activity in front of the camera/cameras. Where I am confused is that there is so much information on the hard drive that motion detection will help decrease the amount of information recording to the hard drive. This means that you are not using motion detection, and that you have it set to record 24/7. If you say that a DVD movie is about an hour that means you are going to have to watch 24 DVDs a day!! Whew! I do not have that kind of time!! The DVR is a proprietary system, and it is not like a computer that is set up for plug, and play. The DVR is designed to be the storage medium, and I do not understand why you would need a secondary storage system. If you require a secondary storage system then "security is of the essence". This DVR may not be the device you will need for your application. If budget is of the essence then this DVR will fit that application perfectly. I would not want to use a Geo Tracker for a professional offroad racing vehicle where millions of dollars are at stake in prize money!! Then again I am not buying $50,000 Hendricks block to put in to my daily driver vehicle!! I will need more information as to why you need to have a secondary storage system. I would remove the 160 GB HD, and I would put a larger one in it's place. If security is of the essence, and motion detection does not work for your application then can you use an external motion detector, or can you use a "beam" system to trigger recordings on your DVR?? http://www.optexamerica.com/productlist.aspx?l1=2&l2=9 http://www.optexamerica.com/productlist.aspx?l1=2&l2=7 http://www.optexamerica.com/productlist.aspx?l1=2 If security is of the essence perhaps a different recording device should be used instead of the AVTech DVR? Would a PC based DVR that can mirror a hardrive via USB, Wireless, or IP protocol be a better choice for you? Have you downloaded the manual from my site yet? Is that what you are looking for?

I feel really bad! It sounds like you really did not get to enjoy America, and all that it has to offer! It sounds like you really did not get to enjoy Miami, and it's night life!! Forget the taxis!! Just stay in the hotel's bar/nightclub! There are many things to do to keep you entertained! 1 Slap the biggest dude in the face open handed so that everyone in the bar can hear the smack! 2 Sit down at the table full of women having girls night out/ Bachorlette party, and act like you own the table! 3 Walk up to a foreigner lady, and ask her if she has any American in her? When she says no tell her "would you like to for an hour"? No? How about some bar tricks? This is my favorite!!! First you brag about this trick that you can do to the people sitting around you. After you have some excitment raised about this trick, and some people are interested in seeing it, you then raise the bar by getting people to place a bet that you cannot do it!! You will have to practise this before you show off. Here is what you do. Ask the person next to you if you can use their pack of cigarettes. Make sure all of the cigarettes are to one side of the pack. If it is a new pack then take some out. You need at least enough room to be able to stick your finger in to the pack. Take one cigarette, and lay it across the top of the pack. Leave just the butt hanging off the end. Now take your finger, and come straight down on the butt part. You will have to rotate your finger at the same time so that the cigarette flips up, and falls back in to the pack!! Now that you have the pack set up, and showed what you are going to do, and you still have not got any bets going from the pack owner, then tell them that they only have to put up $1.00, and you will put up $10.00! When they finally put a $1.00 bill down, then get your finger in action! DO NOT FORGET TO ROTATE YOUR FINGER WHEN YOU STRIKE IT!! Do a couple of warm up strokes before you actually do this trick!! .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Smash the pack of cigarettes with the side of your hand karate style, and then slide the $10.00 bill towards them, and tell them "CONGRADULATIONS! YOU WIN"!!! LOL! I love doing this trick!! Some people take it in stride, and some people will want to kill you over their smashed pack of cigarettes! Now stand back, and listen to the astonishment of the crowd!!

It is supposed to be grainy. You are not using natural lighting. I cannot afford to illuminate lightbulbs to the same output of the sun. IR is only a "tool" to be used when other "tools" are not being used. From what I saw in the picture it looks like it throws the IR in a very narrow beam, but it throws it far. I am surprised to read that you say that it does not work at a distance.

I think this is what you want. Go to page 38 of your manual. This will send motion activated video to your computer. You will now have a remote copy of your "hard drive" of your DVR. What size is your hard drive in your computer? FTP (pg 38 ) When the recording is triggered by an alarm or a motion, a video copy file can be captured. And the DVR will upload the captured images to the assigned FTP site. Enter the detailed FTP information. ***Note***: To activate the FTP notification function, please enable the function of FTP notification in the “Alarmâ€

?? What does next side mean?

That is a first! Too much IR!! You should trade with someone who complains that they do not have enough IR. Is it possible to move the camera farther back to get it in to "it's" IR range? Could you change the lens to move it to another spot to take advantage of the IR range? Welcome to the forum!

They would have to play the background music louder to que me off stage because my speech would be too long!!!