bozman

If I go the PC route what PC spec would you recommend to run a system with about 12 cameras?

What is your recommended hardware specs to run this software for 1-8 cameras, and 9-16 cameras 2-3MP cameras? How does it compare to Blue iris, that is advantages and disadvantages compared to blue iris? Does the free version have any features that are disabled?

Thanks.

I just swung by Microcenter and noticed they had CAT7 cables. Does this have any bearing on this or is it just strictly data carrying speed?

I was looking at a few camera spec sheets, isn't bit-rate dependent on the format that is being recorded such as H.264 and such?

I had no issues with an I3 running 5 3mp cams and Blue Iris but at 7 3mp cams it got a little stressed during playback operations. Blue Iris is CPU intensive. I've read that Hikvision's free IVMS-4200 program is very resource friendly but it must be used with their cams. Wouldn't having dedicated hardware such as DVR card help if its such a resource hog? I realize that DVR are for analog but wouldn't dedicated hardware for that task help take the load off the processor? Also what processor should be considered the recommended minimum if you are running into performance lagging?

So both are the same risk? What are the advantages of each then aside from security issues? Any compatibility issues between software VMS with particular camera brand? Power getting through PC for camera system? BTW any Cat5/6 will do for IP system or is there any particular type for Poe?

Do non PC based systems with digital recorders offer greater security than PC based systems as in being susceptible to getting hacked or breached in other ways?

Sounds eerily similar to the installer I talked to. This installer just jumped straight into TVI as if its the only thing in town. Badmouthed bullet cams and when IP was suggested, he brought up the bandwidth thing. However your video seems to suggest to go to a higher pixel count because when zooming in it will give greater detail. Guess that is the key how much detail and how far will objects be.

It seems the simplest is to just a self contained network with cameras and recorder without other stuff on LAN because of the bandwidth concerns.

Got a little confused. I saw a youtube video about centralized vs decentralized the former being centered on the nvr.

Why? Why is it better than dome? read the threads which ones? Searched and there are too many in the result to look, and a lot are not useful. Okay I do see some advantages on bullet by looking at the video of turret camera. Not easy to turn it in other direction by throwing stuff at it. However if I wanted to keep an eye on the surface that it was mounted should it be mounted on a bracket to get a better angle on viewing anybody who might want to spray on it or something?

Why? Why is it better than dome?

Who said anything about no recorders. The NVR is on the network. That is the beauty of networking and ip. You CAN also have cameras without using an NVR, but using an SD card in the camera. This can also be used as a backup to an NVR. Yeah I read about that having a somewhat decentralized set up. Could you daisy chain cameras and then an NVR?

I dont think you understand the English language......a higher megapixel count is not always better however it depends on the application and depends on the BRAND and specific model. My point was that 5mp junk camera is not necessarily better than a 1080p camera from a reliable brand. A 1080p dahua/hikvision will ALWAYS have a higher pixel per inch count than a 720p camera(PPI). Stop denying it. It is FACT. But according to you, lets all go back to D1 low res because the sensors is EXACTLY the same as a 4mp camera. LOL NOT. We have youtube here. Sorry if your government in china banned youtube for you. Must suck. Proof is in the video. End of story! Busted! Sorry if china blocked the video for you... Megapixel has pretty much become a marketing gimmick in equating superior image quality which it isn't. It is just one component of it. There are other things such as compression that is also part of it. So in short it is how it is handled and processed rather than higher megapixel count. In vast majority of cases 2-3MP is sufficient.