VST_Man

Rory, I'd become a Lawyer........clients are landing in your lap!

the only thing I can think of is to do the reverse. Have the PTZ patrol and then set up a motion sensor in that area you want covered during the day. When the motion is triggered it will set an alarm trigger and the PTZ will relocate. After a specified time.....it should go back to the patrol mode. ??? If the distance for the motion sensor is beyond a hard wire solution I'd use http://www.ritron.com teleswitch..........wireless solution to relay the motion event to the PTZ.

dito on the alarm system. I like to seperate all as it is not smart to put everything in one basket. it's ok to overlap where it makes sense but the Video Server should stay just that. I have to say, your kinda sounding like your fighting a war........or preparing for one? Your taking some extreme approaches to ensuring that you can be ready. Will this be a movie one day? But in the same sentance I can say that having reviewed multiple video's of breakin's and assaults I've learned to make my installs more fool proof. The breakin's last less than a couple minutes and the assaults and forced entries are a nightmare. Planning is critical in protecting.

yes a PC/Server can reliably do the above, but, there is one catch. When installing camera's try to place where motion is more sucessful than not. Indoors the motion is a breeze as there is not too much that can trigger a false detection. Outdoors is a completly different problem as wind, tree's, clouds, ect all set off motion. Knowing that I'd be critical of camera placement and motion triggers that dial out. Instead I'd set up hard wired and beam type alarms that interface directly into the PC and when these triggers are set off the PC can then record and dial out. Percentage wise you will have a higher reliability. And no, nothing is 100% yet..............as PC/Server software becomes better/affordable the ability of software to identify an object, person, dog, cat is just around the corner. Until then you need to use some old school with new technology and set up your system for sucess. ie. use a decent outdoor motion detector connected to the Server. Set the motion detector in a place where it is 100% accurate. Align the alarm trigger to the recording and doialer and let it run. But in the end a thief well practiced in the art of stealing will be ready to overcome all. You need to do other things like improve lighting, clear away bushes that block, hide the video storage in a false wall incase the thief gets in............

I'd go with a standalone DVR, lockbox, router, DSL. KISS

update your router.....................check the settings in the router for time allowed per connection. PC side......check the event viewer for any indications of software conflicts.

is the fiber inplace just for videoor is it going to be used for multiple devices? basically if you have the whole fiber link you'll need to terminate the fiber on both ends............ http://www.versitron.com/16chan_fiber_video_muxdata.html going to be pricey so prepare the fiber owner. also, you can do this with CAT5 if the fiber path can hold more cable?

opening it to change lenses is not recommended...........................factory sealed is a warranty thing and repeated opening and closing will cause leaks. Buy the camera's seperate if you can...........

not really. leave it on................LCD's are pretty good, life wise, and besides, after 3 years you'll want to purchase a newer, bigger, better, wammy jammy monitor. The only way to "wake up" the monitor would be to have a I/O card that connects into the motherboard and "wakes up" when motion is detected. ie. Video Insight has a I/O card that integrates with the Video Card/software. It is possible to set a output from the motion dectection to trigger a output on the I/o card that is connected to the motherboard "wake up" pin. Each motion triggered will/should wake up the monitor.........BUT, the amount of time for the monitor to become powered up & viewable may take longer than the actual motion sensed?

open all firewall port(s) required to view from WAN and port forward those ports to the LAN IP address of your Server. LAN....Local Area Network, usually has IP address like 192.168.0.1 WAN...Wide Area Network, IP address are not like LAN addresses, but have numbers like a LAn. ie. 55.234.765.23 or 987.45.687.245 To acces from the WAN you would use the WAN IP address; http://45.654.234.12 and if you use a port other than 80 you'll need to add that port to the end of the address like this; http://45.654.234.12:82 Since you have a no-ip.com you can also use http://test.bounceme.net to access your system. Active X may also be required to be installed & set properly in order to view.

translated; use solid copper core with 95% copper braid.

You can use your existing cat5 network, no need to run coax But, using video on a data network will increase "traffic" and a noticable slowdown will accur. Video IP sucks up bandwidth! Easier to integrate with thrid-party software... please explain? IP camera's have no standardization of software and each comes with a unique set of programs. If you stick with one manufacture of IP cams you "might" attain this integration theory, but, there are only a handful of Manufactures (Videoinsight) that support multiple IP CAMS under one software program. IP cams have a place but I integrate ONLY where I cannot use/build a analog archeticture based on client to cash flow ratio.

and what to do if the internet stops working one day? Maybe I'll unlock my gun safe and wait.............. complete electricity failure/meltdown is called a black out............what would a complete internet failure/meltdown be called? - outernet? - netlock? - intercourseless? - netless syndrom? ok, I'll go to bed............

PC Based systems continue to improve. Codec/software is always going to be improving due to competition. The PC Based system will be able to "upgrade" more easily than a standalone. My opinion is to stick with a well known, supported, and financed operating system/DVR and allow the competition to set the technology pace. I also belive that hardware compression will fade and software will prevail based on the fact that hardware is more expensive and software is not.and software is easily improved over hardware. I'm sticking with the video card/software that is built off of a Microsoft Operating system. As microsoft compets to be the best the software it drives will in turn improve. Standalone DVR's are behind the power curve in ease of use, video editing, and codec updates. They have a place but it seems that the overall product is always missing a link to one thing or another. You always have to load somethings, update the codec, or use the player.

I'd use tripods with PTZ's all controlled from a PC based Server. split the video outputs; one to the DVR and the other to the a Digital Recording Deck. DVR would provide the internet link and the recorder will provide you with the quality for editing. Audio is a no brainer as you will just tap into the audio mic feed(s). PTZ's would provide you with the best pic in my opinion and it would allow you the ability to roam, set presets for stage, and reduce camera person daily fee's. Noticable differance? yes, only in the over picture inframe. a smaller resolution reduces the overall width/height of the pic..........the high the resolution size the more you get in pic..but, the additional is nothing to bragg about AND the editing of 640x480 is a standard that all can view without any issues. I did some time behind camera's in a studio and have a "project" of mine to eliminate camera person(s) all together and have a PTZ controlled camera do all the shots, all controlled at the sound booth. I'd like to help if you want. PM me......................

I need the client software if anyone has it..................thanks inadvance

I use the Belkin, purchased from Newegg or buy.com.......free shipping. I usually stay above a 750KVa......which will allow the DVR, 4 camera power supply...........to run for 60 minutes. BUT, running time is directly effected by the amp drain of the equipment connected.................and not all camera's are the same. Look in the specs of the equipment and total up the "amps" used and then look on APC web site to get a closer estimate using online runtime calculators.

I used PC's to dial out on preprogrammed times via the scheduler. ie. setup Internet Explorer to "run" at 2 hour blocks. when IE runs it automatically inguaged the autodialer................and that's what I called a connected link. Auto dialer automatically disconnected after X minutes and the scheduler kept doing it's thing............worked well.

also remember that the equipment used to focus is not always the best quality and it will effect your overall ability to properly focus. cheap hand held monitors produce cheap images. I used the cheap onitor to get my field of view and then use the CM-2 to focus it. When I did not have the CM-2 I focused on the ladder, and almost everytime it was not perfect. The CM-2 takes the human and cheap equipment out of the equasion.

- check to see if the cable is crossing any power lines, if yes, seperate. - Ground Loop...........caused by difference in camera potiential (ground) and DVR/monitor potiential. To test, have someone watch the monitor and then remove the camera from the object it is mounted to, do not disconnect the video or power, just seperate the camera from the mounting platform (building, pole, ect.) Make sure that the person holding the camera is wearing rubber gym shoes and not grounded.stay out of water, off metal ladder, ect. If there is a Ground Loop problem the bar will disappear. - do not ground the camera and if possible use a nometallic surface as the mounting. Thick rubber works if used right - 600ft. outdoor? If yes, what type of cable? CAT5 indoor? You need direct bury on all your outdoor CAT5 runs............gel filled is the best. if you had a CM-2 (camera master) test meter you could test for Ground Loop without the funky method above..but it does work. My guess is you have another wire/circuit crossing the video cable.

thanks for the offer.ARM actually finally answered up. Got it and happy on the ARM.

slow web site, no IP camera DEMO..................

clean the cd, try another os cd,

and I need the client software for this one also. yes I've tried the manufactures and they are less than helpful on support issues.

been there done that.......buy a manufactured one and get the warranty. why reinvent the wheel.