VST_Man

give all your requirements up front so we don't get the "I don't see" stuff back. List ALL your requirements, like; indoor or out? mech filter? bullet or "regular? voltage? vari focal what? 3.6 - 8? where you intend on using it [/url]http://www.securetek.comhttp:// I go here to get my better camera's. so far so good, and the price is fair. Happy Pumpkin

cool...........me2

L&M should be black & white. Black is "hot" and should be wred to the "Hot" terminal of the AC plug, white is the return/neutral. To determin which is "hot" coming out of the ac outlet; you will read 120vac between ground and "hot" and neutral and "hot", but nothing between ground and neutral. on the DC side, black and red are 12vdc. just like a car battery, you need to observer "polarity"; black is negative and red is positive. You connect the camera's to a 2.1mm plug. on the box side the inner core is positive and the outer is negative. ohm it out to make sure it is wired center core to positive and out to negative.

I remote my video storage to USB enclosures which are hidden. Get active USB cables.

your asking for a lot for 1000. If I had that budget I'd get a DLINK PTZ (wireless) and a router. The DLINK will connect to the router and the router to a PC. The recording (motion) is done on the PC. DLINK's better than X10 but NOT the quality you are looking for at 1000. You can't get it with your budget, sorry. On your budget you can afford 2 of these and a linksys router. You'll need to set up motion lighting with the above camera because it is not low light. And, buy some very cheap bargin basement bullets, about 5 of them, and put them up around the house so all can see them. Run the wires into the eves to make it look good. Fake'm when you can't afford'm. oh, the dog....forget it, buy a gun and wait.

http://www.allelectronics.com/ hope this helps...............

http://www.foresight-cctv.com/AD001%20VIDEO%20TO%20VGA%20CONVERTER.pdf this may help you? less than $100 ea.

oh, the catch here is how you set the frame rates, bytes per frame rates, in tandum with the resolutions. Motion recording or record always is also a taxing affair but the baseline is all started at the above settings. Everything else after these are compounded by other settings. You can own/buy a 240 or 480 fps system but in all reality most end users only need a 120 system. The ones who need a higher rate will also need a faster CPU system if they are smart. What fps rates do you "normally" use? I use 6fps on the low end and adjust it up depending on the camera and results needed.

16 Camera's, motion, 4 at 640x240, 12 at 320x240, cpu runs at 35 - 40 % on the low end and gets as high as 70%. Residential install so the mtion is not extreme. In comparison, I have a resturant running 15 camera's, 2 at 640x240, 13 at 320x240, 2 at record always/audio, 13 at motion.....cpu runs at 40 - 45 on the low end and as high as 80 on a busy day. I have no problems with the cpu's and higher resolutions BUT you will see a difference when you try to review video while the server is recording on peak times. difference? CPU has a slight delay in loading, and also when you are reviewing the video the "flow" is delayed and choppy. This is due to the overtaxing of the processor(s) in general. Again, not a problem, just a fact. That is why I suggest going "large" on the CPU because the customer does not appreciate nor want delay's in a 10k install. And I agree with them.

I'm running Micro ATX Gigabyte/775's, Asus/478, and Soyo/478. The Asus and Gigabyte were the easyist to set-up. Soyo was miserable to get past all the driver issues................CD that came with it was worthless. As far as 775 or 478? All work great so I can't say one is better than the other. I also use Aspire Qpack cases...work very nice, small, durable so far........cooling is no prob. go 3.2Ghz, 800fsb, 1gb, at a minium and you won't be disappointed. If you are planning on running more than 4 camera's at a higher resolution (640x240) then I'd go faster on the CPU. I also recommend a minium 300Gb storage hard drive. I get close to 3 months with 16 cam's at MPEG4. I enclose the video storage (300Gb) in a USB external and then extend that away from the Server location to hide/protect the video in case the robber or thief thinks they are stealing the video when they take the server. Works very good. I also power "everything" on a APC from hell to ensure that it all stays up when the power is out. Make sure you power the USB, if you do it, from the camera power supply. I ordered a 3.5 USB 2.0 AMS DS-2316B2Bk from newegg for $40. Nice enclosure, easy to set-up, and it is powered at 12vdc via a 2.1mm plug so it will connect up to the camera power supply. The enclosure is a 3 amp so make sure you change out the fuse for that one channel. And yes, you can double it up with a camera if you have to. Just pick one that is lower on mamps... I don't run virus but I scan every month. I hate anti-virus programs. A good firewall will keep things nice. use XP tools/tweak to take care of the autoboot, ect. cable management; black tape the connectors by the server to reduce ground loop issues.........it works! I wish they had a nice slidable boot..... remove messenger use metaedit to fine tune. call Thomas for more tips as there are many features that will keep you happy. I have more if you want it...................

most DVR's have an alarm setting for motion. Check'm out. BUT, won't that drive you nuts after awhile? Or are you feed'n your family from deer meat?

spend your money on a good camera, low light type, and install motion lites. Great IR costs big $$. Cheap IR bullets are cheap, but work like crap unless placed in a small tight area with lots to reflect off of. Heaters are required in your part of town, unless the operating temp specs say otherwise. AND, check your warranty. Get a 3 year if possible.

mechanical filters are the best. anything else I'd be careful of. claims are like fools gold...............

installer........................and if your get'n placed on ignor you don't want to buy from them, just a hint of things to come. you'll be hard pressed to find someone to install a 4 camera for 3k. you can save buy installing yourself, but, you carry the "support" 100%. An installer carry's it and if you are a busy person you'd be smart to hire a installer......BUT, get smart here first. Don't buy until you've read everything available. 80gb hard drive is too small. Go 300 min. I'll be glad to help you identify what you need....pm me and we'll chat. I enjoy the forum and do not sell or exploit making money from others. My advice is free and I always learn more when I open doors.

use a cement anchor kit to screw to the brick wall (mason drill bit, plastic screw inserts, screws) goto Home Depot and get some plastic AC wire hangers (plastic wedge with 4 plastic fingers and a nail for securing) for use in the attic. You nail them to every other truss to hang the CCTV wire. Maintain 1ft from other wires and if you have to cross maintain 6". In the walls, between studs, you most likely have to use a cable staple...check with your local codes to ensure it is done right. Drill a hole in the plate, run the cable down, and after you have secures it use fire stopper calk to fill that hole, top and bottom. New construction? That is great becasue you can install camera cable where every you need it and think you might need it. ie. I'd run a RG siamese and audio to the rooms you want both video and audio to keep an eye on the kids/babysitters. run RG siames to all or any area's you think you may need video outdoors..cable is cheap when it's new construction. take time to get some CAT6 in the walls.......speed kills. also run a seperate phone line and CAT6 line to the telephone "box" outside so that you can connect your DSL straight u p without filters........since speeds are going up the filters have to go away and strain lines installed. outdoors......I normally go into the attic and come down from the eves. eves are nice to run in because there are no other wires there. and then I'd run the alarm wires, speaker wires, and any High D wires to support all that stuff.............you may need to invest in a good multi wired cable......one for all? good luck. where are you located?

- set-up any dip switch settings the camera may have. - some think that grounding a camera to a earth ground is required. this will only cause problems. evrything is grounded back the the power suply/APC. - test with a cheap voltage tester to ensure that voltage is correct. 2 types of power supplies. standard 115vac transformer that converts to either 12vdc or 24vac, depending on camera requirements. AND, a 4/8/16 channel power supply, best for the overall install/system as you can connect all to one source and use a battery back-up to protect/sustain. - many differnt types of power connectors out there; 2.1mm canon, terminal strip, ect. Video connector standard is BNC. Cheaper camera's have RCA and you'll need an adaptor to go back to BNC. Some premade cables are RCA, with power, and audio in one but these are cheap. - dvr connections are BNC - seal the connections in a weather proof box or use a gummy tape. - I prefer FREE beer.....

the voltage imposing cycle noise onto the video. If you do it please post ythe results. you may need to use a isolator to clean it up?

with pics? no, but; - set-up, adjust, and clean the camera before mounting. - mount in a location that allows for easy cleaning or adjustments. do not ground the camera at the install location. - test voltage before connecting. - connect voltage and test with small portable monitor, if you have one. adjust video angle/view. - connect video cables at camera. - connect to DVR - if all goes well, weatherproof outdoor connects. - have a cold beer! This may not be the answer but it might help.

i would not do it. is this your only option?

Welcome and hello. - x10 is junk so don't waste your money - where are you located? - how many outdoor, indoor? - distances between camera and DVR location? - type of internet connection, static IP? most of your answers to your question are within the forum. do a seach, read, then ask more specific questions.

turn OFF the XP firewall. You don't need it with a router. It's redundant.

64 into 1 PC is pushing it and will be very costly, PC needs to be the top of the line server, again, costly. If it were me I'd go with a (2) VideoInsight Servers and split 64 between them. You'll save money and it will work. I've been installing the PC based for awhile and I can tell you that you need to plan the CPU to run at below 50% processing power becasue when ALL your camera start recording, or you edit video, or run anything else on the server, your going to top 100% real quick.

eclipse HIM598

PC Based DVR = open to all the PC type problems. virus, user screws them up, and ect. But if you "lock them down" you can limit the users options. Standalone = works good but not as many features that a PC based allows. Cable - Siamese is the best in my opinion IF your cable lenghts stay below 200ft. Buy good siames, not cheap. Crimp the conectors. If you go beyond that I'd use a mix of CAT5 and siamese. - CAT5, make sure you use active Balun's or get a passive with a ground loop isolation built in. - cable runs, 1ft seperation rule to avoid signal problems - plan your install around the business hours. It sucks to work over, around, and next to the employee's while open. - provide a layout (after installed) of the camera's by number and location. Don't get fancy, just draw a quick box of the floor, label floor and show camera number(s), camera direction(s). Then provide a detail page with the simple specs on the camera's. ie. brand, model, serial number (if not serialized mark them), cable run type and feet, and any associated baluns. This document will CYA when you troubleshoot and bill later on. It will allow the client to make sense of your bill when it comes in. - keep cleaning of the camera's in mind as you install them as the client or you will be returning to clean them. - make sure you don't sell a "great" system and then install equipment that is marked "kmart" as the client is not stupid. - elevator routing? check with the elevator installer or maintenance techs to see if the evevator has any extra cable pairs on the comm..............use them if available. If not, gotot the evevator company and get a recommendation BEFORE you install. Nice to get thier opinion BEFORE you blow the warranty for the comm in the evevators. - APC/UPS buy a decent one (provides enough power for 1 hour plus) and run everything on it. ground camera's back to the system and not at the camera install location (ground loop issues). - copy to CD. make sure you go with a proven DVR that works well for your client. Nothing worse than selling it, installing it, and then the client asks you why you did not buy the "better" model. Sounds like he knows what he is after so get schooled on the DVR's that do this and then go play with them before you buy. Then ask the client if this is what he wants. Biggest issue with saving video is the transfering from.....to a format that works in ALL players, not just the DVR's. I like the memory sticks because they work well and I then transfer that video to another platform to edit and copy to CD/Email. oh, the more "parts" you install the more failures can happen. ie. Baluns go bad, hubs go bad, ect. keep it simple as you can. you sound like you are not ready to take on a PC based system yet. I ran one in my office for 6 months before I decided to use them. I'm pretty good at PC stuff now and the features are worth the effort. whew.....

I'm going to take a "shot in the dark" here. - what power supply are you using. how many camera's and types? - what type of wire are you using to power the IR camera's? garage camera; replace power supply with a outlet type and see if the difference is seen. if you can without voiding the warranty, pull the lense off/out and check the difference. Before you do, clean the camera lense well. halo = reflected from lense(s), smears on lense(s), camera case cover your night view looks "weak" at best, compared to my 7706's. Mine don't halo unless dirty and the IR is ok with no reflection. I can let you view my Server video if you'd like. You'll be able to review the recorded also. PM me. the above may not work...........and call Provideo as they will troubleshoot this problem for you via the phone no problem.