SureVeillance

Here are some places to start: http://www.axis.com/products/video/camera/about_cameras/index.htm http://www.pro.jvc.com/pro/attributes/CCTV/desc/ipprimer.html http://www.video-surveillance-guide.com/how-IP-based-video-surveillance-works.htm http://www.networkworld.com/news/tech/2007/072507-tech-update.html After becoming more familiar with the topic, you will get a better response if you can address more specific questions to this forum. If this is for a business, consider hiring a professional who has already done several deployments. It will save you time, money and headaches in the long run. Andy

Google on 60001SPLICE or cat 5e junction box

I'm using a Sling box attached to a GE/Kalatel DVMRe 10CT. I put the A monitor into component and the b into SVHS. Works great on a windows mobile smart phone - awesome real time pictures. Andy

If the current draw of your camera is not too high (no heater, for example), you can use 'piggyback' on the camera power using a 24 VAC to 12 VDC converter instead of running another power cable for 3-4IR LEDs. Look for these converters on any CCTV site with names like Eclipse, Altronix, etc. If you add more leds, you will probably want a separate power feed and transformer which you can size using charts that are available for distance and current draw.

80GB harddrive seems very small, but you haven't stated how many days of video you want to store. Given the low price of hard drives these days, I would go with 250GB+ depending on your needs. XP can run on 512 MB, but it will be happier with 1 GB or 2 GB. Andy

According to the user's manual "In general, open ports 2002~2004 on the server or router. You can alter port numbers in Network window of the Setup. Open ports on network respectively after you change ports on the server." Did you try opening these ports on your router? It will be under a tab called 'port forwarding' or similar. You just need to put in those port numbers (a range of 2002-2004) and the IP address of your DVR. Then from the internet, you need to use the fx-client to access the DVR remotely and use the outside IP address of your router. You can also get this from your router configuration screen. Again, according to the manual: "FX DVR server is capable of handling any network environment. FX-Client software is required to connect to FX DVR. No web browser connection is supported at this time" Which means you must use the client and not a simple browser connection. Andy

Don't know if I can help, but here are some thoughts. Did you port forward TCP, UDP or both? Did you reboot the router after making the changes? Is there an option on the AVTEC 785 to disable uPNP since you are setting up a static route? Andy

When you are trying to access it in the browser, do you see a pop up asking you to install an ActiveX control? Do you have pop ups turned off, etc. Your browser security may be preventing the remote client from being installed. Andy

Patrick, you'll have to give us a little more information than that. Tell us what works and what does not. Generally inability to access this type of device remotely has to do with firewall configuration and port forwarding, but it is not clear from your post exactly what the situation is. By the way, it might be better to start with the tech support page at Linksys. There are FAQs for the most common issues. http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_CASupport_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1166859912899&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=1289941490B03

If you are using a passive coupler, it should work for x-10 or powerline ethernet. If you are using an active x-10 coupler, it will probably not help powerline IP because the active couplers usually read the x-10 signal and retransmit it. The Corinex stuff is not x-10, it is designed for commercial distribution of IP signals across various types of wire and powerlines.

Scorpion, depends on your application and your results may vary . The drier model https://auction.smarthome.com/XcAPViewItem.asp?ID=111014 or Google for SignaLinc Plug-In Phase Coupler (for 3-Wire 220V D At the high end - commercial type equipment, look at Corinex.com, such as https://www.corinex.com/web/pcx.nsf/Doc3?Open&pl=enterprise or Google for corinex powerline phase coupler More info on HomePlug at http://www.homeplug.org This type works at the breaker panel http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Phase-Couplers/Item/XPCP/ I have actually used a different trick to avoid phase couplers. I was trying to link from a circuit in the main part of the house to a device that was in an addition, on another ciruit breaker panel. I was getting very bad results until it occured to me that I could actually put the receiver in another room in the addition which had an ethernet port near a wall outlet. So the signal goes from one room over the power line to another room and then bridges from the powerline to the wired ethernet jack. This proved to be very fast and very reliable. That trick will only work if your application works with wired as well as powerline devices. Good luck. Andy

As others have reported, I have also had varied success with streaming video over powerline products which use HomePlug. I have also tried AppleTV and SlingBox over powerline ethernet - the SlingBox was connected to the monitor output on a GE DVMRe. This technology works by superimposing a signal on top of (or in between, depending on how you look at it) the AC current. If you have the sender and receiver plugged into outlets on the same circuit, you would have no problem sending >50 mb/second which is as good as wired, but not very practical because if they were that close, you would probably be able to wire it. If you plug into 2 different circuits, but they are on the same 'rail' of the circuit breaker box, then you generally will still get reliable transmission, but probably closer to 10 mb/second - still enough for most video surveillance equipment. If you plug into 2 circuits that are on opposite phases in the circuit breaker box, then the signal has to 'jump' to the other phase - which results in further degradation or no signal at all. What those phase couplers do is generally to plug into the electric drier outlet which has both phases present and provides a path for the signal to jump phases without shorting out the drier, of course. If you are in a building which has multiple breaker boxes, it gets increasingly difficult for the signal to get from the sending circuit to the receiver and even a phase coupler may not help if you have to jump to the other phase in the other breaker box. Generally powerline ethernet devices such as Netgear HDX101 come with a pc client that shows you the quality of the signal and the speed of transmission. I have used that to create a site survey of a building and predetermine whether powerline is a viable option or not for various locations in the building. By the way, don't connect powerline devices through surge suppressors because they also suppress the ethernet signal! And be careful if you are going to mix HomePlug 1.0 devices with other powerline technology devices in the same building. Having said all that, I did find an application which worked well and proved much more reliable than 2.4 GHz wireless in that case. Have fun! Andy

No, it is not a fair comparison. The wide angle is the cheap camera with a low zoom lens and the top one is an expensive PTZ. And by the way, they never found the guy that stole the lawn tractor. Andy

I created this composite image of a perpetrator who stole a $7,000 lawn tractor from a client's house. Obviously, since the image has been manipulated, it is not admissable evidence, but it was useful in looking for someone who recognized the person. Question is, does anyone know of an easier way of creating this type of image rather than cut and paste in Photoshop? These images are from a GE/Kalatel DVMRe. Unfortunately not clear enough to find the guilty party. Andy

I was surprised to see how well the new Pelco Spectra IV - 35x WDR picked up at night - around $2400. Specs say 0.55 lux at 1/60 sec (color) 0.063 lux at 1/4 sec (color) 0.00018 lux at 1/2 sec (B-W) This close up picture is about 15x zoom almost 200 feet to the far deer. The other picture is what you get for $300 . Andy

Installed the new camera, but now I realize that the web interface only provides half of the resolution as the direct video interface on the GE DVMRe. You may be able to see the 'jaggies' on the paper delivery car and curb which do not exist on the direct attach monitor. Rory, you know a lot about the DVMRe - any way to get full resolution from the PC client? I have the record and view quality settings at maximum. Using latest Wavereader 4.2.47. Andy

If you are using the system as a deterent, you can save a lot of money by getting 4 dummy cameras and putting up signs everywhere that 'premises are under video surveillance'

Hey - you are right about the view being wrong! This camera is a low zoom temporary replacement because the original camera with a 22x lens focused on the end of the driveway choke point was out for maintenance. I have a new Pelco Spectra 35x going in this weekend.

.MVB files are Microsoft Viewer Book files. Apparently the video has been encapsulated into that format. It is possible that microsoft media player or Real player might be able to display the file. Andy

Looking to improve alarming and coverage for a residential system by adding 1 or more PIR. What should I consider when deciding whether to wire the PIR to the PTZ (Pelco Spectra - coaxitron) or to the DVR? Camera has 7 alarm inputs and DVR has 16, none of which are currently in use. Appreciate any insight or experience. Thanks! Andy

Thanks, Rory, for your ideas. Number 1 is actually what I did. I used Wavereader to create 10 bitmap images, but then I cut out the person from 9 of the images and pasted it onto the first image to get the effect of a single image with a person walking. That is what I was trying to do automatically - kind of like a 'multiple still frame - motion detect overlay'. Anyway, now I will be replacing that driveway cam with a Pelco 35x Spectra to get a closer image - which will also be a more visible deterrent. Andy