sichuan

England and the U.S. are no better than China when it comes to surveillance of citizens, whether that surveillance is audio or video.

"I actually never heard about D-WDR or Digital WDR." A little research goes a long way and your research was not complete. Digital WDR , or D-WDR, is a software based technology (software based technique) that optimizes image quality by adjusting the gamma value of an image to enhance dark areas. This technique leaves a lot to be desired. True WDR is a sensor-based technology (hardware based technique) that can capture several images with short and long exposures, then combining them into a single frame. True WDR will give you much better images with much better contrast of the light and dark areas of the images, but only if the WDR setting is appropriate. Setting the WDR level too low, such as 25db, may not produce a satisfying image, while setting the WDR level too high, such as 100db or 120db, may lead to washed out images. "fishy Asian cams" I believe the vast majority of security cameras are manufactured in Asia, most notably China. Most products are manufactured in Asian countries because that's where the cheapest labor can be exploited, thereby guaranteeing the highest profits. As far as "quality" is concerned these products are manufactured to the specifications of the companies that have them manufactured, regardless of which nation they are manufactured in. Don't blame the factory employees for the "cheapness" of the product. Put the blame where it belongs, which is squarely on the companies writing the specifications. As far as "fishy cams" is concerned, you get what you pay for. Do you want to pay very little for your security cameras? If so, you will get very little in the way of the product. Your list of "real WDR cams" is very short and doesn't include other high quality camera manufacturers, such as Sony and most notably Hikvision and Dahua. Hikvision and Dahua manufacture the majority of security cameras. Bosch Security & Communications System opened its largest manufacturing facility worldwide in Zhuhai, China in January 2008. Does this mean that Bosch security cameras are "fishy" and that they should be avoided? I don't think so. Please don't misunderstand my post. It's not really a criticism of your post but rather a correction of the information provided in your post.

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I'm going to go with this NVR from LTS: http://www.ltsecurityinc.com/platinum-network-video-recorder-nvr-ltn8932-p16.html

Thanks, Tom. I spent a long time researching Dahua IP POE cameras before, along with Hikvision and many other brands. I finally narrowed the decision down to Dahua and Hikvision and then finally chose Hikvision. I think they're both comparable in price, quality and performance.

Thanks, Tom. You're absolutely correct. I listed the wrong NVR. This is the one I had chosen first but I then learned that it will display in full resolution for only 8 cameras. http://overseas.hikvision.com/us/Products_accessries_10649_i8679.html#prettyPhoto I'm still looking for a 16 channel, 16 port IP POE or IP POE+ NVR, H264 or better with a gigabit Ethernet port, one that will handle cameras up to 4 megapixels each, one that will run all the videos at full resolution and will automatically discover all the cameras. I suppose it's called a Plug N Play NVR. I'm going to run all the cameras in real time 24 hours a day so I'm looking for at least 4 SATA connections that will handle up to 24TB of storage. 24TB may not be enough storage. I may need up to 8 SATA connections that will handle up to 48TB of storage. I go to China quite frequently for weeks or months at a time and I'd like to be able to store the videos in the event the police need to view them if there's a breaking and entering. The NVR will be connected to an UPS. I'd like to be able to find an NVR that automatically powers itself on after a power outage if the duration of the outage exceeds the capacity of the UPS but I don't think I'll find one. It's not that important because my neighbor watches my home whenever I'm in China and he has a key to the house. If, while in China, I notice that the system is not running I can always have him go over and turn it back on. I'll be using Hikvision cameras and a Hikvision NVR made for the U.S. market but instead of dealing with a Hikvision USA authorized seller I'll get Hikvision rebranded cameras and a Hikvision rebranded NVR from LT Security Inc. I think the rebranded cameras I'll get from LTS are the exact same cameras I would get from a Hikvision USA authorized seller. It's not the gray market equipment made for the Chinese market that has been hacked for the U.S. market that you see on Amazon, Ebay and elsewhere. I'm almost certain LT Security has the NVR I want but I'll have to wait until Monday to contact them. The support I get from LTS is very good. I haven't even ordered the cameras and NVR yet and I've received excellent support from them regarding any questions I've had. I imagine the LTS support is every bit as good as the support I would have received from a Hikvision USA seller. I couldn't be more satisfied with LTS. I do want to ask you one question. The cameras I'll be using are all 2.8MM except for two of them, which will be 4MM. They will all be turrets with the exception of 2 or 3 bullets. Since this is a home security system and I'll be displaying the video streams on a Samsung 24 inch LED 1080p monitor do you think I have anything to gain, as far as video clarity is concerned, by going from 3MP cameras to 4MP cameras? Of course, with my limited knowledge of IP POE systems, chances are good that I may be barking up the wrong tree and the difference between 3MP and 4MP megapixel cameras could have no effect on the clarity of the video display. Thanks again, Tom, for your time and your assistance. I appreciate it very much.

I need some assistance with cameras and angles of view. I've spent weeks researching different issues such as frame rates, resolutions, megapixels, data flow rates and angles of view and I'm still not competent enough to arrive at certain conclusions. I'll be using an 18 port/18 channel IP POE NVR. I'll be connecting each camera to an individual port on the NVR with Cat6a cable. The NVR and all the IP POE cameras will be Hikvision USA products. Here's where I'm at now: I've designed it as a 13 camera system, using 11 turrets and two bullets but I'm certain I can lower that to nine or ten cameras if I select the proper cameras with the proper fields of view. North Side Of House Photo 03: You will notice that the part of the house to the right of the front entry door extends out four feet. North Side Of House Photo 04: The front yard is 115 feet wide and 60 feet to the street. Currently, I have configured three turrets and one bullet to cover the entire yard, the front windows and the front entry door. Two of the turrets, model DS-2CD2332-I-2.8MM 3MP (86 degree angle of view) would be mounted on the soffits angled straight ahead in such a way that I can view the entire front yard using these two turrets. The third turret, model DS-2CD2332-I-12MM 3MP (20.6 degree angle of view) would be mounted above the front entry door for identification of anyone at the door or approaching the door. You will notice the large Oak tree in North Side Of House Photo 04. My intent was to remove the lower branches and install a bullet camera, model DS-2CD2232-I5-6MM 3MP (25 ft. wide view) on this tree to cover all five of the windows. The front entry door cannot be seen from the tree. North Side Of House Photo 03: http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Sichuan1350/Hikvision%20IP%20POE%20Security%20System/North%20Side%20Of%20House%20Photo%2003%20Entry%20Door.jpg North Side Of House Photo 04: http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Sichuan1350/Hikvision%20IP%20POE%20Security%20System/North%20Side%20Of%20House%20Photo%2004.jpg What I'm asking is: Instead of using the configuration I've just mentioned can I mount a turret on the left corner soffit, angled toward the street sign/stop sign in such a way that I can cover the two bedroom windows on the left side of the house, the entry door and the right side of the front yard, and then mount a turret on the right corner soffit, angled toward the left side of the front yard, in such a way that I can cover the three living room windows on the right side of the house and the left side of the front yard? I assume that I would use the two DS-2CD2332-I-2.8MM 3MP turrets(86 degree angle of view). This would reduce the number of cameras I need from four to two, eliminating the turret over the entry door and the bullet on the tree. South Side Of House Photo 01: This is the back yard. It ends at the yellow gas line stake. The yard is 125 feet long and 115 feet wide. I want camera coverage for the entire yard. Currently, I have configured two DS-2CD2332-I-2.8MM 3MP (86 degree angle of view) turrets to be mounted on the soffits in such a way as to cover the entire back yard. I think these two turrets will cover it, although I may need three of them. I don't know. I had originally wanted to mount a bullet on one of the trees shown in this photo, the tree facing the garage windows, but I've eliminated that one. South Side Of House Photo 02: This is a closeup photo of the back of the house. The two evergreen trees have been removed. I want to cover the garage man door, the patio sliding doors and the two windows. I'm going to use a turret, model DS-2CD2332-I-2.8MM 3MP (86 degree angle of view), for this coverage. I can mount it on the soffit above the tall evergreen tree or I can mount it on the soffit above the tree with the weeping branches. I think it would be better to mount it above the tree with the weeping branches. Will this give me a wide enough angle of view to capture the man door, the patio sliding doors and the two windows? South Side Of House Photo 01: http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Sichuan1350/Hikvision%20IP%20POE%20Security%20System/South%20Side%20Of%20House%20Photo%2001.jpg South Side Of House Photo 02: http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Sichuan1350/Hikvision%20IP%20POE%20Security%20System/South%20Side%20%20Of%20House%20Photo%2002.jpg West Side Of House Photo 02: The west side of the house is 50 feet long and it's 35 feet from the side of the house to the street. The two evergreen trees on the sides of the driveway have been removed. I have configured two turret cameras to cover the driveway, the window and the side yard, both turrets being model DS-2CD2332-I-4MM 3MP (70 degree angle of view), the two turrets located on the soffit at each corner facing the opposite corners, the one on the northwest corner facing southwest and the one on the southwest corner facing northwest. I could replace these 4MM turrets with 2.8MM turrets if you think they would give me better angles of view. Are the 4MM turrets sufficient or do you think I should switch them for 2.8MM turrets? West Side Of House Photo 02: http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Sichuan1350/Hikvision%20IP%20POE%20Security%20System/West%20Side%20Of%20House%20Photo%2002.jpg East Side Of House Photos 01 and 02: I have configured two turret cameras to cover this side of my property, model DS-2CD2332-I-4MM 3MP (70 degree angle of view). They will be mounted on the soffit corners facing the opposite direction, the northeast corner camera facing southeast and the southeast camera facing northeast. I don't care if the field of view covers part of the neighbor's property. I think I'll leave this as is because I don't think I can get good coverage using only one camera. In addition, I can cover parts of the front and back yards that may be missed by the the turrets covering my front and back yards. East Side Of House Photo 01: http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Sichuan1350/Hikvision%20IP%20POE%20Security%20System/East%20Side%20Of%20House%20Photo%2001.jpg East Side Of House Photo 02: http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Sichuan1350/Hikvision%20IP%20POE%20Security%20System/East%20Side%20Of%20House%20Photo%2002.jpg South Side Dining Room Photos 01 and 02: These photos were taken with a cell phone so they're not indicative of what a turret camera will show. Photo number two was taken from the upper corner shown in photo number one. I've configured a model DS-2CD2332-I-4MM 3MP (70 degree angle of view) for this coverage. It will cover the kitchen, part of the south side dining room, part of the west side dining room and some of the front entry door. This coverage will allow me to see anyone coming in through the garage entry door into the kitchen, the front entry door and possibly the patio sliding door entry. These are the only three entries into the house. I think if I switch to a model DS-2CD2332-I-2.8MM 3MP (86 degree angle of view) and locate it on the wall or ceiling above the hutch it will give me more coverage of the patio sliding door. South Side Dining Room Photo 01: http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Sichuan1350/Hikvision%20IP%20POE%20Security%20System/South%20Side%20Dining%20Room%20Photo%2001.jpg South Side Dining Room Photo 02: http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Sichuan1350/Hikvision%20IP%20POE%20Security%20System/South%20Side%20Dining%20Room%20Photo%2002.jpg I'm using turrets instead of domes because they provide a better and more uniform IR light and I eliminate dome reflection from the sun and inside lights. I'll be using the model DS-9616NI-ST-4TB IP POE NVR because it produces a 1080p display for all the cameras. I'm looking for any suggestions that would either validate my conclusions or improve my choice of cameras and their locations. Thank you in advance for your time and any assistance provided.

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Avigilon Impressive website. Does Avigilon market products to individuals with only a home gigabit network? From what I see on the website Avigilon products are way out of my league, financially speaking.

I'm going to use some CAD software to design my system. I want to be certain that I get the proper number of cameras, which will probably be less than I had initially thought, the proper types of cameras, the proper lenses in the cameras to cover the fields of view I'll be dealing with and to ascertain the proper angles of the cameras. I'll then have to determine the types of sensors and megapixels used in the various cameras I'll be looking for. I don't want too little and I don't want too much as far as the sensors and megapixels are concerned. I want good resolution. I'm looking for good video clarity. It's too cold in northeast Ohio at this time of year to be doing much of anything outside so I'm researching a few other things. One of them involves the NVRs. I think I'll go with either a Hikvision or a Dahua system. Does anyone know what kind of software Hikvision and Dahua NVRs use? Is it proprietary software? If so, can third party software be used instead with their NVRs and work fully with their systems? Are Hikvision and Dahua NVRs and cameras ONVIF compliant? Is there really any great need for them to be ONVIF compliant? What I'm looking for is software that is easy to use and provides a very good interface. I'll have no need to control any of the cameras, other than turning them on and off, as none of them will be motorized. I may use a varifocal lens on a few of the cameras but they will be manually adjusted. I won't be using any PTZ cameras. Can anyone recommend some good CCTV software? Thank you again for your time and any assistance provided.

Thank you again for your time and assistance, Securame. I really do appreciate it. I'll probably go with either Hikvision or Dahua IP POE cameras, since either company will probably be less expensive than FLIR. I'll have to spend some time outside taking measurements, determining how I want to cover each area of the house and yard, which will determine whether I need a bullet or a dome for each area, which cameras will need to be varifocal, the field of view I need, the lens size I need for each camera, the megapixels of each camera, etc, etc, etc. That will be the hardest part. I'll then spend some time looking at their NVRs and cameras, determining which cameras and NVR I'll need. I'll want domes and bullets for outside and probably four domes for inside. I want all the cameras, both inside and outside, to have night vision so I have to be certain I select the proper dome cameras so that the IR lights don't give me light reflection problems at night. I'm new at this so it will take me a few weeks to design my system. I realize that a qualified company representative or installer could determine these things in short order but I want to do this myself. I'm retired, have a lot of time on my hands and I'll learn a lot in the process.

"You will not see any discernible difference in video quality with h.265. Dont let the manufactures mumbo jumbo fool you. Bandwidth is a non issue, just use a gigabit network, you will never saturate it for your install." I certainly understand what you're saying about the bandwidth associated with a home network but I've seen several examples of the difference in video clarity and H.265 is without a doubt better. I'm already using a gigabit network.

Whats the obsession with h.265? Storage is cheap. I don't have an obsession with it. It's just that H.265 has significant advantages over H.264, two of them being lower bandwidth consumption and higher video quality. I don't particularly care about storage. I'll add as much storage as I need. I've had a lot of vandalism problems lately and a recent breaking and entering, which is why I'm going to install a security camera system. I'll be using 16 cameras. The reason I say that I wish there were more H.265 devices available is simply because the more a product floods the market the cheaper it will be. Cutthroat competition is a wonder thing for consumers. I anticipate putting around four thousand dollars into the system as a start, for the NVR and first eight cameras. I don't throw money away but I have the money to spend for quality products. I don't want the absolute best products but neither do I want cheap, less than ideal products. I look for products somewhere between mid-priced and expensive. Here's the thing and I'll be honest with you, ak357. I'm a retired construction worker, a cement mason/tile setter/plasterer. That's all I am. Nothing more and nothing less. I know nothing about the tech industry. I know nothing about electronic devices except how to use and enjoy them. I've never installed a security system. But I'm also a reader; always have been and always will be. I always do a lot of research before I buy or do anything and I learn a lot from it. At times I misinterpret the information I read or fail to learn/understand certain aspects of it. I make mistakes and need to be corrected by people such as Securame and others. I take their recommendations seriously. That's why I'm here. I prefer to do a job one time, not having to go back and correct mistakes or reconfigure something to gain the advantages I missed by doing it incorrectly the first time. It may be weeks or months before I finally install my security camera system. I won't install it until I'm certain that I haven't overlooked anything. Technology is advancing at a speed never before seen and I like to somewhat future proof the products I buy to the best extent I can with the money I have. At times I depend on help from others, such as forum members, to correct my mistakes and avoid making mistakes in the first place. Again, that's why I'm here at CCTV Forums. I have nothing but respect and admiration for all those who are willing to sacrifice their time away from their family members to provide me with that assistance and knowledge.