MetzLyov

Rory, Thanks, Levon

Has anyone heard of this company or the only product they make and if so, what are your thought? Here is their url: http://www.covitechnologies.com/?id=18 Thanks in advance! Levon

I had tested all these models excluding Ambush model. All provide good results, however Panasonic cp-474 still is on top. When we tested these cameras in an extreme environments like warehouse locations near by the roll up gates, you can have the lighting change to be extreme, bright spots, dark spots and inability to view inside of the container and most of the time, the pictures were washed off... With Panasonic cameras, we are able to get a very clean and good picture and it has something to do with the SDII technology. From the price stand point, the panaosonic camera is still the highest in cost, however here is a url that offers cheaper pricing for the same product: http://www.securitysupplyhouse.com/panwvcamccdc1.html Levon

Randy, you can not increase the power supply current rating, but there is a solution with a different power supply. It is made by Altronix and it provides 4 outputs with up to 4A available and voltage can be adjusted between 6vdc to 15vdc. Here is the url for you:http://altronix.com/p_html/ALTV615DC44ULM.htm Thanks, Levon

Bruno, If possible, find out the serial number of this unit before you buy. Chances are they will not give it to you, which should be yet another indication why you should not buy. If they do, then it is a simple phone call to GE Security (let me know if you need their phone number) and then they can tell you if this product is in warranty or not. Hope this helps. Thanks, Levon

Rory, I am sure you ment to say 1,000', but I willl totally disagree. Seeing working with most of the passive baluns introduced in this market in the last at least 10 years, this one delivers the goods and the quality of the picture is as good at 1,500' as it is at 750' using NVT baluns.... This is not an opinion rather a a fact... The manufacturer is http://www.videobaluns.com/ based in Boston and so far, they are producing the most cost effective and yet the best passive baluns in the industry or at least I should say, in U.S.... Thanks, Levon

Rory, Sorry. I am new to this forum.... Levon

Rory, This balun does work with no problems at least 1,500'. What is very interesting is that it also comes with surge protectors to shunt down any electrical or environment noises that do and will distort the video signal... In the last few years, we droped usage of coax substantlly and mosty using CAT5. You can call it cost reduction or simplicity, but it works great for us. We primaraly use similar equipment from American Fiber and it is more cost effective and does the job better. We used NVT for many years and constantly battling with a lot of technical nonsense, which they never wanted to face. With American Fiber Tech and Video Baluns, we achieved better performance than ever. Thanks, Levon

Rory, I will not compare this camera with Extreme CCTV model. We used some of Extreme CCTV product and I am sorry to tell you that they are s....t. Besides being expensive, we were not to happy with their performance. The panasonic camera gave us the best results specially at night with moving vehicles, people movements and different lighing conditions. Actually, when we replaced the Extreme CCTVs camera with this one, the results were outstanding. If you look at the specs for the camera, it actually does deliver. The part that I really like about this model is that SDII provides the "mixture" of the high and low lights (does not get washed off as most if not all the cameras do) and when it switches to b&w, then all it requires is few candle light and illumination is enouph for a superb picture. Only one serious drawback for any panaonic equipment - warranty! Even though they provide 3 years warranty, there are no advance replacements and you will wait at least 4 to 6 weeks to have anything repaired... Thanks, Levon

Rory, Before you send it for repairs, I will suggest to check the power supply. Normally, you must have at least 50VA power supplies for all the ptz domes. 40VA may work if the cable length is less than 50'. Also, make sure to check your cable length and hope it is less than 250'. If so, you either need to provide higher VA rated transformer or take the power plug closer. Altronix provide variable voltage power supplies, that you can adjust the voltage at the source to be higher and because of the cable length (resistance) to provide 24VAC with at last 1A at the dome. The symptom that you describe mostly is caused by not providing enouph voltage and current to the dome. Sending the dome in for repair should be the last step! Levon

Rory, What is the maximum distance for the CAT5e cable that you want to use? I know that the NVT passive baluns confirmed capability is 750' (this is according to NVT spec sheets) even though you may be able to stretch more then that. We have been using passive baluns with built in surge protectors (something that NVT charges arm and leg) from a different manufacturer for over 3 years. We easaly stretch the cables to at least 1,500' with no loss of the signal. Some of my co-workers stated that they were able to stretch the cables close to 1,700' and still were able to get a solid signal and no loss of quality of the picture. Here is what we used and still do today http://www.securitysupplyhouse.com/viblco1.html and it is much more cost effective than NVT passive baluns. Levon

Hey Rory, I have used this high end panasonic camera in a very critical applications. It is actually substantially better than the cp-474 version, which is only a 1/3" camera. Even though both use SDII technology (only panasonic have this technology), the CL-924A gives you substantailly more control and functionality specially in a pitch dark envronments and performs much better in light change and mixed lights configurations than any camera out there. It has a 1/2" imager and does provide the true day and night vision. Just make sure that you have a good quality 1/2" varifocal and autioris lens. It does cost more because it does have substantially better features and functions than the cp-474 model. If you need any additional info, please let me know. Levon[/u]