InNorthernWeTrust

Thats the plan. I don't know when though. They are probably going to do it when they release their IP camera line.

OK. A couple options in the Megapixel market: ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasonic/cctv/SpecSheets/WV-NP1004Final.pdf The WV-NP1004 is a true day/night 1.25MP camera with a Lux of 0.06 F1.4 at 1/30 shutter speed ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasonic/business/security/WV-NP304_2A-035AL.pdf The WV-NP304 isn't bad at night but is a digital Day/Night camera. Specs say 0.9 Lux in B/W but that is without any slow shutter gimicks. http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/cat-securitycameras/cat-secmegapixel/ All three of Sony's 1.3MP cameras have a light funnel technology that at a certain lux with take 4 pixels and combine them to increase the light sensitively(to dumb it down a little). This means that if your B/W MP image can't see, it will reduce to a VGA image and greatly increase the low light sensitively. SNCCM120: B&W: 0.01 lx (50IRE, F1.3,AGC 30dB) - specs say this is without Light funnel.

Not bad. Picture is very nice for a lower res chipset. Pretty low light sensitive. Analog output makes camera focus easy. Price point makes it extremely attractive. Not my "go to" with ACTi but it's a good one.

well if its 30fps/camera that is "realtime" - though that is something of a relative term. DVDs run at approx 23fps(correct me if I'm off a couple frames.), that should give you an idea. I'm of the opinion that few applications requiring a 4ch DVR require more than 7FPS.

Well my experience with Hawk-I has been good. Mostly with the 147IRCB which is a awesome camera for the price. Hawk-I IR cameras generally work as advertised. I've only sold maybe 3 of the 561's and didn't have any complaints.

Our website has links to a number of useful tools on it, including storage calculators. http://www.northernvideo.com/public/resource.aspx?ad=events.aspx# Beyond the two listed there, I usually use DNF's as it seems to be the most comprehesive. Though you need to provide your information to them. http://www.dnfsecurity.com/resources.asp/section/Reading~Room/category/Technical~Information/options/IP~Cam~Storage~Calculator

From my understanding a IP version of the WVCW974(advanced autotracking PTZ) should be released within the next 6 months.

Autotracking requires complex analytics. Especially if you want to do more than follow the largest moving object, or want to actually zoom at the same time. The analytics have some pretty beefy hardware requirements. I'm fairly certain the 233D only pan/tilts around to follow the largest moving object(not terribly useful in most applications.). If I'm wrong please correct me. I've had to sell Analytics software for autotracking before with those units. And finally, Autotracking works best if used in conjunction with stationary cameras that "hand-off" information on a scene to the PTZ. Another hardware intensive analytic process.

Actually, since the WJHD316 is old enough that MPEG4 was not very common yet, and they call their MPEG-4 DVR a MPEG-4 DVR(WJRT416) so I think it's a derivitive of MJPEG - Though I could be wrong.

Shouldn't have to change anything in the software. Just make sure to set the GV software so that the camera is being controlled by Pelco-P. I'm really not familar with the Geovision software though. I think others on the forum would know more.

Well the PTZ itself is a very high performance PTZ with very solid construction. First few I sold(when ACTi was new to the states) I had a complaint from a customer that there was a lag time between controlling the PTZ and the actuall PTZ movement that made control difficult(not enough to make them return it though.). I haven't heard of any challenges since and their demo in my office worked great, so that was probably the customer's challenge and not the camera.

"Proprietary Super Compression " That's actually what they call it. http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=110063&catGroupId=14463&surfModel=WJ-HD316A/1000V&displayTab=F

Correct - though MPEG4 uses the same premise(H.264 is the latest version of MPEG-4. It is also known as MPEG-4 Part 10.). No argument there, H.264 is a smaller file size. The reason the Nuvico will outperform nearly any DVR on the market is because of how the DVR transmits(the scalable resolution I mentioned previously.), NOT because of the codec. The Apex series can transmit 16 cameras using (in theory) a 1/16 of the bandwidth required by other DVRs. H.264 definitly does not make up that much difference.

As I mentioned, they now have an extended warranty at a really nice price point. http://www.acti.com/support/warranty/index.asp You could have up to a 7YR warranty if you were willing to pay for it. Just a heads up. The warranty was my biggest challenge too.

I've been getting specs emailed to be from one of the ACTi guys. PM me your email and I'll shoot you what I have. I believe they already released the cube camera and the 1.3MP H.264 CCD Box camera should be out soon. I don't know the answer to your other question but I'll see if I can get it.

have you looked at the Dedicated Micros Transvu mobile recorder? They have a solid state version(records to either SD or CF). Available in a 4 or 8 ch version. http://www.dedicatedmicrosus.com/?id=77

Head to Head, nearly every single one of my customers who tried ACTi as an Axis alternate switched products - and it usually wasn't just about price. Though I have never recommended one of those cube cameras. The 8FPS has been a limitation but the new H.264 line is being released that is capable of 18FPS @ 1280x1024. The Warranty was terrible but they just updated it to a 2YR warranty w/ up to 5 additional years at truly reasonable price. http://www.acti.com/support/warranty/index.asp

H.264(if using the correct type as there are many flavors of H.264) is indeed a better version of MPEG-4. However, the APEX series scales the resolution of all cameras based only on what is currently being viewed, and will still provide better remote viewing. Basically, the APEX is never transmitting more than 720x480 at a time - whether viewing 1 camera or 16 camera. That provides such a dramatic reduction of bandwidth that really nothing else compares.

The Nuvico CBHD2L is a great camera for the price. I'd stick with it over CPCam.

Yes it supports Pelco P protocal. Please visit the link below for instructions: ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasonic/cctv/FAQ/10.RS-485_Configuration.pdf

If you need an enclosure check out the Panasonic POD9CT (for Pendant mount application, which seems similar to what your doing.) Or a third party housing from: Dotworkz Videolarm Videotec

If you have the budget, the Nuvico Apex series dynamicaly scales the resolution of the images being transmitted to the images being viewed which greatly reduces network bandwidth for the smoothest remote video. I.e. if you looking at a 16 camera screen it is transmitting 16 QCIF images, if you bring up 1 camera it immediately starts transmitting only that one image at D1 resolution.

The WVCS850B is a indoor PTZ, do not use this outside without an enclosure. That camera is not water resistant.

Actually, they are just OEMing the non H.264 Arecont cameras. Only a handfull of Arecont cameras are H.264, and they are relatively new. I wouldn't be suprised to see Ganz H.264 not too far in the future. The simple fact of the matter is, these cameras do not cost very much to make. Not THAT much more than an Analog camera. Ganz isn't going to buy from Arecont unless they give them the kind of deal that the other overseas companies do, so Ganz is buying it well enough to be able to sell their branded model at a lower price than Arecont usually gives to their dealers. It's actually not that uncommon in the IP Video market. I've seen it with Vivotek before too. And it's a very common thing with Videotec or Videolarm camera housings.

If you have either the WVCW964 or WVCW974 yes it does have a heater unit. As long as your not submerging it it should be fine as it is IP66 rated. Generally IP65-IP68 is considered "weatherproof". If you have an older Panasonic "Outdoor" Speed dome then let me know the model number and I can let you know.