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So it looks like GV will be showing a new combination card at ISC West that I hadn't seen mention of before. This one combines the DVR, the DSP card and the audio input card into one. Given PCI slot quantity limitations, this is a welcomed advance and logical next step. Here's the brief description if the card from their newsletter: "Three-In-One Combo Card (GV-1480/GV-1240/GV-1120) One card includes all! The three-in-one combo card combines GV-DVR, GV-DSP (real-time display) and GV-A16 (16CH audio recording) in a single card, with PCI express or PCI 2.3 support. It offers one TV output to connect to TV monitor." Anyone hear anything on possible cost and expected availability date?

Ok, so I've setup various aspects of my home CCTV system already (cameras, modulator, etc). Everything is working just fine with 4 cameras modulated over my RG-6 network. Now I'm looking into quads and sequencers. In my application, I'm looking to out 2-4 cameras on a sequencing AND quad view. We use the cameras primarily as baby monitors so my wife wants flexibility. My modulator is of the 4-channel variety. We use 2 of the channels for the 2 primary full-screen feeds and the other 2 for sequence and quad of all 4 cameras. So, I'm trying to find a solution that best fits our needs. Of course, there's an array of choices out there. One model I have been checking out, although expensive, is Pro Video's (from Speco Technologies) RQS-20B. This unit offers me the ability to output a quad view and sequence view at the same time on different outputs. Additionally, it offers pass through connections for all sources. So, I wouldn't need to also get a splitter/distribution amp for the 2 primary feeds. The question I have is in regards to how this type of unit compares to a similar unit that they describe as a "multiplexer" (specifically RMX-4CD). Now, I'm wondering if I truly understand the multiplexer term. I've seen it used in sat distribution equipment and I think it means a device that doesn't simply split a feed but rather "replicates" it to allow for all channels of that feed (in the sat distribution case) to be accessed independently by all outputs. Am I on the right track? And how would this apply in the CCTV field? I know the RMX-4CD is even more expensive and may be way more than I need. I'm just trying to understand how they are different for general understanding of the options out there, if nothing else. Who knows, some of the additional features may be of use in the future and could warrant the additional expense. For reference, here are the product pages for both units: RQS-20B: http://www.specotech.com/cart/products/productDetails.asp?prodID=486 RMX-4CD: http://www.specotech.com/cart/products/productDetails.asp?prodID=679 Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Rory, Just to let you know, I got the RQS-20B and it works like a charm. It does exactly what I wanted and the quality is perfect. One output is dedicated to the quad view while the other is switchable between quad, sequence or single camera full screen view. I actually went a step further and came up with my own solution for audio. Nothing too creative, but my wife loves it. Since the 2 primary cams in the babies' rooms also have mics, I had to find a way to get the audio feeds from those mics to work on the quad/sequenced channels. So, I used a distribution amp to split the 2 mic feeds and send one feed to the dedicated channel, one to the quad and the third to the sequenced channel. On the dedicated channels it's just a mono feed from the corresponding mic, but the quad and sequenced channels contain a mix of the 2. It's a simple left channel taking the feed from one mic and the right channel taking a feed from the other. This way, if both kids are asleep in their own rooms, she can tune into either multi-cam channel and still hear continuous audio from both of the rooms. Nothing spctacular, but it is just what we wanted.

I just took a look at the MV-9. It doesn't have the looped outputs, but it does seem to have everythig else plus offer expandability should I go beyond 4 cams. One thing I have to remind myself of is the framerate issue. Meaning that the max framerate is set and as you split the view amongst various cameras, the framerate displayed for each cam view is a fraction of that max rate (1/4 for a quad view, 1/9 for a 9 channel view, etc). I guess that's true of all quads. Of course, having the ability to change the channel and switch to full screen (and real time fps) on one of the 2 primary cams covers that.

Ok, now everything becomes crystal clear. I thought that's what the VCR OUT would be in order to get the advantage that the multiplex offers. The Kalatel ones are pretty cool but as you say, they are certainly much more expensive. Also, it looks like you don't get into the dual moniro output models until you get into the middle to higher end models (all the 4-channel models I saw on their site only have single monitor outputs). No big deal there. The Pro Video quad looks like it will do what I want and since I won't be recording from it, the multiplexer recording functionality would go to waste anyways. I can certainly sink the extra $$ into a kick butt PC DVR when the time comes.

Ok, I've seen the manual and it leaves me with only one thing that isn't clear. I see that I can change the output type over the monitor output, but is the output over the VCR OUT unchangeable? My thinking here is that I would have one output (say the monitor) doing sequential while the other (VCR OUT in this case) showing a quad view. Both outouts would be for real time viewing only over the moduluated channels. Can the multiplex do this?

Ok, I think I found the manual for the 4-channel Multiplex. For some reason, they have it linked to the 16-channel multiplex page (none of the other multis had a linked manual). Here's the link for anyone interested: http://www.specotech.com/cart/products/downloads/default.asp?durl=%2Fcart%2Fproducts%2Fdownloads%2Fappcharts%2FHS%2Drmx%2D4cd%5FUser%5FManua%23BC4A5%2Epdf This should answer the rest of my questions. Thanks again Rory.

Rory, Thans again. Any chance you have a shot of the rear terminals on the Pro Video? By the way, I think I now understand the difference between the 2. I had to read your posts a few times and also check out the glossary page of another CCTV website, but I think it's clear now. In more simple terms, the multiplex allows you to take multiple camera feeds and record them all to a single VCR. Unlike a quad where the only view you get on playback is the tiled or sequnced one, the multiplex allows for playback of the tiled view and full-screen view of each feed with the latter at full-screen quality. I think that's right.

By the way, I'm not at the recording point yet. When I do get there, however, I will probably go the DVR card route. I'm a computer geek so while the CCTV world is new to me, building and upgrading PCs is "old hat". I like the flexibility those systems offer but still want to maintain a non-pc pathway for the modulated feeds because my wife is definitely not a computer expert. Otherwise, I'd probably roll the quad/sequence need into the dedicated PC I'll put together later for recording.

Rory, I apologize for the ignorance, but could you elaborate on "Recording is ofcourse the main advantage though, as a mux records each image seperately, while a quad only records what you see on the screen..."? I'm not quite sure I understand this. I thought that with the separate outputs of the quad, you could have one output showing a quad display with the other sequencing? Am I wrong on this? Also, given your experience with the Pro Video units (and since they don't have a pdf manual that I can download and see for myself), does the 9 channel model allow you do just a quad split on-screen for 4 cams? I ask this because for the time being, I wouldn't want to sacrifice on-screen image size by having only 4 active squares on a 9 camera split-screen view. Thanks in advance for all your help and I sincerely appreciate your willingness to offer your expertise to a novice like myself.

Is there any additional information on this new series of cards from GV? The info listed on GV's site (see here) is pretty scant. Based on this sentence: "The new generation GV-DVR combines hardware and software compression into a single DVR." It would appear that the "hybrid" functionality allows for processing normally done by the PC's CPU within the GV software to be offloaded onto the card itself. Any idea if this is accurate? Or is hybrid being used to describe a card that can handle both analog and IP based camera inputs? Any other major improvements with the new cards? Expected availability? Price? Thanks in advance for any and all info. Jeff

Well, I think I finally got down to the important details. After asking the GV sales manager for further clarification about the new Hybrid cards, here was his reply: "As for your questions about our coming Hybrid card, it does not work on the LIVE view of the system, it only improves the RECORDING side, the advantages are as below: Recording video image size increase: 720 x 480 in 30 fps, (usually only support 30 fps in 320 x 240 size) CPU usage reduced: 15 % to 25 % less Video quality improvement: DVD quality Audio function included These are the four major benefits for our clients, we are still doing the final testing. But from the testing results so far, our hybrid card will be compatible with both GV 800 and GV 1000 systems with no problem. As you have noticed, a hybrid card supports up to 4 channels. The idea is, usually only certain camera channels would require high quality and large image size in a system. So if you would like to use it for a 16 camera system, 4 hybrid cards will be needed as you mentioned then we would suggest you to use the industrial PC." So, it looks like I was overlooking the limitations that existed within software on the recording end. I guess the question now is how much more HDD space one would need to accommodate a system with a Hybrid card. I guess I also need to be looking into building a system that can accomodate Hybrid cards (free PCI slots) should I decide to add them later. Depending on price, I may start with one and perhaps add a second or third later. All in all, pretty interesting stuff. Jeff

Well, I've asked around a few places and gotten some additional information about the upcoming Hybrid DVR cards from GV. Here's a reply from a GV distributor: "1. Hardware compression card It's expected to be ready with next version V7.0 together. Schedule is on March, 2005. 2. We now call version 6.2 as "V7.0" (still same software and only the name is different). Its new features list is mainly on supporting new hardware (USB keypro, Hybrid DVR, Keyboard) and few debugs on software. " So, it looks like the main purpose of the Hybrid DVR card is to perform onboard compression that normally has to be done within the software. The card, along with version 7.0 of the GV software, should be available in March. I also got a reply from a sales manager at GV when I inquired to them about the Hybrid cards. He sent me a pdf of the installation intructions for demo versions of the Hybrid DVR card (they have been demoing samples of the card at various industry events). Here's a few other things I gathered about the card from that pdf: - The Hybrid card has 4 audio inputs - Each Hybrid card supports up to 4 cameras (I'm guessing that's the per card limit for it's compression capabilities) at a maximum 720x480 30fps (NTSC) per camera - You can add up to 4 Hybrid cards per system - The Hybrid cards daisy chain from a main card (the pdf showed the GV 800 and mentioned that additional compatibility with other cards - assumingly the 900 and 1000 - would follow) via ribbon cables. - Each Hybrid card requires it's own PCI slot I am still a little confused about the card's main purpose, though. What's the real world benefit of having the card do the compression? Is there some problem doing the compression within the software now as long your system specs are up to par or is the process just slow within the software realm? What am I missing? Jeff