Blinkenlights

A more secure way instead of port forwarding is to use a VPN. This will of course require a router that supports VPN.

If your budget supports it, I would kick it up to a higher tier camera that is powered by ethernet cable that can be properly installed and fastened down. That doesn't necessarily require ripping up your walls. The network cable can run above the ceiling assuming you have a ceiling.

I had an ESD take out a Q-1765-MT. At least I think that's what it was. This happens from time to time on other devices and swapping out the network adapter does the trick. Axis wants $500 to repair or replace so I thought I have nothing to lose by trying to fix it myself.

As many of you may know, they took out the tried and true (at least I thought so) motion detection and replaced it with the VMD application in the latest cameras. The setup for inclusion windows requires Windows Internet Explorer browser (Do they still even make that browser any more?!) and the Axis media control plugin. MS windows has sunsetted around here and there are currently 2 computers running windows 7 with MSIE and have downloaded the AMC plug on both. I know it has worked before but now it just opens a new window with a blank page and I can't change the settings. It's puzzling why they would revamp the GUI but leave the only motion detection requiring some antiquated browser with a plugin that doesn't work. I have always thought the VMD app is too sensitive and adjusting it has never worked good. I want the old motion detector back! The previous motion detector used java, and while not my favorite plugin, at least it worked and worked cross platform. So now I can't create include or exclude windows and Axis helpdesk is basically like too bad, sorry.

Thanks, I'll check that out. I've seen Vapix before but it didn't cross my mind.

On Axis cameras (q series) there a way to trigger by motion detection on one camera but send an input signal to another camera for an action on that 2nd camera? For example, camera 1, a fixed bullet cam aimed at an entrance detects motion. It then sends an input signal to camera 2, a PTZ camera which normally has more important things to do, to pan around 180 degs and start autotracking what passed through the entrance. Both cams are on the same network.

To clarify, it was an issue with enabling remote viewing. Remote viewing, they say, is only compatible with models with firmware version (don't quote me on the exact number) 5.5 and higher. Playback over the same network still works. I do have a workaround for remote and remote mobile viewing and the way i did it was to create another stream profile with mjpg with 50 compression. Those mjpg record simultaneously with the h.264 recordings. The mjpg recordings won't play in the axis companion app however you can play them in a web browser using the play button under the recordings list.

I'm stuck with a problem using the Axis Companion software and apps. For streaming over the local network, it's fine all cameras show up. But remote access over the internet, all of the cameras show up except for the Q-series PTZs. When I go to enable internet access in the software, it says "incorrect password". What the heck is it talking about? The password works over the LAN, why wouldn't it work over the WAN? All running the latest firmware.

Evidently the cameras in question are not supported. I updated to the latest version of axis companion software and it now says they are not supported where they used to say incorrect password.

Where would I go to change that password? I tried just now under Basic Users and now the cameras are completely locked out of Companion.

My advice would go with an IP/network system and not to get hung up on megapixels. More megapixels does not mean it's better for your needs. And as for the IR/night vision, I cannot emphasize enough the need for good lighting. Personally, if all I had was $1000 to spend, I'd invest in good lighting and decent network cameras from a reputable manufacturer (not some china no-name ebay garbage) and installation for just start with a couple of cameras to start out and expand the system as time goes on. But that's me. I'm a bit of a camera snob.

Really all you need is the URL of the stream. Most browsers will natively stream motion jpeg (aka MJPG) however if your stream is H.264, as it is on most of the lower end systems, you'll need to open the URL in software like VideoLan (VLC) If you do a search for camera model + URL chances are it's posted on the internet somewhere then replace enter in your IP address plus the rest of it and you're golden. Bookmark it.

I have used Xeoma for recording over the network on Linux Mint/Ubuntu. They go a little overboard with the Icons but it works satisfactorily. Last I checked, there was a free version with a limited number a cameras and I'm pretty sure it will work with H.264

Are you able to control traffic with gates, stop arms or stop signs? Ideally, if you can get the traffic to stop at a well lit location to have their license plate's picture taken, that would be ideal for getting the best quality footage or stills without any footage that you don't want. From someone who routinely catches people in suspicious vehicles doing naughty things, my advice would be to get not only stills of the license plate but also of the entire vehicle and any occupants. Why? Because a lot of n'er-do-wells do not have license plates on their cars, stolen tags or stolen cars or the ubiquitous "tag applied for" written on a piece of cardboard. Really, what you want is the best possible description of the vehicles and their occupants. If something happens in your neighborhood, being able to provide descriptions of the vehicle occupants is priceless. License plates are of limited value. You have quite a few options as your specs are not particularly challenging unless cars are flying by at highway speeds in the dark. You can capture just stills (but why?) and you can get 3rd party software to log license plates. (Again, you are better off with the complete picture of the vehicle and occupants if possible). And if you're going to be the administrator and the HOA is paying for it, get a network camera that you can monitor remotely.