kaysadeya

Thanks Cooperman. Any suggestions where I can pick up all or most of them on this side of the pond? Wallco is currently my best bet, mostly because they're one of the few suppliers that provide prictures on their web site. Most of the others just provide a list of part numbers and prices, which is not very helpful unless you have a catalog for reference.

Looks like I'm going to need to dig deeper for find the connectors I need. Here are the descriptions of the zooms and lens controller and photos of the connectors... 1) Cosmicar 7.7 - 75mm 1/2" format, video iris. It has two connectors: one for the iris and the other for the zoom/focus control. They look like: More detail: The iris connector looks like a round version of a modern square connector: More detail: The zoom control connector appears to be more obscure: 2) No-name 12.5 - 75mm 1/2" format zoom lens (It just says "TV Zoom Lens"). The connector is a small 8-pin deal that looks like: 3) Pelco MLZ6DT Motorized Zoom Lens Control. The manual describes the zoom-control "Output" socket as using a AMP CPC type, 14-pin connector. I think this connector from Wallco will work, but can't confirm: http://www.wallcoinc.com/Tyco_AMP_206044_1_CPC_Connectors_p/wal9-206044-1.htm I'm at a loss to find the AC connector and will probably rewire this one. (It's just a 24 ac power input, so obviously they were trying to sell some overpriced power supply.) I understand I can just hack off the connectors and rewire everything, but that would be painful because they're all such high-quality connectors. (Ok, maybe the stupid AC power connector on the back of the control unit should go.) So, if anyone recognizes any of them, please respond.

I'm looking at this Bosch dome: http://www.spytown.com/boflxtsevare.html I'm curious about "NightSense." Is that just their marketing term for run-of-the-mill color/bw technology? Did a more extensive search and came up with: http://www.semweb.com/jan03/productsjan.htm http://www.ferret.com.au/articles/65/0c017165.asp Other features of interest are "Lens Wizard" and "Auto black." Anyone have any experience with these cameras and/or technologies?

No way I know of. You can host them on a web server somewhere and then provide us with the URL between '' tags. If you have Yahoo DSL or some other service that provides web hosting, that will work.

After researching DVRs in the $1000 range, I'm going to refocus my research to DVRs in the $1500 - $2000 range. I'm also going to reduce the number of camera input from 16 down to 9 or 10. Right now, I'm considering the Kodicom 509. I don't have any firm prices for this unit, but suspect it's in the specified price range. Is this the best choice for this price level?

bodeekwa, from what I can gather in this forum, the PC-base solution is fine. However, based on my research, it only makes ecomonic sense if you already have a newer model PC to configure as a dedicated DVR. The numbers just don't add up if you need to invest in a new PC. Even then, for a GeoVision setup, the price of the video capture and realtime display cards alone will run pretty close to the price of a dedicated DVR.

G'deal. Will do first thing next week. Thanks.

I was in the same situation as you and went nuts on this forum trying to get a clear idea of which DVRs are "quality" and which are "crap." To add to the confusion, many of the same lower-cost DVRs you see on the web are sold under dozens of different brand names. My original DVR budget was $1000 or less for a 16-channel DVR. After using the members here as a sounding board, I realized that this budget was not very realistic; so I doubled it and selected a Kodicom unit. I don't have any experience with the lower-cost units I was looking at, but couldn't be happier with the Kodicom. I plan to write up a full review of this unit soon. There are some features that are lacking and others that could have been designed better, but the unit is rock-solid and produces high quality video. My main point is this: After learning about most of the features of my DVR, I came to appreciate why these things are so expensive. If you consider what you pay for a run-of-the-mill computer, then add the massive storage and video features, you will realize that most of the multi-channel DVRs are really quite cheap. If I were to distill all of what I gathered from this forum so far, I'd budget at least $1000 for a four-channel unit and focus on the more "recognizable" brands. Hope this helps.

I recall there was some positive buzz on this unit: http://www.intellicamusa.com/g44000dvr.htm

Adjust what? Recall that I can't find a manual on this thing. If you have a pointer to a manual, please let me know. After moving the UF500 to the front yard, the result is that some shrubs in the foreground wash out the subject area, which is about 40 feet beyond. However, my current view is via a B&W wide angle and I'm working on upgrading the cameras to day/night telephotos for a tighter view of the street; so the story with this unit is still unfolding. In any event, this unit is one industrial-strength big bad boy!

Right. So you can see that a 30-deg unit at 50' or so, produces a pattern that is very narrow and way too bright in the middle for any practical use at that distance. As part of my on-going experiment, I moved the UF500 to my front yard to illuminate a driveway entrance approximately 90' away. Still not dark yet here in CA, but the results should be interesting...

Here's an interesting comparision: Samsung 721 vs. Toshiba IK-64DNA http://www.samsungtechwin.com/upload_file/product/35/17354.cata.pdf http://www.toshiba.com/taisisd/security/products/cameras/images/IK64DNA.pdf Their specs are very similar. Unless I'm missing something, the Toshiba looks like a screaming bargain. Does anyone have experience with both these cameras?

I don't see anything in the 520 specs to indicate it has an ICR (Infrared Cut Filter Removable) feature. This feature appears to be available only on the 721. Can someone confirm this?

Wazn't a typo: "periphery" 1 : the perimeter of a circle or other closed curve; also : the perimeter of a polygon But selected a more middle-of-the-road term... No offense.

Yes, I've long studied the beam patterns. What's not-so-clear is the camera-exposure factor. If the center is too bright, you're going to get so much less on the perimeter.

Thanks Rory, Regarding the UF500, as far as I can tell so far, the photocell is working as I would have set it. My big challenge at this point is making the best use of the 30-deg illumination in the confines of my 120x70 -foot (or so) backyard. I might be able to make more practical use of this bad-boy in the front yard. However, if I were to start over, I'd go with two UF100 60-deg units for the backyard. Lesson learned: When selecting IR illuminators, the spread spec is more important than the power spec.

Got it. But the idea is to maximize the life of the Wiz units and, in the case of the UF500, save enery. (I could heat a room with the heat it puts out.)

SammieT, how far away from the camera was the subject?

I'm looking for the best day/night camera I can get for under $400 that has or can accept a 30mm+ AI lens. (If lens is included, I'll consider a higher price.) So far, I'm "focused" on the Bosch LTC0495/20, but am still very open to any alternatives. Any suggestions?

Thanks, but I'm a minority non-dealer. Can anyone provide a price? (PM me, if it's classified).

So where can one pick up a 721? I can't find many (read zero) sellers for this camera.

By the way, for anyone considering WizKid WZ12 units, be forewarned that you have to remove the circuit board from the unit to adjust the photocell sensitivity or the light output volume. The problem is that the board is held in place by two screws that go through two brass spacers that hold the back of the board proud of the mounting platform. It's nearly impossible to place the spacers back into place behind the circuit board. This is something they don't mention in the instructions.

Yes.

Thanks Rory. Another question: How do you adjust the sensitivity of the photocell on the UF500 power supply? BTW, the power supply is one serious piece of hardware! What the heck is that big heavy round thing for? My best guess is it's some sort of miniture particle accelerator for smashing atoms.

Welcome Bill. I'm still learning here, but one important point is that the "best picture" is not strictly a function of camera resolution. Lighting, lenses, camera quality, and camera settings also play a big role. Your best bet is to use the members of this forum as a sound board before investing in any camera. I'm also in the process of installing a CCTV installation for my home. I spent a great deal of time researching the PC-based vs. dedicated DVR question. After a lot of research, I settled on a dedicated Kodicom DVR. You can read the other threads, but the bottom line is that my existing PC wasn't "powerful" enough to host a GeoVision card. There are also some "hidden" costs for a PC-based system, such the need for a separate card for realtime monitoring.