Integratek

Any recommendations? Something with functional web/cms software and gps support... Am I dreaming?

It seems like the signal is too weak and receiving device cannot sync on it. Checking signal with oscilloscope vs. reference camera could give better picture. Power loss also could be an issue. Also, some cameras seem to have a slight bit lower output voltage, so it could drop below acceptable lever over longer distance, so a video amplifier could help. I've had similar problem with an RG-59 cable which was pulled through flooded underground conduit, it's outer layer - black - kind of partially disintegrated which leaded to corrosion of it's conducting shield which caused signal drop. Try to solder all connections instead of using BNC's. Each such connections is actually 4 metal-to-metal contacts which have resistance and tend to corrode and stuff.

I'm looking into building subj. DVR to use with Geovision or some other brand 4-channel card. The question is whether these CPU's are fast enough. To me they seem to be ok because they are have computing power comparable to that of older P4's however I'd like to have some expert advice before spending hard-earned $$$

Is it the one with web access only and formatting USB drive into some strange file system?

Well I've presented my customer two quotations - one for fully analog system and another for 32 channel hybrid Vigil (about 35% more $$$) let's see how this works out ...

I've got a customer (a large enterprise) who wants to repair, clean, and tune 16 analog cameras existing on one of the sites and install a new DVR (with IP capabilities?) at first stage, add 21 more cameras and second stage and eventually connect all branches with 10-50 cameras each to central recording and processing center. One of companies listed in subject will be selected for dvr and (maybe) cameras. So I've got to decide whether I want to go with IP system (more flexibility in some aspects, higher prices, could easily deploy wireless etc.) or to stick with 'ol good RG-6. The choice is hard: Geovision is one of oldest, reliable, has decent software and hardware compression is good. 3x Logic appears to have more advanced features (motion analyzes, etc.) and worked better than GV when I needed to get perfectly synchronized sound. Intellio makes IP cameras with advanced motion analysis - much less storage space needed, especially at megapixel, 1024 bit encryption and few more nice gimmicks which create a strong desire to try and install them however prices appear to be highest of all three, cameras are not(?) fully compatible with all NVRs, there's no analog video whatsoever so IP servers should be used, camera's night vision is not so good (0.01 lux at best) and resolution is not too high - just up to 1 mp. As it seems to me now I'm about to go with 3x Logic, but some information is still to be gathered.

You could use VGA-to-AV converter http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=VGA-to-AV+converter&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

system with 200 cameras @ 25 fps @ D1 .... Somewhat similar system with 16 cameras @ 100 fps stores about a week on 500 gb HDD @ 25 fps that would take 2 TB One month would take 8 tb 200 cameras would take just below 100 TB

PCI card has nothing to do with IP cameras Please specify - you want to upgrade standalone DVR to PC-based DVR or you want (need? why?) to upgrade the whole present analog system to a digital (IP) one?

Try reinstalling Geovision software or as a last resort reinstall Windows.

http://au.level1.com/category2.php?id=63&id2=251#2 these are rather decent devices and the prices are reasonable. you need to use the bridge mode and give every device manual ip address say cameras have permanent (by MAC) IPs leased by router's DHCP server which are 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.12, subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 and default gateway is 192.168.1.254 (or whatever router internal IP is) wireless bridges than have to have addresses say 192.168.1.101 to 112 and should not have DHCP running at such distances you would probably need to use directional antenna only at camera's side.

"Disk formats" are actually called "file systems" http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&safe=off&client=opera&hs=fOa&rls=en&q=avtech+dvr+%22file+system%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=f&oq=&gs_rfai= http://www.indiamart.com/securetech/stand-alone-dvr.html http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&safe=off&client=opera&hs=ysF&rls=en&q=%22STREAMING+FS+2.0%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= the DVR in question uses some in-house optimized (probably precreated containers, non-standard file allocation table (FAT), non-standard cluster size, optimized for codec etc.) file system. http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&safe=off&client=opera&rls=en&q=%22STREAMING+FS%22+dvr+windows&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= apparently there is no software or driver or whatever you call it to access this file system for windows but since DVR's os is apparenty some kind of linux - http://www.rugit.cz/dokuments/7_MDVR_X11.pdf - it is seems to be possible to find a way to copy and play files of windows. just google it.

If you'd try to record AV from VGA input the quality would be only so good and at resolution not above 640x480 You should try some screen capture software - http://www.google.com/search?q=screen+capture+software

check DVR's default gateway settings if there is any double check all forwarded ports put your DVR in DMZ make sure there is http:// header in URL check whether you are able to connect to IP address test from another network/ISP try to access by loopback - connecting to ip from same network - some routers allow that and some don't so do research on yours. try to reset the router and make all settings again try another router

Bad DVR - as any other piece of any equipment - makes poor design and implementation. It's rather hard to point on a specific problem. From my own experience it seem like DVR recognizes signal with voltage above certain threshold, which is set above standard. I You really should test these cameras - in their present locations and with present cabling - with another DVR. And as Soundy have said if it's DVR - replace it if you can because it's very likely that the unit will fail within less than a year.