Ernie Douglas

Hi, I have had some great help on here with an upgrade to the DVR on a two camera system that I inherited when we bought a new property a couple of years ago. Going foreward I will need to add some additional cameras but before I can do that I will need to run some additional cables. However, in the short term I need to upgrade one of the PTZ cameras that is already installed. The existing camera is inside a shed, circa 18m x 18m x 7m in size. The existing camera just shows a black screen when the lights are off and so I would like to upgrade this camera to one that has night vision. The existing camera (obviously) already has power going to it and the signals to and from the camera are via CAT5e cable back to the DVR. I would like to keep this camera as a PTZ as the primary reason I want night vision is to monitor animals. I have attached a picture of the existing camera. Thanks Ernie

I searched on here for suggestions for livestock cameras and farm cameras. All I got was suggestions on what type of system (wireless vs wired etc). No suggestions on particular brands, models or vendors. Do I assume that folks on here don't do recommendations? Ernie

Thanks for the help Tom. Once I knew I couldn't do any harm I played about with the cable connections and now I seem to have got everything working and I think I have figured out how to programme the settings I need to set in the DVR. Next on the list will be a camera upgrade and after that I need to add some additional fixed cameras. I will start a new thread regarding the cameras. Ernie

Following on from my original thread regarding system upgrade advice I am having trouble getting my new Qvis Viper DVR to communicate via RS485 to my PTZ cameras. The 15-AU50ES joystick, which was connected to the previous DVR does Pan, Tilt and Zoom the cameras so I know they work and that the cables are OK. The 15-AU50ES supports PELCO-P, PELCO-D and COP-2 protocols. The DVR does not support COP-2 protocol. I have been through the list of protocols in the DVR settings and tried all of them but to no avail. Do I assume then that the camera must be configured to COP-2? I have read somewhere that cameras support more than one protocol so how do I switch the cameras to use something that the DVR supports? Is there a physical jumper maybe or is it in the firmware and if so how do I access it? I dont have a manual for my cameras, they were in the property when we moved in. In my other thread I was told that the cameras are a sunkwang and a 12inch VCL but google turns up zero results when I look for a manual for either. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Thanks Tom for the advice on getting camera setup info. I just took a screen picture with my phone while the cameras were starting up. Unfortunately, whilst I now know I have the right settings, the PTZ controls in the software still wont work. I will check and double check all the connections again at the DVR end. If I try swapping the RS485 connections round will that cause any damage? I ask because I cant remember ever trying the PTZ controls on the old DVR because it was in-situ when we purchased the property and I have never had a need to use then on-screen controls so therefore I dont know if they worked before. If I move the cameras using the joystick and then try to save that set position in the DVR software it doesn't save anything. The alarm inputs work OK because when someone triggers an alarm a pop-up appears on the screen saying so. I guess I may have to call in a CCTV specialist if swapping the control wires around does nothing. Thanks, Ernie.

Fabulous Tom, thanks for the tip. I will do that tomorrow as I have an early (05:30) start in the morning so I am off to bed now. I will let you know how it goes. Ernie.

Hi folks, I am hoping that I am posting this in the right section. As per my intro in the Introductions area, I have a CCTV system that I need advice on how to alter/upgrade. I think the system was installed circa 15 years ago. The existing system has two cameras, one outside and one inside an outbuilding. These link to a "Concept Pro" DVR via Cat5e cables and the CCTV also links to an alarm system so that, for example, when a particular door is opened the indoor camera pans toward that door. The main things I want to alter are: 1. I would like to be able to view the cameras remotely on a laptop, tablet or phone. I understand that its possible to do this with the current DVR but its not simple. Therefore what DVR would be the best upgrade to buy to achieve this more easily? 2. I would like to add at least one more camera and would like one with reasonable night vision. The existing ones don't have great quality in poor light. This new camera will need to be able to zoom, pan and tilt. I would get a professional installer to link everything up, not least because of the link to the intruder alarm, although the basic hardware install such as mounting the additional camera and pulling new cable in (Cat5?) I will do myself. I have attached pictures of the existing cameras and the DVR. Any help or advice would be most appreciated. Thanks Ernie

Hi folks, so due to other things taking priority I have only just got round to upgrading my DVR. It arrived yesterday and swapped the units over today. The interface seems simple enough to use and I have downloaded the full manual rather than just the Quick Start Guide that came in the box. I swapped the various cables from one system to the other methodically so that I didnt get anything mixed up. Previously the system took signals from the alarm system and told the cameras to go to various pre-set positions depending on which PIR was triggered. I have a problem with the joystick controller and the GUI. As well as the on screen controls I also have a joystick control. It seems to be a generic unit as the identical unit seems to be available under various brandings. I cant find a manual for it anywhere online so I have played about with it and have worked a few things out including how to make it do is save presets although I am not certain if those presets are stored in the joystick unit or the DVR? The joystick is a 15-au50es unit. The second issue is that the on-screen controls that to do the same pan, tilt and zoom features of the cameras dont work. No matter what I do I cannot pan, tilt or zoom using the mouse. Finally I have read the DVR manual and noted how to set "presets" but if I save presets using the joystick controller then this does nothing when a PIR is triggered and obviously I cant change pre-sets using the mouse controls because the mouse controls dont work so maybe these two issues are related? There are two pairs of cables connected to the RS485 terminals. One pair goes to the joystick controller. The other pair goes off down the CAT5e that comes up in an alarm panel circa 50m away. I have not touched the other end of this cable. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Edit. I have no pre-sets in the DVR but if I move a camera using the joystick and leave it there then after a minute or so the camera goes back to its preset "default" position before I changed the DVR. So I guess that the current presets are stored in the joystick. Does that mean the joystick is overriding the DVR GUI controls? How do I chage it so I can use both the joystick AND the GUI? Also, how do I get the presets to be the one I need to save in the DVR and not in the joystick controller? Edit 2. If I unplug the joystick from the system the GUI still wont work. Maybe the cables into the unit are not terminated very well? I note from the picture below that one of the clamps is in further than the other. Is there a better way to terminate two pairs into these RS485 terminals? At the moment my pairs are twisted together before being inserted. I have uploaded pics of the joystick, the GUI controls (that I cant get to work) and the RS485 terminals if that is any help. Thanks, Ernie

Hi All, I have joined this forum in the hope that the folks on here can help me with a new (to me) CCTV system. I live in the North of England and moved house last year. The new house has a CCTV system which I want to alter. However the company that installed it (for the previous owners) don't seem to be able to give me answers to my questions. I am guessing that is because they only want to sell their products but I would prefer to get some independent opinions before spending money. At the moment I know almost nothing about CCTV. Ernie.

I did a bit of googling and struggled to find a 5 in 1 dvr for £275, most google results were much less. The closest I got was £250 for a 4K 12 channel one by SPRO. That was a bare unit so would need a HDD adding which then puts the cost up by several hundred £. So is the £275 suggestion inc HDD or exc HDD? Also, I dont think my existing cameras are 4K so do I need 4K or 1080P. Are new cameras 4K or is 1080P more than enough. Also do I need a HDD or should I look for a SSD? Surely SSD is more reliable? Sorry for all the questions but I am on a steep learning curve. Ernie

Lol, whilst I was not sure of the cost, I am not deluded that the system can be upgraded for nothing. I did ponder upgrading the dvr first. You mention one, is it possible to let me know the make and model as I would be keen to buy one and get it installed. As for additional cameras, do they need CAT5, CAT6 or other cabling? I assume the power is via the same cable as the comms? If I am pulling new cables in for one new camera then I will probably install additional cables for future use for possible other cameras at the same time. The static cameras seem to be less than I expected so I may well install a couple of those too. Ernie.

Hi, I am in East Yorkshire. The current two cameras cover 90% of what I need regarding security. However, I would like one more pzt inside a building so that I can keep an eye on some animals, therefore that pzt would not be for security purposes but for monitoring purposes.. There is a location that a static camera might be of use to provide additional security although that camera can wait as I have some other jobs to do first. As far as budget goes, I have no idea. I have a budget to cover a few things including, possibly, cctv upgrades but at the moment its a shared budget so it depends on my options on everything including cctv. I know that this statement is not that helpful but from past experience on other projects I know that when I tell someone my budget they usually tailor their costs to use it all up. I have no idea if the upgrades will be £500 or £5,000 which is why I am making enquiries here. I know I will have to pay a professional to set things up which is fair enough but I dont have a clue on the hardware costs. Ernie

Hi, thanks for the reply. I had to google "ptz" as I have very little knowledge about CCTV. I am in Yorkshire. I would like to add at least one more ptz in the next few months and eventually maybe another one so a 4 or 8 camera system would be good. The current, Concept System, is 4 cameras although only two channels are in use. I may need to put in a new cable because last year one camera stopped working and it was diagnosed as a damaged pair on a CAT5 but it went onto a spare pair in the same cable ok. The cables are in ducts so I could pull a new armoured cable in if required. So what recommendations are there for a new ptz that can see in the dark? Also, what is the recommendation for a new "system". There are numerous sensors around the property, not just on doors but movement sensors also, that tell the cameras what to do and I would need to keep that functionality. As I said, currently it all seems to be connected to the intruder alarm so I guess the two will need to be untangled if the new system has the functionality built in. The door sensors currently tells the camera what to do and also triggers the alarm and this dual functionality would also need to be kept. Thanks, Ernie