jevs

I want to prewire for IP cameras in the eaves, but I am not sure where all I should plan for a camera to go. Anyone offer a service for just helping with optimal locations? I would like to run the wiring and put boards in for mounting ahead of time. We are about to install soffit and facia though.

OK, I am now a dealer for intellicam. I went ahead and purchased a G4-16RTA-D1-W and I also bought a 1TB hard drive to add to it for a total of 1.25 TB. I will let you know what I think once it is installed and I try it out.

County population is 93,807. It is adjacent to St. Louis County (St. Louis MO.) Short drive from high crime

They have to go through a minimum of 2 camera field of views to get to the utilities hookup and I believe they will both be catching the actual CT transformer box on the side of their views. Due to the fact that pulling the meter would do nothing on my setup (other than Pi$$ off the electric company since it would stop reading my usage), they would probobly get shocked even trying to mess with it. There is no way to disable the power without actually cutting two live power feeds (this power system has two parallel feeds from the pole), and they are not small on a 600 amp service. I do believe the security would alarm if it sensed a power cut, and everything will be battery backed up. Also, keep in mind the crime rate is not that bad. I feel pretty safe with 10 cams and 7 motions sensors on the outside alone. Annual Stats for the entire county: Murders: 4 Rapes: 3 Robberies: 2 Assaults: 42 Burglaries: 152 Thefts: 560 Auto thefts: 50 Anyway, I have figured out the intial question I was asking on this post. Please take a look at my DVR question post, as this is the last piece I need to figure out now. Thanks

Read a zillion posts and still not sure what to get. I did find the Intellicam G4-16RTA-D1 . Is there anything comparable or better for the money?

I am looking for a good 480 DVR. It must have 480/480 capability and record every camera at full resolution 4CIR or D1 (I think) at 30 fps if possible? It should have real time live display. It must also have network support for viewing over the net. I have seen a couple that said they were pentpex or something instead of triplex. If that's even a real spec I guess I want it This must be a stand alone unit and I don't want to go over $3000. It would also be nice if I could use it for IP cams as well later, but that may be asking for too much. 16 channel audio would also be nice, although i probobly won't use it until I upgrade to IP cams some time down the road, if I ever do. Now I will start reading a zillion posts on here to research it while you guys think about it.......

I have decided to go with the Atronix R615DC1016CB. I couldn't find any decent no name brand rack mounts with adjustable voltage, so I think the extra money spent will be justified. If I have any voltage problems at the cams, (I shouldn't since I sized the power wire properly according to specs) there will still be some voltage drop I can make up for with this supply.

The second floor is just a 16x25 bonus room with a half bath off of it. I can punch right through the side wall from the 1st floor living room attic or something if need be. I am planning to have everything possible this house could ever want before it is drwalled. I have been planning for months already. I do have a dead space to go up through though if I need to. I pan to drwyall the basement at some point though, then I wll have some fun running a new wire

Basement in a dedicated electrical room 11' x 5'.

I am planning a huge install (automation, security, audio, intercoms, etc.). I am wondering if I would be better to get a rack mount power supply for my cameras, or a wall mount? I will have equipment in racks (Xantech amplfiers, MRAUDIO, possibly the DVR etc.) I will also have wall mount stuff (structured cabling, Omnipro II, expansion units, etc) If the DVR is rack mounted, it seems like having the power supply right above it or below it would be nice since my power and video are on the same cable. but maybe heat will become an issue? This is my first security camera install, so I am unsure what most people do. I seem to be able to find better prices on wall mounted units though. Right now I have 10 cameras planned 350mA each, but want to leave room for growth and possible switch to IP cameras later off same supply if not going POE for cost savings (power wire will already be there)

I guess a should mention this is residential and no runs over 200'.

I am using the Trimese wire (RG59U (95% copper), CAT-5e, and 18-2 in one bundle). I plan to use a single power supply ditribution box with 18 fused outputs. I am running 10 IR cams (specs say 350mA each). I will be using the RG59 for video and the 18-2 for power. The Cat 5 is for future IP camera upgrades, PTZ, or connect with 18-2 if more power is needed, or whatever could come up, etc. I have read a lot about problems with using passive baluns on cat 5 having ground loop problems with single power supply connections to multiple cameras. I was just wondering if this is a non issue if your using RG59 and 18-2? Thanks Now, on to pick a DVR and power supply.......

RG6 or RG59 better for residential cameras? I don't think any runs would be over 150' even if cabling is squared off to look nice.

To Rebco. I doubt cameras will make your family safe. It might just catch them in the act so you can view it later. The rest of the security system will handle the safety part more effectivly (which I am going overboard on). Seeing cameras is just a deterent, so really even fake ones would do the same job for that. I am leaving myself room for upgrades and just getting something decent going for now. FYI, I bought 10 cameras I will be using. They are basically the same as the Hawk-I HAWK-365VIRCDW, but with slightly better specs (540TVL versus 500, of course same pixels, so who knows if it is true). They went on sale for 138 each this weekend. Now I just need to figure out the power supply, cabling, and DVR to use. I have pretty much decided running the power over the Cat 5 is too risky, so I may run Cat 5 with baluns and seperate 16-2 for power, or Cat 5 and Siamese RG6 w 18-2, and just have the Cat 5 for later IP's. Any more advice is appreciated.

I am just getting into this market. I already have a business license setup and dabble as a builder/landlord on the side. I am setup with a couple companies and yes "W" is one of them I am using my own home to learn on and we will see where it goes from there, that is why I am decking it out with just about everything I can think of. By day I am a Manufacturing Engineer, but my degree is in electrical engineering. I think the market is pretty untapped around here, so there is some potential. I don't know anyone with any kind of automation around here. The builders, contractors, and electricians I know really aren't doing anything with it either. By the end of this current project I should have a pretty good idea of what it takes to do most of it.