CSG

Sony has had Day/Nights with a mechanically activated IR filter for years, both in Box style and Domes. Same with Sanyo, I installed many D/N boxes cams over 4 years ago. Why does Samsung think they just invented it?

I recommend Paladin tools crimper and stripper. You match your stripper to the connector you are using. Paladin tech support will help you matching up. Their 3-stage stripper costs less than $20, and does a great job. I now use 3 piece Amphenol connectors. Since you are directly crimping the tip on the center conductor there is no doubt you will have a good connection, even over temperature changes. I tried Liberty Wire & Cable's connector system (they make a special 2 stage radial crimp) and they SUCK, avoid them. One of the challenges with connectors is the variation of cable types from manufacturer to manufacturer. The PVC jacket, and inner core, and center conductor can vary several 'thou in diameter. The three stage system ensures a permanent connection. Twist ons and 2 piece crimps rely on a spring action to grab the center conductor. Overtime corrosion and movement from temp change can degrade the picture. Show me a job with bad connectors and i'll show you a job with lines in the pictures.

I'd get nervous about a company that can't properly code their html on the webpage. What's with the !@ !@ all over the page???

This webpage bases its voltage loss on .5 amp cameras. All of the camera's i've seen use less than .2 amp. So under 1000' I dont think you have a problem http://www.securityideas.com/securitycam/howtocalvold.html

Yeah, well wake up everything made for the alarm/cctv industry is made in Mexico or China. I hear what your saying (I only buy US made cars - Ford, GM, Chry/Dodge), but you wont find much sympathy here. The alarm business demands cheap cheap cheap.

Designing a DVR system for a client who wants 4 cams recorded for minimum 4 months storage, and backed up in the event of drive crash. I've spec'ed a Dedicated Micros D4 with 2.4 Terabyte RAID5 Box, plus an ECCO 9ch 300gb for 7 other cams that don't have the same storage/archive requirement, or a Dedicated Micros BX2 16 channel with Continous Archive, 1.2 Terabyte with spare drive caddies. Now if the client didn't require redundancy, I could install a nice DM Sprite2 600GB and a 1 terabyte JBOD. Well, he'll have his choice. Already told him it could be 15k+ USD and he didnt wince so we'll take it from there.

Rory, Good points. To anwser your DM datasheets say they use JPEG. Don't know how that differs form MPEG-4. I've been relatively happy with DM, I wish the video was less grainy compared to what the cameras put out in analog. I guess you will get that with all DVRs to some extent. You have a sharp picture at the monitor, and after the DVR gets done multiplexing it, converting, and compressing the image looks like crap. For DM i've used D4, ECCO 4 & 9, Sprite2 9 & 16 ch. I think DM's activity search stinks, where you look for movement in specific areas. You need to go into the admin setup menu to use the feature. Why DM figured users should go into the DVR setup mode for this I don't know. Hopefully in future releases they will move activity search into the playback screen.

The I-View stuff looks interesting, will have to check it out.

Rory, I called Kalatel Tech support and that's what they recommended. They said the Storesaf wouldn't handle it. I priced out what they recommended, although honestly i'm not familiar with their line so there may be other choices with Kalatel. One thing I noticed is that they use wavelet, I thought you said wavelet didnt perform well with remote viewing, or was it activity detection? Both are important in this application.

ok, I priced out the Kalatels today, so here's what we got. DM D4 80gb plus a RAID box of 2.4 TB = 11,400 USD Kalatel DVRMe with 1TB plus RAID box of 1TB = 12,000 USD Seems like DM is cheaper, with more storage.

I have to disagree. In many instances i've installed cctc systems where companies were having problems, and afterwards the nonsense came to an end. Usually after a few weeks i'll go back to a job to say hi, and find out 2-3 employees were fired. The vandalism comes to an end, the fingerpointing stops. After that they rarely have any more problems because the rest are on notice.

I am working on something similar. I am using PVC because the cam is going to be set into an embankment and mostly buried. Using my plumbing skills I will screw in a cheap garden hose and use that as conduit out the back of the PVC for my cables. I will be using an old Computar motorized zoom so after the thing is set in place, I can focus & adjust the picture. How do you plan to adjust your lens, or camera settings. You must remove the cam from the pipe each time.

Rory, That cam should be an improvement over the bullet cams with the built in ir illuminators. By seperating the illuminators from the cam, you hopefully won't get the reflection of the IR back inside the dome, which causes a cloudy nighttime picture.

Just for the heck of it I will price out a comparable Kalatel system, with 2+ TB of Raid storage. I'll let you know what the difference is. I will only spec embedded systems. Once i'm finished with a job and get paid, I don't want to go back on warranty calls. A PC based system isn't going to be reliable enough for me. I've installed many DM's, only had grief with one unit, which started when the user changed the admin password. My billable service call rate is $125/hr for CCTV repairs (NY,NY). If I have to do free warranty work, it eats into whatever profit I made on that installation.

I've used a Pro-Video 7700 DN cam. Gives a good picture, but the night picture with infrared is hazy due to the reflection of the ir illuminators on the lens. I think this must happen to all cams with built in ir illumination. It looks like the cam is seeing through spider webs. A seperately mounted IR illuminator would probably do a better job.[/img]

Thanks for the info folks. I've been a steady DM installer, but I will be checking out these other units you mentioned at the next ISC show in NY. My local suppliers tell be there's no pricing difference between DM + GE, I guess everything is imported anyway so the weak dollar is making it costlier or eating into the MFG's margins. I know the DM rep pretty well, gives excellent support and design info. They stand behind their equipment. I had problems with a D4 I installed 3 yrs ago, after a little cajoling I got a new replacement. Made the client happy.

Have had good experiences with the Sony SCC73 Day/Night Mini Domes comes with 3x8 varifocal, hi-res sensor. Made with a sturdy aluminum housing, 12dc/24ac self selecting. Reasonably priced for the trade.

Haven't have such a problem with Dedicated Micros activity detection, maybe cause they still use JPEG format. Their units also have 7 sensitivity settings, indoor high/low, outdoor high/low, and very very low.