Sawbones

I'd like to know the answer to this as well... and you'd have to hope it would interoperate with NVR software as well as the Axis unit.

I'd be surprised if it's not simply some form of basic computer PSU, just in an odd form factor (non-ATX). Check out some of the micro-ATX PSUs and see if they might fill the bill.

What does Bosch typically get per camera for their VMS software? I'm torn between a true NVR, and a hybrid DVR with an encoder card. I have an Axis 241q, and could easily pick up another for my remaining four cameras, then add IP cameras as I go... or I could get an 8-port encoder card (like the Nuuo model) and add IP cameras to that. Decisions, decisions...

I actually have a NUUO question: I'm currently using a Dedicated Micros DVR, and am thinking of switching over to a PC-based system. I've looked at a number of different vendors, but I cannot understand NUUO's licensing system. If I purchase an SCB-5008 card for my current set of 8 analog cameras, what do I have to do if I want to add a couple of IP-based cameras? Do I purchase additional licenses on a per-camera basis? Can an SCB-5008-equipped PC-based DVR be converted to a hybrid system with a simple dongle and licensing key?

In short, yes. You're really better off with regular illumination, unless you have a need for IR. Visible light will allow you to see colors, and provide a deterrent effect. IR is grainier, very expensive, and only shows black-and-white. I personally use IR, but my neighborhood has restrictive covenants against light pollution (eg. no floodlights... only "accent lighting" in the form of up or down-lighting of a structure, etc).

I know of no way to reset that password. I'm sure they could do it at the factory, but even a firmware update will not reset it. Sorry.

Mmmm... tasty techo-goodness...

212 is color only and it needs ALOT of light. 233d is amazing!!!! That's why I didn't look at that one more seriously. I like the concept, and think it's a great idea, with the wide-angle and the digital zoom, but adding a day-night option or an ICR would really make that camera.

I hadn't realized how big that 233 looked against the others. *********** Edit ************ And does anybody know if the 212 is IR sensitive, or if they make a day-night version? I'd thought about putting one in my garage.

Never been a fan of WD drives... I've had more failures with that brand than any other (and they didn't even fail in DVRs... these were all in regular desktop systems I've built, which is light duty compared to a DVR) Seagate makes an entire line of drives for surveillance applications. I'd recommend going with those.

TVL is "TV Lines," and is loosely analogous to resolution. So the more, the better.

The Leviton plates with the snap-in connectors work well... or you can just get a generic blank faceplate and drill a hole in the center.

Yep. I have one mounted on the back of my home. Pictures are at the link below: http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13935 Works like gangbusters, but that performance costs you.

I did an entire review on a bunch of Ebay illuminators: http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13935 In short, the Raytec provides the most light... but at a very steep price. The poor-man's choice in that list is that long, silver-colored tubular, lens-ended Ebay illuminator. I'm using those on both sides of my home right now, and not only are they adjustable (in terms of beam spread), but the light they provide is very even; no hot-spots. They're also waterproof, and you can get higher-powered versions.

That's the truth. I can always tell which computers have been living in a smoking household... they're horrific inside.

I'm betting on rebranded. They look just like the Raymax, Rainbow, etc IR illuminators that have been out there for a few years. They run big bucks too.

Same to you! Now I'm off to tinker with my kid's new power-wheels jeep. Maybe if I doubled the voltage...

If you're a tinkerer, and you enjoy it (as I do), you could experiment with a few things until you figure out exactly what you want. I've probably gone through eight or nine different cameras of various types (including WDR, PTZ, bullets, domes, coverts, intensifiers) in setting up and experimenting on my own system. I'm on my second dedicated DVR/server, and I'm probably going to get a third one (PC-based). I've gone through any number of IR illuminators (did a review on a bunch of them in one of the forums here). I've enjoyed every minute of it. Unless you want to pay a professional (and it's definitely worth it if you're not into tinkering), you could do every bit of it yourself.

If your DVR has its webserver on the standard port, all you have to do is go into your router, and forward port 80 from your external IP address to the IP address of your DVR. If they're using the standard port, that should do it. If your DVR has its server on a non-standard port, you'll have to look in the manual to find out which port to forward. If you're using PTZ control, that may require an additional port.

Now that's funny! Sign me up for that training...then I can understand my wife more. Hah! Good luck with that.

All hard drives are not created equal. Make sure you get a DVR-rated hard drive (Seagate makes an entire line of drives specifically for DVRs, and I've had good luck with them).

Unless it's simply not feasible, you're better off adding better lighting to the exterior of the structure, and keeping your bullet cameras in day-mode. IR may be sexy/cloak-and-dagger, but it's notoriously short-range (generally about half of what they advertise), and the picture quality is worse. IR is also not much of a visual deterrent (unless your burglar has night-vision goggles, in which case you're dealing with an entirely different class of burglar). That camera looks very short-range... I wouldn't expect more than 10-15 feet of IR out of it. I'd put your DVR in the office in a locked rack-mount cabinet. Also make sure you protect the camera cables and power cables (or add a rack-mount UPS inside the cabinet), else somebody can simply cut them and disable your entire system (an employee, for instance). As for camera mounting, you want them high enough that they can't be reached from the ground without a ladder. That will help prevent somebody from simply reaching up, redirecting the camera, cutting the cable, or smearing something on the lens. As for having a monitor, that's easy to do... most DVRs have video-out, and you could simply put the monitor on your desk. If you want to know when somebody comes in, I'd put in a door-chime. That will save you from having to watch the monitor, and allow you to do other work without dividing your attention between monitor-watching and the spreadsheet you're working on. You have a drop-ceiling, so installation should be trivial. Just get some screw-together fiberglass "fishing rods" to help you run the cables through the space above the ceiling.

I'd imagine that would be model dependent, as windows-based DVRs will use a different filesystem than a *nix-based DVR.

Just in general, here's how I'd do it (keep in mind, I'm a CCTV hobbiest, not a professional in the field). Two cameras at each of the front and back doors. IR bullets outside, domes inside, focused in on the door (total of four cameras). Camera covering the general showroom. Camera in the office. Camera in the garage area, focused in on the garage door. +/- a camera outside, focused on the garage door. You could shift around the location of the cameras based on your major goals with the system: eg, trying to reduce employee shrink, versus catching a view of everyone coming in/out of the business. I can't think that armed robbery would be a major concern for a furniture store (I could be wrong), as you folks aren't really known for keeping large amounts of cash on hand. Anyway, that's my $.02

MJPEG does suck up storage space, but the quality difference between that and MPEG4 is significant (or at least it is on my DS2).