alpine0000

instead of having them enter an IP, they should enter a domain name. get your free domain name here: http://www.dyndns.com/ you install some software on any computer on your home network, and each time your IP changes, it will update your domain name with the proper IP.

Is this an M12? Also, how did you get the temp display on the top left of the image? Is that a feature in the camera, or did you work that in yourself with some other module?

To those of you who have used either of these cameras: So I'm about to buy my first IP camera These are the two I'm looking at right now. They seem to be about the same price. I am most interested in night-time quality, as it will be used to monitor my driveway (I have some light outside, but not that much). Also, should be able to handle bright sunlight in the morning. Basically, we have 1/4” Progressive scan RGB CMOS with the AXIS and a 1/3 inch interline transfer CCD with the Panasonic. Help me out with me decision here. Let's discuss this Pro's/Con's of each, regarding anything you can think of. I have never seen either one. I will be building a Dell server and using exacqVision VMS. I will be using h.264, not MPEG. Thanks! Images from each are a nice bonus, as well as your overall experience with the cam!

Interesting...

Is that a typo? It really exports video to a .exe (executable) file? I'd think it would create some sort of file with a video extension, like .mpg or .mp4 or something...

I have heard great things about them, and the software looks wonderful! However, the thing that is leaning me more towards exacq is the flexibility. For example, the fact that you can use ANY browser, and the apps for iphone/android, are the two main things that have me sold. Looking at milestones website, I cannot tell if they can do those things or not. Yea, I'm going to start out with 1.5TB, and then, if needed, I will add another 1.5TB. I only really want to store about 2 weeks of video, and most of my cameras are motion only, and between 8-12FPS. So I'm gonna just see what happens. Although, with these new IP cams with higher resolutions, I may very well need more drive space, and am prepared to add as needed! Usually they do, but with my (very limited) experience a lot of dome cameras either don't have a replaceable lens, or, if they do, you are very limited to the lens you can use due to the tight space between the lens and the dome cover. So I'd like to just get something that comes with a decent quality, varifocal lens right out of the box

So funny you mentioned that. I decided on that camera for the inside of my house this afternoon and emailed TheWireGuys about pricing on it! Great minds think alike. Haha. Have you seen a screenshot from this camera? How about a night-time screenshot using the IR?

I just checked out their website, and I only see 3 box cameras listed. Do they *really* only make those 3, or am I missing something? Also, I tried to think of the important things that I am looking for in a camera for this application, and I came up with these requirements for my 3 outdoor cameras (the indoor cameras will be a whole different story): --Dome (I want them to be simple 'drop-in' replacements for my current camera's, as well as look asthetically pleasing) --IP --Megapixel (or at least HD) --Very good low-light image (after all, this is not a business location, its my home. I dont have anything to monitor during the day really, like businesses do with customers coming in and out. My main concern is capturing vandelism/theft at night time) --h.264 --WDR is a huge plus --Day/Night (as I may add IR illuminators in weak spots later) --Varifocal Just for funsies I figured I'd post a current screenshot of 1 of my 3 outdoor analog cameras that will eventually be replaced with an IP cam (this is a Panasonic 484 dome): And here's a screenshot from this past winter. It shows my other 2 outdoor camera's: And a better view of the front door camera: A shot of how the camera's are installed:

First off, let me say thank you for everybody who chimed in I was doing research, and both of these companies seem to make decent stuff, and they both have WDR, which my current Panasonic domes have, and I like (since they are outdoors). Price isnt TOO BIG of a concern, although its always nice to spend less if you don't have to sacrifice too much quality. I will take a look at the specs on that camera. Thank you for the suggestion Does it have WDR? I also agree that they are very impressive Not in my case with my layout. On the inside of my house, I don't have more than 1 camera in any room. And on the exterior of my house, the cameras are not covering locations near each other either. So my replacements will be 1-for-1, regardless of the camera I use. But you are correct, in some applications it can replace two cameras I am not going to be using a home PC. It is a dell poweredge server. Here are the specs: -Intel Xeon X3430 Quad-Core 2.4ghz, 8M Cache, Turbo -8GB 1333MHz UDIMM RAM -Western Digital RE4 Enterprise SATA 1.5TB HDD -Gigabit Network Adapter The server is like $700-800. Its really not that expensive. Not to mention, I am in the IT field and have connections. And I know all about server failures, trust me They are pretty uncommon in the grand scheme of things. heat dissapation and noise are also not a concern for me. Like I said, I want to be able to centrally manage about 7 cameras, and be able to login using either the Client Software, Web App for iphone, or using a Web Browser, and have all my cameras in one place. I'm not saying Mobotix cameras arent amazing, I'm just saying that there are other options that I think are more appealing for me (and just so happen to be cheaper). Maybe I am wrong in my thinking, though. I will go back and research Mobotix again. But it seems like Mobotix's key selling point is the movement away from "centralized" systems, when, in fact, having a centralized system is one of the main things I DO want! Nothing wrong with that outlook, but I am the kind of shopper who also believes there are good options in the middle, too For me, it doesn't have to be the top-of-the-line or the best value. I can compromise somewhere in the middle. Thanks again for your suggestions!

Yes, I have taken a look at them many times. However, this is not going to be a 1 camera setup. I want to centrally manage about 6-7 cameras, so I would like to set up a server with exacq on it. I am a big fan of their app for the iphone, too, which I will also use. So in this case, mobotix cameras may be more expensive for me.

I am looking to upgrade my system. I want to get into IP for the first time, as well as build my own windows server and use VMS for the first time. I currently have a standalone DVR with analog cameras, so this will be new for me (although, I work in the I.T. field and have a degree in I.T., so the computer/router set up will be a breeze). Since I have never set one up before, I am not sure if I fully understand exactly everything that I will need to do this. I want to initially integrate my analog cameras and slowly add IP cameras. I will probably start off with 1 or 2 IP cameras and then slowly replace the analogs with IP cameras down the road. Please let me know if I am missing anything. Is this all I will need? --Server -(Will probly use a Dell of some sort with windows 7 pro, quad core, minimum of 4 gigs of ram (maybe 8?), and min of 2TB of drive space) --Encoder- if i understand correctly, i need this in order to integrate my exisiting analog cams with the new IP infrastructure (probly pick up the AXIS Q7404) --VMS Software- (will buy the exacqvision for $150 per license) --POE Gigabit switch- this will be totally dedicated to the cameras Am I missing anything else here that I will need to get this server up and running, and recording my video footage? I tried to download the VMS software manual on ExacqVision's website, but it requires a login name and pw. I thought I read somewhere that you can try out the VMS for free (although only use 1 camera), but I cant figure out where/how to download it. Then, is this all that is entailed for the setup (very high-level overview)? --configure the router to forward the proper ports --install the Server VMS software on the server (which will run as a windows service) --install the client software on any machine to administer the server setup --register/license your cams Am I on the right track? Is it really that easy? FYI-- this is a system for my home, and can't imagine ever having more than 7-8 cameras total

oh -- one more question: if i have four 500bg HDD's in the server, will the VMS software be able to write to all 4 drives, or will I need to RAID them into 1 virtual drive for the VMS to handle it?

Thanks! I will PM you! I agree, it is way overkill. But I can get these servers for like $400 (not including my HDD's), so the only real reason not to would be to save electricity, which I might also consider. Again, I appreciate all your help!

Excellent. Who can arrange this? You? An exacq dealer? Exacq themselves? Thanks again!

Hey, Thanks for the reply! The server is a bit much, but I can get it for pretty cheap, so why not, right? I thought I read somewhere that you can try out the VMS for free (although only use 1 camera), but I cant figure out where/how to download it. Do you know anything about this? Is this true?

^ Since my question above is starting to get off topic for the sub-forum, I am going to ask it in the IP Cameras and Software forum where it may get more replies, since it doesnt really relate to DVR's at all

So I just spent about 2 hours searching the forum, and (I think?) I learned a lot. I now have an interest in another possibility. Instead of getting a dedicated DVR, I could do a PC-based system. I have never set one up before, so I am not sure if I fully understand exactly everything that I will need to do this. Please let me know if I am missing anything. Is this all I will need? --Server (I am in the I.T. field and have access to Dell Poweredge servers, so I will probably just use that) --Encoder for my exisiting analog cams (probly pick up the AXIS Q7404) --VMS Software (will buy the exacqvision for $150 per license) --Gigabit switch dedicated to the cameras Other than buying Windows 7, an IP cam or two to start with, a battery backup (which I already have), and some cabling, and I missing anything here? Is it really that easy? If so, I think I can get into this for under $3k (for just my 4 items listed above. That wouldn't include cameras). I am new to IP and PC-based solutions. I am coming from dedicated DVR and analog here, so sorry for easy questions EDIT: I also have one more question about the port-forwarding I will need to do. Will I only have to forward port 80 on my router to a special port used by the VMS software on the server, which will cover all methods of connecting (mobile app, web browser, and client connections), or will it entail other things and multiple ports? I have business internet and a static IP here, so all the ports are available for me to open up here at my house if needed. I tried to download the VMS software manual on ExacqVision's website, but it requires a login name and pw

So aside from being able to have windows on the Desktop version and the fact that it comes with 8 IP licenses, is there anything else that the Desktop version can do that the ELS cannot? Any extra features or ability that I would get with the Desktop that I dont get with the ELS? So far the ELS is looking like a pretty solid solution.

Thats kind of what i was thinking, because I am only going to start with 1 IP camera at first to play around with it and get acquainted with the new technology. Then I may add another camera or two later. It will be a slow process. I def wont ever have 8 IP cameras in my home. 6 is about the max total cameras i even need for my application, but def wont have 6 IP cameras any time soon! esp at $900 a pop for the Axis cameras i want!

Then how do you have the option from the factory for many different sized, up to a couple TB of HDD space? I wouldnt think that they would have just ONE 2tb drive in there, would they? hmm. that would make a huge difference if so. So, any advantages to having windows over linux? my current server says it has embedded linux, but you can really access any OS. it just boots right into the DVR menu, so it doesnt "seem" like a real computer with Linux or Windows on it at all Forgive my questions that might seems 'beginner-ish'. But i appreciate the help!

The ELS is h.264 with full d1 30FPS and desktop is not. Desktop is Windows or Linux and the ELS is Linux only. The ELS has the OS on a SSD drive and the desktop is harddrive. The ELS will use a lot less power. The Desktop comes with 8 IP licenses and the ELS does not. Thanks for that reply! So which one would you recommend for my application, and why? One more question: is there any software differences between the two, or is it mainly just hardware differences? for example, is this VMS software used on both, or does the software differ? http://www.exacq.com/downloads/exacqvision-brochure-0810.pdf also, what would be the benefit for me being able to have windows rather than linux on my DVR? thanks again for the help!

i wouldnt replace the HDD that comes with it, i would just add a few more 500g HDD's. This is what I did with my current G4 DVR and worked fine. How come you recommend not doing it?

Well, this is the 3rd time in the last 2 years that my mailbox has been bashed in. I finally got them on tape. The crappy part is that they got very lucky because I usually have a large post light in the yard that operates from dusk til dawn, and lights up the entire driveway/curb area, but it burned out just TWO nights ago, and I hadn't had a chance to replace the bulb yet!! Unbelievably good timing for them. Not to mention, the cameras main purpose that I caught them on is to watch my car in the driveway, not the mailbox, so it wasn't zoomed in on the mailbox area. The good part though, is that I have a motion sensor light by my front door that happened to turn on when they drove by, so the scene was lit a little bit. As you can see, this wasn't kids just joy riding around bashing in random mailboxes. They were directly targeting me. They drove to my court, made a U-turn, and got out and kicked my mailbox in with anger multiple times, then drove away. I drove around the neighborhood this morning before going to work, and there are NO other mailboxes bashed in. Somebody hates me. I need to catch these guys. I used to host a poker game, and I think it may be a bitter player, because I have no other enemies and live a very low-key life (go to work, hang out with gf, renovate my home). Can anybody tell what kind of car this is? I am going to give the footage to the police today, but I doubt it'll be usable. The fun happens a few seconds after 4:03am on the video footage. Note that the other guy that jumped out of the car was checking the passenger side of my girlfriends car to see if it was unlocked. I think I'm going to have to install a 3rd camera out front that is zoomed in my mailbox to catch these guys once and for all, and make sure it is nice and lit up out there every night. Here is the file player: http://www.flopit.net/onlinestuff/cctv/player.exe and here is the video footage: http://www.flopit.net/onlinestuff/cctv/mailbox_bash_23april2010.mp4 If you are at work, and your network blocks downloads of .exe files, you wont be able to download the file player. So you can download this, and then after youve got it saved, change the file extension from .abc to .exe: http://www.flopit.net/onlinestuff/cctv/player.abc First open the file player, then within the file player, choose 'file' > 'open' and browse to the mp4 file. Thoughts? Advice? Comments?

I do have an alarm installed (with a siren, motion sensors, window sensors, and monitoring company), and motion lights in the front and back yard. Oh, and I do keep my .45 loaded and within reach at night time, along with some other security measures in my house that I wont go into Anyways, moving on... Does anybody have any comments on my previous post? I am not worried so much about somebody breaking into my house as I am these young kids that keep vandalizing. I have lived in my house since 1988 and have never had or heard of a break-in in my neighborhood. But we have high school/college kids that get drunk and like to vandalize mailboxes every so often.

Hey guys! I have been busy lately, so I haven't been back here in a bit More suspicious people have been hanging out around my house at night. My neighbor alerted me this weekend that he saw a car parked in front of my house "scoping it out" last week (he was busy and couldnt tell me right away). He said his dog started barking around midnight, and he looked out his window and saw a car that he had never seen before parked in front of the house with their lights on, and he could see their faces all looking towards my house (their headlights were shining off of the truck in front of them and back into their car, lighting up their faces). He then ran to grab a piece of paper/pen and came outside to write down the plate number, but as soon as he opened his front door they put the car in gear and raced away. He gave me the approximate time and date, then I sifted through my footage on the DVR and found it. The problem I am finding is that I don't have enough detail in my footage to even see what kind of car it is (as you can tell from the first video that I posted in this thread). This is the result of not only low-light, but the camera that I am using to view this footage is not really setup to monitor the street. It's really to monitor my car in the driveway. With that in mind, I want to install some more lights outside and add another camera that would be zoomed in to monitor the mailbox/street area so I can get a better look at these guys the next time they come back. The lighting is the easy part. The camera I want to use for the job is where I have some decision-making to do. I can either add another Panasonic dome (analog, the same as the other ones) that would hook up to an empty channel on my DVR, which would be the easy route. OR, I am thinking of using this as an opportunity to dabble and get started in IP (and megapixel) cameras, but I would obviously not be able to use my DVR for that, and would then have 2 different methods in my system for recording footage, but I would get to play around with an IP camera and hopefully get a better picture of these fine, young, gentlemen that are vandalizing my home. So, what would you do? Add an IP cam to your analog setup, or just go with another Panasonic analog dome? If you *did* go with an IP cam, which one would it be? I have ZERO IP experience. My budget is no more than $700, and I work in the I.T. field, so setting one up shouldn't be too difficult -- plus I installed my current CCTV system. The mailbox is about 35-45 feet from my house, and I plan to add a bit more lighting outside, too. The main point of this post and all of my rambling is that I want some suggestions for a good, quality IP camera that performs OK in low-light, relatively speaking, (even though I will have some lighting outside), and costs no more than about $700. I thought about posting this in the IP section of the forum, but figured I'd start here in this thread and see where it goes, since you guys already know the scenario and layout of the area I want to cover. Suggestions?