alpine0000

In otherwords, are they compatible? I ordered bulk CAT6 calbing and now I need connectors. I always assumed the connector was the same, just the cabling was a better on CAT 6. But now that I am looking online to order bulk 8P8C modular connectors, I am seeing some listed as CAT5/CAT5E only, and then others listed as CAT6. Weird... For example, can I use these with CAT6 cabling, or should I find some that are specific for CAT6? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16896775052&cm_re=8p8c-_-96-775-052-_-Product Sorry for the dumb question, but thanks in advance.

Do you guys prefer solid or stranded? I know that solid can go greater distances, but it seems that stranded is better for terminating, because it goes into the crimp connectors better. None of my runs are over 100 feet in my house. Would you guys buy solid or stranded CAT6 for making your own cables? These will be run through the walls and attic. Also, are you guys finding any need for STP (shielded twisted pair) over UTP (unshielded)? I am not running it with any power lines, and it's for use in my home. Is it worth it to drop the extra money on sheilded, or should I just stick with unshielded? Do you think unshielded will pick up un-wanted interference from other CAT6 cables that are run next to it?

Thanks Matt. Makes perfect sense. I will continue to search for CAT6-specific connectors. It seems like they are more expensive than CAT5/E for some reason... I wouldn't think that they'd be more expensive to manufacture, but who knows. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place.

It's remarkable that you don't have time to fiddle with your Mobotix camera (because you are a busy real estate developer), but you have all the time in the world to argue over which platform is superior via an internet forum

Darn. Too bad I missed that great deal in the classifieds... Well, today I ordered an Axis 241Q encoder, the Netgear GS110TP gigabit 8 port POE switch, windows 7 pro, and a Western Digital 1.5TB Enterprise HDD for the server when it gets here from Dell. I have a feeling I will most likely need to order another 1.5TB drive, but we'll see. I'm also going with two Vivotek FD8161 indoor IP cams to get me started. In the coming months I will replace my outdoor cams with some nice IP ones. I shouldve done those first, but they are a real pain, plus I havent found a camera yet that I want to use outside. Once my server arrives, I will need to buy 3 Exacq VMS licenses, too. That should get me started off nice. Thanks for the suggestions everybody! I am on my way to a much nicer system...

So after talking about it for the last 6 months, I am *finally* upgrading my analog system to IP. I just ordered my Dell server. It ships next week I am not replacing all 6 analog cameras at once. I figure I will use a video encoder to get me started, and since most of them are single or 4-channel, I guess I am going to go with a 4-channel, which puts me at replacing 2 of my analog cameras with IP right from the start. So I have been looking at the AXIS Q7404. It looks great. I am willing to spend the money on the AXIS, however, at > $1,000, I am wondering what my other (comparible) options are that might save me a bunch of money (I don't want junk though ). I did a search on the forum, but it seems like only a few encoder topics have come up since 2009, and since new hardware is released all the time, I figured I'd start a new topic again. Once I get the encoder, I need to look into a POE switch and 2 IP cams. Was looking at the Vivotek FD8161 for indoor, and the Netgear GS108P switch (I guess I will need two of them eventually since only 4 ports are POE (or just buy an 8-port POE), but it may be a while before I have more than 4 IP cameras. Will probably replace a camera every few months). Then I need to pick up 6 exacq licenses, Windows 7 Pro, and a spool of CAT6. I already have a nice battery backup waiting at home for the server This stuff adds up quick! So, back on topic... Recommendations for a 4-port video encoder that costs signigicantly less than the AXIS, but is just as reliable? I don't care about audio, but I do want H.264.

I plan on getting a proper switch. Netgear is decent, aren't they? Or are they considered not-so-good? I am looking now at the Netgear GS110TP. My favorite egg website sells it for $271. It is 8 ports of Gigabit POE. Hmm. While I do agree with that logic, I have a pretty small house and don't need more than 6 cameras. In fact, now that I am going to IP, I think I may be able to have one camera take the place of two cameras in two instances. So I MIGHT even be dropping down to 4 or 5 cameras eventually -- not sure yet though. I think an 8 port should be enough, yea? It is already bigger than I think I will need. Especially considering that this switch is *only* for my cameras. I already have a non-POE 8 port gigabit switch for the rest of my network (which isnt all that extensive, to be honest. Just a network printer, a NAS, vonage, slingbox, and then wireless client laptops). If I end up outgrowing it in a few years, I wouldn't mind buying another switch at that point

Hey bpizle I also had the same thought as you about just going ahead and spending the money on IP cams instead of an encoder, but I cannot install all of the cameras right now (I need to run a lot of cabling through walls and ceilings, and with my schedule that'll take time. Plus my budget is allowing for maybe one new camera every month or two). But I think I am going to go for the Axis 214Q encoder, which is only $750, compared to ~$3k that I would spend on the four IP cameras, and I can sell the encoder later and only take a couple hundred dollar loss I think. To answer your question on why I want exacq with analog cameras: I figure I will get the server and exacq set up now and upgrade two cameras, and then slowly upgrade the remaining cameras over the coming months. But, as for why I want exacq to begin with: two main things attracted me to it: Any browser (no active-x! ) and apps for iOS and android. These are crucial for me, as I travel a ton and am not always at a regular PC.

I say this respectfully, of course... For a new member who is trying to get help from the regulars around here, you sure are doing it wrong . You may want to change your approach, otherwise I'd be surprised if the experts continue to contribute anything. That is my only contribution to this thread, but good luck -- Mobotix makes great stuff

Hey Mike_VA, just curious: why would you buy a non-poe gigabit switch and use injectors instead of just buying a POE switch? cost reasons, or is it something else I'm not aware of? Regards,

Thanks Mike, Would I lose any functionality by using the Avigilon instead of the Axis? What, if anything, would I be giving up? Avigilon will give you much better image quality with JPEG2000 compression and it is powered with POE so you have a cleaner easier install. So is my only option on the Avigilon JPEG2000? Not that that's a bad thing, just wondering... I had originally planned on doing H.264, but I don't exactly have my heart set on that. I am open to suggestions. Do you prefer JPEG2000 over H.264 due to the image quality improvement? So, am I right in saying that the only difference between the Axis I was looking at and the Avigilon that you suggested, is that the Axis can stream audio (which I dont care about), the Axis can do H.264, and the Axis can do multiple streams per channel? I def wont use the audio or multiple streams per channel, but may use the H.264. Am I missing anything else? Thanks again for the input.

No, netgear sells one with 8 POE ports, but i think it has a bunch of enterprise settings for linking multiple switches together and a fiber uplink, which is why i didnt initially look into it, because i was paying for extra stuff that i wouldnt use. Thats why I was looking at the 4POE/4non-POE version, because it was a standard, simpler switch. But regarding your comment on the fact that two 4-port switches wont be enough: these switches actually have 4 POE ports and 4 non-POE (actually 8 ports, see image below), so since my server and the connection to the rest of my network wouldnt need POE, it should have me covered with enough POE ports if I did decide to go the netgear GS108P route Thanks again for the feedback. Much appreciated. I am still open to more comments/suggestions on my setup, or for switches or encoders.

Thanks Matt, So, do you think Gigabit for each camera is overkill? I am sure it is today, but I was just thinking tomorrow and beyond. Perhaps I should just go with gigabit to the server, and 10/100 to the cameras? I was just gonna do gigabit since they can be had online for $145 for a 4-port, or less than $300 for an 8-port. Although, it is Netgear, and I'm not sure how that compares to Cisco. I have only owned linksys and netgear all my life. No experience with Cisco hardware. I just looked at netgear because they've never done me wrong I am open to any other options though. I will check out the Cisco.

Thanks Mike, Would I lose any functionality by using the Avigilon instead of the Axis? What, if anything, would I be giving up?

What port? Most residential ISP's block port 80 incoming, so hopefully you set them both up to use 8001, unless you have a business account or some other reason to have port 80 opened up Seems like it's a router/port issue, since you can access it from inside the network.

I asked you earlier what port your router is forwarding port 8001 to on that camera, and you never replied. If your router is forwarding port 8001 to port 80 on the camera, then youre fine. Otherwise, change either the router to forward external port 8001 to the camera 80, or just change the camera to listen on port 8001. Good luck.

what port internal do they use? So you have the external port 8001 forwarded to the internal IP of a camera, on which port? 80? maybe thats where you went wrong, is specifying an incorrect port internally? Are you using a DVR or server, or do these cameras have built-in web servers?

Can you access the camera locally, using the local network IP? If so, then you have a port-forwarding issue most likely. If not, (assuming you access the cameras directory, and not a DVR/server) then it's a camera issue or maybe you need a plug-in or active-x component (not familair with those cameras) that isnt getting installed? Just rambling some ideas here...

iOS or Android? edit: nevermind. i just re-read your first post and saw that you are using iOS.

Thats not plain low on Exacq's part. They wanted to deliver an App for iOS and Android ASAP, so they contracted it out to software developers until they could find the time to write their own. Those software developers wrote an App, and charged for it. Now exacq just got around to writing their own and are offering it for free. I have been in contact with one of the guys there, and this is what he told me in an email: "Yes we currently have someone contracted to write them but are in the final stages of developing our own. Hopefully they will be out very soon. -XXX Technical Support Specialist Exacq Technologies" I applaud them for their efforts to get an App to us ASAP. The free iOS version was released a few weeks ago. The free version by Exacq was just released in the last day or two. I noticed that the two paid versions they had contracted out for Android have now been removed from the Market. Thanks EXACQ!! edit: I just downloaded the free version for Android and I'm testing it with their Demo Server. It works great!! " title="Applause" />

It won't cause loss of image quality, per say, but it will let less light into the lens, which is not really what you want at night time if you already have minimal lighting. During the daytime, though, there's no issue with the smoked cover. I have smoked covers on my domes, and here are some night shots. I do have some lighting outside though. So that helps a bit. The driveway shot is not great because I have a post light messing with the lens. I need to do something about that one of these days. But here is a daytime shot. All of the outdoor cams have smoked covers.

gotcha. makes sense. haha.

How come you are recommending that he look at something with worse specs than the camera he is considering (FD8161)? FD8161 vs FD8134 -1/3.2" vs 1/4" CMOS -Auto iris vs No Auto Iris -3-9mm vari-focal vs 3.6mm fixed -1600x1200 vs 1280x800 -audio capability vs no audio capability am i missing something? because im also considering the FD8161 (when i can get my lazy butt in gear and find time to *finally* upgrade my analog system to IP )

Debating between these two, and want your opinions on which is 'better' (for my needs). I know the desktop one costs more, but they both look decent and are within my budget. (for what its worth, I'd probly just buy the smallest HDD option possible as I currently have 1.5 TB of HDD I could add in myself from my current DVR to save money). I'd either get the 8 channel EL-S or the 4 Channel Desktop Hybrid. http://www.exacq.com/products/dt_hybrid_server.html http://www.exacq.com/products/exacqvisionELS.html I currently have a G4-RTA-D1 that I bought from Mike at Shoreview, along with 6 analog cameras hooked up to it. It's decent and has done the job, but there are a few reasons I want to upgrade. 1) I would like to start dabbling with IP cams, but I dont want to switch all at once. I'd like to slowly upgrade/add IP cameras -- hence my reason for a hybrid. 2) The client software has never worked properly since I upgraded to Windows 7. Even if I run in compatiblity mode it keeps crashing. 3) The web based client is just "average", and only works with IE, and it requires port forwarding of TWO ports, not just one. This has caused some headaches for me, as my employer has almost all ports locked down. I like that the exacqvision works with all webbrowsers, doesn't need active-x (which is another no-no at my job), AND I can even use their app on my iphone!!! " title="Applause" /> 4) Mike has disappeared. Not to mention, the company who re-badges my DVR has sourced a new manufacturer to make their DVR's, and hence has STOPPED ALL SUPPORT for my DVR. So there are no more software upgrades, phone support, etc... I am ON MY OWN. I called them a few months ago to ask about software upgrades that work correctly with Windows 7. I was told there will be none of that, and the only way to get support is to buy a new DVR made by their new source! WTF!? In fact, they didn't even want to talk to me on the phone, as they said I was past my 1 year warranty and they werent required to fullfill anymore obligations with me. Now I ask you, friends, which one would you get for your money? I currently have 6 analog cameras, and the Desktop Hybrid I would buy only has 4 analog inputs, which isnt that big of a deal, as I can either get rid of two of my analogs, or just replace them with IP's. The EL-S model I would buy would have 8 analog inputs, so that would work nicely. I see a brief comparison here: http://www.exacq.com/downloads/exacqvision-brochure-0810.pdf but still cant decide. Are there any more differences I am missing? What does one have that the other doesnt? (aside from what is listed in that short comparison graph). Why is the EL-S so much cheaper? Does the EL-S come with IP licenses like the Desktop Hybrid does? I didnt see anything about that. Does anybody here have experience or insight on these two? Please help make my decision easier! BTW -- This DVR is just for use in my home, as I travel often. I like to check up on things when I am at the office, too

So wait -- is it for your personal business, or for a client with a $500 budget?