What the experienced people would recomend:

[blake carstensen 0]

Hello all,

 

I've come and gone off this forum before. I'll start by introducing myself as a 25 year old male with common sense backed with percistance and innovation.

 

Reading some of the posts on here, must really intimdate people from doing some of these installations themvelves. Perhaps in my experience I didn't do something right, or really doesn't come to hard to me.

 

Anyways being like your typical person, I started off cheap. Mainly because not everyone wants to dedicate thousands of dollars towards a system that they have no experience with and don't know what to expect. I got myself a $40.00 DVR capture card from E-bay. Judging by the poor use of the english language on some of the instructions, i'd say it was imported from overseas. I remember someone on here verified that it uses my computers reasources rather than its own.

 

The program isn't the most comfortable to use with my 2 camera's. The motion detection seems to be poor, and manipulating some of the settings such as file saving location in the directory just isn't there. Viewing remotely is not clear, and I understand I would have to download the hardware from the disk that came with this system, onto any remote viewing machine.

 

The camera's used I assume are of low quality as well. 480 lines of resolution. Uses the Anolog connections and has the IR led's. One brand was "Axtronix". For the 250.00 bucks I spent on this system with wiring and patience, its provided some comfort.

 

Since I just purchased my first home, i want to upgrade to a new system and better Camera's provided the cost is justified.

 

4 camera's will be sufficient, one for every corner of the house. Since the lot is only 45' wide and 80' deep, the range is not neccisary but would prefer a wide viewing angle. One Camera would probably be covering a distance of about 0'-50', while the rest 0-20'. I have not educated myself thoroughly with IP vs anolog Camera's. One "I.T." guy I know indicated the IP camera's make it easier for remove viewing, which I suspect could be correct. Since I know IP addresse's are associated with the internet and have minor experience with them.

 

What Camera's would you recomend for someone who believes in survallience to be used to avoid theft etc. I find keeping on eye on day to day activity on the camera's for something suspicious will prepare you for a hit, or help you identify that suspicious neihbour or person. Meaning the quality does not need to be military grade, but hoping for a clearer image than what I am currently getting (quite gritty).

 

from the homework i remember doing a couple years ago on Cards, the Geovision appeared to be a good bang for the buck and was talked about highly on here and many places. I would enjoy something which provides a good software program that allows for ACCURATE motion detection. My current DVR only allows me to select an area with a drag and drop window (rectang), so I am not able to work around high traffic area's for example that I may not want to set the camera off, resulting in more recorded video thatn I need, and more time wasted time overviewing a day's activity, which will then result in my procrasinating because I don't want to spend 15 minutes of my day watching essentially nothing.

 

I know some programs offer alarms etc if motion is detected, new objects sensed, objects removed etc. All of which is very neat and appealing. Wondering if there is one company that offers all? (I'm a guy, I like having stuff that I won't use but just to say that I can).

 

The DVR would be installed into my personal / home business computer. Right now I have a tigabyte external harddrive for my work project files and for DVR recording. my computer properties are as follows:

 

windows XP pro, service pack 3

intell pentium 4 , 2.4ghz

512 mb ram

Nividia GeForce FX5200 (older type of mother board connection, unfortunately)

 

While I am remodelling the whole house, I wanted to have the capability of turning on the master bedroom TV (which doesn't exist yet) to view the DVR screen at night for example, if something was heard for re assurance. It would also be convienient to view the same thing on the main TV as one of the video inputs.

 

with all that in mind, What would you recomend for a DVR capture card (unless you think some Standalone would do adaquatley) and which camera's would you recomend upgrading to. The dome camera's make any onlookers quite aware of the security and provide a nice clean installation. One corner of the house could use a camera that pan's and woudl hopfully track motion.

[VST_Man 1]

I'd recommend the Avermedia Hybrid series DVR capture cards. They do both analog & IP cams seamlessly...........have very little issues with reliability or upgrades. I use the 6480e on the high end installs and the NV5000 on the low end. your selection may be based on available slots as the 6480e uses a single slot and the NV5000 uses a mix of slots....

 

be aware that most hybrid cards or NVR systems charge you for each camera you want connected. And, you'll end up paying more for support if you elect to go that route..........software upgrades are usually sold and not given away. Avermedia is free............

 

I have several installs using Aver and they are all working fine with no issues.

 

Take a look at Video Insight's software.I use them on my Cooporate type installs since the software is extremely Windows friendly....and Coorporations with Network weenies love this software because it is very robust........does just about anything you want.

 

If it were me; I cover the corners with decent vandal domes and motion lighting. cover the driveway and indoor entrances with megapixel cams. Install a microphone indoor and 2 out.one front & back. audio provides more than video if you get good audio.

 

FYI....Aver also provides smaller DVR's (1304NETSATA) that can connect via IP to a larger DVR (6480e or NV5000) which allows you to have double recorded video...........I use this feature at some locations where the video is remote of building unmanned during off hours. ie. gated community with guard shacks, pools, tennis courts, gun clubs, ect. I place the 1304 at the remote and feed it back to the 6480e......nice feature. In your case, you could run your analog into the 1304, which you hide, and then connect to it via the 6480e. Then add your IP cams and enjoy life. since you have a hybrid you can also provide IP cameras to other family or business location via IP......and the new aver software allows for scheduling streaming which allows you to disconnect the IP stream during working hours if your bandwidth is slllllllooooooowwwwww.

 

good luck................yes I sell and support both....