What can I expect from this camera?

[rickm15752 0]

http://www.seco-larm.com/FlushMountBallCam.htm

 

I posted this in the residential sub-forum but there has been no response. Sorry for cross-posting, but I'm considering a purchase very soon and was hoping to get an experienced person's opinion.

 

I've installed cat5e and 16/2 to places around my home where I might put a camera. I will use analog and ip cameras in a hybrid system. I see this camera is 12V and I've read that 12V only cameras may require active baluns if using Cat5e for video signal.

 

I would use this indoors in a family room that is 12' x 18'. Would the listed lens give an adequate image? If I use a balun, what type would be best? Or is this a camera that must use coax?

 

Thanks for your help.

Rick

[SEANHAWG 1]

I dont see anything wrong with it but I have never used it so I couldnt give a firm recommendation. For the application that you are putting this in, you really dont need anything with alot of bells and whistles anyways. It has pretty decent specs though, true day/night is always good. I like the way it looks too. You may want to install a small cheap seperate illuminator if your room gets real dark at night, you wouldnt need much for a room that size. I would almost want a wider lens for that area but it shouldnt be too bad as long as you put the camera in a corner in order to get as much of the room in the field of view as possible. As far as using active baluns, how far is your cable run from the camera to the hybrid NVR?

[thewireguys 3]

I have installed them. Image quality is good but it is analog and you need to keep your FOV small of you want detail. Install can be a PITA.

[rickm15752 0]

My camera run (Cat5e 16/2) to the NVR will be approx 35'. Based on your comments, I'm leaning toward trying a few of these. It wouldn't be a huge investment if they don't work out.

 

So, my question now focuses on the balun issue. Any recommendations on type? Could you provide some brands and model numbers? What would be needed at the camera and what would be needed at the NVR?

 

As far as illumination, I'm just concerned about day time burglaries and this room is well lit during the daytime.

 

Thanks for the help.

Rick

[thewireguys 3]

If your are using a NVR you would need a IP encoder. If your using a Hybrid machine it would connect to one of the analog inputs.

[rickm15752 0]

It sounds like a hybrid machine would suit my needs. Can you cite some products, brands and models?

 

And, if hybrid NVR, would a passive balun be ok at the camera? What about at the hybrid NVR? Would that be a passive balun there? Or is it handled internally?

 

Rick

[thewireguys 3]

I strongly recommend you contact a local professional to design and install a system for you.

Edited April 12, 2011 by Guest

[mike_va 0]

You could skip hybrid, and use something like an Axis 241Q which can be found around 300 used. If you don't need the frame rate you can even get buy with an old Axis 2400 around 50 used.

 

Then one approach would be to use some NVR software. Milestone has free 8 channel software (server and client), there are other paid approaches out there that others would be better qualified to discuss.

[SEANHAWG 1]

I am not a balun user but I would think that you should not have a problem with passive baluns at 35'

[Soundy 1]

16/2 *and* baluns are redundant, especially at only 35'. Use one pair of Cat5e with the baluns for video, two or three other pairs for power - one wire, nice and clean.

 

A "hybrid" DVR is effectively an analog DVR that can also record IP streams. Analog cameras hook up exactly the same as they would with any other analog-only DVR, so yes, you do need baluns at both ends of a run.

 

As far as balun selection, I've used NVT, MuxLab, GVI and GEM - all are fine choices, but I've found GEM to have the most cost-effective models (at least for now). Currently using these, and finding they work great: http://gemelec.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=721&category_id=72&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 - they're screw terminals, which means a little extra work over punch-down types, but they're a lot more compact AND cheaper than the punch-down options.