Front Door Camera - ACTi or Arecont

[Anthony A. 0]

i have a covered porch that is approx. 8' wide x 5' deep and 9' high. im trying to decide which camera will suit me the best for my application without spending too much. im looking at either an arecont 3100m or acti 8133v or 8134v. if the acti is good enough for this application, i would get that but im thinking the arecont is much better but also much more expensive once i factor in the lens and outdoor dome housing.

 

the porch has a light that is on a timer during the night and uses 3 x 60w bulbs. the porch is illuminated with this amount of light. so im thinking night performance may not be that crucial. my goal is simply to turn on my ipad, iphone, tv, etc. to see who's at the front door and thats it.

 

any help is appreciated.

[thewireguys 3]

What software to you plan on using? You will need a computer to display the video on your TV.

[Soundy 1]

Arecont = shyte.

[Campbell 0]

Arecont = shyte.

 

Dunno about the Nth American market but Arecont also = paying an arm a leg and half a lung for a camera here in Aus

[thewireguys 3]

Arecont = shyte.

 

I have installed about 100 Arecont cameras without any failures.

Edited May 7, 2011 by Guest

[Soundy 1]

Four cameras out of eight, either physically broken or mis-assembled, or just not working properly, out-of-the-box, was the last straw for me.

 

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=22353

[mike_va 0]

Not impressed with Acti ACM4200, occasional artifacts and dropouts. Might be related to software I used. Crappy stock lens. On the other hand it is pretty inexpensive (and feels like it), I'd rather have something I can depend on.

 

No experience with Arecont, but I heard Google uses them a lot FWIW. Just bought one to play with so we'll see.

 

We use an Axis P1344 for the front door works fine, nice picture.

[Anthony A. 0]

I probably won't be using any software. Just need the camera to display mjpeg and be able to view it realtime over the web. I'm assuming all ip cameras do this, correct?

 

So what's my best option for a camera $400 and under then?

[thewireguys 3]

FYI Arecont is not a web camera and not designed view though the web interface.

[mike_va 0]

It depends I think. You need a viewer that works with all those. TV will not work with most unless you have it hooked up to a computer. I know Axis and Panasonic you can write html pretty easy to view. Some cameras are different though in the way they do MJPEG, i.e. in more of a "post" fashion. Maybe just my limited knowledge of how to get it to work though.

 

If you're just trying to see the front door you could just buy an old axis 2400 on ebay for $50 and a good analog cam? Bonus would be that you could also feed the analog to the TV direct, use the server for computer etc access.

[Anthony A. 0]

Yeah, I was thinking HTML like the pannys have so you simply write in the address in your browser and you get the image. I have a pc at my tv already so I would simply have a shortcut with the web address for the camera.

 

So arecont doesn't do this natively? Only by using software are you able to get the HTML link?

[cglaeser 0]

So arecont doesn't do this natively? Only by using software are you able to get the HTML link?

 

Do you have a PC on the net? Run the Exacq server with a single camera license.

 

Best,

Christopher

[Campbell 0]

So arecont doesn't do this natively? Only by using software are you able to get the HTML link?

 

Do you have a PC on the net? Run the Exacq server with a single camera license.

 

Best,

Christopher

 

Why? The Arecont still has its own inbuilt webpage which you can view which is all he is trying to do. You can still view the Arecont stream through a webpage. Irrespective of whether its designed for it or not, you can still do it.

[thewireguys 3]

So arecont doesn't do this natively? Only by using software are you able to get the HTML link?

 

Do you have a PC on the net? Run the Exacq server with a single camera license.

 

Best,

Christopher

 

Why? The Arecont still has its own inbuilt webpage which you can view which is all he is trying to do. You can still view the Arecont stream through a webpage. Irrespective of whether its designed for it or not, you can still do it.

 

I didn't say it wouldn't work

 

You only get limited frame rates with Arecont using the web interface they're designed to be used with VMS software.

 

If you have a computer running 24/7 why not record it? Exacq has single channel free vms software.

[mike_va 0]

Yeah, I was thinking HTML like the pannys have so you simply write in the address in your browser and you get the image. I have a pc at my tv already so I would simply have a shortcut with the web address for the camera.

 

So arecont doesn't do this natively? Only by using software are you able to get the HTML link?

Rory provided some nice examples for me here:

 

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23345

 

Save the html file as a shortcut and click on it when you want to view. This way you don't have all the extra stuff on the web interface. You can do all this with notepad just save as .html instead on .txt

[Anthony A. 0]

If you're just trying to see the front door you could just buy an old axis 2400 on ebay for $50 and a good analog cam? Bonus would be that you could also feed the analog to the TV direct, use the server for computer etc access.

 

im wondering if this is simply the best route for me at the moment. i could essentially get a 1x4 catv powered splitter to output the composite/bnc video out from the server to 4 tv's around the house as well as be able to view it on my ipad, pc, etc.

 

but, take for example the axis 225fd camera. its ip, yet the resolution is only 640x480. isn't this essentially the exact same as a 520 or 600 tvl analog camera? and if so, wouldn't i better to just go with a cheaper analog camera as it will give me the same resolution?

[Soundy 1]

If you're just trying to see the front door you could just buy an old axis 2400 on ebay for $50 and a good analog cam? Bonus would be that you could also feed the analog to the TV direct, use the server for computer etc access.

 

im wondering if this is simply the best route for me at the moment. i could essentially get a 1x4 catv powered splitter to output the composite/bnc video out from the server to 4 tv's around the house as well as be able to view it on my ipad, pc, etc.

Negative. CATV splitters are designed to work at RF frequencies, not composite video. You'll need either a proper composite video splitter to feed the signal straight to the TVs' composite inputs, or an RF modulator to put the signal on a TV channel, then use your CATV splitter on that.

 

Since you probably already have a splitter on your main incoming cable, that then goes out to the TVs, your most efficient method might be to just put the modulator in-line with the incoming CATV feed.

[3RDIGLBL 0]

Arecont = shyte.

 

 

Amen!

[Nimrod 0]

Anthony A, you have 2 separate problems, your tv’s need analog input and your ipad needs a digital signal. So somehow you have to come up with both signals. I would think the least expensive and most straightforward system would be using a good analog camera that goes to a “4 port composite video splitter” easily found for $20 to $30, connected to your RCA video inputs on your TV’s.

 

For you digital IP solution you need a cheap Ebay “IP video server”. The reason you need a cheap server is any ipad or phone you want to send the video to will be low resolution. The worst ip server you buy will be twice as good as you need.

 

To connect the video to the IP video server you will have to tee off one of the video outs on the composite video splitter, or buy a splitter with more outputs, usually only a few dollars more.

[mike_va 0]

225 is not the same as it is progressive scan and will capture motion much better. Low light will not be that great though.

[Anthony A. 0]

are there any decent priced outdoor dome cameras that are mega pixel but also have a standard composite out? an assuming that the signal can be output simultaneously?

 

i believe the panasonic 502 does this but its over $1000.

[thewireguys 3]

I think Stardot does.

[Anthony A. 0]

thanks all for the replies. i have decided to go with a cnb analog camera with a composite 1x4 splitter to feed 4 tv's. now all i need is a video server to get the signal to ip. i know many have 4 inputs but i really only need 1. is the axis 250s any good? i know its old but i don't think it does mjpeg which is a must to view on my iphone app. any suggestions?

[thewireguys 3]

Small and less then $300

 

 

http://www.axis.com/products/cam_m7001/index.htm

[buellwinkle 0]

Do you want the camera to be part of a doorbell system or just be a camera tucked in a corner to watch your front door.

 

I've used Arecont, hated it, dumped it on ebay. They have amazing night vision called midnight mode, BUT, it's totally worthless because it sets up a multisecond exposure that will blur anything moving faster than your house. In practicality, it's awful in low light when you set maximum shutter speed of 1/30th of a second. Frankly though they are pretty cheap, certainly a lot less expensive that something good like Mobotix. Arecont software is free for one camera, then it gets expensive and it's not really that good.

 

As for ACTi, awsome cameras for the money. Certainly not the level of Mobotix, but do provide a clean crisp image. What I personally use on my front door is an ACTi ACM-1231 which is 1.3MP, has decent low light capability and when it switches to night mode, it has an effective built in IR led emmitter good for about 30-40' and a varifocal lens (like a 4x manual zoom). For another $75 or so, the next step up is the TCM-1231, has more frames per seconds, WDR and h.264 compression. I have both and I don't see much of a difference, so save the money. If all your cameras are ACTi, then you can get their NVR software for free, I believe you get your choice of 16 camera enterprise or 64 camera license professional versions, and did I say it's free?

 

Someone did mention the ACTi Cube (acm-4201), also an awsome camera, very sharp picture, built in microphone, built in PIR motion detect and 1.3MP resolution. But this is an indoor day camera, would not recomend it for outdoor use.

 

I have some sample images and review on my blog at ipcamnetwork.wordpress.com