1st Time & Hikvision DS-2CD2132-I vs. ACTi D72

[B5point5 0]

I'm looking to try set up my first camera system for my home. I have read the many helpful posts on the site and wanted to post my ideas and see if any one had any comments or suggestions.

 

I want to monitor the drive way and stairs up to my front door. I am looking to monitor any break ins, vandals, or pranksters. I think that if anyone does this they will pass through the field of view of a camera that points toward the street. I plan on mounting it on the ceiling of my front porch. I posted a picture with possible camera locations. The distance from the front of the house to the street is just under 35'. There is also a street light in front of the house. I want the capability to record on a PC and check on the camera remotely. I plan on starting with one camera and then perhaps add more if necessary.

 

I am considering a outdoor dome. Mostly because I think they are more inconspicuous than a bullet style. The two I am considering are the Hikvision DS-2CD2132-I

and the ACTi D72. Both seem comparable. I am planning on powering them with PoE and will probably buy a 4 or 8 port PoE switch in case I decide to add more cameras.

 

Any comments on the ACTi vs the Hikvision? I understand the ACTi comes with a software with DVR capability, but I am wondering how it compares to using a Hikvision and purchasing BlueIris software. I see a flush mount kit is available for the ACTi but does anyone know if the Hikvision has one available?

[luckyfella 0]

I would install one on the porch and one above the garage doors facing the steps.

[buellwinkle 0]

Image quality wise, they are comparable, same resolution, same 2.8mm lens, same hot spot in illumination typical for very wide angle IR cameras. The ACTi is a full sized dome, so more flexibility in pointing and it's 3-axis vs. 2-axis on the Hikvision. I would think you would get better service and support from ACTi than from Hikvision. Hikvision is smaller, less obtrusive but plastic vs. aluminum on the ACTi.

 

Then software, you can't really compare ACTi NVR3 to BlueIris. Especially in your situation where you want 3 cameras in one area and the ability in NVR3 to do synchronous playback is huge, seeing all cameras playing an event together as the subject moves from camera to camera, BlueIris can only playback one camera at a time. Being able to scrub a timeline is also key with NVR3 and it's not as easy in BlueIris. Next, you need a serious computer to run BlueIris as it's sort of a CPU hog, I ran ACTi NVR on an Atom processor Nettop for a year with moderate CPU use. I don't care so much because of the upfront cost of the PC, but the electricity costs as they are quite high by me and only going higher. I run BlueIris, NVR3 and Milestone all on one PC, but transitioning to Milestone because it has better smartphone apps, it's sort of in-between NVR3 and BlueIris in CPU use and supports a huge list of cameras.

 

BTW, I should have the reviews on the D72 and DS-2CD2132-I wrapped up by Monday or Tuesday. Just finished the bullets, the D32 and DS-2CD2032-I.