CCTV in Schools - Milestone or Dahua ?

[alanjh1965 0]

Probably going to answer my own question but I've got a school with 20 Axis cameras and a Milestone Server - the question is with potentially another 70 cameras to add as they upgrade their old analogue systems do I go Dahua where there is no licence fees or stick to milestone where the licences are £100 a camera.

 

The Milestone Software is great but with school budgets being squeezed I think I will win more work if I don't need to charge another £7000 just on licences

 

Have any of you gone high end only to find that expensive software is not always the best way forward?

[tomcctv 190]

Hi Avigilon for that type of install. With there cameras.

 

If it's a london school them cost is not really a problem

 

Go avigilon for that size of system and you will win the contract everytime

 

 

Is this your first large install ?

[ssmith10pn 0]

There is no way I would put a Dahua camera in a government building period!

[buellwinkle 0]

Download and try the Dahua software, you may or may not like it and have nothing to lose. Since you are using Milestone for access to the cameras, getting Dahua cameras is fairly safe, there's no direct access to the cameras. Just be careful and set passwords for admin, 888888 and 666666 accounts as the defaults are pretty easy to figure out that the password for 888888 is 888888.

[Don Stephens 0]

Download and try the Dahua software, you may or may not like it and have nothing to lose. Since you are using Milestone for access to the cameras, getting Dahua cameras is fairly safe, there's no direct access to the cameras. Just be careful and set passwords for admin, 888888 and 666666 accounts as the defaults are pretty easy to figure out that the password for 888888 is 888888.

 

I tend to agree with this but I'd be a little paranoid about people tampering with things locally. Depending on the models, my other fear would be potentially downgrading them from Axis cameras to Dahua cameras (if anyone there would even notice).

 

I don't know how difficult it may be to crack Dahua's algorithm, but with them not handing over the password tool to everyone who asks for it anymore, things are getting slightly better for them.

[tomcctv 190]

The other downside is the licence $12.000 just to run dahua ..... And that's every few years...... That's just a waste of money

 

 

The more spent on cameras in the UK ... The more money the customer gets back.

 

 

 

But like airports .... Schools .... Government buildings ....... Public space ...... You don't go with domestic cameras or software.

[buellwinkle 0]

This industry goes through improvements on a regular basis. I have Axis cameras that are 3-4 years old and newer Dahua's are way better, so it depend on age, they may see a big improvement.

 

It would be an interesting concept that a government operation would support local manufacturers.

[tomcctv 190]

Lots of government do .....

 

But also here in the UK ..... You can't just buy anything and fit .... For schools or public space ... It has to be to a standard

 

Can't even use IR on a public space camera.

 

 

 

But it's also down to quality ..... When was the last post on here about a bad axis or avigilon camera