Need some help with selection.

[able1 0]

Hello All,

 

I am a newbie here and I have been reading with great intrest to all of Rory and DVR_Expert_Australia OPINIONS. I have not sold any DVR to date but things are getting very close to that possibility. The manufacture of choice will be a Kalatal. I make this choice due to the research that I have performed and knowing my time and mental restraints.

 

However I am having a bit of trouble deciding which unit to go with.

 

The application is the following. 12-14 cameras, recording retention 10 - 14 days or more. Backup to CDRW. Connect to Network for viewing etc. with WaveReader.

 

It is my understanding that the StoreSafe now has a "Pro" version that can handle a larger drive to I think 600G.

 

It is also my understanding that the Triplexâ„¢ DVMRe also has a "pro" version that has a built in CDRW or DVD Record and hard drive capacity up to 1 terrabyte.

 

My main questions are:

 

1) For the above application which unit would be the better choice and why??

 

2) For most pratical issues isn't the DVD Recorder more storage space that is needed to save a 5 minute incident for evidence???

 

3)Is the "Pro" versions just a bit on the pricy side right now since they are new??

 

4) What are the pros and cons on these units or is there another model that would be a better choice???

 

5) Is there any info that I did not provide that would help with the decision.

 

Thanks in advance for all the thoughts.

[able1 0]

One other quick question.

 

How can I get the links that Rory provided another for sites that are viewable on the net???

 

Thanks

[rory 0]

To answer your second question, send me an email and I can give you a couple IPs to test.

 

ill get back to you on the first question in a minute.

 

Rory

[rory 0]

The application is the following. 12-14 cameras, recording retention 10 - 14 days or more. Backup to CDRW. Connect to Network for viewing etc. with WaveReader.

 

 

If you need a built in CDRW, then the storesafe would be your choice, but It would be better to use the DVMR-CT for its features and its faster, then use the network to burn to CD from your PC.

 

It is my understanding that the StoreSafe now has a "Pro" version that can handle a larger drive to I think 600G.

 

It is also my understanding that the Triplexâ„¢ DVMRe also has a "pro" version that has a built in CDRW or DVD Record and hard drive capacity up to 1 terrabyte.

 

I havent got any prices on them yet myself, and wont sell them anyway until GE has some specs available, which they do not yet, Ijust emailed their engineers again, nothing yet, maybe in a week or so.

 

The DVMRe-CT currently has 40Gb - 1000GB storage availability, but price is heavy anywhere from 640 and up.

 

1) For the above application which unit would be the better choice and why??

DVMRe-CT: 60pps instead of 30pps on the StoreSafe. SVHS Monitor Output, Multiple Video Outputs, More Multiple Screens, Auto Camera Connection, much more. Larger hard disk drives, smaller unit. With the StoreSafe and the DVMRe-EZ if you disconnect a camera or a camera has video loss, then re-connect a new camera or the same, you would have to restart the DVR to re-find the cameras, with the DVMRe-CT, it finds it automatically. Also the CT remembers the previous monitor screen display, and has better recording technology.

 

2) For most pratical issues isn't the DVD Recorder more storage space that is needed to save a 5 minute incident for evidence???

Yes - sought of. DVD would be nice for some instances. I had an instance where the police did not know when an incident took place, and knew it was between say 3pm and 9pm. They didnt want to sit down and look at the entire video at the location. So they had to burn it to CDRW, which basically with 8 cameras recording at 5pps, took several CDs, where a couple DVDs would have done the job. But that doesnt happen much. For normal circumstances a CD is fine. The DVMRe-CT also has firewire if that helps, havent used it myself to back up though.

 

3)Is the "Pro" versions just a bit on the pricy side right now since they are new??

They will be pricey because of the extra features and ofcourse the DVDRW. No pricing yet, waiting. No specsheet yet so I wouldnt buy it yet anyway.

 

4) What are the pros and cons on these units or is there another model that would be a better choice???

The StoreSafe is their lower end. I only use the StoreSafe now for 4 channel systems, 10-16 channel systems are cheaper in the DVMRe-CT than the StoreSafe, and the DVMRe-CT is faster and has more features. Only one better is the DVMRe-Matrix, which has 5 multiple monitor outputs (instead of only 2 like on the DVMRe-CT or 1 on the StoreSafe), it is a matrix system which is better, but as it starts at 640Gb it is very very pricey. If you want even more features, audio and real time video on every channel, and tons more, they have the clear cast DVRs, can rack mount for 1000's of cameras, but that is designed for casinos or enterprise applications so it costs even more.

 

Hope this helps. The DVMRe-CT will be faster and cheaper for 10+ cameras. It doesnt have the CDRW and that is the only draw back, but if you have a local network you can save the video and burn it right over the network, i have even done this over the internet before.

 

If you are recording on motion only, then you get a long time. If using timelapse, on 13 cameras as an example, recording 20pps (which is faster than you need to record at, 5pps is standard) you would get 9 days on a 320GB. I am getting almost 3 months now on 3 cameras on a 40Gb with motion at 8pps, which is real time when using motion. Basically, when 1 camera picks up motion, it goes into the full 30pps, if 2 are picking up motion, it splits it up to 15pps each camera, and so on.

 

Rory