daveinfl 0 Posted September 7, 2007 Hello all, I am seriously thinking of geting in the CCTV business, I have a person that is a good handy man and I been playing with a few systems (win2000 W/8 Camera Setup,WinXP W/4 Camera Setup, WinXP W/16 Camera Setup) I'm hoping I can find the downfalls, pitfalls and legal problems here so I do it right. I sure hope I can get someone out here to mentor me, I have 25 years experience in computer repair (remember CPM? Then MS-DOS) Yup I am that old.... I appreciate any help at all. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scorpion 0 Posted September 7, 2007 Welcome to CCTV! You wanted some info on starting up a business? Here you go! http://www.cctvforum.com/cms_view_article.php?aid=31 _________________________________________________________ Marketing 101 http://www.cctvforum.com/cms_view_article.php?aid=44 _________________________________________________________ Guerrila Marketing! http://www.cctvforum.com/cms_view_article.php?aid=45 _________________________________________________________ Press Releases, Home Builders Association, and Networking Groups http://www.cctvforum.com/cms_view_article.php?aid=46 _________________________________________________________ What is Spaghetti Marketing? http://www.cctvforum.com/cms_view_article.php?aid=32 _________________________________________________________ How to trouble shoot camera problems! http://www.cctvforum.com/cms_view_article.php?aid=42 _________________________________________________________ Here is how to fix your video source problems! http://www.cctvforum.com/cms_view_article.php?aid=41 _________________________________________________________ How to run wires from an attic with drywall walls. http://www.cctvforum.com/cms_view_article.php?aid=48 _________________________________________________________ Rory put together these links Day Night and Infrared Related Threads - Links http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=6122 _________________________________________________________ Here is one of my rants from the forum: You can buy a device to put your camera on it, and give you the hands free option. Go to a music store, and buy what is called a "light" stand, or a "speaker" stand. This is compact, and the legs slide out to form a triangle base, and the stand can be raised up to about 10 feet. When you have the desired height, you just turn a knob to tighten down to that position. You can get the cheap "DJ" version for about $75.00. You can attach an LCD monitor to it as well. Even better buy a 220X zoom camera, and use this to show wide angle verses, regular view, verses a zoom view. This makes for a great Dog, and Pony Show!!!!! I actually bought the lightstand system. It is 10 feet wide, and goes up 10 feet high. It comes with two tripods, and two 5 foot pieces that link together to create a 10 foot span. I bought the crank up system. I just take the tripod out, but I use the rest of the system when I do HOME and GARDEN shows, and etc. I hang a 2 foot by 8 foot banner on the bottom of it. I take intelligent lighting, and I have them swing colored lighting all over the place to draw attention. At first I thought my "neighbors" would get pissed, but they seem to benefit from the "attention" that draws people! They have suction cup camera mounts (for dash cams) that you can lick, and stick on plateglass windows. I use this on commercial plaza jobs so I do not have to take a ladder with me, or I end up doing a D + P off the cuff. Wear shirts with big logos on the front, and the back. You would be surprised at how many gas station/convenience store owners will want to have a talk with you! This is how I get a lot of free lunches! I use magnetic signs on my van. It actually has home theater in vinyl, so that the customers feel comfortable when I show up for an install. A lot of people are really glad that I do not show up with signage blaring VIDEO SURVEILLANCE!!!! I can slap them on, and take off the video surveillance signs as I need them. If I am just driving around I have it on the sides, and on the back. Get the biggest that you can afford. I recommend a 13" color TV for outdoor daytime use. I do use a small LCD screen monitor, but it does not give the video any justice, in the Florida Sun. The LCD is great for the quick in and out situations though! The only time I use a light meter is to show the home/business owner that they have no lighting at all. I only run in to this in the nightclub/bars, and the fake casinos, you know the kind that gives out gift cards instead of cash. I never use it to make actual lux computations. I have bought a $250.00 lens selector. Total waste of $250.00 in my opion. It is great to hand to the customer, and let them slide the adjustment back, and forth, and then I can look at "their" view. It is more a prop, then a tool in all honesty. It justifies the $100 site survey fee, (they get the value back when they buy a system). LCD screen was the best investment out of all of my tools. I used to take a measureing tape, but I do in my head pretty much nowadays. If you do x-10 stuff they have testors that you can use to verify that it will work before you do an install. http://www.x10pro.com/pro/pdf/xptt_xptr.pdf ____________________________________________________________ I hope this is not information overload! I hope you enjoy the forum! Check out the ARTICLES section in the header above. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scorpion 0 Posted September 7, 2007 Where in Florida are you? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted September 7, 2007 Error: Information Overload! This User Has Encountered an Error, System will Reboot now. Welcome to the forum Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DDSC2060 0 Posted September 7, 2007 Hey, Nice to see you made a smart choice there is soo much room to grow in this industry. What part of Florida do you live in? I am up here in Jax, FL. I have doing the security ever since I was 19 years old. I am 25 now and I really do enjoy helping people understand cctv and how it can help them in their applications. Let me know if you are thinking of starting a site, we could link together. I can also help you get you feet wet on all the terminology too. I run a CCTV online store with great content. ttul -chad b- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FELTONCONSULTING 0 Posted September 12, 2007 Are you looking to just sell the equipment or do you plan to perform installations? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CCTV_Suppliers 0 Posted September 16, 2007 Hello all, I am seriously thinking of geting in the CCTV business, I have a person that is a good handy man and I been playing with a few systems (win2000 W/8 Camera Setup,WinXP W/4 Camera Setup, WinXP W/16 Camera Setup) I'm hoping I can find the downfalls, pitfalls and legal problems here so I do it right.I sure hope I can get someone out here to mentor me, I have 25 years experience in computer repair (remember CPM? Then MS-DOS) Yup I am that old.... I appreciate any help at all. Thanks Welcome on board... Based on what you wrote so far, I personnaly will suggest you to consider getting into this business... First and foremost, you have an extensive amount of experience in computer repairs that is a very big plus.. afterall, camera equipment is simpler technology than computers... Another major plus that I can see is your customer base that you accumulated throughout the years, which I am sure will be interested on what you can do besides repairing their computers. It could take you a short period of time to learn different camera technologies available, but it is the same in computer technologies that you learned before... Just spent the time, took a chance, probably damaged some of them as you were learning until you perfected the process.. and that is called experience.. I think you will do well... Just roll the dice and go forward. Selecting manufacturers or resellers, well, it is not anything different when you were or still are buying for your computer repairs... At one point of time, you can be your best teacher knowing what not to purchase... Afterall, your customers now expect nothing less than your best and providing camera equipment is not an exception... Good luck to you my friend.. and if you have any questions, never hesitate to ask... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
