What would you recommend for this budget?

[HTScotty 0]

Hi all. I'm new to security cameras and such, but have been doing low-voltage structured wiring in new homes for a while now. Mainly cable/phone/internet and home theater installs. Recently, I had a client approach me with questions about installing 2 cameras and a DVR with the capability of expanding to 6 cameras later. He said he'd prefer dome cameras if possible. Since I'm new to this field, I wanted to get some professional opinions from you guys on which equipment (which brand and model #) you would recommend using within his budget.

 

My client has a $2000.00 total budget.

The installation is inside a middle school and there is some ambient light at night from the outside lights.

Each of the cameras will be about 30-ft from an entrance/door.

 

I've been looking into the Nuvico NVJV 8000 series DVR. (is this one even worth considering?)

As for dome cams.... I'm really unsure of what's got a decent track record and is reasonable priced for what it does.

 

 

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

Scotty

[HTScotty 0]

Rory? Anyone?

 

 

Oh, and bullet cams are not out of the question.

 

The CNB B2310NVF seem like pretty nice cameras for what they cost. (although they don't have to be weatherproof)

[rory 0]

Hi, will this be indoors or outdoors?

 

Rory

[HTScotty 0]

The first two cameras will be indoors. (4 total inside...2 outside...once the system is complete) Sorry, I forgot to clarify.

 

Only 2 cameras are needed to start. (inside)

[rory 0]

The problem you will encounter is pointing them at the door, if they are regular cameras it will typically be difficult to make out the persons face, etc, due to backlighting. You could use the backlighting features on some domes, most budget domes wont have this as a manual setting though. But even for that it needs to be zoomed right in on the door to work, and even then, you will only see them once they are inside, nothing outside and still can have some glare issues depending on the camera - box cameras are best for this.

 

Basically these days one would use Wide Dynamic range cameras (WDR), but they are not cheap, and even more expensive in a Dome version.

 

So with that said, if they are on a strict budget, and the DVR etc will take up alot of that $2000, you may just want to get an OEM Dome or Bullet camera and dont point them at the door, either point it looking in, or sideways. Remember that any windows it may be looking at would cause the same glare issues, at least during the day. Nuvico has some decent cameras for OEM, and there are others.

[HTScotty 0]

Unfortunately, their budget is set at no more than 2k. (it's all that's left after a fund-raiser they had)

 

There is a full awning that leads all the way up to the door which is in a small alcove, so direct light shouldn't be too much of an issue. At least I wouldn't think so. I guess with the height of where they would be mounted, I could point them further down and still get a good shot at the same time. That should also help reduce the backlight problem. The cameras will also be mounted at a 45* angle to the hallway where the doors are. I'm glad you mentioned the glare issue because I hadn't really put that into consideration. (mainly based on camera location)

 

Are the Nuvico CD-D4N cameras with IR any good?

The ProVideo CVC-648IRHQ domes look nice. Opinions?

 

What would you recommend for a 6ch DVR around 1k?

 

Scotty

[HTScotty 0]

I may tell them I can only do ONE camera and use a little nicer camera. If they bail on me, oh well.

[CCTV_Suppliers 0]

Hi all. I'm new to security cameras and such, but have been doing low-voltage structured wiring in new homes for a while now. Mainly cable/phone/internet and home theater installs. Recently, I had a client approach me with questions about installing 2 cameras and a DVR with the capability of expanding to 6 cameras later. He said he'd prefer dome cameras if possible. Since I'm new to this field, I wanted to get some professional opinions from you guys on which equipment (which brand and model #) you would recommend using within his budget.

 

My client has a $2000.00 total budget.

The installation is inside a middle school and there is some ambient light at night from the outside lights.

Each of the cameras will be about 30-ft from an entrance/door.

 

I've been looking into the Nuvico NVJV 8000 series DVR. (is this one even worth considering?)

As for dome cams.... I'm really unsure of what's got a decent track record and is reasonable priced for what it does.

 

 

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

Scotty

 

Scotty, you budget is realistic... and what you are trying to accomplish is very much doable with major brand name products..

 

First - DVR... If your customer wants to eventually go to 6 cameras, why not give him 6 channel DVR to start.. None of the posts for this topic mention anything about the storage capacity... so that is a first question to be asked... How much drive capacity will you need and for how many days of recording your customer needs? My recommendation will be to go with Sanyo 6 channel DVR that starts with 80GB drive and it is upgradeable up to 1,000GB (1TB) internal storage. Here is the product code: DSR-3506H80

 

Your DVR pricing for the above configuration will start with $600.00...

 

Now, as for the cameras.. If I read your commends correctly, your customer needs dome cameras... Can you please clarify how many indoor and outdoor cameras will they eventually need? Where will these cameras be pointing to? Will they be a lot of light changes, etc?

 

For indoors, there are fairly decent cameras with WDR and vandal resistant (I read that this is a middle school?) that can give you excellent picture quality, yet are still cost effective. As for outdoors, most likely you will need vandal and weather resistant package...

 

If you can come back with some more answers, I can recommend the cameras that combined could fall into the price range that your customer needs...

 

Let us know...

[HTScotty 0]

Thanks for the reply.

 

They want to first start with 2 indoor cameras. Both pointing at separate entrances that do not have direct sunlight, but do have at least some ambient light from the security lights outside at night. Later they want to add 4 cameras, for a total of 4 inside and 2 outside. It is in a middle-school, so domes would probably be the best recommendation.

 

Thanks again.

Scotty

[CCTV_Suppliers 0]

Thanks for the reply.

 

They want to first start with 2 indoor cameras. Both pointing at separate entrances that do not have direct sunlight, but do have at least some ambient light from the security lights outside at night. Later they want to add 4 cameras, for a total of 4 inside and 2 outside. It is in a middle-school, so domes would probably be the best recommendation.

 

Thanks again.

Scotty

 

Question for you... During the day, picture quality is not a question.. For night picture and with some ambient light from the3 security lights outside, do you want to have a sharp picture? If the answer is yes, then there are few options - either go with high end minidome that has exceptional B&W specs (with color show during the day) or go with bullet camera with IR LEDs... The only gotcha with bullet type of cameras is that they are vandal resistant, thus kids could damage them...

 

Do they shut down all the lights during the night on the hallways, etc.?

 

Answers to the above questions will help to focus on few cameras that will deliver the performance necessary...

[HTScotty 0]

Yes a pretty sharp picture at night would be nice if possible, in a mini-dome.

 

All the lights are off inside at night. The only light would be what comes from the security lights outside.

[CCTV_Suppliers 0]

Yes a pretty sharp picture at night would be nice if possible, in a mini-dome.

 

All the lights are off inside at night. The only light would be what comes from the security lights outside.

 

Your best bet for this situation is to go with bullet camera with built in IR.. There are minindomes available from second and third tier manufacturers, but I never used them nor have any opinions...

 

What comes in mind is a bullet cameras from CBC... the model number is BCH-IR39A and it is priced around $200.00. It comes with 3.0mm - 9.0mm AI lens, very well built, takes both 12VDC and 24VAC power input source, all weather outdoor packaging and comes with 3 years warranty.

 

Considering the fact that the budget is $2,000 for this project, you can easily install this bullet camera indoor as well as outdoors. Even when you end up installing six of these units and combine with Sanyo 6 channel DVR, you are still ahead of the game... These cameras are very easy to install and calibrate... The Sanyo DVR is a plug and play.. it is embedded (not susceptible to any virus attacks not OS base update requirements) and uses MS IE for remote viewing unlike many that use proprietary remote view software..

 

Hope this helps.

[HTScotty 0]

I know you said you haven't used them, but could you recommend anything that would do an "OK" job in a mini-dome? Kinda point me in the right direction? I'd really rather have something a little more vandal-resistant.

[CCTV_Suppliers 0]

I am sure that there are many dealers and manufacturers that can answer this question better.. None of our major manufacturers have minidomes with built in LEDs to generate IR... sorry...