Other remote view software for AVC760/761

[hio 0]

Read subject, I 'm using VideoServer E right now, but my question is:

 

Can I use other software (shareware?) to remote view my DVR??

[Kiwi 0]

There is another client on AVtech's FTP site that will display video but it doesn't provide an interface to change configuration.

 

If you use a protocol analyzer (wireshark) to study the TCP/IP stream you will see the commands are pretty simple and are similar to IP cameras, so potentially someone could write a new client. However, they are most likely proprietary also, so finding a shareware/freeware client is unlikely.

 

But the question would be "why." I don't really see any problems with "E". I've relied on it for many months while half way around the world from my DVR and it's always worked flawlessly. If there's a problem, it's somewhere else.

 

The only thing that I've noticed is missing is the ability to easily change the schedule of motion-detect-driven recordings. You have to do it via the video screen interface rather than the pull-out configuration menu, not so easy on a slow connection.

[rory 0]

As far as I know its all there is.

 

Kiwi asked why the need for another app? The Avtech Client's video quality is awful.

[Kiwi 0]

But that's because it uses MJPEG, better suited to streaming, no? I don't think the client makes the video any worst than what comes out of the DVR. The other client I mentioned is just as bad.

 

Worst, when you use the playback button on Video Server E you apparently get MJEG streaming on top of the original MPEG4 recording - and artifacts on top of artifacts.

 

The playback is about as good as it's going to get when you download ("network backup," as they say) an MPEG4 and play it back with the little Video Player utility. That process is independent of the client, it's just a file.

 

I would like AVTech to include a further higher-quality setting past "best" as disk space is relatively cheap.

[rory 0]

Mjpeg should be high quality, and worse for streaming as it is lower compression than MPEG4, so its not that, its just their software, Everfocus' client is similar with the awful quality (or at least use to be), dont know why but I mentioned it to an Avtech Sales guy before, the quality is awful, even moreso in Multiview, but really also very bad in Full view. That said, both are (or were) java clients and ActiveX is always higher quality. Even using H.264 on Geo systems those are much higher quality remote video than the Avtechs.

 

Also, if its using Mpeg4, its not that also, unless they messed up big time on their own customized compression algorithyms, as using GeoVision and Mpeg4 it is high quality. When we use H.264 it then becomes lower quality as it is much more compressed, faster though, but still much better quality than the Avtechs client. Even then i only ever set the H.264 on GeoVision when the clients have a very slow connection, otherwise it is typically just Mpeg4 (geo Mpeg4).

 

Give the Avermedia EB1304NET a try and you will see a 100% increase in remote video quality, course about a 100% increase in price also.

 

Personally, I would never push the Avtech units for their remote video feature, until they come out with a better client app. One could say it at least has remote video at that cost though as many dont, or the ones that do cost more.

 

Looking at some units now though that look better physically, are cheaper, and have a higher quality remote video client app.