Daryl733

They still use ActiveX last time I Checked. Wont work in Firefox either. They use java for the newer models. Am not too sure which model u tried. CPD-560/505/507, etc. AVTech AVC-781/785/787/783 Just tested on Mac, it works. But u gotta use Firefox on Mac, and not the Mac Safari. Not too sure why. Tested using Firefox, Mozilla and Opera on Wintel, works as well.

AVTech/CPCam's webbased client should be able to support MAC. They used JAVA applet instead of ActiveX to view. BUT, you'll need a Window machine to install the full software client in order to set up userid and password.

Which model's that ? Can't really find on their website (assuming u mean covi's the company. What's the price ? PM me. Thanks.

Yes, i know of course you need camera to feed in the video input. What i mean is any DVR can read that image and do a OCR to give a data input for licence plate no. ? Rory : You mean we can put both the DVR card and the Licence recognisation card into 1 PC and make it capable of doing both at same time ? Or do we need 2 PC to do that ? Sorry, me not that familiar with Geovision system, and if possible.. trying hard to stay away from pc based system also.

Correct me if I am wrong. You are linking all the sites through internet. What kinda internet connection u have ? The slowest link determine the speed of connection through out your whole network. Banking on connection through internet to record all sites in REALTIME is a bit unrealistic unless u have damm fast internet connection with guaranteed bandwidth. If not, it's quite useless to have fibreoptic lines also. Basically how many cameras, what's the bandwidth requirement are you looking at ? Shouldn't u work out which equipments u are looking at, the bandwidth requirement, then size up the kind of network you need to be building for the system ?

In that case, stay away from AVTech's DVR.

CPD-560 4 Channels DVR. http://www.lakson.com.sg/brochure/CPCam/CPD-560.pdf Remote Client using JAVA, not ActiveX. So should be Mac Compatible. Price definately fit ur budget. PM me for price. but I'm based in Singapore.

You can request it from their website.

Sorry.. nope.. dun have any links on that. That's based on my own understanding.

Not neccessary. Different manufacturer have different way of specifying their equipments. Some may call it IPS, FPS, etc. There are also Frame Per Sec, Field Per Sec, Image Per Sec, etc. If they stated Field Per sec, then is most likely as what kensplace said. Alternate Lines. i.e. first Field contain all odd lines, 2nd field contain all even lines, etc. But for Frame and Image, it's not that clear. Some may mean field, some may mean the whole picture. But from what i seen, if it's compressed, it doesn't really matters sometimes. Especially when you are not recording in CIF. Most DVR has only 1 encoding chip for 4 Channels. This is a 25 FPS (or 30 if it's NTSC) encoding chip. And they also have a multiplexer chip inbuilt. For Full Resolution, they switch between the 4 channels and feed in the video to the encoding chip to encode into mpeg, mpeg4, mjpeg, or whatever codec. This mean that for all channels, it's feeding in 1234123412341234123412341 video sequentially. When you playback, it playback this feed, and with the encoded information, seperate the channel back into 4 different channels. Thus ur max FPS can only be 25/4. When recording in CIF, what the multiplexer chip does is it feed a quad video feed into the encoding chip. Now all the video are only in CIF resolution, but the encoding chip will be encoding all at 25FPS, thus achieving full framerate recording. From what most high compression ration codec does is they encode key frames or full frame only at interval, and then record the changes inbetween these key frame, thus achieving high compression. e.g. out of 25 images, only 1 image is save in full, and 24 images only save the moving differences. Mpegs (1,2,4), H.26x, wavelet, etc. But considering the full resolution recording, where the multiplexer is feeding a sequential feed into the encoding chip, i.e. 12341234123412341234.... each frame recorded is actually very different from the previous frame. The basic logic of high compression is basically render ineffective. Every single frame is basically totally different from the previous frame. In this case, these compression function basically similar to Mjpeg, and not mpeg. Of course, there are some dvr which have better programming, increasing the effectiveness of these compression, but basically most dvr, especially the entry level dvr, deal with multiplexing and encoding in these methods.

LAN's normally not a problem. I mean normally. Cause sometimes u got customers that doesn't understand IT at all, and think that you are trying to rip them off by asking them to get seperate switches for IP cameras in order not to congest the LAN with cameras traffic, or get giglan, or get better switches (those higher end one instead of those low end switches that doesn't give good throughput). If you try dumping everyting on a single switches on a LAN, you'll still face transmission prob. But most of the time, if they go IP, is coz they want to see over internet. Most layman customer ave very high expectation, expecting to see SMOOTH video. Especially when they go to some other showroom, which basically show them their LAN setup, or supposely stream from internet over a T1 upstream line, and expect us to do it at their normal broadband speed of 256kbps upstream line. Well.. kinda give up on these customers. Too high expectation without sufficient budgets. And when u implemented, and they don't see smooth video (they dun understand internet is shared bandwidth, and there are peaks and off peaks traffic), they threaten to withhold payments.

Wireless's crappy outdoor. Especially if it rain, your reception will drop.

You want simple or complicated solution ? Simple one, just get 5 video servers. Those with both encoder and decoder kind. Axis have such a model (AXIS 292 - for the decoder). At all your dvr, stream the vid output through the videoserver. Where you monitor, install the decoder and connect it to a tv. almost idiot proof installation. No computer to fiddle with. And output's just a plain monitor. 5 of them in this case. But you won't be able to control anything from the monitor. Just monitor. Other solution ? Install 5 computer to use as client. Or you can use 1 with 5 monitor display output, or like what you say, run 2 instant of client on a dual monitor display. but all these dual/triple/five monitor display also largely depends on the client software, if they allow multiple copies of the software to be run at the same time within a comp. if not, u have to use 5 comp. For me, i'll try to stay away from computer as much as i can. Too many unknow factor, e.g. os bugs, virus, customer playing game/surfing porn on comp, etc. You can lock it down, but u can never prevert all these from happening.

Did you consider that setting up an educational corner to teach people abt IR cam, compression, diffferent cameras quality, different dvr features might be a total waste of time ? People comes in, learn what they want, and then walk next door to buy cause they are selling cheaper. Just speaking from experience. Spent time talking to customer, teaching them what to look out for in system, explaining the system features to them, and then the guy next shop basically just offer them a discount off what we gave them, and then they just buy from them (sometimes it's just $10 differences). Services and product knowledge doesn't matter. It's prices that count in the end. Might as well save the $$ on deco, and pass it on to customer in terms of discount.

The CMS Software only works with the DVR it comes with. http://www.lakson.com.sg/brochure/Sleek/HX-Series.pdf Drop me a email at hotmail (name the same as nick), or just pm me if you want more details. i don't put whole email address down due to email trawlers. This DVR's CMS one of the more impressive one i've seen (for its price). Comes with rack mounting also. Prices ? Considered as entry level actually. Email me for prices.

4.13's the official release. And if i am not wrong, that's the last release. No more support for this version of card. They change the design and software to fight piracy. Used to deal in kodicom product as well. But too difficult when all the pirated cards and software start coming in, prices different too much. And kodicom doesn't even bother to work with local authorised dealer to combat the piracy through law enforcement . We kinda just gave up trying to push their product. But as of all DVRs, backup is always slow. Most time, it's only realistic to do backup of INCIDENT, and not backup a few hours or few days. Most dvr will take close to real time (depending on the resolution and quality you recorded at) to do the backup. Just take as a reference. Just cloning a 80GB HDD using norton ghost (i.e. giving full system resources to the cloning on a pc based system) takes abt 40mins. Do the maths yourself considering the fact that you are NOT cloning, and the DVR is doing other things at well.

What's the bandwidth needed ? I've seen quite a lot of system that promised realtime. Demo's good. but what's not mention is the bandwidth needed. Customer almost always have to subscribe to high bandwidth plan. Normal DSL/Cable plan almost always fail to deliver "realtime". But then across highbandwidth plan, those that never promise realtime also seems to perform similarly, at a lower cost. Normal plan over here, upstream is only 128kbps - 256kbps. Can we do realtime for 16chs at that bandwidth ?

1 more thing.. actually anything more than 16 on a screen will be too small for monitoring. The system will have to support multiple monitors to be useful, unless of course live monitoring is not part of your requirements. I've put 64 Cam on a 32" LCD. Still too small for imho.

Why not just use multiple DVR ? Simple, with redundency jus tin case 1 DVR broke down due to watever reason, the other still operate. Put all > 32 cameras into a single box, the box failed, there goes your entire system. Also, most system that support > 32 cameras per box are damm expensive. Enterprise level equipments. It may be well cheaper to get smaller box and connect them up. Lots of DVR have CMS features that enable you to connect vie network multiple DVRs together and manage them virtually as system. I know of 1 such system that can combine up to 300 x 16chs DVR (That's like 4800 Cameras Total, but of course i never try it out at such specs, soon i'll be trying another system with 30 different sites using 4 chs dvr at each site), with a 64 Cameras View at anytime, and u can create your own virtual DVR (combine different DVR's cameras for a different layout/view).

What i mean by the Cameras view pinned on the floorplan. See Sample Screenshot. For other view of the CMS Software, click here. http://www.lakson.com.sg/downloads/hxseries/

My sentiment preceisely. Customer always want the cheapest solution. Gave up trying to quote better stuff. Most time if quote better stuff, u'll loss the customer going to other people who quoted lower, sometimes to the point of absurd. Imagine a quote with 10 AVTech AVC-527 cameras with a AVC787 16 Channels DVR, plus installation in a 4 storey warehouse (in only 1st and 2nd storey) for only less than USD$3.5k and 1 year onsite warranty, customer can still complain that it is expensive. Really speechless sometimes. I got DVRs that can actually display video inside the EMAP. i.e. Display a floorplan, pin your camera, and then have the camera live view displayed beside the camera pin, advance network management, but well.. customer wants low cost, so normally can't be bother to push that, always recommend avtech and cpcam's instead. low cost. Those reserved for enterprise level customer instead.

Most time i'd recommend working backwards instead. Since the more upload speed's plan = more expensive, most customer would not pay that much for the connection. Just ask how much's their budget for internet connection, and get a plan that most closely meet their budget. Slow connection u can also see the cameras feeds, just slower. UNLESS they got unlimited budget, else working out the bandwidth needed is redundent and a waste of time. Furthermore, it'll depends on the connection between 2 different places as well. Internet speed's never guaranteed as well. Getting a 1Mbps upstream line doesn't mean u can send 1Mbps, doesn't mean the connection between the 2 location would be 1Mbps as well, and at all time. Unless u are talking abt a dedicated line, you'ld almost close to never get the full bandwidth of the promised speed. Just get the fastest plan ur budget allow.

Haa.. and i have MJPEG DVR with image corrupted also. Please. all digital recorder have that problem due to storage issues. Find me a recording device with 0% corruption record. VCR, Digital Tape, Harddisk, CD, DVR all will have that issues when there're data corruptoin.

IP Cameras relied on the network to transmit and store images. Over LAN, it'll consume your bandwith for image tranmission tramission and storage. When you have multiple cameras, it'll slow down your network. It's more advisable to have dedicated switch for your ip cameras and nvr, and then link it out to your main network rather than put them all together. But that'll require you to have dedicated network cable wiring from the point to your server room, instead of just using a switch to split off an existing network point. So when doing enterprise level installation, basically your'll really have to do recabling again, unless the company have a lot of spare network cable and capacity. Over Internet, it really depends on what kind of internet bandwith you have. Normally, for internet tranmissoin, you will not have a upstream bandwith. Image storage is only as good as your image tramission. i.e. if you got a slow network, your frame transmission would be slow as well, and recording would only be as good as the frame tranmistted. e.g. if you can only get 2-3FPS for tranmission, recording can only be done at that fps, even if your nvr/ip cam support 30fps. And internet, as we know, is shared infrastructured. Bandwith is never guaranteed, unless you are talking abt running a dedicated line from 1 office to another (that's not internet). So if there's ever a guaranteed speed, so relying on that for recording is risky. if there's a disconnection, there'll not be a recording. If there's a heavy traffic or slow down in traffic, you'll get a bad recording. IMHO, that's damm risky. I rather do recording locally as well. Normally what i recommend. 1. If you just want to remote monitor (and have only 1 or 2 cam), go for IP Camera. 2. If you got a lot of camera you want to monitor, go for DVR solution, cheaper total cost. 3. If you really need recording, forget abt IP camera. As i always said.... what's good of remote monitoring camera if you can't be sitting in front of your comp to monitor 24 x 7 ? Anything happens while you are not watching is as good as not having a system in place. I'd reommend recording w/o remote monitoring rather then just monitoring w/o recording. Even if u see, no recording, no proof. Above pts are taking into consideration that budget is of a concern. Of course, there are high end equipments that can slow some of the prob in the IP cam and NVR. Then again, most solution with Standalone NVR are already priced on the higher side. That's my 2 cents worth of opion for ip cameras.

You might consider an IP Camera or just utilised the network feature of the DVR. Use the email notification feature of the dvr and ip cameras to send out a image (ftp or email) to ur server when the sensor attached to the camera is triggered. Then ur server would just run it's plate recognised algorithm on the image uploaded. think that'll be simpler. But get a IP cam that accept sensor input and also interchangable lense in order to get a good image. You might want to consider using a photoelectric sensor beam accross the drive in to trigger the image capture at a specific spot. Embeddeding pressure sensor wire would be better, but think that'll require too much work.