jxk716

Take a look at this thread; it is probably what you need. It does not have to be exact but the key is RS 232 to 485 converter and USB is helpful. Check out Aten; they make a good product http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=30189

This may help: http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30687&p=192184#p192184

We just upgraded to a 16 ch 3xLogic. You might want to check out their hybrid products. Simple and effective GUI. They only deal through intergrators though.

See that? We learn something new every day!

Not at all...feel free

Okay, okay - here are more comparable shots!

We just began migrating over to ip and the picture is noticably better; PoE made the job all the more easier. Definitely send some camera shots when its installed. Here are some Before and After shots...before is the CNB VBM 24VF and the new 3xLogic VSX 2MP VD

I believe that is why you need the baluns to help balance the vid signal. So, in theory, you can have 4 cameras on one Cat5 as long as they have power from another wire/source but that would defeat the prospect of IP down the line. In your case, since you have plenty, wire each cam with its own Cat5; there will be no issues running the power along with the vid. Here is a thread on baluns - although there are far better threads on this forum about the topic. http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=30355 And this: http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=30651&p=192009#p192009 Also, here is a link to a really good balun guide from MuxLab - its a PDF so might take a while with your connection. http://www.muxlab.com/assets/files/application_guides/VE_CCTV_Balun.pdf

How about it, Small world! Before our offices moved my window used to overlook the brick bell tower building from the opening credits of the show, I used to have a picture but can't find it. The tower is still standing and at the corner of Vine and Penn - Ironically it houses PA Paper and Supply - the company we get all of our paper supply from - go figure! My old building was 1 block away at Wyoming and Olive. Nasty little neighborhood with a soup kitchen half a block away from a beer store! Yep, separate wires for Vid/Pwr. The baluns use 1 pair and I usually use 2 pair for power and keep the 4th for spare. If you have the cable laying around use it because it will be one less thing to purchase! I don't think analog cams use PoE but, let me say, when we converted to IP it is a nice feature.

Seems like it is time to get a reliable system and do it right the first time. Many of us here have had a great experience with Sean from Nelly's Surplus from this forum (including myself). He offers 3 big categories: Quality, Price and Customer Service. Maybe think about starting with his 8 Channel EYEsure Proline ($439 with 1 TB) and 4 CNB VCM 24VFs ($660) or more as budget allows. start with outdoor placement and work in as budget allows. IP/MP will cost more and Sean offers these options as well. I have the CNB and have little complaints; they are good in low light but I have 65W floods (motion) to help in darker areas. I live in somewhat of a drug zone and have turned footage over to the police (it was enough to make the arrest but the case is still in court awaiting an outcome). I ran Cat5 and RG-59 (only because that is all I had laying around) which gives you plenty of flexibility down the line including IP. In fact, at work, we just completed a 16 channel upgrade from analog to IP and I am thankful we had the wire guys run Cat5 along with the 59 Siamese- they looked at me like I was crazy when I wanted both! Now we have a hybrid system from 3xLogic and everything is in place. Truthfully Cat5 is all you need. For Cat5 you will need Baluns (anywhere between $5-$15/pair). Sean will have power supplies - not expensive along with basically everything you need including solid support/installation advice and videos.

Well, for me, I have firmware 2.606 and I have a Blackberry so there is limited support for 2.606. Also I remember reading on the forum that Dahua was coming out with a better search function (bar search) but applied to 2.608 (Apollo). And yes, I believe all the major smart phones are supported for the Econo but it may be limited. In other words higher firmware may, in some cases, equal more app options.

This is a Veilux 27x Zoom PTZ. First picture is zoomed all the way out, then at 27 then 54 on the optical. It definitely gets more pixelated!

At home I have the Qvis Zeus - perfect for my needs; and PSS over the network is way better for searching then sitting at the DVR. That said, I probably should have upgraded to the Apollo only because there are slightly more bell and whistles, especially with software, mobile access and recent additions to search capability. Sean will have everything you need for software (for mac) but I also get some neat dahua stuff from bahamassecurity - like the single viewer - use it all the time - not sure if that works with . As far as power/video if you already have the Cat5 use it! Just get some passive baluns (Soundy on the Forum here sometimes refers to these pictured below) especially since they fit nicely into the back box of Sean's CNB VCM 24VF which I have at home (well, the VBM version). No complaints about these cams and you will see are well represented on the forum. Those cams are dual voltage so you minimize ground loop issues hence using 1 pair for vid and 1 or 2 pair for power you will be fine!

Welcome, I am a do it your selfer on multiple camera jobs and could not have done it without the help of this forum. That said, since there is not a lot of detail in your thread, you might want to start by looking around. For IP cams, I have been focused on this thread for a while http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=11322 This is pretty good for analog cams: http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=25383 http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=29143 http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=21952

Here is one of the VBM 24 VFs mounted on an arm (the same should apply to an eve mount); I've added some rain-ex to the dome and I have no issue with rain. The 3 axis gimble gives you plenty of flexibility.

180 - Not 360. Did you scroll down to the bottom of the link I sent?

Because the parking lot is relatvily narrow a few of 3xLogic's 180 degree cameras installed on the building might work? http://www.3xlogic.com/xview

My new 3xLogic Pro 16 Tower arrived and I am having trouble getting the PTZ to work. I am using an Aten USB to Serial (UC-232A) adapter along with an RS 232/485 adapter (as shown). I installed the driver and the USB converter seems to be reconized on the Vigil but I am not sure of the connections for the RS485 adapter. Do I need to power the 232/485 adapter? If so I see a +12VDC terminal but do I place the neg into the "Term" on the adapter? I have two PTZs currently wired on the same wire coming out of the RS 485 connection on the old DVR - all works fine with that configuration. So how do I connect the PTZ control wires on the new adapter? Should I use TD (A) and TD(B)...RD(A/B)? Also, one PTZ is set to 2400 Baud and the other 9600 (via DIP switches at the cams). Is there a way to designate each baud rate on the Vigil or should I get the ladder out to adjust both to 9600?

Its that thing you mentioned in the past and happens to me...checking on the phone then, when viewing later, the board thinks you do not need to see the message cause you already looked at it. Drives me nuts!

Forgot to mention how 3x's support was awesome! As mentioned in this post http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=30189 Steve helped tremendously with issues way over my head (like the PTZ hook up and initial DVR settings). He was patient, professional and immediately on the phone with Tech support in Colorado when needed! In fact, in a phone call with Lenny at tech support, he was more than gracious to help me with some advanced features. More credence for a great company!

A Pro 16 2 TB channel hybrid arrived Thursday, April 19th (purchasable only through an integrator). After some initial setbacks getting the analog PTZ's to move (was plugging the USB to RS 232 converter into a USB 3.0) the tech and sales person from 3x, who made a personal appearance to help, were able to get it going. An RS 485/232 connector was needed for the USB (see my previous post from the 19th regarding this). All other basic operations such as the GUI are extremely user friendly and windows friendly. Search/playback is a snap, their markers and smart search features make searching very quick and efficient; PTZ function is really cool with an easy on screen controller; the DVR software resides on embedded windows XP - full function with that as well. I have their Tower version and my presets only go to 32, not that I need all them, but I am not able to access the PTZ OSD on preset 95. 3x says you can only access their own PTZ's OSD; I have no idea if this is true. There is an option to move the PTZs on screen or on the control pop up box. I set up user controls so that staff can view the cameras but not search or work the PTZs. Security officers sign in during their shift, have full access and I told the system to automatically log the officer off, at shift's end, and log the staff account in. This happens automatically and is a nice feature for forgetful minds. In the link below I captured screen shots of day versus night time motion (just to indicate the amount of motion during the day versus night); a day and night AVI clip directly from the server of their VSX 2MP VD camera (3 FPS, custom Bitrate at 3600, lens set sightly above a 3.0mm) - they are good enough for me. Setting up the IP camera is a breeze and 3x does a nice job explaining how to use their IP Camera set up tool (accessible through the server's help menu) on their instructional video. In fact their videos were most helpful and gave plenty of instruction for initial setup and playback. The other 13 cams are CNB VBM 24 VF, a Veilux PTZ and an Aventura PTZ. Please refer to 3x's web page and download the server and client PDF manuals since they (tutorials and screen shots) match exactly what I have received. By the way the remote client is as effective, if not more than the server software. For example I am able to use the digital zoom (for all cams) on the client but not server (except the IP cam). Apparently I need to switch from hardware rendered to software on the server in order to have this capability on all cams. Once in software rendered, live view (on the server) seemed less fluent and more choppy as if the live view rate was 7 FPS. There is no such limitation on the remote client. Their Aztec compression seems to work well. In 14 days (closed weekends and after 8:00 PM - motion examples in linked movie) I am only at 50% of the first TB HDD. This disk savings will come in handy once we migrate over to more MP cams. Overall I would recommend this server to individuals, especially commercial applications, seeking hybrid technology, easy to us software and professional video back up results.

Thanks Matt, I was hoping you'd see the review! One of the first things I tried and nothing. However I do get the camera's pattern settings OSD when I go to record a pattern but just not the main menu. Tried this as well with same result. I don't know, maybe it is just a matter of getting used to it. But then again I only have one MP camera. With more I will probably switch over to software so we can zoom in when needed. Right now the analogs get pixelated with anything more than a slight zoom.

Polarity does not matter with the 24VAC transformer; I have used similar transformers and have had to take the screw out as well as use it, as added security, into the wall plate. I have also positioned it upright and on its side with no problems. The main thing is to make sure it will not come un-plugged.

and how far away is the 40' drop from the proposed camera location?

...yeah because my first thought, after seeing the picture, was a box cam with a decent zoom lens then I thought what is practical versus something "neat"? If it's just to watch the sea and not worry about detail then the CNB would be fine. Other than that is has to be a box cam or MP right?