hardwired

If you are taking over a lot of analog channels, Avigilon will be far less cost. The encoders are quite reasonable, and they only use one licensing channel; for each four channel encoder.

If you are using Altronix supplies (good choice, BTW), the models that offer 28 volt outputs can help you overcome the voltage drop of long wire runs. 900 feet is about at the point where you may want to consider using baluns with an amplified receiver.

It depends on how a VMS does it's archiving, as to what kind of storage type you need to use. Milestone can archive to a NAS, it does multistage recording where the first day of recording goes to a local fast drive, then it archives in a second stage that can go to another local directory, or a NAS. Avigilon (and Exacq) do their archiving in a single stage, hence the need for fast block-level storage. However, most large installs I'm doing have had direct attached (SAS) storage arrays anyway, so either VMS will work in that case. Or, as Wireguys mentioned, iSCSI will give you block-level storage over a LAN, as well. For large installs, Avigilon is my first choice, although Milestone has many nice features, as well. We've been Milestone (and Exacq, and Panasonic I-pro, and Arecont, and Pelco, and Acti, and Galaxy access, and RS2 access, yada, yada, etc.) dealers for quite a few years, although we've been choosing Avigilon more and more, recently.

Enterprise level NVR software will allow the option of configuring secondary failover servers for just critical cameras at a individual site (or all of them, depending on how much you want to spend). You could use a small(er) server at each site for emergency failover recording (only a short archive would usually be necessary), while having cameras normally recorded at a larger central server site. We are moving a hospital campus we manage in that direction, using encoders for analog (all new cams are IP), and using VLAN's on their network (ssmith10pn is right, though, network failure at a major hospital is rare, and an extreme repair priority for IT staff).

With that many cameras, how are you wiring them, do you have the data line for all of them in a daisy-chain configuration, with the termination switched on for the last dome in the chain? That's the manufacturer recommended method, but most people end up wiring them in a star configuration, which will definitely cause problems with that many cameras. I would suggest testing each camera individually. If they work that way, you'll probably need a data distribution amplifier like the Pelco CM9760-CDU-T, or equivalent, so each camera has it's own dedicated data line.

Looks a bit like some older Kodicom systems, if you can take the PCI card with the four BNC connectors on it out, and get a picture of it and note any markings on the card, we can help more. The card looks like a Kodicom KMC4400 or similar. (it's a 16 channel card, but it had 4 BNC's on the back, and it could be configured as a 4,8, or 16 channel machine).

I would try a basic RS485-422 converter as Soundy mentioned, but you might also want to contact Sennetech, http://www.sennetech.net/index.html, they manufacture a wide range of CCTV-specific protocol converters.

They usually (used to, anyway) package a small tube of thread sealer to put there... Although a few years ago, for a short time, they packaged some Loctite sealer that practically welded the threads together. We had a Spectra on a PP351 arm with that sealer that we couldn't get loose for service, so we took the whole assembly in to them (we're just a few miles from their headquarters). They had three guys, pipe wrenches, and eventually a torch, and they never did get it loose (it was quite a show, though!). They ended up giving us a new backbox and arm for free.

The Panavise mounts are really nice, but possibly overkill for a lot of applications. (I do use them in areas where there can be significant vibration). I've been using the ATW's for years in many indoor applications, and they've held up fine.

I can't vouch for the quality of any of them, but there are quite a few decoders available on E-bay, search "ptz decoder".

I think they've moved most pricing (and other information) to the online "BOSS" system now.

Avigilon Enterprise also allows redundant recording and failover capabilities natively. You do have to buy matching licenses for each server, though.

I've done a system the way you describe, but in your case, I'd just get the NVR mounted somewhere secure, and have the client software displayed on another PC somewhere open and obvious, and a thief would think the viewing PC is the recorder.

One thing to keep in mind, the PP351/451 does not have any type of fitting or sealing at the bottom where the cable leads out. If you don't use something to seal it (I've used canned spray foam), bugs and moisture can make it all the way up the pipe and into a Spectra dome (ask me how I know!).

I'm not a user of the Aver product, but after trying to make various IP camera finder utilities, etc. work in Win7 with limited luck, I have since started using XP Mode in Win7 (you need Professional or above to get it). It's a free, preconfigured virtual machine installation of XP that you can download from Microsoft here http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx, you just need enough disk space for it. You can also link shortcuts to particular applications within the XP VM onto the Win7 desktop.

Yes, I've confirmed with Acti that their decoder will only work with their cameras or encoders. Pelco used to make the NET350T/NET350R series encoder/decoder sets, but the are discontinued now, and I don't see anything in their current lineup that is comparable. Poking around, I've found encoder/decoder units from Bosch, and others, but I haven't come across any "universal" decoders, there are just too many differences between IP cameras, and not enough market demand, to have made it attractive to manufacturers.

yeah, but for the money & the application, this is the road I've laid... No worries there, I do think analog cameras are still a viable option in a lot of instances, just that my idea of using a network switch wouldn't work in that instance.

You might want to approach any wireless internet service providers in your area for the connectivity, they will be familiar with the terrain and interference that may be in your area. (you might consider subcontracting that portion of the job to them. If you are not familiar with creating microwave links, a project of this scale and scope might not be a good place to start). To clear home sized obstacles and earth curvature in a 15KM link at 60% or better Fresnel zone clearance, plan on needing towers/mounting assemblies at least 10M high, and possibly higher depending on terrain (assuming operation at 5.8 GHz or higher). High gain Point-to-Point links are reasonably created at that distance, Point-to-Multipoint links will be more challenging. If you can give more details, we may be able to help more (eg. area of coverage for cameras, size of screens, etc.)

The Acti decoder will only work with Acti cameras, specifically, only models in the ACM- series model line, or the matching ACD-2100 encoder. If you can get one free strand in the fiber, a multichannel fiber mux-demux link would probably be your best choice (for an example, look at the American Fibertek MT440C/RT440C set) http://americanfibertek.com/fiber_site/products/B-Multichannel%20Video/2-Four%20Channel/404C%20&%20440C.pdf . There's multiple brands offering the same type of fiber solutions, too.

Yes, I missed that they were analog cameras...I don't use them much anymore! You (might!) still be able to get the four cables in a 3/4" conduit, if you are careful, and use lots of pulling lube, with someone helping feed the cables into the pipe.

It shouldn't, unless you are using advanced features like VLAN's, port mirroring, etc. in the existing switch, then you'd have to make sure your new switch has those same features, and set them up accordingly. You should setup your new switch with an IP address that matches your internal address range, to be able to access it's programming and features. Midspan injectors are typically used when someone has a higher end switch (Cisco, Procurve, etc.) that has lots of advanced features, but not PoE. In a home or SOHO environment, switches like the one mentioned above, or Cisco's SOHO line, should work fine.

Add a network switch to combine the cameras and Internet service on one cable? If you have power at both ends, that could be a viable option.

I've used those decoders in a couple of installs for a fixed monitor station, they work fine. You will be limited to cameras in Acti's ACM series- you could use the ACM-3401, ACM-3701, or ACM-3511 for indoor, or the ACM-7411 for outdoor. (In their settings, they need to be turned down from 1.3MP resolution to D1 to work with the decoder). Or, if you need to use an existing or different camera, you could use the ACD-2100 encoder with a standard analog camera.

Yes, it is RTSP, and no, it's by no means complete integration, but it can often work well enough.

ONVIF is more of a suggestion than a law, at this point. I've had mixed luck with ONVIF compatibility, to say the least. You might want to try the "Universal Driver" selection in Milestone, if you can get the URL string information for the camera.