Bunited2

Hello, I have a few DVR's out there w/the NV3000 cards still in use. I have recently began using the I/O boards to dial out to people upon an alarm input. The dialing works fine, but I cannot get the attached wav file to play during the calls at all. Support and the manual say's only 8KZ w/16B files only and it still doesn't work. Anybody out there have done this successfully, or not? Thanks, Brian

Hey Guys, I am looking for capture card recommendations. I have strictly used Avermedia over the years since I picked up an Army base as a customer years ago and got sold on AM since. I'd like any recommendations, I am about to add on to a system that the existing DVR only has 8 ch. max. I'm going to 12 cameras, but would like to be able to add a capture card later if needed. This system is strictly analog, but looking for a reliable source, that can hybrid also. One of the features I am also looking for, is the ability for built in video motion detection (not for manipulation of record speed, etc.) I have used the functionality of a module to be able to have a dry contact out, to switch on lights, trigger a module that sends out emails, etc. I am looking for an economical product. Reliable field tested (over time). Good tech support, if necessary. Included software/drivers and/or supplier free download. Thanks, Guys.

Hello, Has anyone out there setup an Aver DVR (PC Based) with a POS (PC Based) using Quick Books Software? Having a problem figuring out what protocol the POS is utilizing. Thanks, Brian

Looks good. But, why are you in Security? you should be in GQ. Bunited2

Uh........ I'm not sure if he's talking about monitoring a commercial property driveway, or residential. You would have 1 extreme over another. If it's a commercial driveway then there'd be so much traffic it would just constantly record and he'd still have to search. If it's a residential property then: If you had a 'motion detector' trigger (external) installed, then how long do you set it for? 10 minutes 10 hours?.if you have constant motion in the driveway, then fine....what if someones passed out? This is something weighed in commercial all the time, why waste storage on a loading dock if it's after hours? what if something happens then there's no movement for a while?. What's the cost of storage these days...under $ 100.00 for a TB. One system I generally use (PC based), I don't have to fast forward, or?..I can drag a scroll bar that allows me to view all video on a camera in a 24 hr. period in about 1.5 minutes. In the last year I have burned for customers and law enforcement (incl an arson) about 5 videos, they say about what time they're looking for the event took place and you search it and burn it. To actually do an external trigger, camera trigger, motion detector, etc. takes extra equipment an input board and additional programming etc. _________________________________________________ In this case (in my opinion) less, is actually more. Bunited2

Hey Tom thanks, Good info. I'd do a 'smiley face' but I just don't do the 'emo' thing, or OMG....or? But I really do a 'mean' valley girl....goes over super big at a job site...."like whatttevverrrr". Bunited2

Oops I thought you said overlay, you said overly. I am still talking about all video being converted to HDMI, The DVD already has an HDMI out and the composite to HDMI and the VGA to HDMI converters are readily available too. They just need to all be fed to an HDMI switch. Bunited2

Hey a new user....quick get him!! You've pretty much answered your own question as far as being able to use a PC already in place. If you have the capabilities (with experience) and if the PC has the minimum requirements, you can integrate (and build) a DVR, but in your case if you're mixing and matching analog and IP then you're looking at a hybrid/NVR. This can all be done by installing the capture cards and software into a suitable PC. If you have enough storage space, you really don't need to worry about motion detection recording, with only a couple of cameras in the system you will retain plenty of information. Bunited2

Yes, what Soundy said. If you look back at my last system description, the camera on the back wall is fed through the DVD recorder so that camera can have a DVD burned, the DVD is also located at the sound board so audio is fed directly into the recorder also. Then fed up to the Security DVR for security recording. When you start talking about 'someone' determining between a couple of different views (like Soundy's question) who would be doing that? You said that you don't think that cctv will work, I think you meant it will work. Your composite video will actually be the easiest to work with and distribute. I think if you want to have one or all 3 cameras on the screen(s) and to choose which, you can get a simple quad for just over $ 100, usually this should also have an alarm input which will switch between quad and 'A' camera. Get a 4 channel remote and a 4 channel handheld transmitter and the Pastor? can switch views from the alter. More (somewhat) useless information brung'd to you by: Bunited2

What I don't understand, or wasn't presented in the original post was: zoomed in what? he mentioned a dome, was it already a varifocal, was it a digital zoom through a dvr, etc? If he was able to zoom in something (with a lens, manual, or motorized) there had to have been a separate focal capability, nothing was mentioned in the post. Something tells me there's a focal ring he doesn't know about, or a screw pickup device adjustment? Bunited2

Soundy, I tipped the waitress (over) on the way out...hee hee On my church system: Comp in the back of the Sanctuary - vga to hdmi converter. Graphics card for separate outputs to use a reg monitor to que up before sending it to the large monitors. This comp would be used to do power point presentations to put up music/wording, calendar, etc. DVD recorder/player w/hdmi out. Composite video to hdmi converter. I had installed a hi-res, hi-sens camera on the wall at the back of the Sanctuary. I had installed on the camera a motorized zoom lens. I used a 4 ch receiver with a 4 button remote that the Pastor could use anywhere in the Sanctuary. I had it centered at the Alter so it could be zoomed all the way in for a service, then zoomed all the way out to cover all the doors in/out of the Sanctuary. This camera was also fed to the DVR in the security system. All of the hdmi signals were fed into an hdmi switch, so any of the feeds could go on to the large monitors in the Sanctuary and elsewhere, nursery, etc. ________________________________________________________________________ Be seeing ya' Bunited2

I never really equated the cctv camera thing with the time frame of the series, yes just a tad ahead of their time (creative wise). Still.....who the heck could not out run one of those giant white beach ball things (along with some 3 stooges zig zagging action)??....they always let the beach ball thing get on them like a German Shepherd on a Poodle in heat. Maybe if the beach ball had spikes sticking out of it? Things that make you go..."huh?" Bunited2

In this day and age (whenever I see a post from you Carl I see the Giant white beach ball thing rolling across the water and every time I laugh like the '(get it?) village Idiot'). Love it! Jobs are scarce, I have/had my own company for 20+ years, DOD, Airports, Cities, Counties..blah blah. This guy's boss doesn't have a clue and he is stuck trying to make it work. 1. tell your boss he's a dult? 2. find the correct solution (and how much)? 3. Walk away? If I was this guy (unless he's got a job lined up at Walmart already) tell his boss that 'I talked to some integrator's and the DVD solution won't work. Then, it's out of his hands. And he can go back to the 2 way mirrors in the changing rooms. Bunited2

Thanks Soundy, I see you're a very good judge of charactor. But coming from you I do take it as a compliment...almost makes me teary eyed. ______________________________________________________ You're probably right as far as being able to get those things fixed (I know I could still replace the heads and align it myself). I was just trying to make the point, if they're trying to upgrade the system at roughly $ 400, it ain't gonna happen and employee 'A' should tell Regional manager 'B' their 48 camera system is basically worthless unless they do an influx in the $ 1000's...if he/they say 'no'...then go have a beer (or 3). Bunited2

I totally agree with survtech....only problem is he's an employee. Unfortunately people (the mngrs) are not in a position these days to spend anything on anything. When he thinks he's doing good for his LP dept. he's wasting money and this poor guy's time, which probably by now has cost the company over $ 1k in time, useless equip., etc. I would (I know you guys are going to think I'm a freak but, the store is not really interested in loss prevention) take the Time Lapse Recorders to a place that can service them, get new heads for each of them, tweak and align them and buy 90 slp tapes, create a library (drink a beer on the way back to work) and call it a day. I am a bit curious about one thing though, the 'Regional Mngr' ordered the DVD recorders? Is the 'Regional Mngr' a mngr of the store chain?....or an actual 'LP Regional Mngr' if the latter and he ordered the DVD recorders and didn't have a clue that they wouldn't work...well?.....just a scary thought of someone in that position. Must be family owned. Bunited2

Good lord, DO NOT buy this garbage... I wouldn't recommend this for someone's home setup, let alone something for a client who is obviously looking for a fairly high-end solution. Sometimes you really crack me up how you put stuff Soundy. ____________________________________________________ Depending on the budget for this system, I think what Soundy originally meant by a Broadcast system was to transmit the video and have a receiver at each Monitor. There are such devices available at frys. When I did that church I actually was recommended to the Pastor/church by a mutual friend that had the alarm/access at the church. The company that had installed the monitors (3 in the sanctuary and 2 other additional in other locations) baled and didn't finish the job. My friend referred me and I met with the Pastor and I told him "I can't even spell HDMI, but I'll see what I can do" Anyway, I was able to spell HDMI pretty quick and got the whole system working in a couple days. If you are not familiar with HDMI I would try an RF link 1st to one of the monitors and check the quality. If it's just one monitor and it can be cable'd I'd do HDMI. Good Luck Bunited2

I also didn't see any 'offensive' about the first responses. These guy's don't get a dime out of trying to make suggestions to you and it is/was true since you have the pinout you could actually integrate a standard analog camera into the system. They made no reference to you or your capabilities, but the system (may not have been crap even new) is/was a common DIY for gas stations, liquor stores, etc. I have actually found it humorous (somewhat) when I see these guy's (calmly) explaining something to you and you come back with this 'knee jerk' stuff....the only knee jerk reaction I saw was from you. Google 'midol and pamprin' Have a nice day. Bunited2

I actually looked into that cam - Avtech AVN304 - (thanks tom) it does look like it has some good capabilities and is around the same price range as the dropcam. I have done some streaming for meetings and I am putting something together for a live auction house. What I liked when I talked to someone at dropcam was they provide the streaming servers, where a 3rd party service will charge like $ 24.95/mo on up. If you're streaming out of your own network with 1 or 2 viewers, no big deal. But, since they provide the stream to clients viewing they said there's no limit on the number of viewers, that's what I liked. I'd like to check if the - Avtech AVN304 - has the same ability for unlimited clients, when I get a chance. Bunited2

Hey Steveo, I saw a suggested link from someone on this site, I think may work out for what you're looking for, I think they also have a banner running here. The camera can run standalone in your network (no pc needed) and because it's 'pushing' the video up to the same company's servers you do not need a static IP in your network. Anyway google 'dropcam', they're in the SF Bay Area. Good Luck Bunited2

I do exactly that with a church in San Jose with HDMI, except to have the service at the alter and an overlay on that video will be tough. 1st how large are the monitors that this will be on? I am doing it on 52" Sony Bravia's...but it's either a Power Point generation OR the video at the alter shown on the monitor(s). Bunited2

OK....Now that's some funny stuff! (about sending off the pics). Too bad it was before the internet got traction. Most of all good for him...one thing I totally despise is a cheater and I can take to my grave the fact that I never cheated on anyone in my life (even my ex wife, which by the way can be seen every halloween....usually between 10pm and 11pm flying past the moon on her broomstick) and (as far as I know) never been cheated on myself. That guy has a warm spot in my heart....as a true geek a 'rainman' as you put it. In certain circumstances a wire can be used to pick up resonance (vibrations) from sound for instance. I have used fence security protection systems (not a product or company, so mods don't take away my B-day.. hah..hah..hah?) that not only will detect climbing, cutting, etc. but actually can use (cyclone fencing) as a virtual speaker and sounds, voices can be heard back at the head end. More useless babble brought to you by: Bunited2

I don't know of a company that would specialize in 'only' covert camera installation training (there may be). But, there are so many different applications where a need for a covert install could be applied. I have done work for the DOD, to Cities, Counties and regular Industrial/commercial companies. I would think that a search of PI's and or/Bodyguard Security would provide a training better served than here. I have put cameras in plants, pinhole lenses looking through ceilings, etc. I think my most memorable was using an RCA Newvicon (starlite) camera (which back in the 'old days' looking through something, could actually see IR Illumination), we installed the IR under a desk and bounced it off the walls in this office (the IR light itself, couldn't be seen)...this was how we caught the infamous (to this one company anyway) 'company gym' smelly panty thief....turned out to be a security guard. Most recent, a working PIR w/built in camera...tell the employees you're installing an alarm motion detector, so you don't have to do that middle of the night BS....after setting it up, checking it over the network..caught the person live...and that was just checking how the camera was working. Eh, enough gibberish...good luck. Bunited2

I agree with the last post, you can do virtually anything these days with wireless, security systems, cctv, etc. But the cameras will still need power to them but it is low voltage if you can get cabling through your attic that's not too bad then. But, since you had stated you don't have the tools or the time your best bet is to get some pricing from dealers in the area. Chances are by Monday morning you will have received a dozen (which is good) introductions from people who have seen your post. New house, nice house, smart move get a professional installer. Good Luck Bunited2

If you're an end user replacing the cameras it's up to you. If you're an Integrator (service provider) if it's a drywall (hard cap) ceiling I would (if possible) completely patch the ceiling with mud, as recommended in the previous post. Now if it's in a company where there is a facilities dept. talk to them and tell them you're intent and do they have any paint to paint the patch after. What will most likely happen, the facilities mngr. will fall in love with you due to just the impression that you do only! quality work, they will probably say 'just remove the camera and one of his guy's will patch and paint it' or he will at least say, 'yes we have the paint let us know when you need it' and still fall in love with you. If the hole is too large to patch and paint, get a thin piece of sheet metal and paint it to match as close to possible as the ceiling. It will still look professional and blend and anyone that knows the was a hole there to be covered will totally understand. This is also the fastest method, as you can paint the metal separately and let it dry before you start on the ceiling. If there is substantial weight involved with the camera, do as the last post stated and put a couple pieces of wood above the ceiling and screw into those. Good Luck Bunited2

I understand the part about wanting/keeping that impression with the customer and especially would not want him/them to think at all about being incompetent, but you did say the PS was existing in the system. Powered stuff can be very funny things it could work great for years, but power that thing down once and back up again and who knows what can happen. If you can get the factory to confirm the power supply bit the dust due to use and not error on your part, I would definitely approach the customer to handle the cost of camera replacement. After all it was/is their component. Just because you relocated it, should not make it your responsibility for it's malfunction and hence removing the cameras from the face of this earth. Good Luck Bunited2