Soundy

Yeah, I can see that being useful for the 'pigtails' (we call it an octopus cable).

I have some crimp-on types of those, but I don't know where you'd get twist-ons... *running and hiding*

My bad, I read it as "vs" rather than "via"...

?? The two are not the same thing. aspx = server-based scripting language (like php, perl, etc.) iis = internet information services, aka Microsoft's all-in-one internet server application. Other than the fact that ASP (as far as I know) only runs on IIS servers, there's no connection between the two.

^Agreed, that's a really nice table...

FWIW, I just did a clean install of Win7 on a laptop and tried installing Vigil as an NVR, and it worked just fine (well, except the laptop is sorely under-powered for this, but hey...). Dunno how the capture card drivers would get along with Win7 though.

Would probably depend on the camera... AFAIK the IQEyes I normally use don't have a way to do it (short of maybe hacking the firmware).

We use primarily IQEye cameras, rarely a problem with them, and their support is really responsive where there are issues. Beyond that, I've also used Hikvision and Arecont, and find the IQs WAY WAY easier to set up and work with than either of them. They also get along a lot better with the Vigil N/DVRs we use. It's not clear if you want only SOME of these cameras to be megapixel and others lower (D1/VGA) resolutions - IQ does not, AFAIK, make anything less than megapixel, although you can configure the cameras to send lower resolutions or crop the image internally. Anyway, would definitely recommend giving IQ a look - www.iqeye.com

For monitoring what? Video? System status? Most client software is specific to the DVR it's designed for, so the "best" is really the one that works with the DVR you have.

Depends. If you're using standalone DVRs with composite outputs, you can just run those into a quad or mux. If you're using PC-based systems, you could just put two monitors side-by-side, or you could run client software to connect to both systems (if the client and servers support it).

RS-232 should be fine for the first few hundred feet. Connect TX+ on the RS232 to RX+ (or RX(A)) on the camera... GND on the RS232 to RX-/RX(B) on the camera. I've found that SOMETIMES you need to do thing in a particular sequence - like, powering up the camera after the DVR is up. And sometimes, you need to hot-swap the polarity of the wires (TX+ to RX-, GND to RX+) AFTER that camera is powered up. BTW, make sure the camera's baud rate matches the serial port's - many cameras will display the communication settings on-screen briefly after power-up. The data bit/parity/stop bit settings must match as well, although on both ends they normally default to 8N1 (8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit).

How about Internet Explorer? If all the machines have web access, just bookmark all three as homepages and set it (at least with IE8) to open each in a separate tab.

Are you talking about a "biscuit jack"? As in a jack with screw terminals and a female RJ45? If so, I've never seen that done before... except for the phone companies... I would guess he's talking about keystone jacks:

BTW this is one particular service that should be disabled on a DVR. Agreed. I have a script that I run on every DVR build to disable some services, set others to manual... this is one of its steps.

Likewise, we have XP, Win2K, and even an ancient Win98-based Capture DVR out in the field that run for months or years without attention or planned reboots. The symptoms that FranciscoNET describes sound like systems built on an un-tweaked, off-the-shelf install of Windows, running all sorts of unnecessary services and with all manner of unnecessary junk installed. Most of the Windows-based DVRs I've had issues with, it's been user-initiated... usually because some unsupervised staffer decided to surf porn sites or install DVD-authoring software or in some other way modify the system (oops, sorry, just voided your warranty!). The factory-built Vigil systems now are using a highly-customized version of Embedded XP; their HD Viewer machines have it running off a CF card, no hard drives at all. These machines are damn near bulletproof. And no, they're not using $60 eBay cards.

No kidding. Well, I guess the customers get what they pay for, too - when their vendors sell them systems built on pirate cards and $60 eBay specials, that's what they're gonna get.

If your computer has serial ports, you should be able to just use those.... if not, simple USB-to-serial adapters should do. You also shouldn't need to spend extra on RS-422 adapters; RS-232 should be fine, as the two protocols are functionally identical. For protocol, Pelco D or P or both should work. Remember that you'll have to match up baud rate and comm parameters, and each camera needs to have a unique ID (there should be DIP switches in the camera for this). One other thought, if you look at the PCB boards in the camera, is to look for an FCC ID number (usually silkscreened to the board, but may be on a sticker or printed on something). With that, you should be able to look it up at www.fcc.gov and at the very least, find the manufacturer.

Pretty sick toy! I want one!

AFAIK any dome enclosure designed for a Spectra should work. The rest of it, you're right on the bean " title="Applause" />

There are plenty of other legit cards and software made in China, but for some, it's a lot less effort to tweak someone else's, thus gaining the benefit of their name. Well, you've already bought it, so you might as well keep using it, if you want - NOT using it won't change things at this point, other than maybe addressing your stability problems. But yes, any software and drivers that work with those chipsets should work with the card.

Agreed on the driver issue... Really, I think the OP's question is like a solution looking for a problem. The answer: instead of looking for hardware/software that will work on Win7 so you can start installing Win7... wait until you HAVE hardware that can/must install on Win7, THEN worry about installing it. "Future proofing" really isn't an issue, since I think everyone here will tell you, if you're upgrading your card/software, you should start with a fresh install of Windows anyway... so you don't need to worry about building a system with XP and then making newer software work on it; when the time comes, just install Win7 clean and then add the newer software.

Just because it won't be supported anymore doesn't mean it will stop working... just means they'll stop issuing updates. I have an old Capture DVR built on Win98 on one site, still chugging away... and I can rebuild it with Win98 if I really want to.

Pretty sure they're talking about not exposing the camera's guts to rain - I've mounted a couple dozen CNB domes right out in the weather with no problem. There IS an O-ring around the dome, and the wires are tightly sealed by a grommet going into the housing.

"Good" and "$60-$80" don't really go together. You can get "fair" for that price, though.