Soundy

This seems more like a lens issue to me. Since IR is at a different wavelength than visible light there are always compromise when it comes to focusing. One generally picks what mode is used most and tries to get focus close as possible without sacrificing clarity by splitting the difference in focus. My suspicions are a better IR corrected lens on the IQ will yield better results between both mode. Oh wait, I can post some out-of-focus pics from these AV3155s too!

I'm not at all surprised. That is more common than not. Developers will test a product on a few of the more common operating system releases, but the product will likely run on many more operating systems than are included in the installer. Windows 2K is often not tested or included in the install list, but that does not mean it won't run on Windows 2K. Best, Christopher Yeah, the kicker is that the installer specifically checks the version of Windows and refuses to install on anything but XP or 2K3 Server.

Hmmm, that's a bit over-analytical, and WAY over-generalized. Quite simply, "DVR" stands for Digital Video Recorder, which CAN include network cameras, and in fact, a system with ONLY network cameras is also a DVR; "NVR" is simply a more specific term to indicate that the system is network-only with no analog capture hardware. Typically, a system with analog AND network cameras is called a "hybrid DVR". As far as cost, ANY of the three types of systems can be "extremely expensive" to implement; it really depends on a lot of different factors... hardware used, software used, cameras used... you could put together a dirt-cheap NVR with low-grade network cameras and cheap NVR software... you could assemble a VERY expensive analog-only DVR with high-end cameras, top-grade computer hardware, and highly sophisticated software.

Nevermind, forgot about the DVR you were using If the DVR has one or more audio inputs, just about any mic you can get from Radio Shack will work... just make sure it's a dynamic mic, as condenser types will need a power supply.

I'm liking IQ the more I hear - the camera first tries to load an ActiveX control, and if it can't, it loads a Java applet instead. Works with every browser I've tried it on.

A "DIY" section, perhaps? An alternate idea for this might be, along with the phpBB update (when or if it ever happens), if a "portal" page is added, which would support separate modules for posting categorized links, as well as modules for photo/video galleries, user/company directory, etc. If a "links" section is added, I'd suggest that it contain only high-level links - to main company sites, company contact page(s), and/or support page(s). NO links to specific products or price lists or order forms. Good thinking too, but it would have to be carefully watched to ensure it doesn't just become a dumping ground for spam links as well - for example, "training" info that's specific to one brand or model, sponsored by that manufacturer or vendor, unless it's good "general-knowledge" information. A good example of this might be this DSLR tutorial that Canon has online, that is based around their Rebel XT camera, but is all just good general photography info.

How about a camera with built-in audio? Talk to ak357 about his "plug'n'play" network cameras with audio.

Welcome! So how far beyond Hope are you? Yale? Spuzzum??

Well, the Arecont has that utility... it just won't let you install ONLY that utility. BTW, I tried a little experiment: copied the whole Arecont program folder from my desktop to my flash drive... took it to a Windows 2000 machine... surprise, surprise, the AVINSTALL utility runs ON WINDOWS 2000, on its own, no NEED to install all that extra shyte. Pretty stupid that the installer stops you from running it on Win2K, when the finder actually does work. Gonna try it on Win98 next, just to be silly...

You could do that, although those outputs are generally meant for connecting a service monitor or sending a signal to a customer-awareness monitor. On some cameras, the analog output actually includes focusing aids (a 100% crop in the center 1/4 of the display). On a couple cameras I've seen, it's also only on for about 5 minutes after power-up. If it doesn't have the analog-out port, you can use just about any computer or remote browser. You can plug a laptop or netbook directly into it with a crossover cable, or I like to carry a cheap wireless router that I can plug into the network and then access all the cameras wirelessly from my laptop. My coworker does the same thing using his Archos - much more convenient. I haven't tried it yet, but I should also be able to do it with my Windows Mobile phone too.

All they need, is to allow the USER to decide whether they want the NVR installed or not along with the finder. Not that difficult a concept - don't force me to install software I don't want or need.

Arecont has built in web server in every camera and yes u can adjust parameter's of the camera p.s. They do have stand alone IP finder utility Thanks for clearing that up ak... But I must say that now I don't understand any of the dilema here, I must not be experienced enough to understand it. I was under the impression that all the features and functions could be configured with the cameras onboard web server configurator and ip finder utility.. The dilemma is that the camera ships only with an installer than installs the configurator, AND the NVR, AND sets the NVR to auto-start with Windows. There are no options during installation to change or disable this behaviour. Before you can access the cameras via webserver, you need to assign an appropriate IP to them - this is true with most network cameras, including the IQEyes. But with the IQs, there's a very basic little "IQfinder" utility that runs to allow you to set the camera's IP and name, after which it can remain installed for future use; it doesn't install any services, it doesn't launch itself at startup, it doesn't interfere with anything else. With Arecont's package, it installs its own NVR whether you want it or not; it sets the NVR to auto-start with Windows whether you want it to or not; and apparently, Arecont cameras don't like to have more than one stream accessing them, so if their NVR and your desired DVR/NVR are both starting up and reading the camera, it's going to cause problems. To avoid this, you have to uninstall their software again, or at least launch it and go into the settings to disable the auto-start. Whether this is a "helpful" or not may be debatable... what's not, as far as I'm concerned, is that when you're installing one piece of software that you DO need (the IP finder/configurator), the manufacturer SHOULD NOT be forcing you to also install software you MIGHT NOT need (the NVR), especially if it will cause conflicts or problems with your existing software. This is ridiculously easy to fix: add a step to the installer that lets you set or clear a checkbox for which portions of the package you want to install. If I don't want or need their NVR, let ME select to not install it. Don't just go ahead and assume I'll want it.

Arecont has built in web server in every camera and yes u can adjust parameter's of the camera This is true. It's simply far more limited than IQ's. Thanks for that, Alex... problem is, it's not something that's readily available. The software the cameras comes with installs ONLY the complete NVR suite, with no options to do only a partial install. The download from their website is the same package as on the shipping CD.

Didn't I already say that? I also have the option to recommend others avoid these cameras, as their bundled software will install and launch additional programs without their permission. Then why do they force it to install along with the configuration tool? And the next tech that comes along? Install -uninstall - reinstall - uninstall gets a little silly, and again, it shouldn't be necessary with a PROFESSIONAL product. Give me the OPTION of which tools I want or need to use. The problem with this is that if for some reason, I don't have the chance to uninstall the NVR, it's going to start up automatically and create problems with my CHOSEN DVR/NVR. Furthermore, some DVRs (including Vigil) are now being built on stripped-down embedded XP systems loaded on a small flash drive, that leaves little room for additional software. If I need to install JUST the configuration tool, it's likely going to fail because the drive doesn't have the room for the complete suite of unneeded applications - once again, the installer should allow ME to select the tools that *I* need, not what Arecont thinks they want to force on me. You may prefer the NVR interface for configuration... I find IQ's perfectly usable, and it allows me the ability to adjust camera settings from anywhere in the world that I have a browser... even my smartphone.

So you prefer to force users to install unneeded software? You're saying if I install software you provide for a specific purpose, whether through choice or necessity, that I can expect other software to be installed without my approval, and set to run automatically on my computer without my permission? To some people, that's the description of a virus...

I feel your pain with the NVR software but it's free marketing for them. Doesn't drop their professional image in my mind. My opinion is if you around any industry and see something you don't agree with you're argument shouldn't be i shouldn't have to.....it's going to wear you down. No, my argument is, I SHOULD have the option to NOT install portions of the software that I don't need or want. Imagine you hire me to install some cameras for you... so I come in, hook them up, and then remove your DVR and install mine instead, without your permission, without even informing you in advance that I'll be doing it. Is that the "professional" way to act? Are you going to thank me for it? Or are you going to turn around and tell people not to hire my company? It's not free marketing - it's telling the customer, "We want you to use OUR stuff and we don't care about how it affects you." And like I said, it's got me advising AGAINST Arecont cameras until they AT LEAST add the ability for ME to select which of their programs *I* need. It's not going to wear me down at all, if I refuse to purchase their products.

I'm sorry, but foisting your own NVR software on my machine when all I need to do is configure the camera for another system, is arrogant and unnecessary. I shouldn't need to read the manuals to find out that I need to disable that, it SHOULDN'T HAPPEN in the first place. I guess it's my bad for expecting more PROFESSIONAL operation from this outfit.

It would probably be in the section where you set up your record destination(s) - ie. where you tell it what drive/folder you want to record to.

Ridiculous. I should be given the option *during installation* to have that happen or not, or for that matter, the choice of which components I want to install. The only option I'm given is the install path. I'm using these cameras with existing hybrid DVRs. ALL I need is the configuration utility to assign the cameras an IP. I don't need their NVR, I don't need a local database of the cameras. And what about the next tech to come along, that doesn't have a laptop or the Arecont software and needs to reconfigure the camera? Oh... great. So if I DON'T uninstall the thing or reconfigure the DEFAULT options, it's going to frak up my NVR operation?? Actually, I'm leaning more and more to simply NOT installing Arecont and sticking with IQEye... so far I haven't seen anything "special" about the ones I've set up. Their web-based configuration and features appear to be FAR more limited than IQ's as well.

CCD stands for "charge coupled device" - it's a type of semiconductor used for image capture in all types of cameras (the other common one is CMOS, or "complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor"). The 1/3" or 1/4" refers to the size of the sensor. IN GENERAL, the larger the sensor, the better image quality and low-light performance you'll get, but there are other factors that come into play as well that aren't necessarily related to the sensor size.

This is normal - the "TV OUT" on your card doesn't show any processed video, it just takes the analog inputs and replays them out. It's like taking the analog output of the camera and sending it straight to the monitor. There are three ways for this to work: 1. as 'thewireguys' suggests, if you have a multi-head video display card, run a second VGA cable to the TV using a VGA-to-composite adapter (or straight to a VGA input, if your TV supports it). 2. switch to a system like Video Insight or Vigil that uses a card with a software multiplexor (such as VI's VJ-series cards, or Vigil's XECAP-series cards), and you can split-screen your analog and IP cameras. 3. switch to an IP camera that has an auxiliary analog video output, like IQEye's Pro-line cameras.

Good point, but the other side of that coin is, how many people who might otherwise join up, will just move on if they do a search, find a link here, and then find they can't read anything? I suppose a compromise might be to have SOME forums readable by guests, but not all, while still having the complete forum listing visible to all, so they at least have an idea of the full scope of the site? BTW, one of those Guests might have been me... I get the email notifications of replies on my phone, but when going to the link, my phone's browser doesn't log me in automatically, so I end up reading replies as a Guest.

I did end up using my laptop, which fortunately I had with me (wouldn't normally have had it yesterday, but I'd left it in the van the night before). And that's still beside the point. Oh yeah... rebooted my desktop machine last night for a Windows update... came in this morning to find some kind of Arecont NVR software running... uh, wut? I don't recall giving anything permission to load at startup. Becoming more and more annoyed at these people...

If the software allows you to configure drive pools - in other words, allows you to specify multiple drives to record to - then you don't gain any space by RAIDing them. I can't count how many times on other boards I've seen people come in asking how to recover their data when one of two drives they've set up with their motherboard's onboard RAID has failed... or worse, when the RAID controller itself has failed, and they lose two drives' worth of data, or have to go through complex recovery procedures... and usually, they don't benefit anything by doing it in the first place.

Uhh... how about because there are still perfectly stable systems running Win2K out in the field... like the one I tried to install on today? There's nothing wrong with it as-is, so why would I change it to XP just to be able to use their cameras? Or maybe because the competition bothers? IQeye's "IQfinder" utility will not only install on Win2K, but I can copy the install folder from my workstation to my flash drive and simply run it standalone (handy if one doesn't have install permissions). Oh well, I'll keep this in mind the next time we're spec'ing cameras... it may be for XP systems in the future, but it's the principle that counts. BTW, looking on Arecont's website, I don't see anything in a Linux or OSX version either...