Soundy

The site DOES have a certificate... Rory just apparently hasn't updated his computer recently to the latest root certificates, since nobody else has complained of these errors, and box.com is a perfectly valid site (cloud storage, along the lines of Dropbox, iCloud, etc.). Rory COULD just click through and look at the pictures anyway, or update his root certificates, but apparently he prefers to be contrary.

Or you could update your system's security certificates. If it's not recognizing valid sites, it may be letting invalid ones through as well. Since the links appear to be working for everyone but you, I'd suggest the problem is on YOUR end.

If you hover your mouse over the first one, it will say "Zoom in (real dimensions: 4864 x 3224)" - that would be full, uncropped 16MP. The lower two pictures, I'll venture a guess, are 100% crops from the first one.

need to change it from https to http so others can see it .. for example the https comes up with an error in chrome .. otherwise nice images and nice neighborhood All show up fine in Chrome here...

Ah, hope your snowblower has a full tank of gas

Specs look pretty standard for a small board camera like that. All else being equal, the final determining factor in image quality will be the lens, and the lens is what provides the "pinhole" capability. Whether the video stutters or freezes has nothing to do with the camera.

Welcome! Where in Canada are you?

VGA = video graphics array, an analog high-resolution video standard.* HDMI = High Definition Multimedia Interface. It uses the same digital video signal as DVI (Digital Video Interface), but incorporates digital audio as well as other signals. On a computer desktop, a digital signal (DVI/HDMI) will usually look a little crisper than VGA; in general though, on a DVR, there should be little noticeable difference between the two... look for whatever is compatible with whatever monitor you want to use. If you want to run your DVR's output through an A/V receiver, you'll probably want to make sure it has HDMI (since most receivers now support multiple HDMI inputs). *Technically, VGA also refers to 640x480 resolution, with higher resolutions being referred to as SVGA (super-VGA, 800x600), XGA (extended graphics array, 1024x768), WXGA (wide XGA, 1280x768), and so on... see the complete(?) list here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_display_resolutions. All these resolutions can be supported via VGA, DVI and HDMI. When you refer to a "high definition video camera", are you talking about a consumer camcorder type device with HDMI or other HD output? You won't find many, if any, DVRs that have HDMI inputs. The only current standards for recording high-definition surveillance video are IP (network cameras) and HD-SDI (Serial Digital Interface, a broadcast standard). The latter is new to the market, so there's not a lot of selection out there yet, and is limited to 2MP (1920x1080). The former uses the same type of network as your internet connection and there are cameras commercially available in resolutions up to 29MP (although that will set you back about the cost of a small car).

VCM models are flush-mountable and have the separate back-box for surface mounting; VBM are surface-mount only. VF is a true-day/night model; VD is not. http://cnbusa.com/en/html/product/product.php?seqx_prod=1073 http://cnbusa.com/en/html/product/product.php?seqx_prod=1072

Key word: "MOST"

Just to clarify: IP != megapixel. There are standard-def (usually VGA, 640x480) IP cameras available, that will typically have the same low-light capabilities as their analog equivalents. Using IP instead of analog brings potential benefits of its own, especially if you have to use limited existing wiring (the ability to run numerous cameras over a single wire), or have to route cameras via internet, as well as other assorted advantages... and of course, it gets you beyond analog video's resolution limits. And if you're ALL-IP, you don't need video capture hardware.

One of the great features of the Monalisa line of cameras (like the VCM-24VF) is their low-light capability, something that megapixel camera are notoriously poor at. However, you say you have good lighting (at least from the motion floods) so the camera you listed should work fine, with about 6 times the resolution. I haven't used any of CNB's megapixel cameras myself, so I can't comment on them specifically. You may want to consider sticking with the analog cameras in the areas that just have street lighting, as it tends to be fairly low-level, and given the narrow space down the side of your house and the fact you should be able to zoom in fairly tight, you probably don't need the extra resolution that much (although it is nice). Now talking about IP cameras in general (vs. megapixel, as there are standard-def/VGA IP cameras available), they do offer other installation options and flexibility, and if you're using all-IP cameras, you don't need an analog DVR or capture card at all, you just need a computer with the appropriate software. However, in your situation, and given that you already have things wired, I don't think you'd see a big benefit from using IP either. It would be a start, if you wanted to move to all-megapixel later, or if you just particularly like to be cutting-edge, but I don't think there's a burning case for blowing the wad on megapixel here. You can't use just any dome outside; you do want to make sure it's weather-rated (IP65 at least), and vandal-resistant is usually preferable... the one you linked doesn't state either, although it does list outdoor mounts as available accessories, so I'd say it's a fairly safe assumption that it'll survive outdoors.

Change to a software-compression card... or use the GV remote software instead of remote desktop software. I know Vigil has an option to switch to software rendering when using hardware-compression cards, so it works properly over remote desktop... no idea if GV has a similar option. Using the proper remote software is still preferable - I find remote desktop software in general tends to be clunky, slow, and have poor quality for this sort of thing.

Different from what my browser sees, but okay....

It's because the GV card is using the video overlay for its live view - the camera signal is piped directly to the display memory, instead of being processed and re-rendered. This is normal for hardware-compression cards (if you check, you'll probably find your other PC-based DVR is using a software-compression card).

You might want to check your own system for spyware there, Rory - browser or DNS hijack or something. I got the "video has been removed" version of the video that reached its end and just stopped, just as all normal Youtube videos. Nothing asking me to download anything.

Manuals are for wussies.

What exactly is he spamming here?

First few times I ever used baluns was on 22/4 station-Z wire, and that was just out of necessity because we couldn't have got coax to the locations (baluns ran $40+ *each* at the time, so they were something reserved just for such instances). Video on one pair and power on the other, works just fine. These days, we use Cat5e for new installations almost exclusively, because it's easy to upgrade to an IP camera later, or to run multiple cameras over one line (two cameras + power is standard), and it means I don't have to carry around three or four types of cable in my van. I normally use the blue pair for video, green and orange for power, and leave the brown as a spare.

From what I can find, that DVR doesn't appear to support PTZ control at all.

I'd recommend this camera, personally: http://www.cnbusa.com/en/html/product/product.php?seqx_prod=1073 While not "small", these are fairly inconspicuous (especially if you can paint them to match the color of the wall or other fixtures, and certainly compared to a bullet cam hanging off the wall). They're vandal-resistant (try throwing a rock at your bullet cam and see how easily you can re-aim it from the ground), weatherproof, give excellent picture even with very little light, the wide varifocal range gives you plenty of room for adjustment... and most importantly, there's lots of room inside the back-box to make your connections (we use these baluns with them, they fit great). While you're at it, you can make life easier on yourself by deleting one of the two wires you're trying to cram through the hole - video over baluns only requires a single wire pair, so whether you use the Cat5 or the 22/4, you'll have other wire within that same sheath for the power (and just for completeness of information, baluns DO NOT require UTP - Cat5 is most commonly used because it tends to be readily and cheaply available, and is generally more versatile for other purposes).

That's exactly my point, though - cheap systems and cameras ARE sold, ON the IR. Thus you see big "NIGHT VISION" splashes in advertising, and noobs coming into forums with little clue about what kind of system they want, but they KNOW they want IR!

Why not? Do you have the termination set properly? Termination should be on for P2, off for P1, and if the controllers allow you to set termination (they should), make sure it's off for A and on for B.

Costco doesn't sell "Pro" CCTV equipment.