Soundy

Is having the tech support really worth it? I'm pretty computer saavy and have worked with another DVR in the past. Computer savvy isn't terribly useful with most standalone/embedded machines, because there's typically "no user serviceable parts inside". Everything is built onto one or two proprietary boards, the operating system is embedded, and it's generally not user-accessible at all. Especially with the off-shore brands, the setup and options can be poorly laid out, and the manuals can be dreadfully brief (IF you can understand them)... so yeah, tech support is definitely a desirable thing. If the thing uses any standard PATA (IDE) or SATA drives, the price differences are almost negligible. I'm looking at Western Digital IDE offerings from my regular supplier: 80GB - $50 160GB - $60 250GB - $75 320GB - $85-$90 (depending on 8MB/16MB cache) 500GB - $100 Over six times the space for only double the price is a pretty good price curve. 1TB IDE drives are pretty hard to find (relatively), but if the thing uses SATA, 1TB drives can be had starting at around $120. (Disclaimer: these are retail prices from my regular supplier in Vancouver, BC... specific prices may - and probably will - vary in your area, and depending on where you shop, but the differential will likely be similar).

It has a MALE VGA connector? Like, with the pins?? That's really odd... outputs and inputs both typically have female (with the holes) connectors. As long as it has the standard pinouts, I'd think a VGA extension cable (male-to-female) would work.

What make/model of converter is it? Maybe a different converter would be better - sounds like it's not feeding the monitor the proper signals to keep it awake. I've used a couple of these successfully - the cheapie DVRs I mentioned in this thread used an internal composite-to-VGA adapter that was problematic in some models, and our supplier/contractor's solution was to have us remove the card and use an external converter. And no, I don't remember what make/model that was either But in any case, it did work fine with a standard cheapie VGA LCD.

Most times, I think, for any given level of... well, a lot of stuff... the price differences are related more to features, function, bells-and-whistles... moreso than base quality. A lot of PC-based DVR manufacturers, for example, use the same basic card, or a variation using the same basic chipset(s)... what you're paying for between the cheap and the expensive is the quality and functionality of the software (and in some cases, the quality and reliability of the PC itself). In the case of embedded/standalone units, a lot of it may be the quality of the surrounding hardware (those nameless ones I mentioned, we had a run of them that were horribly unstable - turned out to be an issue with the whole batch of composite-to-VGA cards), the quality/usability of the interface, little features like selectable VGA resolutions... We've installed several cheap units (National Electronics brand, I think) that didn't even have a method for outputting video short of connecting a VCR or other capture device to the monitor output and then recording on that while playing back the desired footage - no CD-R, no USB port for a flash drive, nothing, not even available as an option/add-on. Most came without hard drives but allowed you to install your own in a removable sled... but the drive used a proprietary format so you couldn't even plug it into another machine to extract the video. If anyone has any comparisons like 3RDIGLBL is asking for, I think it would be good for them to be posted here, I'm sure a lot of people would be interested... might even be worth its own thread.

Even if I still had one in front of me, I couldn't tell you what brand it was, because I don't think any of them had brand names - the boxes just had "DIGITAL RECORDER" or something like that in big bold letters... I don't recall them even having a model name or number on the units, maybe just a serial number. We put in several of them a couple years ago in a local restaurant chain, subcontracted from another company across Canada who has a contract with the chain's parent company, so they're not even anything we spec'd or ordered - we just got shipments from the contractor with all the gear for the sites. These things were uber-cheap units, as were the cameras they sent us ($30 1/4" board cameras in cheap plastic domes)... at best I can guess they're some east-Asian manufacturer, based on the bad Engrish in the manuals. The VGA output was provided by a separate card that was linked internally to the composite output.

Megapixel means, very simply, 1 million or more pixels. Technically that requires a minimum resolution of 1024x1024, or equivalent in a different aspect ratio. A 1280x960 "widescreen" camera, for example, would also be a megapixel (about 1.2MP). 1024x768 (VGA resolution) doesn't qualify as megapixel, although it is pretty high resolution for a CCTV camera. If you're unsure, look at the camera's specs - it should list vertical and horizontal resolution (like, 1280x960). Multiply the two, and you have your answer. D1 (720x480) is actually less than 0.35MP.

Ah, now I gotcha. We sometimes use terminal strips ("European" style) for this sort of purpose, particularly on the test bench. You could also consider Molex types... Those are just links from one of our local suppliers... as far as Phoenix connectors specifically, you could always try just contacting themdirectly.

I've used Kopex, Liquid-Tite, assorted flexible plastic, EMT, PVC, split-loom, tape wrap, and even just left the wires exposed, depending on the location and specific needs. Normally I'll just use a combination of PVC and plastic liquid-tite, unless code calls for EMT.

About the most "standard" thing you'll find is the typical barrel-type connectors, but those are pretty much limited to 12VDC cameras and supplies. 24VAC cameras, unfortunately, use a wide range of different connections, sometimes even varying within one manufacturer's product line. Many use screw terminals, some use spring-clips... more are using variations on Phoenix or Molex type connectors, sometimes on a tail out the back of the camera, sometimes in the camera body itself... but rarely are they interchangeable between brands.

Bingo! Happens all the time!

Just because they're expensive, doesn't mean they're not CHEAP

Gotta agree with Survtech - cameras are generally pretty robust with regard to their power, especially those that use AC power. Remember the electronics themselves don't run on AC, they still require DC, so the cameras have to at the very least step down and rectify the power internally. If the camera also says it can run on DC power, as many do now, then one would have to expect it already has some form of internal regulation as well. In fact, a bridge rectifier and simple voltage regulator are so cheap, there's no excuse not to just use them in any camera design (except maybe those with really tight size restrictions). A bridge rectifier across the power inputs not only makes for universal AC/DC support, but negates polarity concerns when using DC. Design the camera electronics to work at 12VDC, slap in a 7812 regulator for about 50c (probably a quarter that if a mfr. is buying them wholesale), and you can feed it anything up to 35-40V with no issues. Yep, this one's on the camera manufacturers. A cynic might suggest they wouldn't want to spend the extra buck or two to make their cameras more robust, because they wouldn't be able to sell as many replacements for the blown cameras. But yeah, I have run across a few CHEAP board cameras that want regulated 12VDC and are very fussy about over-voltages. But again, those are CHEAP.

Yes, depending on the DVR. You need an analog capture card - there are a number available. The main thing is the software - it needs to support both analog and IP cameras. Or you need a ready-built "hybrid" system - both 3xlogic and Video Insight make them, and have representatives on this board. It is - that's pretty ambitious though. While there are lower-resolution IP cameras out there, the main reason for using IP is to get beyond the 640x480 (or so) limitation imposed by analog video... meaning the cameras get into the megapixel and higher range, meaning a LOT more storage is needed than with regular cameras. A 1.3MP camera, for example, is 1280x1024 resolution... which is more than 4 times the resolution of analog capture at 640x480. Depending on the codec and compression used, that means approximately four times the space needed. 24 cameras like that, you're looking at multiple terabytes just to hold a week or two of video. There are also WiFi-capable IP cameras, but the range is so limited with any reliability, it's not really feasible for CCTV usage.

I deal with mostly Vigil and VideoInsight systems built around the HICAP and XECAP cards. The HICAPs use a pair of HD-15 VGA-type connectors with 8-channel octopus cables for input, while the XECAPs have consolidated them into a single 18-channel cable (16 in, two out) with DVI-type connector. Wondering if anyone knows the pinouts both of these use? I'd love to build a set of adapters... for example, to let me plug the VGA octopus cables into a XECAP card, or vice-versa... mostly for the purpose of swapping in loaner machines, so I don't have to keep swapping over the BNCs? Or maybe such adapters already exist?

There are arguments in favor of both types of systems, but overall you'll find PC-based DVRs are easier to use (full GUI interface) and are more expandable (add internal, external, or network-attached storage) than their standalone counterparts. They also tend to cost more, especially if you use quality hardware (as you should). I mean, you can buy a bargain-basement $250 PC and slap in a $50 card you got off eBay or something, but don't expect the same sort of reliability you'd get from a system costing 10 times the price. It mostly depends on your needs and your budget. For 32 channels, there are some cards that are 16-channel and have an expansion board available to add another 16, so you don't have to go all out right off the top. It will also depend on the sort of framerates you need - 32-channel, 120-frame cards are a lot cheaper than a 960-frame, 32-channel system that will give you a full 30fps on every input (which of course, also requires a FAR more powerful computer!)

BTW, that "cutoff switch" is probably better known as a "battery isolator" and they're readily available from most RV stores and suppliers, or truck-parts stores, as they're very commonly used for RVs, campers and travel-trailers to prevent their systems from draining the truck's main battery.

And the answer is: "Yes, no, maybe, it depends." Some DVRs will only allow remote access through their own client software. Some only support browser access. Some support both, and some support neither. IN GENERAL, from my experience, client software tends to be better-featured and less troublesome than browser-based viewing... but again, that will depend on a number of factors, starting with the DVR itself. One system I've used, for example, the client software only works properly on a LAN connection, and you have to use browser viewing for WAN/internet connections (or do some serious hacking to make the client work that way). The only salient advice here is to talk to the DVR manufacturer(s), ask them which method they support (if either, or both), and ask for a demo if possible, and determine which will work best for your specific needs.

As an aside, multimeters can be had for as low as $10, depending on where you live and what sort of stores/supply houses are in the area. Even at regular retail stores, you shouldn't have to pay over $20. There's no excuse not to just own one of your own http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100013868&N=10000003+90401+502726

That's why I said, "something LIKE this"

I think he means something like this: http://www.axis.com/products/cam_292/

Friend of mine serviced a DVR in the back office area of a restaurant... he found the grease in the air (from the kitchen) had collected on the heat sink fins, and that collected all the dust in the air into a thick fuzz that he couldn't clean off no matter what he tried.

Second that - heat is the biggest enemy of ALL components in a computer. Proper cooling is essential - not just the fans, but the placement of the system. Always make sure there's good unobstructed airflow around it, and keep the dust to a minimum. Better cases will have filters on the air intakes, to prevent dust getting into the machine. Also, when it comes to PCs, don't leave blank plates out, either the ones on drive bays or the ones for the slot cutouts in the back. And don't run with the case open - it actually isn't cooler that way. Proper airflow, with sufficient fans, needs to move air through the case steadily, blowing out the hot air so cool air is drawn in. There's a great article on case airflow strategies here: http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1835927,00.asp

The DVR itself would need to support IP cameras, and it would need to support the specific IP camera you're using.

Your router's remote-configuration option is probably set to port 80. Find that option and either change the port, or disable remote configuration.

I would imagine you need to register an account first... prices may vary depending on whether you're an end user, reseller, installer, etc.