jasauders

Last year I was at a wedding. For majority of the time, the DJ and I talked about mountain biking. Did he do a good job? Absolutely. But all he did was let his playlist run and get on the mic when there was something worth announcing. Worth 2,000 bucks? Absolutely not. Last Saturday I was at a wedding. The DJ ran everything from his laptop, there again using playlists with a timed transition to handle everything. I have no idea what his costs were, but it only gave more food for thought in regard to the fact that we indeed could handle this on our own. Truth be told, I do have mixed feelings on the whole professional DJ or do it ourselves front. On one hand, it'd be nice to drop the change and not have to worry about it, but hiring a professional DJ also comes with a degree of risk. Two friends of mine got married last year. Both of them had different DJs, but each DJ played the "it's your show, you make the call, I'm there for you" card, but when it came down to being THERE and actually putting on the show, the DJ wouldn't take requests and simply said "It's my show, I got this." Yeah, no. At my wedding, if I want to hear a song, you can bet I'll be listening to that song. No high-horse egos like that would be tolerated. That said, those accounts don't instantly equal what WILL happen on the actual day, and I understand that. I'm simply saying hiring a DJ does come with some sort of risk in that regard, but then doing things myself also introduces a different risk as well, because a DJ would likely be able to bounce back quicker should an issue arise. Things aren't too easy right now. There was nearly 4k that was supposed to be available for our wedding that instantly wasn't, and due to a problem at our house, another 2.2k is gone with having to get certain things repaired. Our photographer is a student in college for photography, granted her pictures are amazing but her being a student inherently comes at a cheaper price. The food we're purchasing ourselves and a family friend who did catering a few years ago is helping us with the preparation. That same family friend is currently a baker, so there's the wedding cake as well. Some of the catering quotes we got were as high as 7 thousand, but with doing it ourselves, we'll squeak away for 1,200 easy. Please understand... I really appreciate your opinion, but this wedding by design is going to be extremely home-brewed with in-house ideas, and I like that. I am going to continually pursue the do-our-own-music thing until it becomes an absolute wash, which right now, it's still very far from.

+1 to IP Cam Viewer. I love it. I've used TinyCam Free as well. It's solid... I'm not sure which one I like more just yet. They seem to have similar features. In regard to the microphone, I used to have a microphone for my computer. It was literally 3 inches long, 3.5mm jack, and that was it. Flexible head, no wires, nothing. Would something like that suit as an acceptable microphone? I'm asking based on my own curiosity, plus if it's an acceptable option for whymeintrouble, it'll at least be a cheap/low profile upgrade, mic wise, for the camera.

I did think of that, however it's listed as RMS wattage, so I have to assume it's SOMEWHAT accurate and not like the Pyle amp days where they rate them as 5,000 watts MAX when they're lucky to RMS @ 250. The thing that gives me a borderline panic attack is how I would go about setting up the actual system. Can you give me any sort of further direction on what you might piece together in terms of that 150w amp and what monitors/speakers/whatever to go with it? The thing that gives me a comfort zone with the Sony is I know it'll need some tweaking, but I also feel extremely confident it'll do the job. But I'm very open to other alternatives. I just don't want to have to worry about it. Thanks for the insight!

While I'm sort of new in the CCTV arena, I've got some IT experience. Being a Linux fan, I've grown to enjoy ZoneMinder, as I can dump it directly on top of my file/print/web/backup server and have it utilize empty hard drive space and store feeds right there. For me, it was a no brainer. Now, I understand most people may not look at a computer/ZoneMinder setup and think it's the most logical way to go, however a desktop computer can be made very beefy with a lot of hard disk space for considerably less than some NVRs I've found online. So I ask this question not so much on the premise of challenging one solution or another, but more along the lines of simply, why? What is it about an NVR that gives you the advantage over a software based computer solution? Do NVRs typically have more features than what we commonly see on some CCTV computer software, ZoneMinder included? Is the setup or management easier in any way?

Ahh I see. Good info there. I hadn't been aware that the camera can have its own internal processing capabilities to essentially remove the bulk of the server load. Is there a name for cameras that do their own processing? I was doing some research on speaker/audio systems this weekend... sounds a lot like active vs passive speakers... active is internally amplified (self powered speaker) and passive relies on the receiver's amplifier. Not to get off topic, but I hear you with the Ubuntu/CentOS/whatever comment. We're phasing out our fleet of Mac systems at work (K-12 district) in favor of Ubuntu powered Lenovos. To say it's been a success is an understatement.

While I might be some sort of an open source hippy, I'm not an idiot... I'll still use what works. Good to hear there's other alternatives. Have you used the Exacq software? I wonder what kind of costs come with it... This is not true for all VMS platforms Is that to say on some VMS, 2 camera provides the same "server" load as 30? I would think to some degree the processing load would have to scale up. Also, is it true that with IP/network cameras, you need a far less powerful server than you'd traditionally need? I read on some sources that the work load these days is done at the camera, and the network based server box is basically a glorified middle man just organizing all of the feeds coming in on the disks.

Very true. More cameras require more processing power... so at least you can upgrade it accordingly. I haven't tried Zoneminder but i will. Ideally, if they had a downloadable VM that someone can run on Windows with the free VMWare Player, that may get greater acceptability. I hear ya. That said, I haven't ran Windows on my systems in quite a few years, so ZM's nature by default interests me before I even had a chance to fire it up and see what it was about.

Oh I understand. ZoneMinder doesn't exactly scream #1 in popularity to the average user. Granted it's well known in the open source community, but I definitely understand - the average joe looking at CCTV systems may not notice ZoneMinder on their radar instantly. I was looking at it like this... go to BestBuy, pick up a tower with some beefy hard disk space, Windows would already be installed, grab some additional software for the CCTV, bingo bango done. I'm not advocating really Linux/ZM in this scenario. I'm moreso advocating a Best Buy Windows 7 enabled desktop + whatever software out there is Windows based that works half decently + some IP cameras versus a regular NVR. I mean sure, the NVR will be a LITTLE less to set up since you wouldn't have to install the software like you would on a BestBuy/Windows desktop, but still... I was curious enough to at least ask.

So many people are afraid of making holes in walls. If its not plaster, it i usually just Sheetrock which is easily repairable. Installing in climate control area is desirable. Basement, Laundry room, etc. I hate making holes in plaster walls, however I always look at it as a reason to upgrade the plaster to something that, well, doesn't suck. Once I realized that's what was in the bathroom, I stripped the walls in a hot minute without even thinking about it. Solid idea on the wiring job. I currently have everything being routed downstairs to the basement, which is where my office area is. As I add more devices I find myself running out of desk space which I should have plenty of (80x32 main desk + 24x96 side desk), so I plan to start attaching things to a panel board sort of like what you did. " title="Applause" />

Not to challenge you in any way shape or form as I'm just getting in to video surveillance, I can honestly say, in the 2 weeks of back to back solid Googling for reviews, talking with people I know in the field, as well as asking here on the forums, I've heard nothing but positive about Vivotek. This is literally the first time I ever heard any degree of negative feedback in regard to that company. I can at least attest to their customer support so far being good, as I've contacted them numerous times. Hopefully after some time has passed where I can actually give a decent review on mine it'll be on the more positive tune.

Hey guys! New user here. Also a new home owner. Since things are settling down I want to look into getting some video surveillance. I've used ZoneMinder in the past and I intend to use it again since I have a Linux server here and can easily dump that software right on the same box. I'm doing what I can do cipher through all of the brands and reading reviews, etc., but I'm having an incredibly hard time. So, here I am! Be gentle. I have a list of items I'd like the camera to have. I'm aiming for one camera, which will monitor the driveway/ground-level deck/back door/car port all in 1 shot. It must be: Outdoor Camera Night Vision (to some degree) POE I've of course read about the usual brands that are littered on Google Shopping. I found Agasio and Apexis, which seem to be sister companies. I was incredibly turned off by Apexis's insane lack of proper punctuation and spelling in their FAQ section, which turned me off to both companies all together. I'm not sure about other brands, such as Heivision, HooToo, Wansview, etc. How do they rank on the list? I recently came across a Ubiquiti AirCam which was insanely perfect for what I was after, except it had absolutely no IR so I kind of crossed it off the list. It was depressing because they can be picked up for $110 USD rather easily. So... what do you guys recommend? I'm not after anything top end and amazing with 1080 playback and all that, but of course, the better bang for the buck is the name of the game. If I can grab one for (don't hit me) 200 or less that somewhat fits the parameters I'm after, it would be tremendously awesome... My number one concern is I absolutely do not want a camera that requires specific software to configure for simple things like setting it to DHCP, etc. I only use Linux these days, which is problem number 1 when it comes to Win/Mac specific configuration software, but problem number 2 is a web GUI configuration is the way to go these days, so if certain vendors are still requiring users to install software just to make simple changes, then right away I'd have to cross it off the list. I read a review about a camera where a Linux user said he had to install the software via Wine to make it happen. Ehh... That doesn't exactly excite me. Am I out of my mind? Or do you guys think there are some brands out there that I can look further into? Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks much!

Oh I'm sure. The problem is, I was pretty much exactly 50/50 on which one to go for. At first I thought the 8134V had PTZ, because "ePTZ" was listed on one spec sheet I found on it (I assumed it meant electronic PTZ??), however everything else says it's fixed. So, fixed dome vs bullet... well... I really don't have a preference. If the dome was PTZ, the +1 would go there. I haven't heard anybody comment on the build quality of the 8134V, but the 8332 has gotten repeatedly good reviews about the build quality, which made me think that's something worth considering. Couple that with a better "rated" operating temp range and the decision making was over. I'm sure the 8134V would realistically be fine, but if the camera that I'm already beginning to lean towards had better rated operating temp, then why look further? After all, we've had our fair share of ice storms and crazy cold winters, so I figure it's at least SOME food for thought. About your 8162P, that shot looks nice! What software/DVR are you using with that?

Regular NTSC video (like watching TV) is 30fps. As far as surveillance, you usually won't even notice a difference at 15fps. Remember that the higher the framerate, the more storage space it's going to take and the more bandwidth it uses. http://www.panasonic.com/business/security/demos/PSS-recording-rates.html Ah good deal, I was not aware of that. As of a few minutes ago while I was still waiting to hear back via email from the Vivotek rep, I was still up in the air between which one to go with. While the 8134V is a fixed dome (which I'm not sure if I prefer or not for outdoor use), and looks like it has less IR sensors (possibly leading to a little bit less visibility at night), I was semi leaning towards it in the event it was cheaper. However, once I saw the outdoor operational temp ratings, my mind was made up. FD8134V = 32*F to 122*F IP8332 = -4*F to 122*F I live in Pennsylvania, so it's rather common to dip into the teens at some point throughout the winter, with the average being in the 20s. IP8332 without a doubt it is! For what it's worth, I also checked out some IP8332 footage on YouTube and was rather impressed.

Try searching for Vivotek IP8332. Other sellers will appear. Also, you may want to contact Vivotek directly and ask where to buy. Thanks. That's what I did. I got a hold of a rep from 4XEM after I emailed Vivotek sales directly. They gave me an attractive quote on the 8332, so I think I'm going to move forward with it. There were quite a few other cameras from Vivotek I was considering, but I really don't "need" PTZ (like, yes, need, no... for the cost, no ). On top of that, I was heavily considering the 60fps 8330 @ VGA resolution, thinking maybe the camera speed would be that much faster like some other high end cameras I've seen. However, I've seen video footage of 30fps cameras that are remarkable, so I have to wonder if more goes into a camera being smooth flowing than just the fps alone, which makes me think that much higher of the 8332 into thinking it'd be a good fit. On top of that, I see ZoneMinder's hardware support list is very good with Vivotek, which makes me dig it even more, since I'd love to just dump ZM on top of my Linux server and run the video feed there. I'm going to email the rep back and put in an order. Thanks guys!

@ MaxIcon, thanks for posting these pictures! I'm actually on the verge of deciding which camera to get right now. Prior to even seeing these pictures the 8332 was at the top of the list, but now that I saw a few shots I feel even better about this unit. How do you like the 8332? Are you just using it for monitoring or do you have it hooked up to a DVR or some sort of computer based system? Thanks again!

I just figured out how to get VLC to play back a live network stream on my cameras. Currently I have 2 cameras for basic indoor usage, and soon I'll be getting a nice outdoor camera for the back of the house. The cameras I have are Trendnet 110WN and Foscam 8918W. The one thing I noticed is they each have a delay when watching through VLC, which is noticeably slower than the delay that exists in the actual (but terrible) web GUI for each camera. It's about a 3 second delay for both cameras, which nearly doesn't exist in the web GUIs of the actual cameras. The Trendnet is a wireless N camera, and the Foscam is a wireless G camera. I have a Netgear Wifi N router within decent range. I also hooked up the Foscam to be hard wired and had the exact same results, no speed chance from wifi G to wired 100mbps. I'm okay with it if it's normal, I'd just like to know if there's a way to speed things up. Does anybody have any insight?

Looks like under "more options" when I select the network stream there's a caching option. It defaults to 1000 ms. I set it to 9000 ms and had literally a 12-15 second delay. I set it to 0 ms and had maybe a full second delay. Not bad. I'm going to dig around in the preferences a bit. I hope I can default it to 0 ms, unless for some reason I need some degree of caching that I'm not seeing right now?? EDIT - (Done from VLC in Linux, I assume the same is true or at least similar with Win VLC and Mac VLC as well) VLC - Tools - Preferences - Show Settings "All" - Inputs and Codecs - Scroll down to find "Network Caching". Set to desired speed in ms, save, done. I set mine to 0 ms and now it defaults to 0 ms. So now I'm just wondering, if I'm watching a live stream, why would I need any sort of caching? Also, despite the fact I knocked about 2 of the 3 seconds delay off, there's still a 1 second delay... VLC is still a tad slower than the live feed coming from the web GUI's for the cameras... is this normal? Or can I adjust this?

Good deal. The Vivotek 8332 is looking pretty attractive in my opinion. 1mpx with all of the other options I want... The 8330 on the other hand has lower resolution (640x480) but it has 60 fps... I'm not sure which way I'd lean. Do you guys have any comment on that? They seem to be nearly identical otherwise, so I guess the deciding factor would be 640x480/60fps or 1mpx/30fps. The only thing that semi scares me is the fact that I can't find any online retailers except TheNerds.net. I have no idea who they are... They look a little more legit than camcorder.co.uk, which I read some bad reviews over.

Well damn. I didn't realize VLC had capability like that. I suppose that's the open network stream option in the drop down menu that I saw 4000 times but never questioned.. hmm... Overall, here's my plan of action. POE and outdoor = requirements. If I go with POE and outdoor, I'll almost definitely go with the Ubiquiti AirCam since its feature set, price, etc. is very solid. So the competition really is for POE, outdoor, IR cameras. I see nothing without IR that I'd consider over the AirCam, so my future research should include IR cameras and if the price/feature set ratio is good I'll go that route. I'd certainly prefer to have IR on the camera if at all possible, given the choice. Vivotek 8330 - 375 (pcRush) Y-Cam YCBL03 - 395 (Amazon) Is there nothing else for the newly established price cap (which is in the definite red zone) of 400 bucks that has 640x480+, IR, POE, and outdoor protection from weather? EDIT - How do you guys feel about POE splitters? http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.tyconpower.com/products/images/POE-SPLT-S%20copy.jpg&sa=X&ei=xVKnT6WUOcWE6AGik-meBA&ved=0CAkQ8wc4GA&usg=AFQjCNG3oefyNT3g__HnjoAZYjBNrw_TXw If I could cross POE off the list and just find an outdoor IR camera, I could easily do so without breaking the bank. My only concern with a POE splitter like what I linked above is making sure the actual physical plug size for the power port is exactly what is used on the camera...

Not to sound like a software nazi, but if something is dead bolted to using IE only like that, I'll pass on using that product all together. So with Vivotek fading from the potential list, I'm heavily considering the Y-Cam YCBL03... although considering its price tag of nearly 400, I almost feel like I could do a little better in the resolution department with another brand. But I'm also a newbie at this and fully accept I could easily be downright wrong with that. Anything else that's worth looking at that maybe I missed with Googling? I'm still doing some homework on some network house brands that was mentioned earlier, such as DLink, etc. I'm continually finding new products that seem to be half decent, which opens up a whole new array of choices... and often times, disappointment. Also, does Foscam not have any POE outdoor cameras? I tried hard to dig one up and came up empty handed...

Interesting - I have a Vivotek cam here on my bench, Chrome just tells me I'm missing a plugin, but doesn't tell me what it is. I CAN get to the configuration pages, however, just no live video. Loooooooooks like Vivotek might be nixed off the list... However, do other web sites work with java on Chrome? Such as: http://www.java.com/en/download/testjava.jsp

bike_rider, you bringing up Vivotek reminded me that was a brand I had looked at. I ran into some issues trying to find an authorized seller of their products, and they didn't seem to reply to my email or my sales inquiry I sent in 3-4 days ago when I had first come across Vivotek. Where did you end up getting your Vivotek at? I found the IP8330, which seemed incredibly well packed for 365. But I'm not entirely sure how legit this web site is, and it was the only one that came up on Google Shopping: pcrush.com. I'm looking through their cameras now, trying to find the lowest end outdoor POE unit they have. So far, for what comes with the 8330, it's extremely attractive. I also spotted the 8332, which is a 1280x800 camera @ 30fps (the 8330 is 640x480 @ 60fps) located on TheNerds.net. Legit? Not sure... the hunt continues. The other I considered, and this is still pushing the bar a bit but I'm warming up to the idea, is this Y-Cam: http://www.amazon.com/Y-cam-Network-Outdoor-MicroSD-Nightvision/dp/B0038K2A70/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1336351929&sr=1-2 I'd feel good ordering from Amazon since that link there is what came up when I clicked on the "online" sales from Y-Cam's web site. There again, incredibly well packed. I started to think more about the lack of IR/use a floodlight idea, and while it's appealing, I just don't have the time to really allocate ripping apart the ceiling of the deck to add a new floodlight to the area where it would be most logical to go. We're renovating our bathroom, dining room, hallway, and a bedroom right now, and we're doing all the work ourselves... so time is incredibly limited. I have a hard time finding 15 minutes to sit down and breathe, let alone being able to get on my mountain bike to relieve some tension, which used to be a weekly thing, but it's been about 6 weeks since I've even been on the darn thing. By the time you factor in the cost of camera + cost of floodlight + cost of wiring + time, I'd just rather spend the extra cash on a camera that has some sort of IR to at least give me some degree of sight and be done with it.

I have not used ZM, but realize any decent dvr can do all that. I get where you're coming from and soundy will be of more help to you. I am the opposite mostly, when it comes to many things about recording tasks. I usually prefer stand alone units. They are designed to do one thing and do it well. For me with cctv, it was no contest- a stand alone system for the task. Anyway- good luck to you. I understand where you're coming from. I think my difference in approach is largely different because I have a lot of things in place that suggest network based solutions are optimal for me. I work in IT, so I have countless feet of Cat5 line I can run, along with POE adapters, switches, etc. Couple that with my server that's already running 247 and an array of large hard drives and... bingo bango. Plus it doesn't help that I'm an advocate of open source software and utilize it whenever possible. The only thing I can't seem to find is whether or not the Ubiquiti AirDome is outdoor worthy. The AirCam is, but the AirDome has my interest as well... Hmm... EDIT - you know, after posting this, I began giving it more thought. I should be more open minded to all available solutions. Not to be a pest, but do any DVRs come to mind that have 1-2 cameras that you'd recommend? Of course, I have to assume they'd be a little more costly, but hey - in time.

Hmm, that's a good thought. You see, I'm not overly familiar with a lot of functionality and features of video recorders. My only experience with CCTV systems was with a very, VERY poor one at my last job, and that was all indoor cameras anyway. At one point, I also set up ZoneMinder on a spare Linux system at my parents when we were trying to find out what was eating their 18" long fish out of their pond. I suppose a flood light would be rather easy, as we already have two of them that point out to the yard. I assume, from an electrical standpoint, I could run a line right to one of them and chain the 3rd off of the other 2? I'll have to look into that more... So, if that's the case, the Ubiquiti camera comes back on the radar with quite a pleasing list of features. That plus a spot light... hmm... do you thinks think that IR should be one of the first things I drop off the list? H.264, POE, 720p, that's pretty attractive for 110 bucks from a semi reputable company, no? I could throw a few bucks at a spot light and maybe be sitting pretty decent. Any further thoughts on this? The big reason I'd like to have some sort of surveillance is mostly because I do IT work on the side, so I have a lot of parts coming to the house. It'd just be nice to have some eyes on the door because there's times where I see higher dollar packages at the door that I had thought I'd have to sign for, but whatever. Plus I don't want to be naive either. I live in a decent area, but that doesn't take away from the fact that I don't want to be completely foolish either, ya know? I'd almost definitely be using ZoneMinder, or some sort of Linux based software. I run all Linux gear at home and I have a server with some large hard disks that runs 247, so it'd be super nice to dump a software package on it and go to town with it, such as ZoneMinder. I'm not sure if you've used ZoneMinder, but ZM has some features in it I like, such as "alarms." If set to motion detect, it'll record each motion detected event in a different instance. One click and I'm watching the feedback from that instance. Likewise, the street is going to be in the shot as well. I can select on the screen which part to exclude from the motion detect. I suppose I could get a multi camera system, but I'm feeling like that may be overkill. The thing I like about network based cameras and CCTV software like ZM is I can mix and match anything to it. I have a Foscam PTZ indoor camera, and I also have a TrendNet wireless camera that I use from time to time. They all link up to the same source and just kind of work. That way if I get 1 outdoor camera and I decide, oh man, I could use another, I can pick up another and that's that. I'm pretty confident one camera in the back will work, and if not, it'll at least be a good start. I've also checked out TinyCam and IPCamViewer on my Android phone and it's worked well. So on top of the actual motion detected recording, I'll be able to watch live feeds whenever I tune in as well. I appreciate the insight guys. I know I was likely walking into a more expensive situation with the features I was looking for. Thanks for the informative responses.

Hmm, that's some food for thought. I suppose it's more likely for offshore brands to come with even more terrible GUIs, along with the dreaded requirement of Internet Explorer... I suppose sticking with something like Belkin or D-Link may offer a little more sensibility on the subject since, while low end, it'll at least be more of a name brand. I have a 640x480 indoor camera now by Foscam, and I really like it. It offers decent video quality. Sure, megapixel or higher would be nicer, but so would getting a raise at work. I agree with you too... I think I'm going to have to re-work some electrical wires instead of worrying about POE. At first I was trying to think I wasn't asking for much, but perhaps I am. The biggest bummer of all of this is that Ubiquiti AirCam is remarkably nice for the price, and Ubiquiti is a brand I've heard of quite a lot before (they came highly recommended for routers when I was router shopping). But the lack of infrared is kind of a bummer. It's listed as having decent night vision for not having IR, but I doubt it would offer enough visibility that I'd prefer to have. Perhaps it's time to start planning out an electrical line, since finding an outdoor IR camera seems to be a little easier than an outdoor POE camera... especially when you factor in a price cap... It's hard to explain, but quite honestly PTZ won't offer much in this scenario. The driveway, car port, back door, and deck is all in one direct line, sort of like a tunnel. I'd like a PTZ, don't get me wrong, but I'd happily opt for a regular bullet camera and be decently happy with it as well. Between the features on the list in regard to things like IR, POE, etc., PTZ is just the one I'd drop off the list first. Sometimes I wonder, how hard would it be to get the Ubiquiti AirCam (with no IR) and add some sort of functionality to it to enable night vision? I can only imagine it'd turn out bad, but eh.. fun thought. Well, let's have some fun with this. Let's say for a 640x480 or higher resolution, POE, IR, and outdoor capability, what would the cheapest (yet not offshore) camera that comes to mind? If it's something that's just that much more worthwhile to go for, I could wait and save a bit more. After all, it's just one camera, not 30 where the price could escalate thousands of dollars instantly.