Dipol_CCTV

Most DVR's use embedded Linux software. If You don't use Linux but i.e. Windows, You'll see nothing. Try to use Windows Commander or some other software that supports previewing other system partitions (I believe DVR uses ext3 system). Then You can try to recover what was left on formatted DVR using special programs.

Files You can see on the HDD formatted by DVR are empty containers for to-be-compressed video streams. Putting it this way: DVR has much work compressing the files, so he cant build the structure on HDD each time he has some data, that's why he pre-defines it when formatting HDD. Therefore simple software You can get from internet, some DIY recover Your HDD may not be enough to restore the files that were erased.

Finally I'd recommend VLC media player to open video files taken out from DVR, if You dont have dedicated player.

One moment.... first consider Your monitor. Standard resolution of PAL CCTV camera is ~5:4: 704x576px (NTSC is a bit different, but for the sake of this conversation lets consider it almost equal), so 2 screens on one display would mean 5:8 or 10:4. It means that picture will be stretched or You will have black belts above and below the pictures.

You can use either DVR that allows to preview PIP or perhaps You can buy quad switcher/processor i.e. and it allows to divide screen into.

Cheap and simple in use.

If You have an external IP address from Your service provider, and there is only DSL modem, You need to forward Your ports from internal to external IP address.

I'm not sure if You have this brand in Your country, but Pixord is a reliable and good quality manufacturer. For Your needs, I'd recomment model known to me under "Pixord PL-621E" code (2MP, H.264, PoE).

Please make a better photo of the code on the label that is on the 2nd picture. Its too blutty to tell. If there is something on the card (serial nr, some numbers and coeds, that would be helpful too).

Cables You need are something like this (in Your case a different socket):

http://images.dipol.com.pl/pict/m74080++++++++++.jpg

I dont know about this particular DVR but most DVR's don't allow to just send security footage somewhere to the internet due to security reasons.

But Im pretty sure Your dvr has an option to turn off overwrithing HDD. This is a compromise: if the space on HDD will be 0, You have no recordings. If You forget to change HDD before it does, You have usless system.

As for format and conversion ( I understand that was the part of the question in first post) DVR manufacturer should give You proper player and perhaps .264 to i.e. avi converter. If not, try VLC Media Player.

Dahua is a Chinese manufacturer and some of its models do support HDSDI. 1U is only rack size unit. So its hard to say.

SDI products are approximately 30% more expensive than IP solutions and 120% more expensive that analogue Effio high end solutions.

SDI is a totally different story, analogue is not even close to it. SDI is a digital signal. And uncompressed, so no latency, no delay. No compression artefacts too in live preview. The only common thing about analogue and SDI is cable - You use coaxial cables in both installations.

If You just want to expand Your existing system by few SDI cameras, I'd say look for hybrid SDI DVR.

But in my opinion hybrid is a temporary solution. If I want to go megapixel, but still economic, I'd go IP. Sunell cameras, NUUO PC software.

Oh and as for Pixim cameras - perhaps You should try Effio-S D-WDR technology? I.e. SN-BXC59/40CDN

If You use network preview, it will be always as recording preview, or perhaps (if DVR supports it) just like sub-stream settings say, which usually is much worse than main stream. Check Your DVR manual and see recording speed. It might just be a small correction in DVR settings, but I believe that if You'd like to get live preview 25fps, Youll have to consider upgrading to better hardware.

You use remote surveillance in LAN or WAN? If its not local, then for 8 cameras (depends on resolution of course), I' d recommend minimum 3Mbps upload speed.

Hikvision is giving free NVR software (used to be iVMS4000+NVRServer now under one iVMS4200), but it is worth trying to predict the software development in the future. Perhaps there might be some functions You may want to use? For free software I'd just find IPcam manufacturer and see if he has a full offer. Then I'd look up his software. Most will record, allow preview with more that 64 channels, recording, remote surveillance and other things considered standard nowadays. Besides Hikvision and Dahua, I'd check Sunell - I know for sure, that their PTZ IP Cameras handle well. For NVR commercial software, I'd say NUUO.

I'd say You should go and invest in some hand camera for personal use. In the end, it will be cheaper and might already have implemented functions like You need.

If You want to use CCTV equipment anyway, my belief is that You should use HDSDI technology with HDMI converter. Then some hardware to render the effects You need.

IP - no, because of delay You might get, and is there really a sense to use networking to broadcast the picture only few feet away?

Analog - no, because resolution You might get will be 'retro' and it wont get better. It might not look good on big whiteboard or HD screen.

Hello,

I believe two ways are possible: You can use a camera with 'intelligent' IR illuminator, which will adjust the power of LED matrix accordingly, (camera example might be Sunell SN-IRC4920AJ (day/night Sony Effio-E)

or

You can use external IR illuminator with LED array sending IR light beam of 940 nm wavelength. Infrared radiation at this wavelength is completely invisible to the human eye. Most IR illuminators use 850nm which is visible for humans.

Camera has IRC filter? Perhaps it was damaged during the experiment You mention? And ICR filter is now on all the time, even though camera operates in b/w, or otherwise? Can You explain how picture looks like exactly?