rory

If you dont have anything useful to say, then why reply?

Thats to Manufacturer specs, no predictions. Basically that tells you what they are capable of, ofcourse how one installs it and what cameras they use will effect the actual outcome.

I live by SimpleTech, Ive used their external drives for a few years now, I back up to at least 2 of them right now. I use the portable ones which are 2.5" drives. Carry it everywhere. Also, the drives themselves at least in one case is a Fujitsu. Rock solid though as although I have them both in cases I drop them religiously (by accident) and never failed yet.

If you have Windows XP Pro you can just goto Add Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components, and enable the SMTP Server under the IIS Section. You may need the XP CD for this also. No idea about Vista, Win7 or Mac. XP Home does not have the SMTP server, Windows Server probably does. Or, you could download a free or Trial SMTP server, plenty of them out there.

A couple other options: 1-Install Virtual Box (FREE) then Install Windows XP into that, depending on the DVR's IE login page, you may be able to save as a .HTA file and add that to Windows Startup, if not then you could create a simple notepad text file, enter something like a meta refresh or javascript redirect to your DVR's IP or you could even slap it into an Iframe, then save THAT as a .HTA file and add to Windows Startup. 2-Whip open an old copy of Visual Basic 6 or your favourite development software, find that ActiveX control and dump that into a new EXE, resize, add any additional features it may not have, save as an EXE and make a setup file - now they can use the ActiveX without IE installed. 3-ActiveX control will (most times) still work in a PC without Internet Explorer Installed as long as the IE Core is not removed, Explorer will load the webpage. Enter DVR IP Address into any address text box at top, hit enter. Occasionally you may encounter an Explorer crash, this may be fixed by changing folder options to launch folder windows in a separate process. Basically IE is still there unless you remove the Core. If you remove the IE Core then certain administrative things wont work.

Just a thought, other than changing to a working ISP DNS (only way I can get anything working here), how about setup an SMTP server on one of the local PCs, use that IP as the SMTP server ... you could relay it from there out to where it needs to go .. or just use it to see if the camera's server is actually sending emails .. or least trying to. Does the camera server have a log?

Sounds like a video card issue. Check that direct draw overlay is working properly. Also, if this is 64bit Windows check that the DVR software works with it, for example, GeoVision does not. Edit, just read AmCap. Its not always that easy, not all cards are going to work. Have you used BtSpy? Whoops, you are not using the bt878 drivers? The drivers from the manufacturer wont always let you use the hardware in other software besides their own - eg. Geovision drivers for GeoVision cards, card will not work in AmCap or LuxRiot - to get it to work one must install Bt878 drivers. Iview DVR card, same thing, use Bt878 driver. Use Btspy to get the correct parameters. http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2021

It will be different for different makes and models, like Extreme for example will BLOW away most OEMs, but then the UF500 from Extreme will blow away the UF100 also from Extreme. Additionally not all cameras will see the same, eg, Color IR cameras are near useless for Day Night IR apps even if using an Extreme IR, because its not a real BW mode camera for one thing, throw in a True Day night and voila you have a decent night image. Anyway, dont know if this is what you are looking for:

Ok I guess I dont understand.

Ok thanks, but not playing on other computers. I watch H264 movies all the time. Also, that has no relevance to my statement about DVRs and H264

Yes, the AVI file is corrupt. What DVR has that 1900x file supposed to have come from?

I havent seen any DVRs with decent H264 yet. So I will believe it as they say, when I see it

Hi, you need a PC tech to check the hard drive, sounds like its shot.

Buy Distributed Isolated Individually Fused Power Supplies? Altronix makes some for CCTV.

Many ISPs block port 25, and hence you would need to use their SMTP mail server instead no matter what email account you are using. Have you tried this already? Norton Antivirus should not have any effect, unless it is installed on this IP Camera?

Yeah they dont look like a real BW mode, they seem just like a color camera with the chroma removed. B/W should be so much brighter than that especially with all those vehicle lights.

He says its just a color camera though, not a day night.

That is not Exview and the night time example is hardly impressive. http://www.vitor.com.tw/en/product/Megapixel_Network_Camera/VT-715ME.aspx Are you sure you dont mean another camera?

Looking for something that will replace a decent True Day/night IR Bullet camera (not a Color IR camera). Has to have an IR Cut filter for day (or equivalent) and BW mode for night. Will need to be able to see something in low light WITHOUT Infrared. I dont need Megapixel, this would be purely to replace existing CCTV day night bullets but add additional. In this case its difficult if not impossible to pull more cables and add more so would like to remove existing 15-20 year old coax (wasnt me LOL) and add UTP instead, maybe put a switch out in a box near each area of cameras and then go off from there with cat5 to each camera, so dont need as much wiring. Might even have to go wireless to those (from the office or security booth) but no line of sight so would need to repeat it around a couple buildings. Suggestions welcome. This is directly on the Atlantic Ocean BTW so it will get the full force of all that. The property does have quite a bit of light actually in most aras, but Color IR cameras (which dont have a true BW mode) dont see that well with that particular lighting, but they do see; True Day night sees fine though in the BW mode and even color only in some areas is fine. Distances can be anywhere from 100' to 500', its a long property with 6 or so tall concrete style buildings. Basically I guess what I am looking for is something like the CCTV True day Night bullet with IR but with a POE Lan connection instead of BNC/18awg. Camera does not need to have a built in webserver. BTW, I was looking at the ACTi ACM-1431 which seems to do what I want, but is it any good? Also, it seems rather expensive, any ideas on any other brand for less or where to get it cheaper? Remember I pay 45% customs on top of expensive shipping! Thanks, Rory

That Vivotek is just a 1/4" CMOS which is simply put, useless for true day night applications. Also it has no IR Cut Filter. If anything it could compare to a basic Color IR camera. Its a pity though as it has some other nice features. they do have a couple with IRC but they are still CMOS.

i'd go with the kt&c cause its so much cheaper (actually I would go CNB as its even cheaper and just as good/better), i would put the left over money into my jeep's transmission, if i had the money that is. all of them look somewhat out of focus. Also never heard of an analog lens. archont is obviously the best though also out of focus, maybe just the lens. Im going to be playing with EX82 with Infrared and Sanyo DN Domes tonight, should be exciting. Im rebuilding/gutting some old EX82s

Just for the record, when looking for a ready built system for a PC DVR, may want to check out the Systemax Models from tigerdirect, they use complete motherboards, like the same stuff we would use if we build it ourselfs, while others like Dell and HP typically have limited models.

He has IP cameras so he doesnt need a DVR card. If he hasnt already got it sorted out (its been almost a month) then as mention check the compression method and also motion detection masking.

I have done before, fan noise was okay as it was a PC DVR and i built it. Lockbox? Once they are in the bedroom they have full access anyway so a lockbox is of no real use. On a side note I leave my computer on all night and I sleep just a few feet from it. I also leave the TV on most nights, and I live just a few feet from a main road where there is at least 2 hours of traffic jam in the morning with speaker bass rattling my windows.

If the flying insects are causing non stop motion, then either you have a major insect problem there, or the motion detection part of your system is faulty. BTW I live where insects literally throw you on the ground there are so many of them, and still dont have that many issues with false motion. Either way. regardless of insects, motion detection recording at night will never be that great, even with the BEST infrared in the world. It would be in your benefit to enable a schedule in your system to record motion detection for day time, and time lapse (continuous at a slower rate) for night time. Also note that Video Motion detection is NOT to be used as a replacement for a decent burglar alarm system, and it is mostly used to cut down on the recording time you would usually have with constant recording. Motion alerts are separate from Motion recording, and can also be used with continuous recording. Anyway, back to the question, Exview is lowest light, if you could find an Exview WDR let me know Panasonic might be your best bet, their Day Night Dome or Box camera in a housing. the 484. OR, you might just need a better Exview camera from that unknown brand you mentioned.