rory

-------------------------- 1-From opening the box I noticed it is an ugly grey colour but not that this is important, The biggest downfall of the unit is that it only records at a very slow 25FPS, this is a bit slow for 16 cameras in my opinion, mind you I do tend to overkill a little. A-Yep, but thats how all embedded systems are, also, it does allow you to program each camera at different record speeds for activity, alarm and time lapse. I like the dark grey color, but the CD-RW is a different color which could have been made to be the same color! 2-The system will not automatically frame buffer like Geovision, however it will event buffer to what you set it to. There are only two levels of password so you can not turn of each feature for several users, therefore it is not as flexible in this regard. The system will not allow you to print pictures without a printserver, which is pretty lame but I Imagine all standalones have this problem. A-Not directly, but using the included software it will allow multiple passwords, groups etc. By connecting it to the LAN, you can also print from your PC just like in a PC based, or save/burn to your DVD-RW or CD-RW. 3-The maximum number of relays and outputs is 16 and as far as I can see they can not be stacked for say 30 or so individual relays. A-Havent used those features yet, so you may be right. 4-One of the big downfalls is that it will not play in standard windows media players as it is not recorded as a straight AVI file. A-Nope, most embedded will not, for security reasons, however, it comes with a software program (quickwave) that will run without installation, very small, and will play the video saved to your PC, so you just copy that to the CD. You can also do what I do and use something like cam studio to capture it as an AVI file. But yes, that feature would be nice to have built in as an admin add on. 5-There is no multiplexed option on the second monitor and it must be used as a switching monitor only. A-No, only on the DVMRe models, they cost more and are the higher end units, but they are not as compact as the StoreSafe. Most muxes/embedded DVRs on the market (big name brands) only have 1 multiplxed monitor A and a Spot monitor B, I guess its an the embedded software issue. 6-The system will only zoom 2x as this is the limit. There is no automatic control room where camera video streams can be sent by an event automatically. A- you can have alarm inputs set to send an email or message. Therefore you will need something like an alarm system, motion or beam. 7-I could not get 1 camera to record at 25fps at high resolution, however I guess at lower resolutions you might be able to. A-Havent tried that with the StoreSafe, will take a look. I know the DSR-2000 will do 60pps (but then it is only a 1 channel DVR) 8-Recording of audio is only available if you wish to record at 1Fps this is very lame and infact it will not even record the audio if your using motion detection and it does not detect any video motion. A-yep, only if it is recording, in other words, will not record audio if there is no video being recorded. As for speed, ill have to check, i only have used the DSR-2000 with audio so far, which will record audio at 10pps or more. 9-I assume the major disadvantages will come when I test the remote capability, but these are the ones I have found by playing with the unit. A-let me know, I like the software more than any PC based ive used yet, it just feels more powerful. -------------------------------- Remember, the StoreSafe is the economical model of the Kalatel DVRs, the DVMRe's may differ some, as well in price though! I still prefer it though over the DVMRe's for its small compact size, you can fit it into any DVR/VCR lockbox, which is a neccessity these days, at least around here.

so how about 60pps for 16 cameras from a professional embedded DVR ) and even more expensive, but it is more professional, more stable, and maintenance free

very cheap cameras

square poles are great for any camera installation, but not as cheap as the round ones (at least not down here). The square ones look nicer also, especially if painted properly. I have never installed on a round one, yet, until the need arises as it may already exist at the clients location, but normally you will need a pole adaptor for the camera mount. Most PTZ manufacturers have this in thier inventory. If the pole is large like the size of a lamp post, then more than likely you will not need an adaptor.

check out www.NVT.com lots of UTP cable products, from just the small transmitters to the big 32 port hubs up to 1.5 miles. Not sure what metres are in feet, let us know.

you will have to pay shipping, and what about customs import taxes? Also, what about support, you would have to ship it back to the US then wait for them to ship you another, if it goes bad, its electronic so it can go bad at anytime. I always buy local unless its really a huge difference in price, as far as most other things go anyway. I pay $1000 for a computer here, for example, but I can get the same in the US for $399. But then if something goes bad, I have to ship it back, wait for them plus pay shipping and customs tax again.

cool, let me know how it goes. is it the Advanced one or standard? Rory

they even have the WaveReader software! http://www.vista-cctv.com/index.html

Also, i was just looking at the vista Columbus series DVRs, notice they are exactly the same as the Kalatel DVRs, in looks anyway, even the single channel DVR is identical to the Kalatel VDR! Except they have blue buttons on them, are they related to GE? OR maybe the lease the technology out or from GE (kalatel) in the US?

ok yep, i see. by the way, its 6am here, im logging off to get some sleep! good luck with it, looks fine now.

camera 2 looks ok, except its looking at the TV ) cant see the settings in the datasheet, as the image is too small when you enlarge the PDF, and manuals anywhere, I looked but havent found it.

whats the password & username also there should be a setting on the camera to set it to DD. Also, does the camera have a manual online that we can look at to see the settings? Rory

as a general rule, what is the farthest distance you can make out a persons face at, using different lenses? i was thinking maybe 50' max no matter what lens, from the start of the lens focal point, at the center of the lens? Rory

nice, except its linux, for a couple hundred more, you can get a real embedded OS.

I didnt see any improvement with a 1/2 inch lens camera over a 1/3 inch, which i ended up switching the camera to. I used a 1/3 inch lens on the 1/2 inch camera and it looked the same quality as with a 1/2" lens on the 1/2" camera, except the focal lenghts were different, you could not get a wide angle without a peephole type of image.

yes, but I wouldnt use XP, use 2000 instead if you must use a PC based system.

yeah I know, but if they want to see directly below or near the camera, then they need at least a 4mm, but then they wont see as the persons face beyond 50' thats what Im trying to find out, what is the normal distance, say using a 4mm lens then. I know with my 3.6mnm bullet I cant make out a persons face 'clear' beyond like 30 feet. Rory

yeah but if the person is 50' from the camera, or lets say 75' using a 4mm lens then its hard to see their face. What im asking is regardless of which focal length used, say if youare using a 8-10mm and they are 125' away, there is a limit to how far the camera will see. What im asking is what is the normal distance that you can capture a face from the start of the lens focal length? Like if the clients should have say 3 cameras but only want 2, but with 2 they will not see as much/far as they could using 3. Rory

yeah, im looking for a device now that acts like the no ip software, for the stand alone DVR, anyone seen anything like this, so I dont have to leave the computer on all the time. Thanks Rory

I viewed one of their software, probably was the PC based one, wasnt that great, but it wasnt bad also. I like the look of that mini Kodicom Stand alone 4 channel DVR, and US pricing on that anywhere, i searched google but cant find a price. Thanks Rory

yeah thanks, I got it a while back, working with routers with port forwarding, works great and saves me the extra $100 for cable that they want for another IP.. Rory

does he mean what software controls the boards, or what the programming is that is on the board?

yeah there is also noIP.com, its free and does the same, you run a small program on your computer which monitors it. But then you need to leave a computer on 24/7, for stand alones it is annoying. Does anyone know if there isa seperate device that will do this? Rory

Anyone have any ideas, tested etc. Ive only used the Sanyo so far, has alot of settings etc, but a pain to install. I notice the Ganz ZC domes have easier installation and more options, but no day/nigh version. Any others out there. I see Kalatel has one, but havent tried it yet, and doesnt seem to have all the options like the Sanyo and Ganz. ROry

ok thanks. I reviewed their software but it doesnt look very impressive But it the price is good then its good for me Yes, direct is pretty expensive all around, ill check out vsscctv. got up at 6.30 am this morn for a change (normally 9.30) to clean my appartment and busted my head open on a pump room roof (blood and all covered my face so much i couldnt see! and right now its a huge bump & cut), while filling bucket with water, didnt realise it was so low, anyway, right here curing it with some bud light! I always get injured when I mop, last time i stepped on a nail!!