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flynreelow

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Posts posted by flynreelow

  1. Posted

    Hey, the main payback here is to post your own stuff once you get things up and running. My goal is to find the best inexpensive cams without ending up with a box full of junk! Luckily, I enjoy this kind of testing.

     

    I'll get some more day shots with the new firmware Wednesday; I'm off that day, and will be home during those deep shadow times.

     

    As for the smart IR, I've realized I have no idea how to tell if it's doing anything or not. There's no setting for it, and I haven't been able to come up with a good test for it, but that's a matter of trying stuff to see what works. Not only that, one of the earlier releases listed it as well, so it may have been there already.

     

    In general, IR performance is probably the hardest thing to measure overall. The more techniques I try, the more difficult it looks to be to get objective test results. This is where the side by side comparisons come in handy - you don't get a measurement, but at least you can tell which is better or worse.

     

     

    Max,

     

    Thanks for the WDR pics. Lots of noise in some of those night pics. Im also curious to see how well WDR works on license plates. Would you happen to have a sample video or pictures of nighttime viewing of license plates with any without WDR.

     

    Thanks

  2. Posted

    I have been an audio/video integrator for the past 12 years, and am now getting into the IP camera game. I read a thread a few months back that talked about the average price, per camera, that integrators charge for install and set up? Just wondering what the "pros" here charge for a job that includes mounting cameras, running wires, setting up the poe switch and NVR, smartphone apps, etc.

     

    Let me know..

     

    Thanks!

  4. Posted

    AHAH!! I did not have a clue you could plug a non-PoE device in a PoE awitch port. I understand how it works with the extra pairs available in Cat 5, Cat6 available for power. Never thought to think that the "power wires" in a PoE port hit a nothing connection when a non- poe device is plugged in.

    Thanks for that.

     

    And guys......wheres the meat? Lets see some fresh video..................

     

     

    Ill post some out of swanns nvr

     

    http://youtu.be/LQzJG_qFqek

    http://youtu.be/8oudTFOsSYk

     

    I think these are at 15 FPS and on the computer monitor you can make out details of the face. I did go into the camera last night and enable wdr @13

     

    Those cameras look great

  6. Posted

    Third time this has been posted...but hey! No worries! I'll post it on every friggin' page if someone will grow a set and j u s f r e a k i n d o i t.

     

    ftp://ftp.hikvisionusa.com

     

    user name: hikfirmware

    Password Hikvision123 (note the H is capitol )

     

    folder:

     

    Hikvision IP Camera Firmware

     

    then look for: DS-2CD2xxx-I

     

    Download the 1st file dated 4/15/13

     

    download, unzip, update.

     

    just do it already and let us know......

  8. Posted

    Another thing: the browser component for this HIKVision camers loads and exucutes in a snap; installing this component is quick and painless (at least on FireFox, haven't tried IE yet). This as opposed to the Dahua components which I seem to have to install many times and the install is always the slow boat to China (sorry, couldn't resist). The HIKVision/Swann camera software/firmware and browser component feel faster, more efficient, and more mature. IMO. YMMV.

     

     

    I saw the one picture you posted, have you posted any video? You can use my FTP if need be. Would love to see some sample video of your new setup.

  9. Posted

    Great- thanks for that. I see you combined two different users samples? One clearly shows a soft right edge. The other, doesn't look like it but not totally sure. And in the night shot there's some light adjustment going on. What's being adjusted, the exterior light or the IR through the interface? Whatever it is, the picture looks better to me with no IR. Overall, nice pictures.

     

     

    The adjustment is the exterior light, on and off.

  10. Posted

    My new cameras arrived today form costco. Seems like a pretty solid bundle for the price. Noise is not like a hairdryer as has been reported, but definitely not something you would put in your family room or something. Mine is gong in a utility room so I didnt care.

     

    Night has not set yet so I cant speak to that, but the daytime cam is great.

     

    Here are the things I think are real downsides, and may prompt me to return the package:

     

    1. No mac support, meaning you can view or playback anything from a mac. I do have a windows desktop and tested the web interface in both IE and Chrome, and it is indeed superb. Was worried I was going to get watered down video unless I had a monitor plugged into the NVR, but can report that is not the case. The windows support was great, no mac support at all, ouch.

     

    2. iPad/iPhone apps are absolutely terrible! I have not looked for alternatives, but I am suspecting there wont be any. The real big showstopper is no support for viewing your cameras when you are not at home. Which for me defeats the purpose of even having a camera. You gotta be able to view these things from the road, c'mon guys. Also, there is no excuse for an app published so recently to not support the iPhone5 screen, insane.

     

    3. I cant get any of the recorded mp4 clips to play in either quicktime or windows media player for some reason, this might be user error, but should have been more obvious. Still playing around trying to make this work, I'm fine using the web interface to play stuff, but like having the option to export stuff too.

     

    4. It is unclear how to connect to the RTSP port, anyone able to connect?

     

    Overall I am just really torn, love some stuff, hate other stuff. I suppose the stuff I hate can be changed with new software, real question is how dedicated is swann to fixing the deficiencies?

     

    I believe these can be viewed on a MAC, with a simple safari plugin.

     

    Also, check out Vitamin D software for MAC.

  12. Posted

    Well good luck Jim! Keep in mind that for all the talk, there hasn't been many [any?] endorsements for the swann IP system yet. You're heading into uncharted territory. Be prepared to be called on to supply sample photos and backup vids, as well as answer some questions about the nvr itself. There's also q-see to consider, and another unknown avertx. Not sure if Lorex has an nvr package yet. All of these brands were mostly looked down on as inferior in the analog market. Will their nvr offerings step up the game and change some opinions? Will their quality be consistent and reliable, and will customer service be solid? You'll be one of the early adopters, so let us know. I'll be installing a dahua 4 channel POE nvr with their 2mp mini domes for someone shortly. You can bet I'll be posting a lot of samples from that system too. Anyway, good luck!

     

     

    Pics and Video already online...

     

    check out

     

    http://www.quickbay.biz/cchan/

  13. Posted

    Don't know who asked me, but I confirmed at ISC that the Swann cameras are manufactured by Hikvision but Hikvision is making a push to distribute cameras branded as Hikvision in the U.S..

     

    The image quality of the cameras at the show was quite good but it's a well lit building so can't say how well they perform in low light. They are 3MP cameras but the NVR limits them to 1080P so if you use them without the NVR, you can get 3MP out of them.

     

    They claim, side by side, they have better image quality and low light performance than the Dahua bullets.

     

    If we dont go the NVR route, which software out there can actually accommodate a 3mp feed. I know vitamin D for the mac cant, and i dont think blue iris can either.

     

    Any program you would recommend?

  14. Posted

    I just ordered this as well. This after many years of saying I was going to do it. Both of our vehicles were broken into last night. This seemed the best bang for my buck. I am computer tech and net admin and while I would love to put really highend stuff in place. I also need to be realistic. I suspect this thing will be about as loud as a cisco switch. Not sure where Im going to put it yet but Ill find a spot.

     

    Where did you get your other two cameras? I didnt see them on costcos site.

     

    I suspect it is these - 2 for $349:

    http://www.costco.com/Swann-1080p-2-Pack-NVR-IP-Bullet-Cameras.product.100039914.html

    Item #759675

     

     

    Ouch...Is there any confirmation that the other hikvison cameras will work?

     

    Which camera specifically?

  20. Posted

    Can the swan run all cameras at 1080p, 60FPS?

    I doubt it is recording all 4 cameras at 60fps. I recorded some video from all 4 cameras simultaneously, and then exported the video. The properties of the export file says its 60fps, but watching a car go by, there is a little bit of "skipping" so even I know it's not 30fps. I'm not technical enough with video, but more than happy to work with someone who is.

     

    Are you able to upload some clips for us? How is the day/night quality?

  21. Posted

    Hi,

    I am new to the forum and my english is not that good. I have both Q-see QC804 NVR & Swann NVR8-7200. I bought Swann coz I need 8 cameras. I tried hooking up qsee camera to swann & vice versa with no luck in both of them working. I have not set up internet access to Swann yet. but I find it much easier to configure Qsee compared to Swann (from documentation). so far right now my Qsee is all hook up outside while Swann is still being tested inside. let me know what you want me to test or guide me to whatever you guys want to try.

     

     

    Can the swan run all cameras at 1080p, 60FPS?

     

    Also, can we see some video from your swan in 1080p? Would love to see video quality in day and night. I have an ftp server if you need help hosting these videos.

  25. Posted

    The sams club version of q-see (dahua) is actually 8 ch. 4 cam system same as the swann. The difference I see is that the swann has 1080p cams while the q-see is 720p cams. Also swann already has a built-in 8ch. POE while on the Q-see you have to buy a separate POE switch if you want to add more cams later on. Also, Swann uses 4mm lens vs the 6mm lens on Q-see.

     

    On paper it seems like swann will have better picture quality, but the actual recording quality and reliability wise? dunno till people try it out. Another thing is that the cat5 network cables are shorter 60ft vs 100ft on the q-see.

     

    I think I'm going to try the swann, not much to worry about because of easy 90 return policy and long costco warranty. I think 3yrs warranty, right?

     

    Please try the swan. Would love a good write up, and some sample images and video....

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