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TipoFloe

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Everything posted by TipoFloe

  1. TipoFloe

    Affordable offsite backup hosting

    Why not look for a DVR that has FTP upload options and setup your own FTP storage server with an old PC?
  2. TipoFloe

    DVR alarm sensors

    Typically, DVRs have dry contacts (normally open, normally closed) for input and relay contacts for the output. Some come with voltage output so if you list your brand/model here I could probably give you more information.
  3. TipoFloe

    Spider spray

    I don't know how effective the spray will be and how long it lasts. However, Clinton imports anti-spider cameras that can be quite effective. http://www.clintonelectronics.com/store/product.php?productid=154&cat=63&page=1 Good luck.
  4. TipoFloe

    Tips for mounting cameras behind glass?

    There isn't much you can do but the following should help. 1. Make sure there's no lights inside the building. 2. Mount the camera as close to the window as possible 3. You could... coat your windows with anti-reflective treatment, but I don't think this will help much. But if the camera has outdoor housing, I would install it outdoors and make obvious that you ARE watching.
  5. TipoFloe

    existing system

    Regardless of brand and model, there are several ways you can look up the DVR's IP address: 1. Access the menu and find the network information. Here you should see DVR's IP address and the ports that it needs to have opened. You need to also find the DDNS lookup information if the DVR uses DDNS server. 2. Access the router and verify the DVR's IP address. You can also verify which ports have been forwarded. 3. www.whatismyip.com and then find out what your IP is, or use the DDNS connection information to connect to the DVR. Good luck!
  6. TipoFloe

    Greetings from Centurion!

    Hello Everyone, I’ve joined the forum quite some time ago, but due to the nature of the market I belonged in the CCTV industry, I was pretty much a silent participant for many years. Now that I am part of a venture that caters to installers and end users, I’d like to reintroduce myself. I set my first footstep in the CCTV industry about 10 years ago, and I was lucky to be on the manufacturing side of the business. One of my main duties entailed procuring, testing and launching CCTV products and peripherals. I worked extensively with overseas manufacturers conducting design reviews, and then redesigning and improving existing products, and sometimes even inventing an entirely new product. Many companies to this day are still selling and utilizing the products that I worked on. My other duties involved training and educating the internal employees as well as the sales and technical teams of distributors and installers across the nation (including CEU classes). I also participated in and assisted designing and troubleshooting of major CCTV installations in casinos, banks, jails, schools and hospitals – Analog (D1 and below), IP and HD-SDI systems. Lastly, I wrote thousands and thousands of pages of technical manuals (mainly due to the fact that many of these manufacturers provided a manual that was written in English that no English speaker was able to understand), hundreds of specifications and Architectural and Specifications (A&E – bid conforming specifications style) sheets. Now that I am part of a different market, I’d like to actively participate and contribute my most humble little knowledge I may be able to offer to the community, and at the same time, learn from other experts from converging industry (Alarm, Access Control, Home automation, etc.) – of course, I am not denying that I am also here to promote Centurion Surveillance – http://www.centurioncctv.com – Centurion Surveillance consists of professionals from various backgrounds, mainly from the CCTV manufacturing and wholesale industry as well as many from the e-commerce industry. I was pleasantly shocked when I returned to this forum recently, as it has grown exponentially from when I joined. This indicates to me that the market is starting to refuse the cost of services and goods that are currently being marketed through the traditional channel – especially because I found many inquiries on the quality and reputation, and the channels to obtain them from overseas. Moreover, more and more household electronics manufacturers are jumping into the video security bandwagon and they are starting to manufacture consumer CCTV products. Moreover, much to the worries of the wholesale market, anyone can nowadays do a little research and find hundreds of manufacturers overseas that are eager to sell to anyone. Since the problem always has been the availability of the information on the reliability of a product from a company you’ve never heard of in a foreign country, and lack of support – something that I believe we can collectively improve over time. Happy Hunting!
  7. TipoFloe

    8ch dvr password help

    Can you take a picture of the PCB board inside the DVR one more time? This time, remove all cable and take a high resolution picture of the PCB.
  8. TipoFloe

    8ch dvr password help

    Every DVR manufacturer has a back door access code or a master password to override all passwords. Contact the seller and request the master password.
  9. Onix used to OEM to several second tier companies like Vitek in California and Royal Systems (a distributor, really). I know at one point that Onix OEM'ed for a major corporation. If my memory serves me correct, that was Honeywell. Out of all the camera manufacturers in Korea, I would rate this company 6 out of 10. This is because of many mechanical design flaws that they were plagued with between 2005 and 2007. I am sure that OEMing to Honeywell improved their overall quality, and I have not seen any of their cameras after the whole DNR fiasco. In other words, my assertion of their quality and performance is based on the older original Sony SuperHAD based cameras ranging from 420TVL to 550TVL. However, they were honest about their mistakes and they really went the extra mile to rectify the problem. Now that the majority of Korean camera manufacturers design and manufacture according to the DSP manufacturer's reference design, there aren't that much that can go wrong in terms of the actual camera performance. I would ensure that the housing that Onix employs is of good quality and then you shouldn't have any problems. Make sure you get a written 3 year warranty. Korean laws make it difficult for the exporters to provide more than 2 years, but I'm sure they will oblige. Good luck with your install.
  10. TipoFloe

    cloud storage for kguard?

    I guess that DVR does not have built-in FTP upload feature? How about call back? I don't know if such software exists, but I now a few DVRs that have that feature built-in... Sorry couldn't be of much help. Let me know if you find such a program because I could use one myself.
  11. Flexwatch makes affordable IP cameras and NVRs, and they have a presence in the US. All their products come with a 2 year warranty, and works with IE, Chrome (JPEG), Firefox (JPEG), Safari (JPEG), smartphones, tablets and Apple computers. Also ONVIF and PSIA compatible. Here's some demo links for you. 2MP is above $300 but 1.3MP is under $300 (indoor). VGA under $200. Since IE can view all three codecs, please use IE for the demo purposes. 2MP 1080p FW1173-FS Demo from Flexwatch's HQ in Seoul, Korea http://115.93.45.235:7002/index_ie.asp 1.3MP 720p FW1175-MC Demo from Flexwatch's HQ in Seoul, Korea Real Office Environment 1 http://115.93.45.235:7776/index_ie.asp 1.3MP 720p FW1175-MC Demo from Flexwatch's HQ in Seoul, Korea Real Office Environment 2 http://115.93.45.235:7775/index_ie.asp D1/VGA FW1175-DS Demo from Flexwatch's HQ in Seoul, Korea Real Office Environment 3 http://115.93.45.235:7774/index_ie.asp
  12. Are you talking about being able to control the DVR with a remote that already controls everything else in your home automation? I've worked with Crestron many times to integrate the DVR serial command protocols embedded so that the said DVR, after being installed, is controlled with the main remote. Or, are you talking about integrating the PTZ camera to be triggered and sent to specific presets when an alarm is triggered?
  13. TipoFloe

    Intellex Video Out Feed

    Hello, when you plug in the PTZ video and RS-485 to your DVR, it's fine, but when you connect the PTZ directly to another monitor, PTZ freezes? That's odd? Unless Pelco Spectra 4 has Pelco-C (Coaxitron) enabled and it is somehow causing interference when connected to the call up monitor? Have you contacted Pelco about this?
  14. TipoFloe

    client software

    I think it'd be quite difficult to find such a software. There was a time when a company called Axium has created a VMS that included ONVIF, PSIA, two dozen protocols for IP cameras and NVRs and half a dozen DVR, but unfortunately that company went belly up in 2010. That software was quite limited, mostly to live and playback only. Menu and setup was something that they were continuously expanding. Each DVR manufacturer, let alone each IP camera manufacturer employ their own unique version of the same algorithm. Granted that they most likely use the same hardware codec, SOC, DSP, you name it, that the bottom line compression technology is the same. However, they are NOT compatible with each other, hence the birth of ONVIF and PSIA. No such thing exists for DVRs as far as I know. Back in the days, what I would do is select a few key manufacturers and request that they work on a common management software. Then these manufacturers would each provide source codes and one company was dedicated to completing the software. It is certainly possible, and I am sure there is something out there that will do what you're looking for. If you consume large quantity of CCTV products, then you may want to approach the manufacturer and request them to work with other brands to come up with a common management solution... Good luck.
  15. I think the IR LED does not emit strong enough beams out to have them bounced off of the plates. I once saw a demo by Pixim for the same solution and I jumped out of my seat, utterly amazed! That camera clearly showed the outlines of the objects and also the alphanumeric characters. Here's a link: http://www.pixim.com/assets/files/product_and_tech/Eclipse%20Product%20Brief_Sept_2008.pdf I would have thought that these Bosch cameras would function in the similar fashion as the pixim one.... no? Try bringing the camera closer to the point where the plates are taken. It may be that the IR LEDs may be too weak and too far from the field of view.
  16. TipoFloe

    Pinetron or Pacom dvr

    If you know for sure it's from Pinetron, then I'd recommend that one. I never heard of the other company. Pinetron provided and provides for many US based OEM companies, such as Nuvico, Vitek, Lorex, CCTV Star, etc. Their interface, case design and simplicity is aesthetically more pleasing than others, but in the past they had some major stability issues - back in the wavelet and MPEG4 days. I had a chance to thoroughly test their latest 4 channel with touch sensitive front panel buttons, which was a joy to test. At the time I did about a 90 day long term testing as well as every feature on it, and they all checked out. Good luck choosing a DVR. I hope someone comments on the Pacom unit.
  17. TipoFloe

    8 Ch DVR + Cameras for under $600?

    Hello, Based on your budget, it may be a little tough to find the solution you are looking for, but let's take a look at what the current market has to offer. 1. The DVR - Does it have to real time? What is your desired recording resolution and rate? What Everfocus model were you using? There are 8 channel DVRs that are being sold for around $100, but that's not likely going to get you all three functions you need. You will pretty much have to give up either smart phone access (older MPEG4 based DVRs that are being liquidated), or give up the PTZ cruise recording. I don't know what you mean exactly by cruising, but most mid level DVRs offer preset, scan, pattern and tour programming and recall through the DVR - something "el cheapo" 8 channel will not be able to do. Motion recording is pretty much standard with any DVRs so you don't have to forfeit that. If you provide more information as to what you desire, then I may be able to give you more accurate price ranges. 2. Cameras 2 indoor - you can get away with a simple fixed lens dome camera - anywhere from $60 to $100 each 2 outdoor 100' range license plate reading - here you're not going to be able to cut corners. A decent license plate reading aid camera (by all means they are not perfect) at 100' will need a 5 to 50mm varifocal lens, adaptive IR brightness, DNR and DSS to kick in but not to blur the field of view too much. These cameras run anywhere from $200 to $450 based on the number of IR LEDs, lens configuration and brand name. 1 outdoor camera 60' range - you can get away with a simple IR LED bullet style camera $70 to $120 Good luck!
  18. TipoFloe

    Drop Ceiling Camera Mounting

    I usually screw directly into the metal crossing. I don't drill into the drop ceiling tiles as over time the screw will eat it and fall off...
  19. TipoFloe

    Looking for a mount

    You would most likely use an I-Beam mount. Commonly found in many camera suppliers. If not, a pedestal mount (ceiling mount) should do the job... no?
  20. TipoFloe

    Swan 8 camera system and camera replacement

    I hate to disagree with you, but your description of a digital camera is flawed. What you described is an analog camera - the method of video signal transmission to the DVR. All cameras are digital today. They all have digital signal processors that processes the raw lights into images and then as you describe convert it to a 1 volt analog signal for the DVR to reprocess it back to a digital format. Very inefficient. A digital camera processes a raw image digitally and then transmits the signal DIGITALLY to the recording device. This is where HD-SDI and IP cameras come in. If you think about it, this is like the CD's back in the 80's when they had the AAD (analog recording, analog mastering, digital reproduction), ADD (analog recording, digital mastering, digital reproduction), DDD (all digital) designation on them. Up until now, we were at ADD stage, and we're finally in the DDD stage. As far as the TV lines and the limitation of maximum TV lines through a coax cable, you may want to read this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_cable There are formulas there for you to use to calculate the effects of the impedance and the resistance and the decay in the quality of an analog video signal. Again, TV lines were a means of pissing contest. This is why a decade ago, when SONY, the manufacturer of their own CCD and their own DSP that most manufacturers used to manufacture third party Sony CCD camera, Sony's specifications, the STANDARD, was always lower than the rest of the industry. So riddle me this? How could a third party, non-Japanese camera manufacturer that only use Sony's CCD and DSP, and everything else inferior as far as other components produce higher performing camera? What could have Sony done wrong??? In the manufacturing side of these cameras, the TV line testing, again, has no standard for brightness level, lighting condition, distance, etc and etc to claim their TV lines. These cameras, believe or not, actually process and output 700TV lines. But only at the camera. This is why most camera testing is done with THICK coax cable with less than 3 feet long (often 1 foot) to exploit the signal decay caused by impedance and resistance. Also, the reason for color resolution always being lower than B/W is because of their pixel density. Pure and simple. HD-SDI uses a different frequency of signal to modulate the video signal into bits. Hence HD-SDI cameras are actually capable of transmitting via coax, but then their maximum distance is quite limited. If people bought on BEST spec, then why don't everyone put down 3 gazillion billion million TV lines? How do you like that for a sales pitch?
  21. Sometimes in 2007, DVRs started to be manufactured with VGA output and the overpriced CCTV monitors were starting to lose their market share as anyone could go to a national electronics store and pick up a VGA input monitor and plug the DVR in. Apparently, these DVRs took off a little more than other models without, and then the rest of the industry followed. Now we have DVI and HDMI connectors. Today, the same is true. Many manufacturers will tell you that they use a "Special" LCD panel, etc and etc, but the bottom line is simple. They are the same LCD monitors that you can find in any electronics store. So often times, these CCTV monitors are 3 to 4 times higher in price than consumer TVs, or monitors. "They come with 3 year warranty, etc etc". The truth is that you will find cheaper, better, brighter, sharper, lighter TVs out there and if they break in a year, you can buy another one for the fraction of the cost of the CCTV monitors. Why would you want to pay more for a "special" CCTV monitor which does the same exact thing that a consumer TV does? I have 3 LCD monitors, all consumer 1 32" from 2005, 1 32" from 2007 and 1 52" from 2008. Granted that they are not on all the time, I've tested plenty of consumer monitors with CCTV products for 24/7 usage and they were all fine.
  22. TipoFloe

    need help with ptz

    well....duh...yeah. I assume you mean the negative and positive control wires? I know that. My question is, how do i connect the two wires to pins 1 and 14 (R485_A, R485_B) of the male rs232c interface sticking out of my dvr. it does NOT have the "normal" (light green) interface. I since have got an answer from Raymond at Zmodo. He says just to attach the wires to the pins. I think I will see if a one pin header can be modified. I think that there *may* be enough room between pins for the small adapter. Maybe even a 1 pin header like from a pc fan? But I don't know if that's too small. I have forgotten so much of this IT, I need to go back and look again. Thanks for the info. tho. James You can attach the wires directly to these pins, but they will eventually fall out. I would go to a local computer parts store, pick up a DB25 female plug, disassemble it, connect and solder the wires into the female DB25 and then plug that in. It's a little more work, but this is more secure.
  23. TipoFloe

    Swan 8 camera system and camera replacement

    Now I've learned something today! I Honestly didn't know that I am embarrassed to say. Nothing to be embarrassed about. This is how we all learn! By asking the right questions!
  24. TipoFloe

    Help!!, PTZ loose focus

    As odd as this post looks as one other user commented, it sounds like the ICR malfunction. If the shift of focus happens after the day/night switch, then that's the only thing I can think of. Contact the manufacturer or the place where you bought it from. Check out his sig This person can't possible post that the product from his/her own company is malfunctioning only so that they can attract attention? What a way to negative marketing!!
  25. Hello, it looks like the distance based on your map will be more than adequate for both coax and Cat5 installation. In other words, you can go with both HD-SDI or IP if you wanted to. Just to be on the safe side, it'd be better to use a Day and Night camera with built-in IR illuminators, and use those motion sensing lights as supplementary lighting. The camera will switch quickly (under a second typically) when the light turns on or off. Based on the models, you can even adjust the d/n switch delay. Having said this, there is a 10 channel hybrid HD-SDI DVR where you can install 2 HD-SDI cameras and 8 Analog cameras. This DVR will record at 60pps for two channels of 720P, and 240pps in D1 for the 8 analog cameras. You should definitely be able to do this under $4,000, which should include all cameras, DVRs, shipping, tools, connectors, cable, etc. Also, did you know that there are mobile DVRs out there that can be tracked via GPS, and transmit images in real-time via 3G/LTE network? As a boat owner myself, I have one installed also. Good luck with your hunt.
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