TipoFloe

Now that I am reading the manual, this looks like the old Argus H.264 unit.

Have you contacted the manufacturer for support? If the power out for camera at those RJ11 ports are reading 9V then you should get a replacement.

Trying to sort through all the brands, lingo, acronyms, etc since I started on this site. Will be buying a home soon and would like 1.3-2mp IP cams in 4 locations. As of right now Im hoping to spend 1500-2000 it.

 

Can you guys recommend a place a home owner, not an installer can purchase some of the better brands? I seen some talk of some brands, but not sure if I want to go through Alibaba as I am worried about support, etc.

 

I see the vendor links on the left, but they dont have the brands often discussed often on the forums.

 

Thanks in advance

Hello,

keep in mind that 90% of all "manufacturers" or brands are nothing more than private labelers that import from overseas. There's only a handful of real manufacturers, especially in the US. At the same time, these "manufacturers" often invest and work with the true manufacturer overseas for their own face plate, GUI, and etc. Rarely these "manufacturers" will design anything, or invest to develop a new product. They just buy what's available and slap their name on it.

Rather than concentrating on the brand, see if the selection is available domestically. You will need support and assistance with installation questions and then warranty service.

Now that can be difficult because many "manufacturers" will brush you off and send you off to a local distributor or an installer, and they do not sell direct to end users to protect the marketing channel and the profit that all middlemen need to make - importer - distributor - installer - to you.

I'm sure you'll read in many posts here that trying to get support from Ebay sellers, Amazon sellers and Oversea sellers is close to impossible. So now you face the overwhelming challenge of weeding through countless products that you don't know what to make of....

Rather than posting a vague question, do some research and pick out some models and post them here and ask for opinions. You may want to post brand reputation, product performance and such - you will get a whole lot more replies.

Good luck to your IP CAM hunting!

Hi Guys

 

Hardware:

4 x 22x PTZ (http://www.digitalwitness.co.za/PDF_files/C-SD8120.pdf)

2 x 10x PTZ (http://www.digitalwitness.co.za/HTML/CSD10X.htm)

1 x Controller (http://www.digitalwitness.co.za/PDF_files/KB55.pdf)

1 x Dahua 32 Channel DVR (http://www.dahuasecurity.com/English/product_info.aspx?type=354&&css=1&&id=176)

 

Ok so all PTZ work when i just connect the A+ together and the B- together and put them into the controller.

 

I can switch between cameras and control the various cameras.

 

All cams work when i do the same setup to the DVR

 

But when I connect the controller and the DVR together to the cams, the DVR is not able to control the PTZ's anymore.

 

THe Controller is hwoever able to control the cams in this setup.

 

I need to be able to have both the DVR and the KB controller control the PTZ's

 

Any suggestions ?

How's your wiring? Is it daisy chained or star chained? Does the PTZ controller have a junction box with multiple connections or does it only offer 1 RS-485 port? How are you connecting the PTZs from your DVR?

If the power source (DVR) is putting out 12V DC but at the camera end you're not receiving 12VDC, then my guess is that the gauge on the wire on the RJ11 cable is not big enough...? The camera should operate anywhere between 9 to 15 volts.

Actually, this is a good point for another reason: lots of times these "package" systems DON'T operate on a standard 12VDC - the cameras may be looking for 12V but the system is only providing 9V or less.

 

Or the cameras may be looking for a lower voltage while the system is providing a higher voltage, which could kill the cameras, even IF the wiring is right. While many "12V" cameras WILL handle anything between 9-15V, in my experience, there's a number that won't, including some models from some bigger-name brands that have gone up in smoke with even 10% over-voltage.

The spec says that the camera requires 12 to 15 volts. If you are only reading 9 volts from the power source (DVR, whatever), then you have a problem... Also, how much juice are you getting from the power source? Combined with the DVR and these 4 cameras, it should be pumping at least 5 amps. These 12/24 LED cameras don't require much current, but if it's not getting 500mA, then it will not function properly either...

speco HT7246iHR intensifier are cheap? they are designed for low light situations. here is a pic of what I am seeing.

It looks like your camera is caught right at the brightness level where it can't decide to go B/W or stay in color. What you're seeing is camera noise from low color viewing.

The intensifier should have an option to adjust the day/night switch trigger brightness level. It looks like your DNR is not turned on either.

Make sure that your DNR is turned on, your DSS set to less than 32x (anything above will be useless) and see what happens.

Good luck.

Dear all,

can I use normal video balun in NTSC camera?

 

Please assists, if not what can I use instead as I want to improve picture quality!

 

Thanks in advance!

erasto@comsec.cotz

You should be able to use a passive balun (no power) and get about 1200 feet in color and 2000 feet in B/W.

If you use an active balun receiver, then you can improve the picture quality. Keep in mind that the words "picture quality" is rarely used with baluns.

I was wondering if anyone could provide some assistance with a problem I am having with a new security system and our old bullet cameras. Thank-you in advance.

 

I am attempting to use 4 cameras from a "Security First 5005" system. These cameras are hard wired from the camera to a RJ-11 connector. I checked the Security First (sams club type system) manual and it confirms they are RJ-11. I do not know the power consumption but they are IR and carry audio.

 

The new ADT system has power module to "power" the cameras thru RJ-11 and convert the video signal to the BNC connection. The existing 4 cameras will not power up or display any picture. Is this a problem in the wiring of the RJ-11 on the existing cameras or is the module not providing them enough power? The 2 ADT cameras (A-CBHD36JI) work find, display and power. The ADT camera info can be found here.

 

http://www.adt-matrix.com/app/webroot/img/FCKeditor/File/Specs_EN/MNI2004-01.pdf

 

Here is the Security first manual w/ the cameras that will not function with the new ADT system.

 

http://securityfirstcamera.com/ddrivers/19DVR/SDVS-1904_or_5005_Manual.pdf

Hello,

you may want to consider a couple of things.

1. What is the distance from the DVR to the camera? It should be sufficient and voltage drop should not be a concern.

2. Get a volt meter and splice the RJ-11 or get a tip that's small enough to touch the metal connectors. If you have 3 pairs, video, audio and power, one pair should read 12v, video should read 1 volt and audio.... should have almost no voltage.

If the power source (DVR) is putting out 12V DC but at the camera end you're not receiving 12VDC, then my guess is that the gauge on the wire on the RJ11 cable is not big enough...? The camera should operate anywhere between 9 to 15 volts. As for the video signal, you should get at least something even if you're below 1 volt...

Good luck.

I have an external dome camera that has 860nm on board ir. it can be turned off if required.

 

Is there anyway to know if my camera will be able to use the invisible to the eye 940nm ir? I dont want to buy one to find out it won't work.

Stick with the 840nm IR LEDs. 940nm are available, but it will reduce the night vision range (IR range) to about 1/3 or 1/4 of 840nm.

I don't know if you want to replace the zoom module yourself. That's like replacing a car engine.

 

Besides the physical differences (mounting holes, module size, etc), there's a whole lot of tuning and programming involved to use the zoom module properly from the camera's control board. The protocol may be different, if the protocol is the same, then the mechanics are completely different from one zoom module to another (zoom ratio, voltage, etc).

 

By the time you're done researching, replacing and reprogramming and updating the camera's firmware - that is if you are able to change the source codes around - wouldn't it be cheaper to get a good PTZ camera?

 

Don't be fooled by anyone who claims to have the Sony module. Any module can have a Sony CCD and people just call that a Sony module. Request for the authentic sony module part number. Also, the warranty from Sony for these zoom module is ONLY 3 months.

 

Here's a list of few manufacturers that you may want to consider if you're still willing to venture :

 

Sony - first choice

Hitachi - first choice

Sanyo - second choice

Samsung - second choice

LG - second choice

CNB - third choice

 

and then many others from China and Taiwan - I wouldn't touch these.

 

Lastly... Do you really want to do this? Even if you are able to replace the module and have it work flawlessly, there are still many other factors involved - preset accuracy & consistency, compatibility, reliability... that will eventually wear and tear and break down on you - something a budget PTZ camera will definitely fail over time...

 

Anyways, good luck to you.

????????

 

If you replace like-for-like camera modules, it is simple as pie - same mounting holes, same firmware, etc. Also, most brand-for-brand replacement modules utilize the same mounting; just swap a couple of brackets. And if you decide to get a different model of camera module, we've found that Time Lapse Supply will tell you which modules are compatible and, if firmware updates are required, can supply them too.

 

Except for the oddball PTZs, repair is a snap for anyone with a few technical skills. Other than replacing cameras, most of the rest of the repairs are even simpler. PC Boards are typically easy to change, mechanical parts not too difficult, etc. and the savings can be substantial. For instance, a Pelco Spectra IV SL 23x in-ceiling mount indoor dome will set you back $1,100.00 or more. The cost to repair a Spectra III dome drive is rarely more than 1/3 of that. Big difference!

Read the original post. He wants to upgrade his module. Not replace it with the same module. If swapping a PTZ module was that simple, I'd be assembling these and selling them myself.

problems with Ptz cameras

When cameras are left for two to three days

 

They go out of focus, you can not regain the focus until you reboot the cameras .

This happens when the cameras are in auto focus and manual focus

 

I have one camera in manual focus and one camera in auto focus

I have arrived on site this morning to find both camera out of focus

 

The Cameras seem to loose there focus at daybreak when the iR returns to day mode

During the daytime they work fine

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.

Hello,

The Camera resolution and the what the DVR "can" support are two separate things.

Most DVRs made with MPEG4 video compression and thereafter (H.264) record in three resolutions in standard definition DVRs:

D1: 720x480

Half D1 (2CIF): 720x240

CIF: 360x240

and if you look at your camera's resolution (pixel) it should show you what it can capture.

Anyhow, it doesn't matter what resolution camera you install if you're recording at CIF. It's like filling a 1 litter jug with a 4 liter jug and expect the 1 liter jug to hold 4 liters of water.

See if you can change the recording resolution (at the expense of losing frame rate).

On another note on camera resolutions - think of it like a pissing contest. Without a governing body, manufacturers claim whatever they want to from whatever testing method they've employed. They've been doing it for as long as I can remember and companies that use the REAL TV lines for cameras are losing its market share because of that and they are forced to "overspec" like everyone else in the industry. That's why the night vision distance, WDR performance, etc etc are never up to what the manufacturers claim, and there's only a handful of field proven product out there. I am sorry to say that Swann is not one of them.

Here's another fact: the coax cable will transmit at most 525 TV lines. So from your supposedly 700TVL camera through the coax and the DVR only capturing what it was capturing with the previous camera = no change in recorded resolution.

Hello,

 

Recently I have been testing out different PTZ analog camera setups and I have been curious about the camera modules that are inside most of them.

 

For example a few weeks ago I bought a cheap brand name PTZ analog camera and it was just that, you get what you pay for I suppose. The video quality was so bad that even the rep couldn't argue about returning it.

 

I was trying to find out if the camera module inside these units could be replaced with another camera module(better image quality at least) and though they told me that I could do that, they only said that I could use one of the standard Sony camera modules, and would not give a few model numbers to work with, which of course led me to googling anything and everything I could find out, talk about spending you days and nights quickly.

 

 

Since then I have gotten a few more PTZ analog cameras in and even through the manuals are funny as hell to read, only some of them will tell you which camera modules will work with the camera, BUT they don't tell you which camera module is currently installed. My conclusion is that I would have to open one up and hope that there is a model number or something that will tell me if it was made by Sony or some other brand.

 

So I am wondering, with all these made in China PTZ cameras, where the hec does one purchase these modules, depending on the brand, or is it that the end user commonly cannot purchase directly?

 

The list of camera models I am have gotten 'some' information on are:

SONY - sony 480, sony 490, sony 980, sony 990, sony 1000, sony 1010

SANYO - sanyo md600, sanyo md800

lg 16, lg 27, kpc-18, lg lm-922, lg lm-923, lg lm-927, cnb m2260, cnb m2360, cnb m2760, cnb 21Z22, cnb 21z27

HITACHI - vk214, vk274, vk454, vk858, vk654, vk888

SANYO - sdm-230, sdm-335, sdm-375, scm-2231, scm-2251, scm-2271, scm-2301

 

wx-22, wx-23, wx-27, wx-30, mjz-22, mjz-27, mjz-30, ss-803, ss-823, ss-922, ls-22, xf-27

 

The list probably goes on for days, but you get the idea, what I want is to one find a source to purchase these camera modules(at least the ones that are not garbage).

 

I understand I need to know what I am looking for, which is so far 27x optical zoom, at least 600tvl, and IR

 

Does anyone know which ones are the more common ones used ?

 

I appreciate any ideas/feedback

 

Thanks

Hello,

I don't know if you want to replace the zoom module yourself. That's like replacing a car engine.

Besides the physical differences (mounting holes, module size, etc), there's a whole lot of tuning and programming involved to use the zoom module properly from the camera's control board. The protocol may be different, if the protocol is the same, then the mechanics are completely different from one zoom module to another (zoom ratio, voltage, etc).

By the time you're done researching, replacing and reprogramming and updating the camera's firmware - that is if you are able to change the source codes around - wouldn't it be cheaper to get a good PTZ camera?

Don't be fooled by anyone who claims to have the Sony module. Any module can have a Sony CCD and people just call that a Sony module. Request for the authentic sony module part number. Also, the warranty from Sony for these zoom module is ONLY 3 months.

Here's a list of few manufacturers that you may want to consider if you're still willing to venture :

Sony - first choice

Hitachi - first choice

Sanyo - second choice

Samsung - second choice

LG - second choice

CNB - third choice

and then many others from China and Taiwan - I wouldn't touch these.

Lastly... Do you really want to do this? Even if you are able to replace the module and have it work flawlessly, there are still many other factors involved - preset accuracy & consistency, compatibility, reliability... that will eventually wear and tear and break down on you - something a budget PTZ camera will definitely fail over time...

Anyways, good luck to you.

bump.... please help

Have you tried just "enter" with no password?

I'm looking to replace my dvr and upgrade from analog to ip cameras. I need a hybrid dvr that will work 4 channel real time d1 analog now and change over to 4 channel realtime ip megapixel cameras. I am not networking in the future and trying use the same siamese cable that is in place.

 

what do you recommend?

 

Also need playback from backup to be full resolution, got burned with old dvr where playback is cif only.

Thanks

Do you have a preference regarding what platform you get to use? Since I am more familiar with the embedded (stand-alone) units, I'll elaborate on those.

Currently, the selection of hybrid NVRs is quite limited for embedded devices. I know of one 4 analog/12 IP hardware hybrid NVR, but it only does 480 CIF. In other words, you will get your D1 4 channel real-time recording, and it stops there. If you need to upgrade to megapixel (how many megapixels?) later, you WILL HAVE to remove the 4 analog cameras and STILL NOT GET REAL-TIME for megapixel recording. You will probably get 10 to 15 PPS at 720P at best.

Also, what is your budget? Why are you upgrading to a 4 Channel D1 and THEN to Megapixel? Why not just upgrade to Megapixel from start?

You will have to re-run all the network cable because IP cameras won't be able to use existing coax cable.

There are megapixel cameras and DVRs that will work off of existing coax cable - as long as the existing cable is true 95% copper braid cable - all you need to do is remove your old cameras and DVR, replace with new ones, power them up, connect to the same coax cable, and then you're done.

If you post your budget, then perhaps I could recommend you specific brands and models.

Hello,

 

I have one question about my dvr.. it's an dvr from ebay:

 

 

Everything is great, except one thing, it saves video in ".ifv" format and i can play it only by using chinese software and i can't view it by another program, i tried to find some converters - but unfortunatelly i can't find one..

 

Is there any chance to convert it to any standard video format? This chinese program crashes whole time on Windows7.. :/

 

This is only when i record with pc client or via IE - same format, ifv..

 

When i'm backing up video from dvr i can chose avi or ifv..

 

Only thing is i want to, when i'm recording remotely, how to record direct to avi? or to convert from ifv to avi..

Hello,

the DVR probably uses some type of an H.264 video compression variant, which is usually "proprietary" and claimed not to be able to use a third party video editing software...

Try the following:

1. Run the program in compatibility mode (e.g. Windows XP) and then try to convert the video (does it have a built-in converter?)

2. Request a codec from the manufacturer, install it onto your computer and then use any video editing software to see if you can import it.

3. Request the manufacturer for a converter (they should be able to manifest one, it's a simple programming really)

4. Use a capturing device when you playback the video on your PC and capture it - e.g. Camtasia

Good Luck!

ATM i have a horrible swann based dvr located in a bird room at the bottom of the garden,

i view the cameras on the tv's in the house, and right now i have to have the remote for the dvr in one hand and the ptz controller on my lap, changing cameras with the dvr remote, and moving them with the ptz remote (the dvr's onscreen ptz is horrible to use, i have an ir remote extender taking the remote signal to the dvr from the house)

 

looking for another dvr, and i want one where i can use a single controller to operate it and the ptz cams,

 

i believe dahua dvrs alow this, but i am wondering about the connection between the dvr, ptz cams and controller,

 

some controllers seem to indicate they use a rs485 connection, but one for the dvr control, and another cable for the ptz cams, and they use a rs485 to rs232 adaptor at the dvr end for one of the cables,

 

couldent this be done with a single twisted pair from the controller to the dvr?

 

reason i'm asking is i want to go wireless, and get a pair of rs485 trancievers, fit on to the ptz/dvr controller, and the other to the dvr inplace of the twisted pair cable that you'd usually run,

reason being i need to be able to use the ptz/dvr control unit in different locations around the house, so wired will be a right pain (will run the controller on a 12 volt battery)

 

Anyone able to tell me if what i am thinking can be done? or would i need seperate cables for the dvr and ptz connections,

If your current DVR has an RS-485 or RS-232 port, then it's possible to integrate any keyboard controller to your DVR. You may want to contact the manufacturer and see if they sell or can recommend you a keyboard controller. If you find a keyboard you like, then you can request Swann for the DVR control protocol and have the keyboard manufacturer integrate it.

One of the common problems with controlling the DVR with the keyboard controller AND the PTZ at the same time on a single twisted pair, is that not many manufacturers are able to control both correctly. I've seen many systems that do both, but often times the controller was not fully taking advantage of the incremental movement of the PTZ cameras. So the alternative, is to wire two pairs, one to the DVR and another to the PTZ.

You may want to look for a keyboard controller that has multiple ports or a junction box, like PTZ1, PTZ2, DVR, and so forth, but this will also depend on the manufacturer. This way, you can test both single pair or go two pair route if the single pair fails.

Don't go wireless unless you absolutely must and have no other choice. Wireless is simply unreliable. We're dealing with video SECURITY here.

Good luck!

Hi guys,

 

I need some help.

I've a 8ch generic dvr in my home and I can view, browse and play fine only in my LOCAL LAN.

When I tried to use over the internet I cant.

 

when I putted in the IE: http://publicIP/ its like try to log in to the device. Theres a windows ask me the user and pass like in my HOME but theres a error " CANT FIND THE DEVICE"

 

I ve a Linksys WRT54G with the DMZ activated to the DVR private IP, and UPNP activated.

Over Internet I can browse to the Admin Page in the Router, I can forward to my local FTP, but I CANT log in to the dvr.

 

this is the dvr:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-ch-H-264-Network-3G-Mobile-view-Surveillance-Security-CCTV-Standalone-DVR-/110853476988?pt=US_Surveillance_Security_Systems&hash=item19cf61d27c&afsrc=1

 

 

please help me!

thanks in advance.

Francisco

It sounds like you're connecting to the router rather than the DVR. They may be fighting for the same web port 80. The router's default interface port is 80, and if your DVR's is the same, then it's probably what's happening.

In your DVR manual, you should find the following (but not exactly the same wording):

web port: 80

data port: xxxx

admin port: xxxx

and so on and so forth.

If you are typing in the local IP address (192.168.0.101 or something like this) and then you're able to connect to the DVR, then you are connecting via the DVR's web port, port 80. So you need to either change the router's web interface port to 8080 or 8000 or something like that so that it does not conflict with the DVR. Or you can change the DVR's port to something else.

Then ensure that the ports are forwarded correctly for the DVR. If the DVR's IP address is 192.168.0.101, then make sure that all the ports related to the DVR are forwarded.

If you have not changed the DVR's web port (and changed the router's web port), then use the external IP address and it should connect you to your DVR. If you have changed your DVR's web port to, for example, 8080, then it's the external IP then the port. So if your external IP is 84.29.101.14, then you need to type the following full address, including the http://: http://84.29.101.14:8080 and you should connect to your DVR.

Hi Guys,

Im on the hunt for a 8 ch DVR system that has HD (D1) recording an all 8 channels.

I have brought 3 x DVR systems now that were promised to have D1 on 8 channels, but found out that the seller had lied about this. and only 2 of the 8 are D1

 

I have searched for so many days on the internet trying to find this DVR system and have come to the conclusion that the technology does not exist yet.

 

any suggestions would be a huge help.

 

 

James

D1 8 channel DVRs are rare. In fact, they are more rare than 16 CH D1 DVRs. The HD-SDI and megapixel IP products led us to believe that we'd pretty much skip over D1 products, but who knew the world would crash? LOL. Since I can't post directly here, I'll PM you the only 8 Channel D1 DVR I know.

Hi all not been on for a while but need advice on a new 8ch dvr,been looking at the Dahua dvr,s seem good value for the price, ok looking for price range around £400 to £500 BUT GETTING CONFUSED ON

 

what are the latest vrsions

 

what brands use dahua

 

are they all the same

any sug on the best ones

 

are any brands a better quality than the other,

 

any help please

 

ps, herd on hear i think about MACE dvr but cant find it on the web

It looks like Dahua is big here. I don't know much about Dahua products, but whoever may be importing these from Dahua and private label them should offer similar lines of products. Make sure that you compare apple to apple when you compare pricing, because each importer may have different versions and features from another.

But if you find these importers, compare their warranty term and their service reputation.

Hi everyone, I'm new here and have a question about a problem I'm having with my Nubix 16 channel DVR. I was doing a firmware update on it and it might of not completed the update successfully. It powered off and now it wont turn on at all but you can hear the internal fan working. I was wondering if anyone could help me or guide me where I can send it to be fixed.

Your best option is the contact the manufacturer Eclipse for repair. I don't know if they honor warranty for incomplete firmware upgrade. The manufacturer should have some type of a serial device where they can re-install the system files and make it new again, and your recorded data should stay untouched.

The whole process should take no more than 3 mins, and they should not charge for it. Let me know if they are not able to help. I may have a few alternative repair solutions for you.

I have a Dedicated Micros ECO-9 DVR that recently stopped transmitting images over the internet. The unit works fine in every other way, so evidently the NIC or something on the motherboard went bad. Either way, I'm looking at about a $600-700 repair. So that puts me in the market for a new DVR with newer technology. This one is 8 years old.

 

I have 9 cameras. Most of them are 620TVL. One is 700TVL. Evidently the old ECO-9 is not capable of giving me the best images over the internet... images are interlaced and sometimes just plain crummy.

 

So, can anyone recommend a good DVR in the $1,000 neighborhood that would give me better image quality and still have good FF/REW, download & mobile device viewing (iPhone) options? And if $1,000 sounds too low, please let me know other options that may cost more. Thanks in advance!

As many mentioned here, you will get a full 16 channel real-time 480 pps DVRs for under $1,000.00. Many of these DVRs should be able to give you smart devices accessibility as well. For a little more, you should be able to get a D1 480PPS DVR for under $1,500.00. If you need to take advantage of your sharp cameras, you should be recording at D1 30 PPS per channel, but then again, you were only getting about 6 PPS per channel with your Eco9.

So if you were to get a lesser expensive DVR (CIF 480), you will still be able to get at least 60 PPS at D1 resolution, so get about 6 PPS per channel with your 9 existing cameras. If you want to keep it with the same resolution as your old Eco 9, it will give you 120 PPS at Half D1, or 2CIF. As far as the record fluidity, you should not notice any difference, but then the picture quality on recorded and transmitted data will be dramatically be better, especially because I know what these old Eco 9's look like.

Dedicated Micros were the top of the line back in the days. Eco 9, unfortunately was just a bad response to all the Chinese, Korean and Taiwanese DVRs that were being pumped out like crazy. If you're not brand savvy, then look for any manufacturers with local support and with at least 3 years of warranty, which seems to be the standard with security products these days.

I'm trying to find ways to improve on my home CCTV setup.

 

A year ago I bought a cheap DVR which was as useful as a chocolate teapot. It would record footage but used a propriety format which meant that I could only view footage on the DVR. This wasn't exactly a good setup if I wanted to pass on any evidence to the police.

 

Now that a year has moved on, I'd like to know what DVR options are out there and if any can connect to a home network via my router with a budget of around £200 or a bit more if I get a better product?

 

At the moment I have an analogue CCTV camera attached to a laptop via a USB connection.

http://www.swann.com/s/products/view/?product=497

How's the stability on this product? Does it run 24/7 without any problems?

There are a lot of "older" 4 channel DVRs that are on sale these days. I guess the cost would depend on what bells and whistles you may want, like browsing on your 3G/LTE smart devices. How about upgrading to an embedded system? I'll PM you a list of options.

Hi All, I have a 4 chan Hard drive DVR that has served me well for several years. But the camera resolution is just so-so even with good cameras with high line counts (540/600). I believe that the unit only "sees" less than that many lines and there is the key to the limit on clarity. (Right/Wrong?)

 

My neighbor mentioned a "Full D1" level is much clearer.

 

What is the deal and will a D1 DVR record better video off my better cameras which have 540 or 600 lines?

 

Can anyone recommend a 8 or 16ch D1 DVR that wont break the bank? Any suggestion son small bullet cameras that can get the MAXIMUM D1 quality effect?

 

Just looking to get the basics understood here and possibly a camera and dvr recommend or two.

 

Thanks this is my first post here!

It sounds like your 4 channel DVR is recording at CIF or perhaps even lower. Think of your setup like this:

You have a jug with 4 containers that is 1 cup size each (360(V)x240(H)). But you're trying to pour water into these 4 containers with 4 times higher size cups (720(V)x480(H)). In other words, even if your camera is capable of sending 540TV lines across to the DVR, if your DVR is only recording at 240 TV lines, then you're really wasting all your camera resources.

See if your DVR can change its recording resolution from 360x240 (CIF) to 720x240 (Half D1) or 720x480 (D1). It WILL make a HUGE difference as you're recording 4 times sharper. Of course, your storage will eat up 4 times faster also.

If you tell me the make and model, I should be able to suggest a few alternative models or simply look up how to increase the recording resolution on your DVR.

I would very much appreciate any help, advice or guidance on how I could monitor my car parked on the street at night. The car can be up to 15 meters away from my property.

 

Sadly my car has been vandalised 4 times and I'm getting a bit fed up with the damage.

 

Cheers

Hello, is your car going to be within 15 meters at all time without any obstruction from the camera you're going to be installing in your home?

It sounds like if you can't secure the same parking spot every time, you may have to get a PTZ camera to adjust the direction and zoom level each time.

Have you thought about the other way around? There are mobile DVRs out there that can be on stand-by mode until it senses some sort of a shock and then turns itself on instantly to start recording. Not only it will protect you while you're driving (in case you get into an accident), but while your car is parked also...

But then again, what kind of vandalism on your car? Break-in? Graffiti? Scratches?

Hi again. I'm not sure the 'made in America' tag works well with cameras, DVRs, and a lot of other electronics equipment, including the communications products we sell, install, and service. I guess I wasn't even aware that the video equipment that most of us sell, and service isn't from offshore. So, at this stage, I don't see that as a problem. What I do see, is that it isn't easy to find a company, a supplier, who is in the supplying business, to an independent company, such as ours, I'm talking about the school bus type systems. We don't have any problem with suppliers for fixed video equipment, or even camera systems for police cars, But school bus type systems are quite a different story. That is why I came here.

Hello, I sent you a PM with some information.