Kiwi

You're not suggesting extra current capacity directly accommodates longer wire runs...?!

This app is super-handy for quickly checking live cameras without keeping the old Video Server-E running in the task bar. On a LAN it comes up with working video in less than a second or two of being started. On a PC the aspect ratio comes out slightly wrong. Video Server E gives 1.400 or 641 x 458 while CCTV_JAR shows 1.157 or 641 x 554. Is there a way to correct this? Also, the video quality level appears to be on "medium." Again, can this be easily changed? TIA

Certainly CCTV seems to be most effective when deployed at the precise locations were crimes are most likely to happen rather than trying to cover whole city blocks. If the numerous corner shop robberies here weren't almost always caught on video they wouldn't get any air time on TV.

Sweet! Works great on my PC, even a little snappier than the original. I'll have to try it on my linux-based web tablet. Good work! ---- I have a shortcut in the same folder as .JAR file which contains the arguments. C:\WINDOWS\system32\javaw.exe -jar CCTV_JAR.jar 10.1.1.33 80 username password That folder can be located anywhere. Once placed, then created a shortcut on the desktop from that first shortcut to point to it (right-click, send to desktop.)

Naturally you would want a mobile 4-channel DVR. I would use four color board or bullet cameras, something small that doesn't draw too much attention when parked. Having two cameras front and two rear allows you to have either a wide and telephoto each, or point each pair slightly to either side and "add" the views horizontally. I tried the latter method, 3.8mm lens giving about 154 degrees total both front and rear, a really panoramic view but I couldn't read license plates. However, stopped at a pedestrian crosswalk or traffic light I could see both left and right curbs. Think about what you are trying to achieve and pick the method to suit. I placed a microphone near the drivers seat so that I could simply recite a license plate if needed rather than have to read it off the video. The only problem with recording sound in my case is that my recordings mostly consisted of me talking to myself or cursing at other drivers.

But, yes, you can get away with a normal lens accepting some amount of degradation in detail. From my Arecont 3.1 MP with a standard but good quality 16mm lens: http://tinyurl.com/6c5gwl

Well, it's a low-cost DVR. I'm satisfied with my (similar) AVC782. It works reliably when I travel for months half-way around the world and does what I expect for the price. Never had a problem accessing from anywhere including my workplace, and a few simple clicks gives me an acceptable picture of any individual camera. I would like better factory support and firmware upgrades but also know I can buy something more expensive too.

I have an Arecont megapixel IP camera connected to a DSL modem/router (no local computer) at a remote location, not for security but for a webcam. I get about 400 bps overall. Gives me nice pics but at a very low framerate. Milestone NVR software as an example will not connect to a camera not on a LAN - it needs a local PC to run the camera server part of the software. Same with the setup software provided with the camera - can't connect across the internet therefore can't change things using a GUI. However, I can issue text commands in a browser to change almost all parameters. For security purposes you are likely to need to be able to capture some reasonably fast action at so either the camera will need a large buffer, or you need a local PC of some description.

Have a look here: look for "Infra-Red CUT" http://www.allthings.com.au/Catalogue/Things/index.html#FIL-IRCUT/6.8mm This Aussie guy sells this stuff for experimentation. I have these filters glued to the back of the lens on two monochrome board cams which I use outdoors. They work OK but attenuation of the light with an iris or ND filter will help too. I used a green glass camera filter for that. For a cheap ND filter for color, visit Longs or Savon and buy clip-on polaroid sunglass shades for prescription glasses. Cut out a circle, glue on to front of lens. Not sure if the colors will be exactly right though.

Yes, I see your point todd2, but if you look at numerous DVR specs you will find it is quite common for an "MPEG4" DVR to use MJPEG or similar when sending video over the network interface in real time. In my case the resulting MJPEG quality on the 782 is much poorer that I experience on my older generation DVR that uses only MJPEG and has no network viewing. Perhaps it is re-compressing the decoded MPEG4 into MJPEG just for the network such that compression quality can be adjusted as required to suit the bit rate obtained and maintain real time viewing? The 761 brochure states: "MPEG4/MJPEG DVR Technology Compression format providing crystal clear images with real time performance." To confuse it further, it specifies MPEG4 for CIF setting and MJPEG for frame setting, and that I believe would refer to the backup file.

Don't know of a quick fix but I would use a short extension cord or plug strip. Cut the cord and pass it through the box to minimize the work. A solid state relay might be more convenient to wire up and provide a more gentle load on the DVR. Otherwise maybe a relay with push-on crimped lugs, not forgetting the back EMF diode. Just remembered, I made this sort of thing once, I put the relay inside the plug strip. Ah, but newer plug strips probably don't come apart as easy. Try to think of it as fun...

Our ambient never exceeds 30 C but I've had the same concerns with my home-built housings as they sit *directly* in the sun all day. To resist radiated heat (direct or redirected,) shields (made of a low thermally-conductive material) spaced off the housing are the obvious solution - cooled by air flowing in the gap. I suspect that will be enough given the fact that you don't have direct sun, but if needed perhaps a Peltier cooler could be used - attached to the metal camera body (assuming a box cam.) It might be possible to find cameras with a higher ambient spec, but I doubt they would be competitively priced. I'd be inclined to try out a standard camera for a year and see how it goes. I haven't had the slightest problem myself. http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=12871&highlight=

If the DMZ didn't work you must be doing something wrong. That just opens up all ports for a given local IP as an alternative to just opening the ones you need. If you put the DVR on a static IP did you correctly set the subnet mask, and gateway settings on the DVR? On some routers it's called a "virtual server" and you need to add a special application to your DVR's IP and assign the open ports you want. From the manual page 40: Port 80—HTML web pages Port 3100—Command port So, try adding 3100, both TCP and UDP

Products such as these lower-cost DVR's are not highly-developed, high-volume consumer products. Probably only one or two engineers designed the firmware and so you're not going to find a refined UI that can second guess your intentions and tolerate your mistakes. However, with a bit of patience and experimentation you will find that you can do just about everything you need to do for the purpose these were designed for. Yes, I almost returned my DVR before I discovered this. If I understand it correctly, that's because the playback (on my 782) comes from MJPEG while the "backup" is MPEG4. Not sure about the 761.

Same sort of crime down here in NZ. Lots of idiots mugging people, robbing shops at gun or knife point. Lots of teenage "gangs" based on what they see on rap videos. Courts just hand out wrist slaps, crims are OK with it as it simply improves their street cred.

Just for an alternate view on the subject, I cannot help but feel that determining the authenticity of a product is between the buyer and the vendor. It's not like eBay is making 50 to 100% margin on sales like a shop does. Would a swap meet organizer be responsible for all the products on sale at every booth? If you buy a counterfeit product seen on a Google ad are they responsible? How do you determine the authenticity of a product from any other on-line vendor? Perhaps eBay will eventually simply provide only a search function and you will end up having to make the same decisions at an online shop instead - detaching themselves from the monetary transaction process. If anything, to help buyers the feedback process needs to be changed to make it less problematic to report a negative response.

Just looking at the quick start guide: Port 80 used for initial download of remote viewing software webcamera service, data port 1159, control port 1259 remote playback service port 13551 I noticed DSE has this item on sale for NZ$150. Does it give good quality video?

Changing to a static IP (on the PC) is not going to fix anything, it's just a common sense long-term thing to do if you are setting up a virtual server or opening ports. BTW, that is what you are doing right - setting this up in the Virtual Server menu by adding rules? This is the area where the problem lies, so be sure you are doing it correctly! Rather than set a static IP in the traditional way on a host, which entails other parameters too, many routers allow the DHCP-assigned address to simply be fixed for a particular hardware address allowing all the other advantages of DHCP to be retained. I think the 604 will do this under LAN Clients. However, if you do use a static IP, keep DHCP enabled but place the static address outside the DHCP range such as 10.1.2.3. Don't forget to enter your network (255.0.0.0) and DNS (10.1.1.1) in the PC's TCP/IP settings. One last thing I've found about this router (I have one) is that every once in a while it locks up. My solution, since I am away for months sometimes is to place it on a timer which powers it off for a minute every night. Oh, and I leave the router's remote admin intact with password but on a port other than 80. Handy for troubleshooting in case something goes wrong.

Have you not tried changing the motion detect settings to reduce the sensitivity to cloud movement? Or just switch off the blocks which are affected by the clouds.

I like the menus remembering your last selections - it makes experimentation easier. You could install your own "record" switch on one of the four alarm inputs (and set that channel to "low" in the detection menu under "alarm.") That should do what you want.

Has anyone succeeded in controlling an AVTech DVR by connecting the RS-232 connection to a PC? I think the main difficulty is finding a utility to generate the sequence of characters needed.

Sorry, I haven't pursued this any further.

Assuming mine is the same that's what I understand too, recording or not recording continuously is called "manual recording." When I try to power mine off (by holding down the power button for a few seconds) it will ask me to switch off manual recording first, not an unreasonable request. As far as I understand manual recording is independent of recording by timer, or event ("event" being motion or alarm trigger.) So you get recording if any of the four conditions demand it.

Yeah, it's pretty dramatic, same when you power off with the front button.

Aside from the pinhole lens, you are not going to be happy with the daylight performance due the high amount of infrared light present and the impact on a monochrome camera with no IR filter. Budget or not, if you going to spend any money and expect something that works to any extent at all get a day/night camera of some sort.