tesc_cctvpro

It's a Toshiba 17" flatscreen TV that has a VGA mode. I appreciate that if I can't get the VGA to work, then I will just buy a composite cable and use the TV as a monitor. That is my last resort because I am concerned that the composite video quality will be worse than the VGA quality, which has not been as good as I'd hoped.

 

I've used PC card CCTV connected to the same external cameras and linked to a laptop in the past - the quality was very good. I was very disappointed to see that the Avatech DVR had lower quality resolution, even htough in theory it shouldn't be.

 

Thanks for responding with a question. I really don't expect to find an answer at this moment as it just seems like a silly thing for me to have done with the settings in the 1st place.

Have you got any other monitors to try , try a few different ones ------ I have only ever switched on one AVtech dvr , not exactly the kind of thing we normally deal with -----

Tomcctv seems to be quite knowledgeable with them and will probably come along with the right advice soon.

Whenever I have had an issue such as this with display resolution, i've usually found a different monitor that brings back the display and allows me to set the resolution properly.

And oh ----- regardless of what anybody tells you ---- don't plug your vga in or out while the equipment is switched on! Numerous installers laugh at me when i tell them that ---- but proof of the pudding is when you see sparks as you make or break the connection ---- hope you don't have a dead vga port.

I won't comment again as I would be wasting your time - as I haven't worked with or paid any attention to the avtech dvr's past the 5 or 10 which we once sold.

I am sure somebody will know how to default the device if all else fails.

A major problem with online stores and many distributors is that they have moved the integrator out of the position they once held in the market - that of a bona fide retailer with specialist security knowledge.

They sell to the end users and to any installer in any location. Installers with the specialist security knowledge start having to shave costs to deliver and compete with hundreds of other installers all buying from the same place.

While they leave the installers fighting for pittances, whenever the really big contracts are awarded, they are awarded directly to the distributors that are kept in business mostly by the hoard of installers.

The end user is getting crappy equipment, no security knowledge, no support and no backup whatsoever - then the customers of these online gift store and dime a dozen distributors, come onto forums such as these asking and getting the information from the same installers that are bleeding under the onslaught ---- and what really amazes me is that these installers give the advice free - hoping to sell a camera or two in the process.

I have utter disregard for manufacturers who support that kind of security!

Oops, forgot to mention, the online confit does not allow access to the display change settings.

What monitor have you got connected to the VGA?

I haven't had a lot to do with AVtechs - but isn't there a way to access the config via the network and set the correct display selection.

Hi all,

 

Hope you can help please.

 

I have an Avtech 674a connected to a VGA display. I wanted to improve the image quality so I went to the advanced settings (I think) and changed the Display settings from 'Auto' to what I think was 'VGA'. I might have accidentally selected 'Composite' instead, because after the system restarted, the VGA monitor is not picking up any video signal.

 

I have performed a hard reset, but still have no video signal.

 

I can still see cameras and change basic setting on the DVR by logging in remotely by using Video Viewer, but this isn't really ideal for me.

 

I've even updated the Firmware (thanks to this forum) to 1043. Still no joy.

 

Does anyone have a suggestion please? It's my own daft fault for not double checking the display setting I chose before restarting the system.

 

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give.

 

Ray

Ray ----- the first stop for help, should be the person who sold it to you. That's the guy that got away selling it cheaper than most on this forum, because he obviously didn't have to account for the extra costs of support, backup and training.....especially when a lot of the CCTV guys here are going to do it for him ----for free!

There are both standalone DVRs and PC cards for HDcctv... no idea how $400 ranks in their general price scheme, though, whether it's a good price or not (compared to other HDcctv products).

I reckon it's the average price. Given that when we started with CCTV a good harwdare compression card of 4 channels cost $400 and some still do today?

There is no way I am even imagining that a HDcctv standalone has any place in the market currently. But could anybody think of a situation where a setup like this could be used. $400 capture card, HDcctv cameras could probably be picked up for $200-$250 each.....

Doesn't the person who sold you this dvr give any support? That's the guy that took bread off the tables of the very people who are going to help you with this problem.

Hello All,

 

I am new to the forum and security surveillance in general. I am interested in this Q-see 428 from Costco. It is the correct price point for us ($300). However Costco also has the Swann Alpha ‘Defend & Deter’ for $249 after $200 off.

 

The biggest difference I can see is that the Q-See 428 comes with Cmos Cameras capable of up to 100' night vision and the Swan Degend and Deter comes with CCD cameras that do up to 65'. I am torn between the two. Are there any other systems in this price range that I shold consider over these two?

 

Q-See QSM5265C

Weatherproof

Capture 520 TV lines of resolution

1/3" enhanced infrared cut sensors for higher quality picture, accurate colors, and better image quality in the day or night

36 infrared LED lights that can record at a distance up to 100ft in the dark

5mm Lens which provides a 50°-55° radrius of vision

3-Axis brackets allowing precise positioning of cameras, while guiding the cables directly through the brackets to reduce vandalism

 

Swan CCD

Image Sensor: Color 1/4" Sony CCD

Video Quality: 480 TV Lines

Pixels: 510 x 492 (NTSC) 628 x 582 (PAL)

Minimum Illumination: 0 Lux (IR on)

Day/Night Mode: Color during day / switches to B&W at night

Electronic Shutter: 1/60 - 1/100,000 NTSC

Gain Control: Automatic

Backlight Compensation: Yes

Wide Dynamic Range: No

Lens: 3.6mm

Viewing Angle: 62 degrees

Night Vision Distance: Up to 65ft/20m

IR Cut Filter: No

Number of Infrared LEDs:12

Infrared Wavelength: 850nm

Infrared LED Life: 10,000 hrs

 

James

Some pointers ---

While the Qsee DVR has 720p Live View --- the best most any dvr's are going to record is 4CIF (Lucky if you get actual 480TVL) So paying extra for the 500+ TVL is a waste.

The difference in a camera with an Infra Red Cut Filter and one without - is well worth extra money.

All Infra-Red ratings are done indoors, and will be far less outdoors than is rated for distance. Infra-Red operates largely by reflecting from surfaces - and outdoors, nobody can express the degree of reflection for your situation, so saying what distance night vision you will get is guessing at most.

The biggest illusion used by people who know nothing at all about CCTV is when they tell you they have a 36 LED camera that will give you 100ft night vision. Added to the issue of reflection above ...where your infra-reds are usually just dissipating into the night area with very little reflective surfaces, you look and find they have added a 5mm lens. At 45ft with a 5mm lens in the daytime you will get an image in which a human target will fill 11% of your screen size - 10% is the minimum accepted for the lowest level of usable surveillance. What kind of vision are you getting at 100ft in the night time. --- On this point alone the swan system is more truthful, and more realistic with the 480TVL resolution.

The only problem with a 1/4" sensor compared to a 1/3" sensor is light sensitivity - but because you have infra-red lamps on the camera - it's quite sensible to use the cheaper 1/4" for residential usage --- the issue of light sensitivity is negated, because the lamps will come on when the light is too low.

10,000 Hr life span on an led unit is almost half the expected life span for LED lamps --- another way of telling you when the camera burns out after 3 months, that the LED's need to be replaced and aren't covered by warranty.

3.6mm lens will give you the minimum accepted image for surveillance up to around 45ft, at best you will be able to get some id of a person at about 7-8Ft - but with 12 LED's you could work on the safe assumption of 7-8 ft of illumination in a decently reflective situation.

Obviously as far as the cameras are concerned, in both cases your are buying cheap --- the Costco cameras will not do what they claim to. AS your consideration might be based on price - buy the cheapest one, because both are basically gimmicks. The Swann system will work for you if you don't really want to see anything significant beyond 15ft.

Hello!

 

At the company where I worked I'm in charge also with video surveillance system. We use 6 fixed IP cameras, the recordings are stored on a 2GB DVR and I use Internet Explorer with DynaRemote software to see live and recorded images.

 

When I started to use this video surveillance program all was fine but now after three weeks I have to open 5 ore more Internet Explorer windows just to see live images (if I open just one I can't see anything). After opening 5 ore more IE i can see (in frames) live images but the recordings still are not working.

 

What do you think is the problem???

 

Do you think that someone had limit the transfer rate for my IP from DVR settings ? Or is this even possible ??

What version of ie are you using?

In the initial evolution of analog CCTV we started with capture cards and evolved to stand alone/embedded devices.

Can anybody here see any application or advantage of a 4 channel HD-SDI (HDcctv) capture card at around $400.

Just curious as to why you stopped dealing with Dahua?

I would rather not describe the full details, suffice to say that it involved dealership issues - with no control over cross selling into markets, and availability on the chinese market, we eventually started buying this cheaper from a Chinese market vendor ERT Technology than what Dahua was giving to their dealers. Of course shortly thereafter they dropped their prices significantly and when Chinese vendors in our market as well as European distributors of the brand started cross selling into our markets as well.

In our industry, one of the reasons why our network model and group purchasing process has worked is because , Integrators cannot get by competing against the same brand in their own markets, when a product meets the saturation phase in it's growth path any 50 different installers in one town are competing for 10% margin on the same brand. - if the distribution channel is not controlled.

In that case you find integrator loyalty to the brand tested by their dwindling margins.

Last I checked the Dahua LE-AS was available from the manufacturer around $57-65 for a 4 channel - the cost of this 16 channel - which again is not what we normally use, is significantly below the cost of the 1604LE-A/S series and as you can see it's real 420TV line cameras --- which are also obsolete standards in our area of the woods!!

But you said the DVR cost $400?

Ofcourse can always get a DVR from amazon, I had a SuperDVR 4-ch USB DVR that only cost me $6!

its in the trash now though for obvious reasons

Well that was just an aside --- I incorrectly assumed that the poster wanted to see what other cheap images looked like, i didn't think he wanted to put together the cheapest possible system. The price of the DVR didn't really contribute specifically to the issue.

Oh, so this forum has life in it!

 

I have been dealing with Video Insight since 2004, and I believe it's time to change. Not specifically away from VI, but towards a more component based, open standards system. Linux is a big plus for me, and for those of you that have never had to pay cash for 1500 Windows XP licenses, no license = good license.

 

Right now I want to upgrade a 300 camera system spanning 4 properties, 2 of which are hotels.

 

Also, I've been asked to provide a privately funded city-wide surveillance system in tandem to the Northrop-Grumman provided Community Surveillance system infrastructure we have now.

 

I would (of course) like to see the most successful systems, then mirror the core components on the cheap. This being one of about 5 major projects being implemented over a city wide wireless network. Throughput anywhere on the network is 100MB full duplex, and switching fabric can handle 1GB throughput aggregate. The network belongs to me

 

Like most projects I work on, this will probably attract a great deal of attention from forum members, and there will be tons of new traffic to this site from all parts of the world. This really is a thankless job - and I think NetVision just might do the trick. I await some feedback, but I am anxious to order some test equipment!

I thought you wanted a budget system LOL??

I don't know if Netvision is suitable for the scale of project -- but what attracted me to the netvision offering is that fact that when Hikvision needed software development, they turned to Netvision --- when Dahua started to develop DVR cards, in an effort to compete with Hikvision - they too also turned to Netvision.

The netvision system is stable it's cheap and while it's not going to perform miracles, it does work.

I did try the linovision offering a few years backs - also on the back of the linux option without license fees , but we where not impressed with it at that time---it has apparently improved since then.

The only drawback with netvision is that they only support the more well known DVR card manufacturers from China, they won't support what they consider the lower end manufacturers.

One route that we looked into was getting our developers to do some heavy modding on zoneminder, as that is a basic platform (open source) for the cheaper ebay type cards.

If one doesn't have access to their own developers - there are some really good people in the freelance scene that will make zoneminder do what you want it to do, in the way you need.

We utilized and where the official representatives for Dahua in South Africa from around 2004. Our entire network was fully versed and cut their teeth on Dahua DVR's - as the standalone was hardly mainstream at that time in 2004 , here. We switched to TVT to fill that portion of our lower - mid end applications around December 2010, and our entire network made the switch as well.

We haven't had any negative feedback about the TVT dvr's and I quite confidently say, that our network integrators are well qualified to comment on the one versus the other.

Just as when we started with Dahua back in 2004, and we battled to get to grips with the market - as they specifically targeted mid end installations. Eventually we had them develop entry level models and the brand took off from there. In similar fashion there are some small issues that we are discussing with TVT to have them adapt for our market and I am confident that this brand, in that market segment will perform well.

One thing that gets a lot of compliments is the mobile phone apps - especially the supercam app from the apple app store.

As we where very used to the dahua product with a RMA of under 2% that was a critical factor for us - and we where given sufficient evidence of a global 1.86% RMA for TVT DVR's.

Price wise there is very little to seperate them and performance wise, each has it's benefits and disadvantages over the other.

Another area in which our users have complimented, is the extremely easy to use interface of the TVT DVR's --- we always thought the Dahua unit had a user friendly interface, until we started to get the comments about how user friendly the TVT DVR interface is.

In the real budget end with SE series, that market really likes the slim, small form factor.

LOL - it's quite late here --- so i got it wrong again, missed the analog part ------ heavens, we'll try another day!

Before we stopped dealing with Dahua we had remote control offsite monitoring centers running completely with the Dahua PSS systems - the PSS comes free with every DVR, and at one stage they had an enterprise version which we could license at Around $1000 and some fee per channel ---- I think just before we stopped dealing with them they replaced the enterprise version with the new DSS version.

 

At the time it was viewed as one of the better CMS of it's time.

Yes looks like they actually based PSS 4.xx off of DSS ... but DSS still has its considerable differences which is interesting .. not sure what application it would be needed for really but its fun to play with. I guess something like a national chain of stores is where it would come in handy.

 

The old PSS was called EPSS, I have download link on my site.

Although it might look a little less professional its a TINY program at only 6MB download compared to PSS 4.01 at 15MB or PSS 4.04 at 30MB, and it has a much faster GUI.

The DSS has functionality for media servers, and a whole spattering of features which make it suitable for a major corporation running multiple DVR's at multiple locations--- probably making sense from around 100 dvr's or more.

Ok sorry, I misunderstood the question, I thought you specifically wanted to compare cheap images.

This is an image from the fibridge cameras we are using - 15fps UXGA (1080p)

This is the same camera running at 720p

While there is a big jump from the bottom end to the higher end ------- with the right lens, both can achieve the same objective from a security or operational requirement perspective.

I should just mention that I had to convert this video from the native video format to mp4 for the sake of capturing an image with my screen capture utility

Do you watch a lot of TV by any chance....?

Not really!

Wondering what the licensing is like?

Also what type of application are you using it for, and whats your experiences using it.

 

For those that dont know its a management system for Dahua DVRs and other devices, you install the server on a PC and add devices, groups, users and assign them to the devices, and using the client software they login to that server PC instead and then have the device list already populated with the devices assigned to that user.

 

One thing I did notice is I can connect more than 10 times to one DVR.

Otherwise I havent tried too much with it, seems there are 2 versions also, a base and an upper, I tested the base, also its unregistered meaning its a Trial for 180 days. I installed the Upper also but its missing the devices, not sure what thats for.

 

Here are some screenshots:

 

DSS Client

 

DSS Server

 

 

 

 

And here is an image from Dahua

Before we stopped dealing with Dahua we had remote control offsite monitoring centers running completely with the Dahua PSS systems - the PSS comes free with every DVR, and at one stage they had an enterprise version which we could license at Around $1000 and some fee per channel ---- I think just before we stopped dealing with them they replaced the enterprise version with the new DSS version.

At the time it was viewed as one of the better CMS of it's time.

Does anyone know what gives this systems video its dull washed out look.

something local to the system it's being viewed on

-because we got exceptionally crisp images on our iPhone with the same dvr's.

The latest firmware updates from TVT now support viewing on safari as well as ie9 !

This is the cheapest setup i could think of ----- Camera no1 is a $25 camera, 4,5 are 1/4" Sharp cameras ---- nothing on here is more than 420TVL and the DVR cost $400

If you use the Dahua LE-AS it would be even cheaper

 

BTW ... this is the cheapest, all used old broken cameras brought back to life .

even the IR in camera 3 was an old Extreme CCTV EX26LED that was thought to have been struck by lightning and was on the way to the trash (otherwise that area is almost pitch dark).

and a demo DVR .. basically everything was 100% free including the old 2nd hand PC I use to watch it remotely from .. and im recording over the network so i dont even need a hard drive in the DVR as its using the old one on this old PC

 

Last I checked the Dahua LE-AS was available from the manufacturer around $57-65 for a 4 channel - the cost of this 16 channel - which again is not what we normally use, is significantly below the cost of the 1604LE-A/S series and as you can see it's real 420TV line cameras --- which are also obsolete standards in our area of the woods!!

This is the cheapest setup i could think of ----- Camera no1 is a $25 camera, 4,5 are 1/4" Sharp cameras ---- nothing on here is more than 420TVL and the DVR cost $400

 

how do you know ?

Well, I meant the cheapest setup in our array --- of course I could have got a $40 dvr and put these cameras on there. But i thought the question was asking for comparative images in the price range. I wasn't using my cost price - i was using our resale price - and specifically wasn't aiming to demonstrate high quality, or $40 dvr's --- This 16 channel isn't the brand we normally represent and neither is it the cameras we normally use --- I thought the poster wanted to get a realistic comparison of low end devices -----

Just to add - not one of the cameras on my sheet have more than 12 Leds. I think this is a realistic comparison for low end ----cams where snapped over the network, not live view. --- if going into further detail, the dvr has searchable onboard pos, gps, smart searching and a number of features not available on the Dahua DVR --- but then this is just a cheapie which we keep around basically for some low end POS applications.

yes your right. this discustion has only been about the criminal eliment. but there are many reasons why people ask for CCTV. like in the UK employers fit as a care of duty to there staff in there work place. just a set of eyes to watch over a lone worker in a gas station. or to monitor health and safety in a work place to protect other members of staff. a system has to be designed for everything.

 

I installed into a large butchers chain. They have a full time employee at head office who monitors the cameras. Anything from when the shop opens to OH&S issues. There are plenty of other reasons to install CCTV other than a criminal deterrent

No denying that ---and by extension that same mentality extends into all those fields. An IP camera and switch suddenly replace five years of study and 20 years of experience that many OH&S guys would bring to the table ---- The core is always that these are the tools that can be applied to many professions. These tools can never replace the engineers of those professions. Motor mechanics should stick to fixing cars and not try to design them.

This is the cheapest setup i could think of ----- Camera no1 is a $25 camera, 4,5 are 1/4" Sharp cameras ---- nothing on here is more than 420TVL and the DVR cost $400