Goobie

...just to follow up on this, in case it could help somebody else. I installed a 4 channel active video balun receiver at the DVR and fed all 4 cameras through it before entering the DVR, I kept the passive baluns at the cameras and so far it looks like it fixed my jumping image problem, woohoo! thanks for the help!

follow up... I downloaded and installed the Dico software and I like it much better than the Pico 2000 software (which I paid for). Of the 2 cameras that I have, using Dico, the picture on one still jumps, the other is much better during the day, at night both pictures jump. So my question: Should I go with a different brand DVR card OR invest in an active balun to get a better signal at the DVR? thanks

I have a similar setup except I use Cat5 with baluns over a total cable distance of about 50m. Same problem of picture jumping. So far I only found this on the web: "I have seen exactly the same problem over l-o-n-g cables because the video signal was attenuated and the video card had a harder problem synchronizing to it." Does anybody have a fix for this? thanks

thanks for all the advice, so to recap, even on a small budget I should go for bullet cam, varifocal, day/night with IR illumination. I'm assuming CCD and not CMOS. Then the next question: to Ebay or not to Ebay? Will the cheap Hong Kong cams still give better quality than a board camera with a pinhole lens?

thanks to both of your for the replies, and I think I start to get the picture. I have no budget for a cctv system but would still like to see whats going on in an open area behind my house, day and night. I can get a camera with the following specs made by Pentaone at a good price and thought I'd play around with it for that purpouse, so if you guys say that a pinhole is less sensitive then the 0.05 lux is an overstatement, or what?: Pin Hole Black and White camera, designed for covert CCTV installations. Specifications: Signal Format: CCIR Horizontal resolution: 420TV Lines Pick-up device: 1/3" Interline CCD Viewing Angle: 90° Scanning System: 625 lines interlaced Synchronization: Internal Video Output signal: Standard composite signal 1Vp-p composite video into 75ohms Light sensitivity - 30 IRE: 0.05 Lux (Scene) Auto-Iris: 1/50 - 1/100,000 sec Auto Signal to Noise Ratio: 45 dB or more (AGC off) Gamma: 0.45 AGC: On Input Voltage: DC 12V Power Consumption: 1.1W or less Operating Temperature: -10°C to +55°C Storage Temperature: -20°C to +70°C Operating Humidity: Under 95% Non-condensing Storage Humidity: Under 90% Non-condensing

As I'm completely new to this, I was hoping somebody who has experience with these cameras can tell how the image from a 1/3" CCD 420TVL B/W camera with a 3.6mm pinhole lens compares to the image from the same camera with an actual 3.6mm board lens on it. Is the image quality better or worse? Is it more or less sensitive in low light conditions? Which one is the better camera to pick if you have to pick from these 2? many thanks