catseyenu

Thank you both, that helps some. Jim, which model Archos are you using and does the "adapter" come with it? I was thinking there should be some smaller form factor of LCD type monitors without the overhead of a DVD player (weight, size and cost) available.

Could you share what you found? I need to rig something myself.

The current Seagate 500GB, 1 & 1.5TB rash of drive failures seem to be attributed to bad firmware but I don't believe the SV-35 AV series is affected. Early/first? public report: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/374/1050374/seagate-barracudas-7200-11-failing Seagate forum where posts are being deleted: http://forums.seagate.com/stx/board/message?board.id=ata_drives&thread.id=3283&view=by_date_ascending&page=1 MSFN forum where affected users have now congregated to work on a fix: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=128092 Seagate 7200.11 fail & fine dataset http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=128514 The (home brew) Solution for Seagate 7200.11 HDDs: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=128807 Other sites of note covering it: http://i.gizmodo.com/5130702/1tb-seagate-barracudas-collapsing-a-gogo-users-say http://www.tomshardware.com/news/seagate-7200-11-failing,6844.html http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/01/13/seagate.barracuda.failures/ http://www.techreport.com/discussions.x/16232

More information on tweaking your TCP stack to find your best MTU. http://www.dslreports.com/tweaks/MTU The idea is to optimize your network throughput in an attempt to take your configuration out of the equation of troubleshooting network connectivity. The results can both compensate for QOS network issues you have no control over that could be causing time outs and often results in a faster connection. They also have a handy tool, Dr, TCP, to adjust the various settings so you don't have to muck around in the registry. I'd recommend anyone who works (or plays) with broadband to use these tools, the results can be amazing. http://www.dslreports.com/drtcp

You'll have to "look" at the actual network connection to see what's going on. Commercial wireless networks are configured for reliable QOS . Network connections timing out can be on either side of the equation.. I've used EVDO for internet but not for streaming video of any kind. Network QOS on site needs to be established before we can determine any solutions. If you're at the shop I can call if you'd like to discuss it or need any pointers in using the tests/tweaks.. I've been needing to call with a question anyway.

Mike, you might want to tweak the aircard's MTU and RWIN. Out of the box settings don't always work the best. DSLReports has an easy to use set of tools to test and tweak. To establish a baseline first run a: *Speed Test Next, do a tweak test: *Tweak Test *(requires java and or flash) Your end result should look something like this. http://www.dslreports.com/tweakr/block:2c543bf?service=dsl&speed=6000&os=winXP&via=routerpppoe

Let's try this again... http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=12176 I think the biggest question I have is which TI chip they are using in which model. As of April of this year TI's DaVinci portfolio includes fourteen digital media processors. http://www.dspdesignline.com/howto/207100917

It is covered here: Oops.. Freaking forum still won't let me post links? use " 12176 " at the end of the forum address above to get to the page. /I really thought I'd posted 5 times by now.

phoenixad, As a newcomer to the industry I truly appreciate your cutting through the marketing BS. Looking at the specs presented at some of these sites can apparently be very misleading. I have some questions I'd like to ask you but my post count is to low for PM's still.. is there a way we can communicate? Thanks to all here who work to keep the information clean from the marketing hype!

After a rash of vandalism at a small business I've been tasked with overseeing the purchase and installation of a CCTV system. Their first impulse was to pick up a mass merchandised bundled unit from Sams or Costco. My thoughts were that these units might not serve their specific needs in the long run. My research leads me to believe that the camera/lens quality is where the balance of any potential equipment purchasing budget should be spent. We need at the very least good facial capture quality on the interior entry/exit points (2 doors) and as close to facial capture on the exterior areas (20'long x 30'wide) of these 2 points for potential prosecution evidence in the event of an attempted robbery (high profile target run by 2 women). Lighting conditions on the interior of the doors will vary from day to night with fairly bright fluorescent lighting near the back door during occupation to near dark after close, medium interior daylight conditions (large plate glass window within 5' of door) on the front door during the day to low indirect* to none at night. *The "low indirect includes an overhead flood in the exterior 5' x 10' "enclosed" (3 sides) portico area that will "flash" into the interior when the door is opened. The exteriors will be in daylight and then covered with high pressure sodium lighting at night directly overhead of the openings. These locations are my first priority. I would also like to eventually capture the parking spaces that butt up to the building 3-4 feet away from the foundation and about the length of a car. With the consideration that I'm leaning toward a stand alone DVR (does it make any difference?) what camera and lens recommendations do you have? Thank you in advance!

Roger the infrared camera, low-light cam, thanks!

Those look to be a discontinued model.. any manufacturer specs available? The price is enticing and they may work for large area coverage where I'm not particular about details. Thanks for the help, cat

flasecurity, Thank you for the reply. I think I'd like to know more about the physical properties/features to look for in cameras and lenses for specific tasks before I settle on a brand.. What's the upside of using the "normally shaped" camera compared to the bullets or domes. Are they cheaper? Is there an issue with vandalism if it's mounted 15' in the air? I've had a suggestion I get all domes as someone might attempt to rope and pull down a camera if they can one around it. How likely is that? I'm thinking so it's not common or likely and they will have to cross a covered zone to do it. I'm a little familiar with "true" day/night terminology and cut filters but I'm not clear on what you're calling "HEAT". Is this a technology/feature or a brand? Is infrared necessary considering the area we need to capture is brightly lit up with high pressure sodium lighting? The exterior lights are on so long as it's dark. Why complicate things with what seems like unneeded technology that brings up the cost of purchase as well as the cost of maintenance? I was considering vari-focal but a photographer was telling me a fixed focus will give a better capture. ? (I may have misunderstood.) This was my initial list of features I thought I might need: 1. tamper and weather resistant enclosures 2. auto iris 3. vari-focal lens (?) 3. heaters (?) 4. True Day/Night capability (Goes to B/W at night for better quality shots under artificial lighting) The interior back door is "near dark after close" or more specifically dark but there is a low level fluorescent 25 feet away that is partially obstructed. The interior front door is equally as dark after close. So far as DVR's go I'm looking at the 16 channel lines of Intellicam, Pelco and Gantz but seeing this is the "camera" area I thought I'd post separately about that.