Dvr Recommendation?

[sparks 0]

Need the following spec..

 

DVR with the ability to record continously with 2 cameras

Record sound from at least one camera

Have either cd or dvd backup facility

If possible have the playback to be as smooth as normal movie (Not jerky).

Need to ability to have both cameras on seperate channels for viewing live at the same time without having to flick between them.

 

How many fps equal smooth playback?

Can i add my own hard drive and if so does it have to be a certain type?

Do i have to format it or add software for it to work on the dvr?

What format would the backyp be and can it be played on a dvd player?

[sparks 0]

Can't anyone help me? Even if it is just to answer the questions at the bottom of my post.

[rory 0]

I'll take a look at it tomorrow .. writing software right now ..

PM me if you don't here back by tomorrow night ..

 

Thanks

Rory

[sparks 0]

Ok thanks

[sparks 0]

PM sent. Rory

[rory 0]

Hi, I would look at the Avermedia units. I havent used them yet but a friend is ordering some of them to test.

 

If you can handle PC hardware and Windows XP, you might be better off with something like the Geovision cards. The GV250 is pretty inexpensive, or the next step up would be the GV650 and then the GV800 .. (ignore the GV600). This way you get all the features you will ever need, and can fix it if there is a hardware issue.

 

Once again though, I havent tested the Avermedias yet, but will have some here within the next couple weeks. Im actually off to the UK this week for 7 days for a funeral (Devon) .. but when I get back they should be here and ready to test. If you want to wait until then, i can let you know my opinion of them, and maybe even show you an online demo.

 

Thanks

Rory

[sparks 0]

Thanks for getting back to me.I would really appreciate your views and to possibly see a demo of the Avermedia units. I would prefer not to go the pc route. Do the Avermedia units allow loopthrough as i mentioned in my first post..

Need to ability to have both cameras on seperate channels for viewing live at the same time without having to flick between them.

. as i need this option or another way around it.

[cachecreekcctv 0]

I for one am sold on the new Avermedias. The 4 channels' are very inexpensive and "user friendly". You can actually order them via the Avermedia websight , if you can't find a dealer . For a simple, "entry model" DVR, the Avermedias are great. I have only tested/installed the 4-channel with MPEG-4, so can't comment on any others they have in their lineup. The 4-channel doesn't include a CD/DVD writer, but you can easily access the hard drive (and most accept 2 drives) via your laptop/PC with a USB 2.0 connection and save the video to your laptop/PC for writing purposes. One thing is that the 4-channel I have been using/installing only fast forwards to 16X while viewing video playback. No Jog/Shuttle button Remote control is actually "user friendly" also.

[sparks 0]

Thanks .cachecreekcctv but looking for one with CD backup function

[cachecreekcctv 0]

Do a test on any you find that state "CD writer" , as many times, the CD is written in a file type that cannot be read by normal means, without the benefit of software to "decode" the CD. I take my laptop to my Avermedia, and via the USB connection, can download from the Aver hard drive to my laptop in minutes. Will play back, using Windows Media Player. Can then import that to Windows Movie Maker and make a "movie" to put on CD.

[iSpyVision 0]

Almost all DVR's are moving towards or have a USB connection now. CD

backup is a thing of the past and are being replaced with USB flash drives which hold more data and are small and easy to use . We are a AVerMedia dealer for the West Coast so if you have aany questions just give us a call.

Thanks

[sparks 0]

@cachecreekcctv

 

I did know that cd recordings were in a format where you would need software to be able to play it but didn't realise it was so awkward to do and that USB method could just be played on a pc without the software.

 

@iSpyVision

 

Didn't realise that CD backup was old format now i were under the impression that that was the way to go. Thanks for the offer to call you for any advice but as i am in the UK i think it would be easier and cheaper to look for something a bit more local as international calls are a little overpriced for me to go that route.Thanks anyway.

[phred 0]

Don't think you have fully understood what cachecreek is saying.

 

DVRs write files using a proprietary (locked) codec and often use

encryption.

 

This is done to ensure that files cannot be tampered with or edited –

otherwise they may not be admissible as evidence.

 

To read the files on a PC you need to install software that allows the files

to be decoded.

 

Whether you burn the files on a cd or copy to a USB drive makes no

difference, you still need software to read the files.

 

USB is more convenient in many ways but CD and DVD still have their

place, especially if you need to hand recordings to police. I have not come

across a Police officer who routinely carries a USB pen drive, so you would

have to hand yours over – and don't expect to get it back any time soon.

 

Look for a recorder that allows you to backup original recordings to

removable media and also offers a file reader application that can be

installed on a PC to view the files.

 

 

You can get fairly smooth playback at around 15 frames per second but if

you want DVD like quality then 25 frames per second is the standard for UK PAL.

[sparks 0]

phred

 

You are correct i didn't quite understand it properly but now i do after reading your post thenks. It looks like i will stick with the choice of getting one with Cd and usb options.

 

What is the best format to use when choosing a dvr as there seems to be a few to choose from ie.Wavelet/Mpeg2/Mpeg4 etc?

[phred 0]

Sparks

 

Wavelet is a type of jpeg compression - basically a series of still images.

Offers very good quality but takes a huge amount of hard drive space.

 

Mpeg2 – same compression as used on DVDs, gives high quality but uses

loads of hard drive space.

 

Mpeg4 can give high quality with lower disk space usage than mpeg2.

 

H.264 Currently the most advanced video compression standard aimed at

giving high quality with even less hard disk space requirements than

mpeg4. H.264 is begining to replace mpeg2 as the standard for HDTV,

the quality can be very good when done well.

 

These are all standards, or types, of compression. How each DVR

accomplishes the compression type is a completely different matter.

Some do it well and some do it badly.

 

Best advice I can give is try to see some sample recordings and

check the file size against the quality. It is easy to create good quality

recordings with a very large file size – much more difficult to create the

same quality with a small file size, whatever compression is used.

 

May be out of your budget but for what it is worth, one of the best

implementations of H.264 I have seen is from the Vguard range. You can

record DVD like quality for a couple of weeks on one of these with a

500Gb drive - thats for 4 channels at 704X576 and 25fps per channel.

The capture cards and pre built DVRs using the same cards are currently a

very good price in the UK but may be a bit OTT for your requirements.

[cachecreekcctv 0]

I have 3 different DVR's running at my home, for test purposes. All different manufacturers. And ALL different codecs. Have to keep all 3 versions of the readers on my laptop, in order to playback any video. After seeing the new Avermedia DVR at ISC West, I think I am heading in that direction. The new model is 1704, and I was told they were already in mass production, due out in the next couple of months. MPEG-4 with a built-in web server and USB ports. No CD writer, but like I said before, I can take my laptop out, and with USB cable, access hard drive to find date/time info, watch it in individual hours of time, and make a short video to save directly to my laptops' hard drive. Plays back in Windows Media Player. Very "user friendly" operation to capture video. The new Avermedia 1704 also has 4 audio inputs from what I saw on Wednesday. Can't wait for this model to come out.

[AMIT 0]

Need the following spec..

 

DVR with the ability to record continously with 2 cameras

Record sound from at least one camera

Have either cd or dvd backup facility

If possible have the playback to be as smooth as normal movie (Not jerky).

Need to ability to have both cameras on seperate channels for viewing live at the same time without having to flick between them.

 

How many fps equal smooth playback?

Can i add my own hard drive and if so does it have to be a certain type?

Do i have to format it or add software for it to work on the dvr?

What format would the backyp be and can it be played on a dvd player?

[sparks 0]

Thanks for that info phred so am i right in thinking that anything but wavelet would be ok?

 

@cachecreekcctv

 

I were looking for a dvr with cdrw backup but are not totally convinced now whether it is the right way to go.