Re: CCTV lens calculator

["Bob Worthy" <securinc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

What names did you decide on? Other than the DVR, for the market you
discribed, I choose names brands everyone is familiar with. Made the sales
easier and gave the client a comfort level right out of the box.

"Jim" <alarminex@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1163094850.815930.290540@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Bob La Londe wrote:
> > "G. Morgan" <alarmpro@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > news:n8b5l2l0tfbp2mbvgg0ir19a1qc6e4raca@xxxxxxxxxx
> > > Anybody recommend a good and free CCTV lens calculator?
> >
> > I don't do many "cheap" installations so I basically just keep two
lenses on
> > hand.  They cover 99% of my applications.  I keep a 2.8-12mm Varifocal
AI
> > and a 5.5-33mm Varifocal AI lens on the shelf.  The 2.8-12mm covers
probably
> > 95% of all applications and its pretty darned inexpensive if you shop
> > around.  The savings to go with a fixed focal lens is more than
outweighed
> > by the labor savings when the customer asks me to adjust the field of
view.
> > I just hand the customer one of my GMRS radios and tell them to stand in
> > front of the monitor while I go get on the lift, climb the pole, setup
the
> > ladder, or whatever.  I tap in a t-connector at the camera (if signal
> > strength is not an issue and I use my inspection monitor so I can see
what
> > they see.  One trip up the ladder.  One lens on the camera.  When the
> > customer says ok then its OK.  If they want it changed in the future
then
> > its a billable service call because they said it was ok the way it was
> > before.
> >
> > It also helps them to understand things like, "No.  Wider is not better.
> > More cameras is better."
> >
> > For field calculations prior to bidding a job I have an eyeball monitor
and
> > a 12VDC camera that I run off a battery pack.  This often helps me show
> > customers what they will get before hand, and the preparedness often
lands
> > the client.  There are a few cheap skates out there who will try to use
that
> > info to do it themselves.  Let them.  Once they have demonstrated what
they
> > are I am always too busy to help them when they call back. "Gee, we are
> > awfully busy right now.  If you really want us to look at it I have a
whole
> > in my schedule in about 5 weeks.  If you want us out you need to
schedule
> > for that time now.  There will be a charge for coming out of course."
If
> > they hem and haw, when they call back I seem to have always scheduled
that
> > time, but if they can put it off another week I might be able to work
them
> > in.
> >
> > Its all about maximizing your time.
>
> I'm just getting back into doing CCTV. I dropped out of CCTV work about
> 15 years or so ago becuse I decided I wasn't going to compete with the
> guys who were selling equipment for cost and $200.00 for a days pay.
>
> Recently, it's taken me about 6 months and a couple of exibits to get
> down to the few pieces of equipment I want to deal with. There's just
> too damn much equipment out there to decide upon. I've been thinking
> about doing just what you said above, regarding bringing a camera and
> small monitor to do estimates. Most people think that everything they
> see on TV action programs is available for $1.95. They want a lens on
> one camera that can see the entire parking lot, the license plate
> number on the car and identify the person in the car too. It's a lot
> easier to show them than trying to explain FOV, MM, distance to object,
> lighting, backlight control and day/night switching and why. And that
> pan and tilt and going from 2.5 to 70 MM, doesn't just happen like in
> the movies. I've decided that $800 a camera inside and $1000.00 (w/o
> PTZ) outside, is going to be what it takes to get me to do it. I'm
> sticking with residential and MAYBE small commercial if it's for an
> existing customer.  Anywhere from $2 to $3k for the DVR and $600, on up
> for the monitor. I figure that pricing ought to keep the work fairly
> high end and enable me to keep my work schedule within 3 to 4 weeks
> with all the other things I'm doing.
>
> But I gotta tell ya, it was tough trying to choose the equipment. Too
> DAMN many choices!
>
> >
> >
> > --
> > --
>