Re: Outdoor CCTV problem

[Robert Macy <robert.a.macy@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Nov 16, 4:16=A0pm, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Nov 16, 3:37=A0pm, Robert Macy <robert.a.m...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Without spending too much time in decipering spec's for you here's
> what I see:
>
> > Would you post a list of 'considerations' to take into account?
>
> > Especially be useful if you were to add the 'minimum' requirements, or
> > why the spec is important to a 'self installer'.
> > List examples
> > 1. Line resolution, where 360 to 400 sucks, but 540 to 600+ will
> > fulfill expectations?
>
> The higher the resolution, the better the picture. However, it doesn't
> make sense to buy just cameras with 600 lines of resolution but have a
> DVR and monitor that can only produce 400 lines. ( and really this
> defines the answer to most of the rest of your questions)
>
> > 2. Wireless: how to discern the channel spec to make certain ALL the
> > channels will work TOGETHER! Are their effective add on modules?
>
> I think it was you that I mentioned it to before ..... wireless
> "anything" is part magic. There's no predicting how well it will work
> in any given installation. There are to many outside factors that can
> cause a problem. That is the reason that most professionals will not
> use it. You can't know if it's going to work until you try to set it
> up.
>
> > 3. LUX requirement: you said 0 LUX, which implied [to me] no light is
> > required, the cameras have their own. =A0I've seen 30ft and40 ft range
> > cameras.
>
> The spec's regarding Lux capability are muddled for the most
> part .... =A0I suspect most times on purpose by the manufacturers.
> Especially where infrared lighting comes into the picture. There are
> cameras that can see a news paper headline at 30 feet on a starlit
> night without infrared. Probably in the area of .000001 lux. Very
> expensive cameras. That's why infra red lighting is predominent. It's
> less expensive. When using cameras with infrared lighting, the spec's
> will tell you what the viewing range is at night with the infrared
> LED's on. However, take whatever they say and devide it in half and
> sometimes more. I've seen some cameras rated at 50/60 feet do a
> terrible job seeing anything identifiable at 20 feet.
>
> > 4. size of CCD
>
> Normally the larger the CCD the better but most cameras nowdays come
> with 1/3 inch. The larger the CCD the more expensive the camera. 1/3
> inch is the median size between 1/2 and 1/4 inch.
>
> > 5. Lensing/angle of view.
>
> There are nomographs available on line at various websites ( google
> it) that will help you determine what size lens will give you what
> angle of view a what distance. Measure your requirements and see if
> the lens on the cameras will give you what you are looking for.
>
>
>
> > I've been wading through specs for a while and keep tripping over
> > features I do NOT care about...internet images, 3G phone images etc.
>
> Just ignore them if they are of no interest. They will not effect the
> spec's important to you.
>
>
>
> > I need a way to view around our property 24/7 while occupying the
> > property. and don't say go out and look, because there are too many
> > blind spots.I need a way to have motion detector(s) go into alarm, and
> > switch the view of the TV system away from entertainment to the camera
> > catching the motion. and then be able to switch back. =A0The idea of
> > digital recording in the manner of the TV entertainment system does
> > now would be ideal. =A0I've gone through 10 VHS tape machines, and
> > mechanical reliability sucks.
>
> There are not too many VHS tape machines around anymore. Stick with
> hard drive DVR's
>
> I don't know what your particular goal is so I don't know why you
> would need additional motion detectors. The DVR shown on the website
> has built in motion detection with alarm notification/output. You can
> use this to activate ...... "something" that will cause =A0your TV to
> switch to the proper input or to PIP. There are a number of ways this
> can be done. But you'll have to figure that part out for your self.
> However, this could be quite annoying if a raccoon keeps interrupting
> your favorite TV program. Or, what if you don't have your TV on and
> there's motion. I'd suggest a seperate monitor(s) with a soft beep
> when motion is dectected or IPhone notification.
>
>
>
> > Is this a good 'starting' system that removes much of the decision
> > processes?:
>
> I just read over the spec's briefly and I didn't see any reference to
> the resolution of the cameras. It doesn't mention =A0if there is built
> in =A0Back Light control ( which may or maynot be important to you
> depending upon what you are looking at) With the cameras only rated at
> 40 foot vision at night that says probably it's only 20 feet. There's
> no indication of the frames per second and the ability to adjust them
> for the DVR. No indication if the DVR will give you a pre alarm
> recording to see the events that led up to the motion alarm. The focal
> length of the lens is not mentioned for the camers at all so you don't
> have any way to determine what field of veiw you're going to have. Are
> there any adjustments at the camera? If there are, do you have to
> disassemble the housing to get at them. If you are going to want to
> view this from off site, it doesn't really say how that is
> accomplished. Some of these devices require a fixed IP address in
> order to view from off site. It would be nice to be able to see an
> installation manual for the DVR to see what it's going to take to set
> it up. Particularly if you're using remote viewing. By the way, with
> regard to seeing what's going on from within your home, you should be
> able to address the DVR on your local network from any computer on the
> network. However, as far as remote viewing or viewing via IPhone etc,
> if you've never port forwaded a network router, you may need the
> assistance of someone who can help you do that. Keep in mind that as
> much as you may not think you want remote viewing, you may actually
> find it convenient to get an E-mail on your IPhone, even while your at
> home .... but not near a monitor, .... =A0to say nothing of knowing
> what's going on at home while you're on vacation or even just out
> locally shopping, etc. =A0You're buy the DVR and it has this
> capability .... why not take advantage of it?
>
> I've only broached the tip of the iceburg here. As you can see and as
> I mentioned earlier, it takes more time to type stuff like this out
> for you, than it's worth. It takes lots of seminars, reading,
> experimentation and on the job expererience to get this stuff right.
> That's what professioals bring to you that lot's of people don't
> recognize. In other words ..... you don't know what you don't know. So
> you don't even know what questions to ask. It'd be worth it to educate
> you if you were going to have me install your system..... but .....
> you're not.
>
> Maybe someone else will be good enough to pick it up from here.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
>
> > <http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?
> > EdpNo=3D7132707&Sku=3DQ300-2792>-

Thanks for the detailed response.

Always here, no network, no iPhone, did I mention no network?

Your idea of simply alarm dedicated monitor is what I used to do, back
when the cameras were vidicons.  How much is a starlight camera? no
LEDs