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A good customer has asked me to check her sons new house. The previous occupant had left what looks a reasonable system - 868mhz and also seems to be two way monitoring. But, when trying to register the system on his phone it shows that its already registered elsewhere. So, I presume there's a reset sequence? Anyone know how?

I've got some 5m telescopic and they're "ok". Yes they are flexible at full extension, but they're convenient... especially for those jobs where getting ladders to the rear of a property is awkward. Oh, and they were only £70 of ebay!

Thanks for this. Yes this could be a solution. How much data would you think is needed each month - occasional remote viewing - perhaps 20/30 mins per day?

Thanks, that's what I imagined as it seems common now for folk to use these adapted firestick things. I'll stick to freeview and sleep easy ?

This is very helpful - thanks. I'm sure the guy knows more about all this Internet stuff, so he should be well placed now. I do so much appreciate you helping like this.

He's had his VPN for a while - he was quick to demonstrate the vast access to literally thousands of TV channels, but needs to "hide" behind a VPN (probably makes more sense to you than me...I just have freeview which gives me what I need!) However his cctv is new and he's not been able to get it running despite showing an Internet connection...and thought I may be able to help. I said not me, but suggested I may be able to find someone who can! Thanks again for any pointers you can give.

I don't know who set up his VPN, or how it is configured. In truth I know nowt about them! I'll call to see him when I'm in his area later this week and try to gain more info. Thanks for the help you've been able to give again.

I understand he is using a hard wired Sky broadband but uses a VPN to protect his firestick viewing.

I not particularly expert on computers and the Internet, so a question from one guy leaves me in the position where I need to ask you experts... A customer has a cctv system using the (dare i say it) xmeye software. However, despite the system apparently having a good Internet connection (via mains booster sockets, rather than hard wired ethernet cable), he cannot get access on his phone when he scans the serial number QR code. He has said he uses a VPN to hide his location as he has some remote TV access via a fire stick. Is this the reason for his trouble, and should he do something different? Thanks in advance for your help!

I've realised I haven't updated this. Ok, the solution... The DVR was replaced and the images are perfect. So, the suspect quality control of Sannce is the cause. Thanks again for all the help you gave, it has been very much appreciated.

Cheers James. So you can see the video? That's great. The DVR shows 1080p, and I recall the cameras also being 1mp 1080p (I'll be able to check this when I return to the customers house). So, lower quality cameras might be the solution? I suppose if I'm going to get asked to look at CCTV regularly, I should attend one of the ADI events and get clued up! Cheers Thanks also SWB. I'll propose that the cameras are moved.

Thanks for this... obviously I'm out of my depth with this. I've not got all the paperwork with me, but I know the DVR is "analogue" and understood the cameras were too. However the question of tvi/cvi is unknown. There IS a picture (it's a shame my small video file was not viewable to you all) but it's showing hazy interference. Would I still get a picture if the tvi/chi was incorrect? Thanks again to you all for your help.

Thanks Nova. The DVR has a built-in monitor and the images are identical when viewed online. It does seem that either the signals to the DVR are suspect, or it's the DVR itself that is processing the signal incorrectly. Thanks for your help

Thanks for the reply, much appreciated. Ok, I'll wire another camera into it, and see how the image is, before getting the ladders out... If I can prove a good image with a replacement cable, then it could be happy days :-) Perhaps I'll be sticking to my 30 years in security systems rather than poking my nose into the magic of CCTV! Thanks again for your help.

Thanks for the reply. Obviously my knowledge is inferior to yours, but a relative has a similar set up, and there's is crystal clear - same cameras and DVR. I presumed there's something interfering with the signal somewhere? I understood HIK vision cameras were ok? Cannot really respond about Sannce. Maybe I should suggest he changes his DVR? May prove if the issue is the cameras/cables or DVR itself... Cheers

I don't often get involved with CCTV, but have been asked fire help with a guys newly installed system. It's a Sannce DVR with two analogue 1080p HIK vision cameras. The cables are pre- made (two different "makes"), and the cameras and DVR have separate power supplies. The cables run through the house wall and then in different directions to the two cameras. There is minimal excess cable coiled up and they don't run next to power supplies. Both images are show interference - the colours are distorted. Is there something obvious? Cheers 20190210125057.mp4

I don't often get involved with CCTV, but have been asked fire help with a guys newly installed system. It's a Sannce DVR with two analogue 1080p HIK vision cameras. The cables are pre- made (two different "makes"), and the cameras and DVR have separate power supplies. The cables run through the house wall and then in different directions to the two cameras. There is minimal excess cable coiled up and they don't run next to power supplies. Both images are show interference - the colours are distorted. Is there something obvious? Cheers

I've been asked to fit a sim dialler to a guys system and what I imagined to be simple hasn't turned out that way (very familiar to us all I suppose...). The guy has bought a sim dialler which apparently needs a positive remove from the trigger terminal to cause the unit to send out it's messages. However as said, he only has a very simple panel (optimal compact), and these are fixed as negative trigger... Is there a solution, or is it a change of dialler or panel? Cheers

Hmmm...would love to know more :-)

Hmmm...wish I knew. Do you think this may also work with the 595 panel?

Very very interesting read! Your work has certainly been far more indepth than our systems. - I only used lace wire twice, and these must have been over 20 years ago. - I still carry a roll of foil, and perhaps once a year get called to jobs where it is needed. - Pressure pads...pah! What a disaster they were. I fitted loads over a 2-year period...then spent about 8 years removing the buggers as they gave problems! Interestingly, my Father was a director of a company who claimed to have "invented" them. I don't know if this is true. - Your descriptions of the various door contacts brings back memories - I also admit to being impressed by the quality and workmanship with them, but not impressed by the reliability! Occasionally I get called to some very old systems. Sometimes it's possible to advise the householder that they really should consider an upgrade, but how often do we then get the indignant response "But it works fine! I only want the fault repairing!". You just can't win sometimes can you!

Many many years ago, on one manky house, I pulled the carpet back in one house and found it literally "alive" with creepy crawlies. Loads of these tiny black creatures all paniced when they were exposed to the light, and ran for cover under the undisturbed carpet. It's surprising how little cable runs actually need to be under a carpet in circumstances like that!

Quite a co-incidence, because today I've been back to the second Farmhouse. I needed to work in the bathroom, and had to keep going upstairs and downstairs. The farmer was in the lounge at the far end of the house...asleep. I had seen him through the window as I walked round the front of the house when I arrived. His wife asked me if I knew where everything was, and once I confirmed a couple of details, she said she was going out and would be back in 40 mins. I was all alone...it was getting dark and the lighting is very poor in the house... It's a big house. I hadn't been upstairs much in the past, and this time I looked down the landing at all the bedroom doors, and counted them...all 6 of them. How lucky they were to live in such a beautiful old house. If only all the lights worked, and those that did could do with proper sized bulbs!!! Anyway, back downstairs, and back upstairs...back downstairs...back upstairs. It was creepy. I could sense being watched... Suddenly I saw something move outside a window....Oh...it's a cat on the window ledge outside!! However...on my next journey upstairs...what did I see...one of the bedroom doors was wide open! OMG! Hurry up, get the job done and get home!!!

One teenage lads bedroom revealed a list of all the girls in his class. All scored for...erm...various "abilities". Lucky lad or what!

I've done two jobs at haunted farmhouses. One call out was in response to false alarms in the early hours. I had fitted the system in the summer, and I suppose I hadn't surveyed the house properly... It seems that in the winter, they use the old coal fire, and it was when the fire was dying down that the temperature must have been just right to trigger the pir which was facing the fireplace (yeah, poor surveying! - but who has an open fire anymore?) I was relieved to find a reason, and was able to mask the relevant area of the pir and no more problems. I jokingly mentioned that if I hadn't found a reason, I would have blamed it on a ghost... She replied totally calmly, "oh, we've got one of those here". I didn't stay there too much longer! Another job one night was at another very old farmhouse not that far from the first. It was weired working in there. Huge rooms, and very poor lighting. To get from one end of the farmhouse to the other, meant walking through the huge "hall", which had hopeless lighting. You could sense being watched... Later on, a conversaion with the farmers daughter revealed that the farm was haunted. I bravely said it's a load of cobblers and she shouldn't be worried. "It's yer brain playin' tricks" I told her. "Normally, your eyes see something, and they tell your brain what they have seen. Sometimes your brain gets confused and 'tells' your eyes they have seen something" I said confidently. "Oh no, it's quite true. We often look out of the kitchen window and see a 'Victorian Gentleman' striding around in his top hat and tails. We've all seen him" I didn't stay too much longer! Actually, I have been back many many times, and always look out for this guy. As yet, he hasn't revealed himself. Lets hope he doesn't!!!