Steven_W

A mate of mine is out in China at the moment, he goes out for a month at a time about 3 times a year and bulk purchases CCTV kit and various other tech stuff... He's just e-mailed me about a company called AHD (I imagine that means Analogue high Definition). Apparently they have DVRs that can record analogue, digital & IP cams in one unit, anyone had any dealings with these? I'm not sure if AHD are an OEM manufacturer for rebadging, or if they are a standalone manufacture to retail company. Anyone come across these with any links? Can't dins much online... .

Thanks for your response, maybe I didn't word that post properly, the would be just for me to fill out as a result of a consultation, too much gobbledegook for a customer! I should imagine an app like this would be fairly easy to do, I could do this myself in html

Looks fine mate, basically the same kit as I installed from Kew, doddle to install!

When I go to a private customer to go through an installation, it would be handy to have an app where you can go through a list of options to ask the client to give them an accurate quotation. Larger scale commercial stuff I use the Axis online design tool. Things I think I would need the app to cover with examples Type of system (Analogue, HD-SDI, IP) Number of cameras Type of camera (Bullet, Eyeball dome or traditional) Audio required on cameras? Static or PTZ? If PTZ, Resolution of camera? Fixed lens or varifocal? Position of cameras with viewing angles Location of DVR/NVR DVR requires secure storage? DVR requires additional cooling? Size of Hard drive Amount of time hard drive will store (with resolution examples) Is power present at DVR location? If not what is required? Location of existing network for connection to DVR/NVR Advise on type of cable (RG59 + power, RG59 + power + data, CAT5e or CAT5e + power) Length of cable runs Whether permanent monitor required More than 1 monitor? If so, type of connection (VGA/Composite/HDMI) If HDMI, use CAT5e/CAT6 with baluns or HDMI cable? Modulator required for integration into TV system? Extended warranty? Support options (e-mail/telephone/remote/site visit) Ability for customer to check options and sign on screen Something to show installation date Option to send check list to customer via e-mail directly from within the app Option for in app purchase to take deposit I'm sure there are lots of things I have missed out, anyone know of anything like this? If not I might develop it myself! Thanks lads

System Q are reliable and will help you with the install if you get stuck... I installed one from Kew Electrical which was fine, it was a kit that came with a maglock so you can wire it out for remote door release. 2 way audio & 1 way video, nice IP rated buzzer, price was around £150 I think, but can;t vouch for the one from SystemQ, got a link? (your image didn't work) or just type in the product code I'll look it up.

Ah, great, nice to get a reccomendation from an installer. Whats the software like to use? Is the software written in the uk? Ive got my partner account open with Norbain now so I'll be ordering from them, out of interest what supplier do you use?

Haha, I had Qvis on the brain, I had a box if qvis domes in the stock room I was looking at when I was typing that! Yeah deffo Axis... so you use their stuff? I just got set up with an account with Norbain today to make the order... we shall see!

Probably not, but just in case, customer has a dead one of these, either a component has packed up on the board inside or power supply has had it. Power supply is 19 volt but can't find amp rating. Need to order a replacement PSU, unless someone out there has a dead one with a different fault? It's probably quite an old model, contacted their tech people, no models "out the back" or spares, I would guess it's 6 years old. I'm only thinking of repairing it to use in my stores, might as well stick a 1tb HDD in it & replace the parts if cheap rather than just chuck it. I'm looking for a manual download & PSU, model number on back is 4CH/CP/02ADKB/UK Here's some images if anyone can help: Many thanks in advance!!

So after much searching it looks like I'm going for the Qvis camera ( http://www.axis.com/products/cam_q6045e/ ) Soon as I get pricing I'll be quoting... will update if/when it happens!

I have a client that requires a camera of the following spec or something similar. I'm struggling to find a supplier, I only need a one off not a bulk trade purchase. HD 1080p 3mp minimum 12 x zoom up to 30x zoom Can take SD card preferably 64GB or bigger (Sandisk now do 512GB that would be best) As soon as movement is detected, camera zooms in & tracks target Camera capable of tracking & identifying multiple targets End user can change settings easily, for example he may just want a daily report of activity e-mailed to him direct just for a specific amount of time If target is identified as not on a database of accepted targets, end user is notified Log kept of all movement alarms with screen grab of target (for example, members of staff are ID'd & logged with entry time, exit time etc Cam preferably IP based & have built in web server for direct access to review recordings Must operate well in total darkness & in semi lit & fully lit conditions Cable length from power supply to camera approx 25 metres (no local power available) The situation is my client is away from his property a lot (abroad). He wants an iPad/Android client as easy to use as possible. I've been looking around but thought I'd come in here and see if any of you guys have already installed such a camera & can vouch for it... Thanks all, regards, Steve.

Morning all, I've installed several cams with built in mics and had one instance where a customer wanted an external mic... I installed this under the eaves, it was like a mini BBC outside broadcast style with that wooly style covering on it. None of my suppliers offer a dedicated external mic (Luxrite/CCTV Direct/Y3k/SystemQ). The one I installed came off eBay as I couldn't source one elsewhere & it was quite expensive for what it was. So I need 2 mics, these are going into an Alien Hero 8 channel analogue DVR with single phono input. The distance from DVR to cams is about 10 metres on both runs. I have contemplated putting the mics in the cable junction box as the ones from my suppliers are internal... not sure how long they would last though... Also there's feeding 2 mics into one input... if I just splice them together or use a 2 x female to 1 x male phono joiner will I get audio from both mics? Thanks in advance all..

Wicked! iVMS 4000 works great on a Mac viewing Alien DVRs, bit laggy though I guess that might be video rendering or something... all!

guys, just downloading & installing the iVMS software, I'll report back with functionality...

I have around 20 customers with DVRs that need access to their DVRs via Macs. I normally go the virtual machine way so they can access them that way. I'm looking for a multi DVR compatable piece of software capable of all the normal features you would find in Windows software. I normally install Alien DVRs from SystemQ but also have several Vectus & Spro-1 DVRs from Luxrite out there in the field. I've tried a few different software applications so far to no success... There is a Vectus Mac viewer but it's a bit limited, I'm after a full Windows replacement... Anyone know of anything suitable? all.

I went to a job that had been done by someone else who had used external cameras with a high power draw when the IRs were on. The cables were all run in during a refurbishment. I thought the cameras were burnt out at first, but once I cut the cable back & reterminated with new baluns they were OK again. Only thing I noticed was that the installer had used copper clad aluminium CAT5 (CCA) which is never a good idea and I don't think the cable was man enough to handle the power draw. I reckon I'll be recabling that one at some point!

I've got an install that was first fixed by electricians in solid copper UTP CAT5e (good quality gear). 14 cameras all back to the basement DVR location via individual cables. I have used 1 pair from each CAT5 for video with passive baluns and the other 3 pairs twisted together for power. All cameras working great. My supplier stated that the CAT5 permits a maximum of 12 volts, 360milliamps with 3 pairs used for power. Anything over this could heat up the cable. I have used appropriate cameras for the install without issue. I wondered if in the real world there was a higher draw that cameras can use that would be OK over CAT5e... anyone know the limits from an install they have done (obviously with cable length affecting drop this would need to be taken into consideration). Thanks all!

It's inevitable that this system will become more commonplace... to me you can't beat reliable manned security, I dunno if I would be thinking of this as an alternative to security guards, I would look at it as extra protection. If there is an incident, this will back up any evidence given by security. We have truly been an Orwellian state for decades and this just ramps things up... pretty soon you'll have terminators with built in facial recognition & instant justice via lasers.... or something!

Thanks for all the responses guys (most of 'em!), my client is out the country (and has been for 6 weeks already), I think I'll be attempting to steer them clear of this!

Definitely need to see if the remote viewing app has airplay built in... failing that as already said, a mirroring situation maybe with Android?