TractorLegend
Platinum Member
A while back I was inquiring here as to information regarding video surveillance equipment for my auto shop business.
This is what I ended up doing based on studying the issue and input found here.
Esentially there are two modern formats of recording video surveillance images- a dedicated DVR box to which you hook cameras or buy a specialized video card and install it in your computer, which comes in varying quality (rated in frames per second) and number of cams you can hook to it.
I ended up getting a GeoVision 8 channel card with streaming video quality.
I DO NOT recommend the company I bought from in Texas (CCTV factory) as their promised tech support is RUDE, and has very little knowledge, and no toll free number---definitely no service after the sale as promised! They also want to charge for damaged returns shipping that was not the shippers fault. Other companies will ship free if you buy 100.00 or more.
I can remote view over the internet if I leave the "server" computer on at the shop. There was a bit of work getting port settings figured out for a static ip situation.
I also upgraded my shop "server" computer with an Intel P4 3.0MHz hyperthreading chipset and ASUS compatible motherboard and a top of the line power supply. The GeoVision video card can give beter resolution in a de-interlace mode with the P4 chip stated.
I also have a separate 160 gig hard drive for the GV software and video recording. I mounted it all in a vandal resistant cabinet, shared with my business supplies/paperwork.
I have 6 infrared color- low light cams so far and audio recording capability which I haven't gotten to getting good microphone yet---its possible to remotely listen AND talk as well as operate a pan/tilt/zoom camera if one desired and remotely play back stored video files and a number of other features.
Most color cams revert to b/w in low light conditions.
I understand the specialized video card can give better resolution and more features than a DVR box according to sellers. You need good cams to get good resolution also.
I see Costco was offering DVR box/ camera systems for sale also.
I have about 2 grand into video equipment so far.
I opted to put another 600.00 into computer upgrades. I installed it all myself.
ADT company wanted 4300.00 plus taxes for a 9 channel DVR box and install of only 4 black/white cams only!
AVOID CCTV FACTORY IN TEXAS!! CUSTOMER REPELLENT!!!
This is what I ended up doing based on studying the issue and input found here.
Esentially there are two modern formats of recording video surveillance images- a dedicated DVR box to which you hook cameras or buy a specialized video card and install it in your computer, which comes in varying quality (rated in frames per second) and number of cams you can hook to it.
I ended up getting a GeoVision 8 channel card with streaming video quality.
I DO NOT recommend the company I bought from in Texas (CCTV factory) as their promised tech support is RUDE, and has very little knowledge, and no toll free number---definitely no service after the sale as promised! They also want to charge for damaged returns shipping that was not the shippers fault. Other companies will ship free if you buy 100.00 or more.
I can remote view over the internet if I leave the "server" computer on at the shop. There was a bit of work getting port settings figured out for a static ip situation.
I also upgraded my shop "server" computer with an Intel P4 3.0MHz hyperthreading chipset and ASUS compatible motherboard and a top of the line power supply. The GeoVision video card can give beter resolution in a de-interlace mode with the P4 chip stated.
I also have a separate 160 gig hard drive for the GV software and video recording. I mounted it all in a vandal resistant cabinet, shared with my business supplies/paperwork.
I have 6 infrared color- low light cams so far and audio recording capability which I haven't gotten to getting good microphone yet---its possible to remotely listen AND talk as well as operate a pan/tilt/zoom camera if one desired and remotely play back stored video files and a number of other features.
Most color cams revert to b/w in low light conditions.
I understand the specialized video card can give better resolution and more features than a DVR box according to sellers. You need good cams to get good resolution also.
I see Costco was offering DVR box/ camera systems for sale also.
I have about 2 grand into video equipment so far.
I opted to put another 600.00 into computer upgrades. I installed it all myself.
ADT company wanted 4300.00 plus taxes for a 9 channel DVR box and install of only 4 black/white cams only!
AVOID CCTV FACTORY IN TEXAS!! CUSTOMER REPELLENT!!!