Drunkard #1
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I'll admit to not reading the others, which have now fallen off page 1, and also that these are just some thoughts that popped into my head, so they're a bit raw. I've been told to install a few cameras at a few complexes.
Cameras.
Must be IP because I don't need a situation where I buy an analogue DVR and set it up, only to discover that it's specs are only valid when 1 camera is hooked up, and with 16 my 600TVL cameras can only be recorded at 40x30 resolution at 2fps. IP resolution is set.
I've got a decent Sony video server, and I'm still not happy with the quality. Another nail in analogue's coffin.
BPT has a nice vandal dome listed with 1280 x something resolution at 30fps. Haven't looked at the price yet, but it seems promising.
So, what connections do these things have? I presume I'll need some shielded cat 5e. Should I do POE, or put the PSU in the box next to the camera? Is the connection waterproof, or do I need to make a plan?
Recording.
I'm thinking of a Microserver with 4 x 3 TB drives, software RAID 6. Do I need a lot of RAM? How many users will this setup support?
What drives should I use? SV35, or constellation or barracuda? Constellations are too costly, but I think SV35s are in budget. Or are there WD options?
What OS and software. I don't know Linux very well. Is Windows an option?
Communications and display.
So, I'll probably use dedicated wireless links from the switches to the server (unless I absolutely have to lay fibre, which requires digging up a public pavement, and all the hassles that goes with that option). Will this be sufficient? Distance is short - 40 to 100m. Users will get a sector to access a webpage on the server. I don't think they should have access to the cameras directly. Or not. I don't know. Maybe the cameras have a secure streaming option. How many users can these things handle?
Oh, the users are tenants in a complex accessing 2 or 3 cameras, so how do I hook them up. Obviously a PC will work fine, but these Luddites may only have TVs. Raspberry Pis? How do they "change channels"? Should I give them easy access to the recordings?
What else can you think of?
Thanks in advance.
I'll edit this as I think thing through.
Cameras.
Must be IP because I don't need a situation where I buy an analogue DVR and set it up, only to discover that it's specs are only valid when 1 camera is hooked up, and with 16 my 600TVL cameras can only be recorded at 40x30 resolution at 2fps. IP resolution is set.
I've got a decent Sony video server, and I'm still not happy with the quality. Another nail in analogue's coffin.
BPT has a nice vandal dome listed with 1280 x something resolution at 30fps. Haven't looked at the price yet, but it seems promising.
So, what connections do these things have? I presume I'll need some shielded cat 5e. Should I do POE, or put the PSU in the box next to the camera? Is the connection waterproof, or do I need to make a plan?
Recording.
I'm thinking of a Microserver with 4 x 3 TB drives, software RAID 6. Do I need a lot of RAM? How many users will this setup support?
What drives should I use? SV35, or constellation or barracuda? Constellations are too costly, but I think SV35s are in budget. Or are there WD options?
What OS and software. I don't know Linux very well. Is Windows an option?
Communications and display.
So, I'll probably use dedicated wireless links from the switches to the server (unless I absolutely have to lay fibre, which requires digging up a public pavement, and all the hassles that goes with that option). Will this be sufficient? Distance is short - 40 to 100m. Users will get a sector to access a webpage on the server. I don't think they should have access to the cameras directly. Or not. I don't know. Maybe the cameras have a secure streaming option. How many users can these things handle?
Oh, the users are tenants in a complex accessing 2 or 3 cameras, so how do I hook them up. Obviously a PC will work fine, but these Luddites may only have TVs. Raspberry Pis? How do they "change channels"? Should I give them easy access to the recordings?
What else can you think of?
Thanks in advance.
I'll edit this as I think thing through.
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