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Posted: 4/13/2012 7:01:00 AM EDT
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Is this system worth buying? Are the cameras junk? All replies are appreciated. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11612358&whse=BC&topnav=&cm_mmc=BCEmail_Apr12MVM-_-Focus-_-3-_-MarketingItemName |
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Quoted: Thats not a bad deal at all.Is this system worth buying? Are the cameras junk? All replies are appreciated. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11612358&whse=BC&topnav=&cm_mmc=BCEmail_Apr12MVM-_-Focus-_-3-_-MarketingItemName |
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IMHO Q SEE is crap, i have seen plenty of their systmes when i replace them with a better unit, the IR cut filters are messed up.........green looks purple kind of shit What brand in the less than enterprise class price range do you think is best? Also, DVRs vs. cameras, i.e. are the Q-See DVRs decent enough if you use other cameras with them? |
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It seems that ALL of the box systems have shit cameras. Is there a online retailer that sells equipment one piece at a time? I do not have the thousands of dollars up front to buy all of the pieces at one time but rather would like to buy the right stuff gradually. Any recommendations of brands that are good to go? Sony 1/3 dome cameras? |
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I use all network cameras so I'm no CCTV expert. Go on over to the Blue Iris forum and ask some of the camera guys there. I believe there are also some members that frequent this forum that have experience on the professional level. |
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Quoted:
It seems that ALL of the box systems have shit cameras. Is there a online retailer that sells equipment one piece at a time? I do not have the thousands of dollars up front to buy all of the pieces at one time but rather would like to buy the right stuff gradually. Any recommendations of brands that are good to go? Sony 1/3 dome cameras? That's basically correct. For network cameras, I use a lot of Mobotix, and Acti stuff. Mobotix is big bucks, and overkill for the average application. The Acti stuff is far more reasonable, particularly if purchased used. Ebay is where you'd want to start, if you want to get your feet wet with a used network camera or two. You also would not have to drop a huge amount of green. |
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Quoted: Quoted: It seems that ALL of the box systems have shit cameras. Is there a online retailer that sells equipment one piece at a time? I do not have the thousands of dollars up front to buy all of the pieces at one time but rather would like to buy the right stuff gradually. Any recommendations of brands that are good to go? Sony 1/3 dome cameras? That's basically correct. For network cameras, I use a lot of Mobotix, and Acti stuff. Mobotix is big bucks, and overkill for the average application. The Acti stuff is far more reasonable, particularly if purchased used. Ebay is where you'd want to start, if you want to get your feet wet with a used network camera or two. You also would not have to drop a huge amount of green. I did a quick search at Evilbay and the prices were $300-$700 per camera. I am going to stick with the shitty cameras that come with the box system since that is waaaay too expensive for y budget. I want to start with decent DVR (I am guessing that Lorex is acceptable?) and then replace the cameras one at a time when the budget allows. I am looking for a 16 channel 1TB DVR but do not know what else I will need/want in it? Any suggestions? |
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It seems that ALL of the box systems have shit cameras. Is there a online retailer that sells equipment one piece at a time? I do not have the thousands of dollars up front to buy all of the pieces at one time but rather would like to buy the right stuff gradually. Any recommendations of brands that are good to go? Sony 1/3 dome cameras? That's basically correct. For network cameras, I use a lot of Mobotix, and Acti stuff. Mobotix is big bucks, and overkill for the average application. The Acti stuff is far more reasonable, particularly if purchased used. Ebay is where you'd want to start, if you want to get your feet wet with a used network camera or two. You also would not have to drop a huge amount of green. I did a quick search at Evilbay and the prices were $300-$700 per camera. I am going to stick with the shitty cameras that come with the box system since that is waaaay too expensive for y budget. I want to start with decent DVR (I am guessing that Lorex is acceptable?) and then replace the cameras one at a time when the budget allows. I am looking for a 16 channel 1TB DVR but do not know what else I will need/want in it? Any suggestions? The last analog DVR I bought was a w00t deal, and purchased for somebody else. I've gone to IP almost exclusively now, and use self-built PC-based DVRs. |
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Quoted: I've gone to IP almost exclusively now, and use self-built PC-based DVRs.
Can you give us some pointers on doing the same? Thanks jonblack Sure... did a whole thread on it in the Safes and Home Security Forum. (Link) Basically, you need a PC... the size/config of which depends almost entirely on the size of your system. For smaller residential systems, I like the IBM thinkcentre SFF desktops off Ebay. You can get a fully-functional PC for $200, with a gig of ram, and a multi-core processor. Swap out the 80GB hard drive for a Terabyte+ sized version, and you're in business. Those Thinkcentres can be bought literally by the pallet on Ebay as off-corporate-lease machines. I've tested that particular machine config with Luxriot, and Milestone (both their free "Go" version, and X-protect Essential, which is the paid commercial version). Those PCs will support 8-9 cameras (even megapixel) with relative ease, and a 2TB drive will give you a lot of storage. |
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