The only way I am going to settle the issue of an IP PTZ camera vs. a fixed camera with DVR card is to get both and experiment. So here I go.
The IP PTZ camera will be the Panasonic BB-HCM331A. The delivered cost from newegg.com is $565. This Panasonic seems to be the best value for the buck. I plan to place the order tomorrow (Monday morning) so if anyone has a better alternative for an outdoor weatherproof network IP PTZ camera please let me know.
As far as a fixed camera and DVR card, after extensive research I plan to go with the GeoVision GC-800-4 DVR card (4 BNC connectors) and a Sony infrared camera (SPE-218), both from CCTVSpeciality.com (Florida). The DVR card will support 4 cameras each at 30fps. I called CCTVSpeciality and immediately got to talk to a real person without being on hold. When I had a question about the GeoVision software, they gave me the name of a GeoVision tech in CA to call. I called the tech and got to speak to him with no problem. I could not believe how much time he spent on the phone with me. He explained the issues between their DVR cards and AMD based motherboards. It is not that the cards do not work, GeoVision can not guarantee that they will work because of all the “tweaking†that is usually done on AMD motherboards. They do guarantee that their cards will work as advertised in Intel motherboards. This is really not a problem for me. My thoughts now are to use my Intel P4 2.8GHz 800MHz bus 1GB DDR-400 PC (Intel D865GLC mATX motherboard) as a camera and file server. This is as pure an Intel setup as you can get. I should find out very quickly how well or not the DVR card works. The DVR card comes with the latest GeoVision 8 software that on the surface looks very impressive. GeoVision seems to be a high-end player. I was certainly impressed as to how easy it was to talk at length with a GeoVision tech. The GC-800-4 BNC card from CCTVSpeciality is $379 less a 5% intro discount and free ship.
As far as a fixed camera, the CCTVSpeciality SPE-218 infrared camera looks to be a winner. Camera is outdoor weatherproof. has 1/3†Sony CCD, 480TVL, 23 LEDs (LEDs surround lens and should not reflect onto the lens since there is no dome covering) , 3.6mm lens 93 degree field of view, 45-60 feet nighttime viewing, 512x492, operates down to -20C (-4F) for $140 less a 5% intro discount and free ship. I compared this camera to the Vitek VTC-LED667HRCB ($156 at Automated Outlet). The Sony has more LEDs and a wider field of view. If all goes well, I would eventually get 3 more of the Sony cameras.
I plan to place the order tomorrow (Monday morning) so if anyone has a better alternative please let me know.
My original goal is to have 4 outside weatherproof wide-angle low-light fixed cameras operating at 30fps each. If all goes well, I might use the Panasonic inside to see what trouble my miniature schnauzer (Molly) is getting into when no one is home. I definitely see where an inside PTZ camera would really be nice to keep track of the dog (actually we have not told her that she is a dog).
This experiment will run about $1058 not counting cables. I have had excellent results selling hardware on eBay so I guess you all might see one or more of the items there.
So I am about to enter into a union with the above hardware, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer (mostly poorer) until death or hardware failures do us part. If there is anyone out there who for any reason feels that this union should not take place, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.
The IP PTZ camera will be the Panasonic BB-HCM331A. The delivered cost from newegg.com is $565. This Panasonic seems to be the best value for the buck. I plan to place the order tomorrow (Monday morning) so if anyone has a better alternative for an outdoor weatherproof network IP PTZ camera please let me know.
As far as a fixed camera and DVR card, after extensive research I plan to go with the GeoVision GC-800-4 DVR card (4 BNC connectors) and a Sony infrared camera (SPE-218), both from CCTVSpeciality.com (Florida). The DVR card will support 4 cameras each at 30fps. I called CCTVSpeciality and immediately got to talk to a real person without being on hold. When I had a question about the GeoVision software, they gave me the name of a GeoVision tech in CA to call. I called the tech and got to speak to him with no problem. I could not believe how much time he spent on the phone with me. He explained the issues between their DVR cards and AMD based motherboards. It is not that the cards do not work, GeoVision can not guarantee that they will work because of all the “tweaking†that is usually done on AMD motherboards. They do guarantee that their cards will work as advertised in Intel motherboards. This is really not a problem for me. My thoughts now are to use my Intel P4 2.8GHz 800MHz bus 1GB DDR-400 PC (Intel D865GLC mATX motherboard) as a camera and file server. This is as pure an Intel setup as you can get. I should find out very quickly how well or not the DVR card works. The DVR card comes with the latest GeoVision 8 software that on the surface looks very impressive. GeoVision seems to be a high-end player. I was certainly impressed as to how easy it was to talk at length with a GeoVision tech. The GC-800-4 BNC card from CCTVSpeciality is $379 less a 5% intro discount and free ship.
As far as a fixed camera, the CCTVSpeciality SPE-218 infrared camera looks to be a winner. Camera is outdoor weatherproof. has 1/3†Sony CCD, 480TVL, 23 LEDs (LEDs surround lens and should not reflect onto the lens since there is no dome covering) , 3.6mm lens 93 degree field of view, 45-60 feet nighttime viewing, 512x492, operates down to -20C (-4F) for $140 less a 5% intro discount and free ship. I compared this camera to the Vitek VTC-LED667HRCB ($156 at Automated Outlet). The Sony has more LEDs and a wider field of view. If all goes well, I would eventually get 3 more of the Sony cameras.
I plan to place the order tomorrow (Monday morning) so if anyone has a better alternative please let me know.
My original goal is to have 4 outside weatherproof wide-angle low-light fixed cameras operating at 30fps each. If all goes well, I might use the Panasonic inside to see what trouble my miniature schnauzer (Molly) is getting into when no one is home. I definitely see where an inside PTZ camera would really be nice to keep track of the dog (actually we have not told her that she is a dog).
This experiment will run about $1058 not counting cables. I have had excellent results selling hardware on eBay so I guess you all might see one or more of the items there.
So I am about to enter into a union with the above hardware, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer (mostly poorer) until death or hardware failures do us part. If there is anyone out there who for any reason feels that this union should not take place, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.
