I'm working on improving my security cam setup and have been weighing a PC based versus dedicated DVR solution. Unfortunately, some break-ins in my neighborhood (one directly behind me) in the last 24 hours have pushed this to the top of the list. I know that there are several threads on the NV5000, and I've been reading and looking at it for a while now, but I have few specific questions that I haven't found concrete answers to.
Here's what I want:
1) Must support analog cams (I already have several that I intend to use).
2) Must integrate well with CQC, which means that I need to be able to access the cameras viewing page by feeding it the login info. No manual login required.
3) I'd like to be able to get an alarm/output notification from the video system upon video motion detection (desired, not an absolute must have).
4) iPhone friendly viewing ability is a plus.
Here's what I know:
NV5000
Pro - Easily allows expansion beyond 4 cams.
Pro - Allows use of existing drive pool space (assuming I can run it on my master server).
Pro - Seems to work well with CQC based on other user reports.
Pro - Less expensive than a dedicated CC DVR.
Pro - Allows addition of IP cams down the road.
Con - Places additional load on server.
Con - PC based (less stable than a black box recorder).
Con - Requires an expensive I/O box add on to get the alarm output on motion. (Edit - it looks like there are two ways to interface I/O, and the second option is much cheaper.)
Con - Software does not appear to have automation API, and there is no hardware method for external control such as serial or IR.
Dedicated CC DVR
Pro - Rock solid stability.
Pro - Exterior control through serial and/or IR.
Pro - Alarm output based on video motion.
Pro - Low power consumption.
Pro - Minimal configuration and overhead.
Con - Jumps significantly in price if you exceed four cameras.
Con - Typically does not allow easy scripted interfacing without a login (there must be some that do though).
Con - Requires dedicated drive space.
Con - Most require Flash, ActiveX, or other iPhone unfriendly methods of viewing.
Here are my questions:
1) For you NV5000 users, do you run it on a dedicated system, or on your HA server? I recently built a new low power consumption CQC/Sage server that is 2.6GHz dual core with 4GB of RAM and 3TB of drive space. I'm not recording with Sage, or transcoding for playback, it's just a media repository for ripped DVDs and playback will be through HD Extenders, so Sage shouldn't present much load. Is it safe to assume that I could safely run the NV5000 on this box as well? Given the low cost of HD space these days I'll be recording 24/7 with a rolling buffer, so it's critical that the server not be overloaded. I don't want a second security PC, but that's far preferable to stutters in the HA system, DVD playback, or security recording.
2) Can you existing users verify that there is in fact no way of interfacing with the Avermedia app (short of EventGhost or other app control) to select cams to view, etc.?
3) The hardware I/O add-on for the NV5000 is more than the going rate of the card itself, which is a hefty price since I only want a single digital out to know when the cams sense motion in the video. Has anyone experimented with the expansion header to see if that can be obtained without the breakout box, or with getting this trigger through software? (Edit - it looks like there are two ways to interface I/O, and the second option is much cheaper.)
4) For those viewing the NV5000 output in CQC (or any other package), is it possible to link directly to a particular camera feed, or do you run the control applet inside a web page and use the software's controls? Can automatic login be scripted?
5) Is the Avermedia application iPhone friendly?
6) Does anyone know of a particular brand or model of security DVR that allows direct login and camera selection as part of the URL without requiring manual intervention or embedding the control application in your GUI?
Thanks in advance for any and all insight.
Zac
Here's what I want:
1) Must support analog cams (I already have several that I intend to use).
2) Must integrate well with CQC, which means that I need to be able to access the cameras viewing page by feeding it the login info. No manual login required.
3) I'd like to be able to get an alarm/output notification from the video system upon video motion detection (desired, not an absolute must have).
4) iPhone friendly viewing ability is a plus.
Here's what I know:
NV5000
Pro - Easily allows expansion beyond 4 cams.
Pro - Allows use of existing drive pool space (assuming I can run it on my master server).
Pro - Seems to work well with CQC based on other user reports.
Pro - Less expensive than a dedicated CC DVR.
Pro - Allows addition of IP cams down the road.
Con - Places additional load on server.
Con - PC based (less stable than a black box recorder).
Con - Requires an expensive I/O box add on to get the alarm output on motion. (Edit - it looks like there are two ways to interface I/O, and the second option is much cheaper.)
Con - Software does not appear to have automation API, and there is no hardware method for external control such as serial or IR.
Dedicated CC DVR
Pro - Rock solid stability.
Pro - Exterior control through serial and/or IR.
Pro - Alarm output based on video motion.
Pro - Low power consumption.
Pro - Minimal configuration and overhead.
Con - Jumps significantly in price if you exceed four cameras.
Con - Typically does not allow easy scripted interfacing without a login (there must be some that do though).
Con - Requires dedicated drive space.
Con - Most require Flash, ActiveX, or other iPhone unfriendly methods of viewing.
Here are my questions:
1) For you NV5000 users, do you run it on a dedicated system, or on your HA server? I recently built a new low power consumption CQC/Sage server that is 2.6GHz dual core with 4GB of RAM and 3TB of drive space. I'm not recording with Sage, or transcoding for playback, it's just a media repository for ripped DVDs and playback will be through HD Extenders, so Sage shouldn't present much load. Is it safe to assume that I could safely run the NV5000 on this box as well? Given the low cost of HD space these days I'll be recording 24/7 with a rolling buffer, so it's critical that the server not be overloaded. I don't want a second security PC, but that's far preferable to stutters in the HA system, DVD playback, or security recording.
2) Can you existing users verify that there is in fact no way of interfacing with the Avermedia app (short of EventGhost or other app control) to select cams to view, etc.?
4) For those viewing the NV5000 output in CQC (or any other package), is it possible to link directly to a particular camera feed, or do you run the control applet inside a web page and use the software's controls? Can automatic login be scripted?
5) Is the Avermedia application iPhone friendly?
6) Does anyone know of a particular brand or model of security DVR that allows direct login and camera selection as part of the URL without requiring manual intervention or embedding the control application in your GUI?
Thanks in advance for any and all insight.
Zac
