pjhubbard wrote:I just tried to purchase the Woot of the day, the survilance system. I went through the process of having it paid through my pay pal. I still don't see where the purchase went through.

Did you ever get to the 'confirm payment' button from PayPal?

$239.99 here:

http://www.homesecurity361.com/complete-security-kits-1/4-ch-security-dvr-weatherproof-ir-camera-system-w-500gb-1112.html

Nevermind. Seems that is the 8 channel DVR, but only has 4 cameras. Still a better deal on Woot.

ElanorRigby wrote:I'm tempted to buy this just to find out what my cats do outside all day to wear themselves out. They always show up in the evening, strewn about on my back porch, bonelessly posed like there has been a particularly violent mass murder of adorable cats. Then they wake up.

I read that cats kill a billion (yes, with a "b") wild birds each year. They are probably just doing their share.

Looks like Oklahoma and Delaware either have lots of burglars, lots of paranoids, or both!

reeky wrote:They are annoying your neighbors. Trust me.

They were composing poetry to their Mom with twigs in the forest. Your description of them is beautiful.

I bought the 4 camera system a month ago and got it installed a few weekends ago. It took the better part of the weekend to install. I had to get the locations figured out, mount the cameras and run wiring through the attic and down the central shaft of the house into the basement. Make sure you are willing to put in the installation effort (either yourself are paying someone). I used to run network cable for a living so I was able to make quick work of routing cable. If you are new to this, you can do it, just make plenty of time for it. Maybe youtube a few "how-to" videos to get some pointers.

The camera quality is not great, very low end. I couldnt clearly make out someones face unless they were a few feet from the camera. I plan on upgrading the cameras over time. The night vision is ok. If you can provide just a little light to the area it is MUCH better.

The DVR unit is awesome and I found it easy to configure. However, I am a RTFM guy and I had already read the manual before the thing even arrived. I like to use the Netviewer program for most of my interaction with the unit.

The Asee Blackberry application did not work on my Bold 9650. However, the same developer makes an app called Lorex Mobile ECO (avail from BB App store free) and it worked fine. I have gotten the web viewer on IE9 to work. You just have to monkey with the security alot (see their demo site...it has instructions).

I would highly recommend this system. Don't get attached to the cameras or expect much from them.

THANK YOU WOOT!

Been eyeing this one on Amazon Swann SWDVK-825508 8-Channel Digital Video Recorder with Smartphone Viewing and 8 x PRO-550 Cameras
for a very long time. 62 degree angle, CCD, Cord through the base, and so much more than todays woot. Had been $599 with a 2 month backorder and just dropped from $565 to $435 today only and only 15 units left now. Glad I checked.

headwooter wrote:Defense Attornys are the main reason to buy one of these things.

We have a winner, people.

/end discussion

Since none of this system is wireless, or digital, you cannot tag the signal onto any other existing wiring, and if you're not a cable "monkey", the cost of the equipment is a FRACTION of the total INSTALLED cost.

What if you need it MORE than 60' from the base unit? When you go around corners, up and down walls etc., 60' isn't that FAR. Do you have to go make RG-58 BNC jumpers? And you've only got one power supply, no doubt feeding DC, so how do you extend that and keep the voltage from dropping too far to run the camera?

Buying this is like buying a "wiring harness" for your house and forgetting you have to get it all in the walls somehow. If you run a business and you put eight cameras that close together, any potential customer will think you're a total nutjob.

This "kit" is too limiting, too old-technology, and too much arbitrary work.

I purchased the 4 camera system and was dissatisfied in that it does not come with a hard drive. So you can not record anything. Live time only. Now I have to find a hard drive.

I have a Qsee system is it compatable with a Zmodo system?

tejash55 wrote:anyone know if i can hook that DVR up to a computer monitor? or how i would be able to view the video?

Yes, you can connect a monitor to the vga connection on the back of the unit. You will need to do that to be able to use the mouse that comes with the unit.

Woody1 wrote:THANK YOU WOOT!

Been eyeing this one on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VFGK1I/ for a very long time. 62 degree angle, CCD, Cord through the base, and so much more than todays woot. Had been $599 with a 2 month backorder and just dropped from $565 to $435 today only and only 15 units left now. Glad I checked.

Thanks for posting that up!!!

jubbabnr wrote:Is there any way to extend the 60ft. camera cable? If so, how far can you go?

You can purchase other various cable lengths or use a video balun and ethernet cable to carry the video signal. My experience with these products is that the power must be as close to the camera as possible unless you are running 18 ga or larger cable for the power.

I'm gonna mount all 8 cameras around my bed and then I can see which of my lovers look the best in action. I think 240 fps should be able to keep up with us.
Oh yeah, and I'm gonna save the videos in case one of them becomes rich & famous.

what is this video fetish? Motion activated IR still cameras go for about $100 per at Sports Authority. Good for catching bigfoot and thieves.

jj2k1 wrote:Thanks for posting that up!!!

Your welcome! I have tried 4 systems before including woots. Using a Harbor Freight one now just to limp by when we moved. Saw the Swann in action and had to go for it.

Everyone should know that none of these cameras have a mic., however you can get a camera with a mic or add a mic seperately for cheap through monoprice.

jubbabnr wrote:Is there any way to extend the 60ft. camera cable? If so, how far can you go?

Yeah. You can get longer BNC and or BNC/power cables all over the place, like Amazon and Monoprice. 100 foot and 150 foot foot cables are standard.

If you wanted to go like 500 feet you'd only have to worry about the power delivered being a low voltage due the loss impact of the cable length. You can run a heavier power cable or just pick up a few more power wall warts for ~$10 and put them closer to the camera.

jayveee wrote:Anyone know if I can use this with a 16-channel Multiplexer? The Multiplexer can handle 16 cameras, but it doesn't have the DVR function. Can I plug the output of the Multiplexer into one of the camera inputs and record the video output stream of the Mux on the DVR?

Yes you can. I would recommend expanding the one channel you have the multiplexer to full screen otherwise the multiplexer images will be very very small.

Can you access one camera feed using a URL, via something like this: http://camera.ip.address:8000/camera1 ? That is necessary to integrate into my existing home automation system, iGoogle, etc. Currently I am doing this with a USB web cam, but only have one so it's not an issue. If the DVR can do this then I'm in. I know there are apps, but I just want a static picture accessible through any device and a URL.

Yes, it will be about the quality of Neo robbing a liquor store and not the super hi-def of the Matrix. But the way you'd do that is take all the footage from the DVR cams, line it up in a video editor, and then you can choose a pint to take one frame from each cam and do that "Matrix" rotation thing.

Gotta go wireless.....do you really want 60 ft wires wrapped around everything?

How would these work as monitor cameras for providing a live video feed of a FIRST Lego competition? The playfield table is 8'x8', and the camera would be mounted 5' or 6' above the surface. Does it have a wide enough angle? Can I determine the angle from the lens size? The tables are well lit and we'd like to get a live feed from either one camera per 8x8 or two cameras into one feed one on each of a 4x8 half table.

With 8 cameras all pointed at you, and the DVR connected to your computer, you can...

Chatroulette like a BOSS!

I have to say buyer beware on the camera quality ( resolution ). I am in the process of putting together an 8 camera system at my house and my DVR was $600 and each camera was $90-$140. I am experimenting to see what one needs to spend to get a quality image. Seems like $120/per camera ( outdoor+nightvision).

Does anyone know if you can turn the IR LEDs off and on remotely? Or do they come on automatically?

rom wrote:would this work on 220v?

220 - 221, whatever it takes.

I just bought these....for way more money! They will allow you to view them over the Internet, Smartphone, etc. And they will work on a cable over 200' from the DVR. I just installed these in our business and can view employees working from anywhere!

pianoworld wrote:220 - 221, whatever it takes.

russela wrote:Thinking about it. Got some bored punks in the neighborhood ringing my doorbell at all hours. Either this or the Mossberg?

Mossberg's cheaper, and more permanent. Believe me, you don't even have to have it loaded as long as you rack the slide and point it out your front door. It'll get rid of the kids a helluva lot faster than putting camera's up that they may or may not see at night time.

Is it really saying that this records 240 frames per second (fps)?

Sounds unlikely.

I'm wondering, could I line the house with this and use it for an extreme baby monitor?

This would be super-handy as a classroom management tool. I'll bet if my students were surrounded by cameras, with film I could pull up as needed in parent-teacher conferences, I'd never have to give a detention again.

tejash55 wrote:anyone know if i can hook that DVR up to a computer monitor? or how i would be able to view the video?

almost all dvr's have a video output for standard monitors

jubbabnr wrote:Is there any way to extend the 60ft. camera cable? If so, how far can you go?

I bought a 500 foot reel of rg59 siamese cable
I have a cam in the tree at the far end of my yard looking back at the house, 257 feet . It's just as clear as the 40 foot runs.


you will also need to put on your own BNC connectors. super easy process

Woody1 wrote:Your welcome! I have tried 4 systems before including woots. Using a Harbor Freight one now just to limp by when we moved. Saw the Swann in action and had to go for it.

Everyone should know that none of these cameras have a mic., however you can get a camera with a mic or add a mic seperately for cheap through monoprice.

So the Swann is basically the same except that it has the better cameras?

conbat18 wrote:Gotta go wireless.....do you really want 60 ft wires wrapped around everything?

As a former professional installer of video surveillance equipment, here are a couple of points:

Wired is a PLUS, not a minus. If they were "wireless", you'll still have at least one wire - power. Do you have a nearby (ceiling?) power outlet near every camera location in your home/business/garage/walkway/porch/barn? (Randomly running extension cords doesn't count - and is likely against electrical/fire codes)

Also think about power outages. When the cameras are powered centrally, one UPS will keep the DVR -and- the cameras going.

mrirvinjr wrote:why are they selling the same item on sellout woot for 189.99??

That one is for people who can count.

I FEEL SOOO SORRY FOR ANYONE WHO BOUGHT A ZMODO DVR SYSTEM.

I am a pro cctv installer and EVERY zmodo package has had poor video and dvr issues.

Plus the company who imports the zmodo to the USA has a HUGE "F" rating with the BBB.

You know the old saying, "You get what you pay for"...

After personally dealing with zmodo countless times I feel real sorry for anyone with a zmodo system.

-Ken

cheezwhiz wrote:Is it really saying that this records 240 frames per second (fps)?

That's for all channels combined.

On most DVRs, if you are using less-than-all channels, you can use higher FPS on the remaining.

Also, on most DVRs that rating is for the lowest resolution. As resolution goes up, framerate goes down. (A very common break down, not necessarily for THIS DVR: 320x240 x 8 = 30fps per camera, 720x240 x8 = 15fps per, 720x480 x 8 = 7.5fps per, 720x480 x 4 = 15fps per, etc.)