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Updated July 11, 2007
Welcome to my DVR FAQ page. Here I will go through some of the commonly
asked questions I get from enquiring customers in email and on the phone.
Q-What is a PC
based DVR ?
A-A
PC-based DVR is a DVR built around a computer . You have a case either a
tower or a rack mount. Inside you have your usual mother board, LAN board,
video board CPU Hard Drive and memory. To this we add a CD-writer to burn
and archive any prerecorded video. And inside is a
DVR
board. This board receives the video from the cameras and working in conjunction
with the DVR software provides all the necessary, video functions like, Video
compression, converting the video to a file, camera controls and display, record
and playback functions.
Q-What is a
Stand-alone DVR?
A-A
Stand Alone DVR
is an all in one unit, it consist of a cabinet (like a VCR) and inside all
components, boards, power supplies, CPU and all DVR related components are
manufactured
on one board. On the one main board there are IC Chips which contain the
operating and DVR software.
Q-What is the
difference between a PC based DVR and a Stand-alone DVR?
A-Because
Stand Alone DVRs
are built completely on just one circuit board. They are very reliable
and very easy to use. Their software is simple reliable and easy to
use. Basically there are no conflicts and all hardware and software are
matched exactly in this (all on one board) embedded style system.
PC-Based DVR's
give you more advanced features, and they are upgradeable and expandable. They have more
crunching power by way of their bigger CPUs and memory. You can easily
add Hard Drives, DVD burners, CD-Burners and advanced internet and telephone
access options. If advanced viewing, playback and video file saving over
the internet is important to you, consider a PC-Based DVR. PC-Based DVRs
are typically used in Banks, Malls, Airports and large department stores. We
have Systems with 16, 32, 64 and 128 camera inputs.
Q-What
is a network DVR
A-A
network DVR is a DVR that has a standard Ethernet connector on the back.
These DVR's can plug right into you computer network. They can also plug
right into a ADSL or cable modem. If you have a computer and you want to
run both your DVR and your computer off your ADSL line you will need a Router or
Hub some high speed modems come with built in routers so you might have multiple
ports on the back of your modem for multiple devices.
Q-How do DVR's
work with motion sensing and cameras?
A-DVR's
detect motion by looking at the video pixels (little light and dark dots that
make up the video picture). as the pixels change the DVR sees
motion. DVR's have a "Mask" or over lay for each camera, the
screen is divide up into many small boxes called cells. Each cell can be individually
turned on or off to enable or disable motion detection in that cell. This
allows a camera not to see normally moving objects Like tress or fans. Each camera also has a sensitivity level
setting this controls the amount of change in motion before the systems
triggers. All motion sensing is done in the DVR. the camera has
nothing to do with motion sensing it just provides the video to the DVR because
of this, most any camera will work with our DVR's.
Q-What are some
of the major features and differences between DVR's?
A-Check
out our Compare DVR's chart to help give
you a better idea what features are available at what price.
Q-How
long can the DVR record video for?
A-All
DVR's record to a Hard Disc. Each frame of video has a specific size (from
0.5Kb to 5KB for PC-Based DVRs and from 10kb to 15Kb for Stand Alone DVRs are
typical) one second of video can be made from one digital
picture (1fps) to 30 digital pictures (30fps) The video we see on TV,s is 30fps
so how long you can record for depends on how your settings are set on the DVR. Typically in security applications we look for 4fps
to see things like people working down hallways in and out offices or rooms.
We use 7.5fps for better streaming video. This might be for watching
peoples hand movements, cash draws or faster moving objects like capturing cars
license plates. 15fps per camera is for "Like live video recording"
almost perfect video streaming . And at the top of streaming video list is
30fps which is live streaming video, like a TV Program. Customers who
demand the absolute best chose these DVRs We sell many of these DVRs to Police
stations, the Military, Government Building, institutions and Casinos.
Here is an example of how long you can record Example:
recording at 4fps on a system with an image size of 12kb would be 12kb*4=48k per second.
if you have four cameras
then 48k *4=192k per second. One hour would use this much space 192k
*60(miniute)*60(hour) =
691200k (per hour) or .69 GB so if you have a 80 GB hard disk 80/.69 =115.94
hours = 4.8 days
New check out our DVR time
Calqlator.
Here are some last minute notes: Image size varies depending on DVR typically
(from 0.5Kb to 5KB for PC-Based DVRs and from 10kb to 15Kb for Stand Alone DVRs
are typical)
DVR's record in different file formats jpeg, mpeg-4 and AVI each has its particular
characteristics (quality varies with file size and video formats)
Q-Can
I review recorded video and keep recording at the same time so I don't lose any
recording time.?
A-It
depends on the this feature is called Duplex, you can review reordered
video (what happened yesterday) and continue recording the live events. None
duplex machines will have to stop recording to go back and view previously
recorder video these machines are called simplex.
our Protech DVR
series are Duplex and Triplex which means you can keep recording while playing
back Pre-recorded video and also keep recording while reviewing or playing back
video over the internet.
Q-What
is the guarantee on the DVR?
A-7
day money back, and one year parts and
labor repair or exchange at no charge.
Here
is the full warranty
Q-Can
I switch from a split screen view (4,8,9, or 16 cameras per screen) to a single
camera view and keep recording all the time.
A-
Yes
Q-What
kind of phone line do I need to view my cameras over the internet while I am
using a DVR?
A-
It
is best to have a high speed internet connection (ADSL, DSL, SDSL, ISDN, T1 or
Cable modem) with a static IP address. A static IP address is a specific electronic
identification number that identifies your specific machine when you sign on the
internet you are assigned a new IP address each time (dynamic IP address) this
makes it cumbersome to know what your IP address is and you would have to look
it up each time you got on the net to connect to your cameras. With a
static IP address, you can just program that number in once and that is
it. Then just push a button and your on the net.
Q-How
can I save or Archive recorded video I want to keep?
A-For
most Stand-Alone DVRs The
easiest way to save video is on a VCR. The VCR can be wired through the
output of the DVR and then to the monitor. You just find the video you
want on your DVR hit play and then record on your VCR. Now available some
Stand-Alone DVRs come with built in CDROM Burners.
PC-Based
DVR's have CD-Burners this saves your video as an AVI file on a CD
Disc. Most
PC-Based DVR's
can
be upgraded to DVD Burners but, this is expensive and the DVD disc are also expensive.
Q-Can
I record audio on my DVR?
A-This
depends on the model dvr, check the specs of the dvr you are purchasing or ask
one of our friendly customer service reps.
Q-Tell
me about the hard drive , how long will they last, how difficult are they to
change?
A-No
telling exactly they haven't been doing this job for all that long and we don't
have enough history to really say. They haven't given us any trouble in
the last year and these are the same Hard Drives we have used for years in
computers. The good news is, these are standard Hard Drive that you can
buy in Best Buy , Circuit City, or Comp USA. some DVR's have removable trays in
the front, these drives pop out and can be changed in about 3 minutes.
There is only two plugs to hook up and you cant mix them up. Stand-Alone DVR's automatically
format the drives and are ready to go in about 30 seconds. With PC-Based
DVRs it is just a matter of installing a new hard drive just like in your
computer.
Q-Can
I add more hard drives and a DVD burner?
A-
Yes
if you have a PC-based DVR
Q-If
I have a 9 channel when I review the recorded video can I see all 9 channels
at once as well as, just select a single channel to view in the full screen
mode.?
A-
Yes
Q-What
are the different performance characteristics of a DVR. What do I look for
to compare the specifications?
A-Number
of channels typically between 4 and 32. Number of fps typically between
30and 480 this is the total performance for the box and you would divide that
number by the number of channels to get the maximum fps per channel. Is it
a Network DVR? this means does it have the ability to put your cameras up on the
internet. Does it record audio?, what hard drive size does it have?
does it have motion sensor capability? does it have a built in CD-Rom
burner? These are just some of the major considerations. check a
more detailed list at our
Compare DVRs chart.
Q-How
many cameras can I record at the same time with a DVR?
A-
This
all depends on how many channel DVR you have, they come in
1,4,8,9,12,16,32,64,128
most 1,4,8,9,16 stand-alone
DVR's are on this page. Most 4,8,12,16
PC
Based DVR's are on this page and our
Industrial DVR's
are on this page
Q-What
connections do I need on the DVR (BNC OR RCA or F Type)?
A- Our DVR's
have female BNC connectors on the
back. You need a
male BNC to
hook up to that type of connector. Typically most times you will be using
a Male BNC to Female RCA type of connector
this is the type of connector that is used in our systems and hooks directly to
our all in one cable.
Q-How
difficult is it to get these DVR's hook up to the internet?
A-When you
buy a network DVR they come with an Ethernet connection on the back. just
run a Cat-5 cable to your DSL modem and set your IP address, you may also need
to program your router and firewall if you have them to allow the link to your
DVR. These are relatively easy adjustments if you have this type of experience.
We have technicians on staff to help and guide you though this process if you
need it. Keep in mind your network DVR will be easiest to use if you have
a Static IP address. However, even if you only have a standard dynamic IP
you may get your DVR on line.
Q-Can I
view the video from the DVR with my TV or do I need a monitor?
A-
Stand-Alone DVR's have a standard video output.
You can use
any TV to view the signal. Security monitors typically have a better
picture unless your using a high quality TV or Plasma TV. You can also wire the
video output into your home TV distribution system or combine it with cable so
you can see your cameras on all of your TVs. Some DVR's have a jack of the
back so you can plug in a computer monitor (VGA Output), These give a really good
picture. PC-Based DVRs have two outputs VGA for the Multiplexed output and
they have a slandered TV video output which displays "Switched Camera outputs"
Q-Why are
the new DVR's better then the old Time Lapse video recorders?
A-
DVR's are digital, like Digital cameras, digital
camcorders, DVD's and digital TVs, like Plasma TVs. This type of format is
much better then analog recording like VCR.s, cassette players, Time Laps
Recorders, and yes the old 8 track tapes. analog devises need more
information to reconstruct a good image. They have a tendency to smear be
dull and cloudy. A digital image is clear easier to store, is easily compatible
to your computer and the internet. DVR's have the advantage of being able
to have a perfect picture if even that is only one picture, just like a digital
camera picture. It doesn't matter if you are recording at 30fps or 1fps
they are all digital images When you are recording at 30fps you are
just collecting more digital information. This is useful for viewing
counting money or other fast events (like how your money going into other people
pockets). DVR's also have the advantage in that you do not have to change
tapes, tapes don't get old and stretch and You don't have to remember to put a
tape in. They are just more reliable their more secure and some models
also allow you to view your cameras over the internet. Some DVR's also
give you the ability to just record motion. This way your not taking dozens
of tapes home for hours upon hours of viewing. No more looking at hours of
tape when your business was closed. No more worrying about, did you miss
something in the hyper fast mode while you were reviewing the tapes. If
you have a network DVR you can even review your video from home on the internet
or in Spain when your away and want to see what they stole from you over the
last week.
Businesses are are beginning to see many new benefits to DVR's
one of the latest is POS (Point of sale). This technology lets businesses integrate
their cash registrars with their video.
When a customer makes a purchases not only is the customer video recorded but
the transactions that were rung up by the cashier are over laid on that video
clip. This type of system insures all items are being rung up by the
casher and prevents "Special Treatment" and sales between cashier
and customer.
All this information is recorded by the DVR and is available for live viewing,
and is recorded for later review. Because this information is recorded on
a network a business owner or loss prevention person can review this
information over the internet or can review previously reordered information over
the internet.
Many small satellite and franchise businesses, can be easily managed from their
corporate office.
And many small business, can reduce their loss and increase their profits by
managing what was sold, to whom for how much. I bet a lot of you wish you
had this system in place last year!
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