cctv security systems - pci capture cards + software

[inetquestion]

I have been looking at pci dvr cards, cameras, etc... and wondered if
anyone could answer some basic questions I have. Are all these cards
compatible with the various software packages? All I'm looking for is
something that can accept 2-3 cameras and will post the pictures OR
video up to a website (and archive it) if something comes into its
field of view. I'm ok with a linux or windows based system. Any
suggestions?

-Inet

 

[Sylvain Robitaille]

I have been looking at pci dvr cards, cameras, etc... and wondered if
anyone could answer some basic questions I have. Are all these cards
compatible with the various software packages? All I'm looking for is
something that can accept 2-3 cameras and will post the pictures OR
video up to a website (and archive it) if something comes into its
field of view. I'm ok with a linux or windows based system. Any
suggestions?

Have you looked at ZoneMinder? (http://www.zoneminder.com/)

There is a supplier (http://store.bluecherry.net/) that sells DVR cards
that work well with ZoneMinder, and will even supply a Live-CD Linux
disc with an optimized-for-Zoneminder Linux installation that you can
test with (or perhaps even use as is as your CCTV system). See the
"shop" link on the ZoneMinder web site.

The folks at BlueCherry were very helpful to me when I needed them to
be, and the Zoneminder software has been very reliable and very usable.

--
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Sylvain Robitaille [email protected]

Network and Systems analyst Concordia University
Instructional & Information Technology Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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[Brian W. Antoine]

Have you looked at ZoneMinder? (http://www.zoneminder.com/)

There is a supplier (http://store.bluecherry.net/) that sells DVR cards
that work well with ZoneMinder, and will even supply a Live-CD Linux
disc with an optimized-for-Zoneminder Linux installation that you can
test with (or perhaps even use as is as your CCTV system). See the
"shop" link on the ZoneMinder web site.

The folks at BlueCherry were very helpful to me when I needed them to
be, and the Zoneminder software has been very reliable and very usable.

I'll second the recommendation for BlueCherry.

If you're going to be running more than one camera, spring for one of
the capture cards with multiple capture chips so that you've got one
capture channel per camera. The cheaper cards where one chip handles
up to four cameras just aren't worth the hassle. As the chip changes
the channel, you loose sync on the camera for a few frames and the
auto brightness/contrast adjustments take even more frames to settle
down. This renders motion detection difficult at best.

 

[jovacom]

If you are looking for good and easy to use, maybe you like to test for
Alnetsystems ?
please, look for they website, www.alnetsystems.com They have a maybe most
clever system,
that we have seen. Anyway, many happy users.

In US they have a distributors too.

Chris