Recent content by Hank Weng

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    New placement questions

    Given the elevation differences, I’d treat front and back separately. Front: 2 & 3 at ~14–15 ft should cover most approach angles. If you pick something like 5442ZE/5842ZE, you’ll get decent ID at ~50 ft. A dedicated doorbell or a small fixed cam near the front door can be a nice add if you...
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    Do I need to upgrade NVR for ColorVu cameras ?

    If you're planning to go for 6 MP or 8 MP ColorVu with AcuSense, that NVR is likely going to limit you. It caps around 5 MP. You’ll probably still get a basic stream, but some smart features or full resolution might not work. Upgrading the NVR at the same time (or soon after) would make the most...
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    Small Business Camera Recommendations

    If you’re upgrading your surveillance system, the ACTi E416 and E48 dome cameras are solid choices. The E416 is a 5 MP fixed dome with IR night vision up to 30 meters and WDR, making it well-suited for interior areas with mixed lighting conditions. The E48 is designed for outdoor use with...
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    Best POE/ONVIF 180 Degree FOV Dome Camera?

    180° cams are nice for coverage, but you’ll find the detail on small birds at 500 ft kinda weak. Best setup I’ve seen is pano for the wide view, then let a PTZ pick up once something’s detected. I’ve tried ACTi’s pano + PTZ combo and the hand-off works pretty smoothly.
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    PoE+ power issues on ~90m Cat6 run — need advice

    I’m running into an issue with PoE on a home setup. The cable run is close to 90m (Cat6, solid copper) and the camera sometimes reboots randomly. The switch is PoE+ (802.3at), and on paper it should be fine with the camera’s 12W draw, but I’m guessing voltage drop is the problem. Has anyone...
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    Simple Cloud Solution

    I’ve set up Arlo and Nest for relatives before — very simple for non-tech users. ACTi’s cloud cameras are another option I’ve used; nice part is no recorder to worry about and the app is straightforward.
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    NDAA compliant manufacturer that does both surveillance AND access?

    I’ve used ACTi on a couple of NDAA projects — they cover both cameras and access control, so it worked out pretty well.
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    Windows 11 Task Manager - CPU Activity task bar icon not accurate

    We did something similar for my parents. I'd suggest starting with a few cameras that support two-way audio and mobile notifications—super helpful for quick check-ins. Also, make sure night vision is decent, especially for bedrooms and hallways. Try to place one near the front and back doors...
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    Good POE switch for new NVR

    Depends on what you’re connecting. For IP cameras, just make sure the switch has enough PoE budget (not just ports) to handle the power draw of all devices. Also check if you need PoE+ or just standard PoE. If it’s for a security setup, I’d lean toward a managed switch so you can monitor traffic...
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    help with IP Camera models

    You could go pretty simple with a temporary setup. A lot of people just use a sturdy post in a bucket of concrete or a tripod stand to test positioning. The key is making sure it’s stable enough so the camera doesn’t shake or shift while you’re testing settings. If your fencer can make you a...
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    IP Camera for onboard Cement Mixer

    That’s a fun project. For the mixer truck rear view, you’re really limited by the IP6K9K requirement since most 4K modules are still indoor-rated. A lot of people end up compromising either on resolution or on the wash-down spec. Audio on an exterior unit under daily high-pressure cleaning is...
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    Lost Cameras With New TV

    Looks like your cameras and NVR are on different subnets (192.168.1.x vs 192.168.0.x). They won’t talk to each other that way. You’ll need to get them on the same network range.
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    Control LED for Geovision GV-EBCF5800

    If the camera itself doesn’t have built-in IR or night mode settings that control the LED, it’s often tricky to make the LEDs activate only at night based on motion. Sometimes external lighting or smart automation with sensors is needed. Checking the camera’s manual or reaching out to Geovision...
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    NVR recommendation with built-in SMS support?

    Pretty rare to see an NVR here with a SIM slot for texting. Easiest way is let the NVR send email and then push that through something like Twilio or a carrier API, or just stick an LTE router/gateway in the mix that can handle SMS on its own. Keeps you out of the “non-US model” headache.
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