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  1. Richard Chen

    Help to find a IP cam

    You’ll want a varifocal camera (around 6–12 mm) to get clear faces at 15 m — most wide-angle ones will look blurry at that distance. Go for at least 5–8 MP resolution, make sure IR/night performance is solid, and pair it with a decent NVR that won’t over-compress the image. Placement and...
  2. Richard Chen

    Micro poe cams with high framerates?

    Low-light + motion will tank fps if the camera enables slow-shutter. For a compact outdoor unit that can hold 25–30 fps at night, look at ACTi A313 mini bullet (IP68/IK10). It does 30 fps at 4MP; set min shutter ≤ 1/25 (or 1/30) and disable slow-shutter so fps doesn’t sag, then use IR to make up...
  3. Richard Chen

    CS Mount Lense experts?

    Choosing the Right Lens Select lenses with a large aperture, ideally between f/1.2 and f/1.4, which maximize the amount of light entering the camera and improve sensitivity for IR imaging. Look for lenses that specifically mention IR-correction or are labeled VIS-NIR. These are designed for...
  4. Richard Chen

    Best PTZ with License Plate Recognition

    For a clean upgrade from your 25× PTZ with better image quality, auto-tracking, and reliable plates day & night, consider: Single-camera option: ACTi A952 (8MP PTZ). It has built-in ALPR plus people/vehicle detection, strong low-light and WDR. Great if you want one device to do both overview...
  5. Richard Chen

    Push to record button. Need help with Alarm In/Out

    A momentary push button will do the job. Just set the NVR to see that press as start/stop. Then hook your light to the alarm out so it comes on when it’s recording. No need for a latching switch unless you want the button to physically stay down.
  6. Richard Chen

    Which is the Consumer IP Cam with the best sound recording quality?

    Built-in mics on most cameras are limited because of compression. If you need clearer speech and background sounds, the best option is a cam that supports an external mic or adding a small PoE mic to your NVR. In more professional systems (like the ones I’ve seen from ACTi), the audio processing...
  7. Richard Chen

    Difference between the modes?

    Monitoring mode basically gives you higher frame rates (up to 100/120fps at 1080p) but it doesn’t allow all the smart features. Smart mode caps the frame rate (25/30fps depending on 50/60Hz) so that analytics like motion detection, smart events, etc. can run reliably.
  8. Richard Chen

    Windows 11 Task Manager - CPU Activity task bar icon not accurate

    This is a known behavior in Windows 11. The taskbar CPU meter is based on a simplified sampling method, so it can overstate short spikes compared to the detailed Performance tab in Task Manager. To minimize discrepancies, you can: Restart or re-enable the CPU meter from Taskbar settings →...
  9. Richard Chen

    help with IP Camera models

    I did a similar setup at my place — also had the pre-wiring done, which honestly makes life a lot easier. For the corners, I put in one of ACTi’s compact PTZs. Starts at 2.8mm with about 10x zoom, and what I like is the movement is smooth and the outdoor build feels solid. It’s been handy for...
  10. Richard Chen

    Indoor camera recommendations

    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...
  11. Richard Chen

    Is thermal right for me?

    Thermal can definitely help in the exact scenario you’re describing — wide, unlit farmland where IR simply doesn’t reach. It won’t give you facial ID, but it’s very good at detection (seeing that someone is there, even in total darkness). Your idea of using thermal for early warning/overview and...
  12. Richard Chen

    I'm in need of a few POE cameras to mount on the sides of a bus.

    Sounds like you’re on the right track looking for RTSP/ONVIF support, that’ll make it much easier with BI. For a flat mount setup, I’d keep an eye on camera form factor—low-profile domes or bullets usually help with wind drag and noise. Also worth checking power/connection options so the install...
  13. Richard Chen

    NDAA compliant manufacturer that does both surveillance AND access?

    Good call on going NDAA-compliant. Most of the big names that meet NDAA don’t bundle cameras and access on the same mobile app the way Hik-Connect does. You’ll usually end up with separate apps or need to integrate through a VMS/ACS platform. If the fingerprint reader on the door station is a...
  14. Richard Chen

    IPC-Color4M-T Video Detection automatically reenables itself

    It’s pretty common that these cams turn Video Detection/SMD back on after a reboot or quick power blip. Check if your NVR/VMS is pushing settings, look at watchdog/auto-reboot or firmware, and as a quick fix just kill the siren/light actions so they don’t go off every time.
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