At CCTV Camera Pros, it is common to receive phone calls from customers who are looking for a surveillance DVR or security camera that will support an unlimited number of remote users. These users are typically researching security camera systems for applications such as a day care that wants to allow parents to login and check on their children. For this type of application, multiple users need to be able to login to the system remotely at the same time to view cameras from the Internet. Most of the time customers that are researching these solutions have the unrealistic expectation that network-able DVRs and IP cameras can handle an unlimited number of simultaneous remote viewers. This article will discuss the hardware, software, and bandwidth constraints that make it impossible for any video surveillance system to handle an unlimited number of remote users. The variables discussed in this article apply to surveillance DVRs and security cameras (both IP and analog).
Bandwidth Limits
The first technology that limits the number of viewers supported by a camera system is Internet bandwidth. At the location where your DVR or camera is located, you need a high speed Internet connection to support remote viewing. Typically businesses use cable, DSL, or a T1 for their Internet connection. Ask your service provider what the maximum upload speed is for your Internet connection or run a speed test from a PC at the location. The upload speed is the one you want to note.
Software Limits
The second technology that limits the number of remote users supported is the software of the DVR or IP camera software. Network DVRs and IP cameras both use embedded web server software to serve video streams to client applications, web browsers, and mobile apps. Just as a web server used to host web sites is limited in the number of users that can access a web page, the web servers built into surveillance equipment limited by the number of video streams it can serve simultaneously. Users need to also consider that the software of your DVR is also performing other resource intense operations such as recording video and managing all of the configurations rules related to recording and alarms.
Hardware Limits
Last, there is the limitation of the hardware. Even the fastest supercomputers available have limits to the number of processes they can handle at any given time. Most entry and mid-level surveillance DVRs use processors equivalent to the Atom processor, like the ones use in tiny netbook computers. And again, these processors need to handle a lot of important tasks such as continuously recording multiple video streams, activating recording based on alarm events like motion detection, and allowing users to playback and export recorded video. It is easy to see why these devices are limited in the number of remote users and video streams they can serve.
Max Remote Viewers for Surveillance DVRs
When shopping for a surveillance system, keep in mind that not all DVRs and IP cameras are created equal. Higher end DVRs have faster processors and more memory. In addition, some manufacturers build better software than others. Below are a few stand alone (embedded) DVRs and PC based DVRs with varying numbers of simultaneous remote viewer support. Please note that some manufacturers limit the number of total users that can be logged in and others limit the total number of video streams that can be served.
Geovision PC based DVRs can serve 200 video channels simultaneously. So for example, if you have 5 cameras being accessed at the same time for all users, the Geovision system can support 40 simultaneous users.
If you have any questions related to remote viewing surveillance DVRs or anything else related to video surveillance, please contact CCTV Camera Pros at 561-433-8488.
A very common problem that we hear from surveillance system users is that the iCamViewer iPhone app for security cameras is working fine on the WIFI connection at the location of the camera, but remote access over 3G or from a remote hotspot outside of their network does not work. Although we are speaking about this issue in the context of the iCamViewer mobile application, the issue is very generic and also experienced with any iPhone, iPad, Android, or other mobile application. All network surveillance products such as a IP security camera, network video server, or CCTV DVR must be configured properly with port forwarding for remote access to work. This problem is typically caused by two things.
Port forwarding is not properly setup on the router that the camera is connected to. Port forwarding allows outside Internet traffic to the surveillance camera. More details can be found here about how port forwarding works.
The IP address of the Internet connection at the location of the camera is not being used. If you are accessing your camera using an IP address that starts with 192. or 10., then you are using the LAN (local area network) IP address of the device, which will only work on the local network.
These problems are easily solved by doing the following.
Follow the instructions for your router to setup port forwarding for the port that your camera uses for remote access. A very typical default port is 80. Port forwarding instructions for some routers can be found here. If your router is not on that page, the concepts are the same to configure any router and you should be able to improvise if you have the manual for your particular model. Once you have port forwarding setup, you can use this check port forwarding tool to be sure that you did successfully set it up correctly.
Make sure you know the correct Internet IP address used at the location where your camera is. From a computer that is
on the same network as your camera, use this what is my IP address tool to verify that you know your correct WAN address.
Use the IP address obtained in the step above to configure the the client software that you are using to access your camera. In this case, the iCamViewer iPhone app can access your camera both from WIFI and 3G internet connections.
More Help Available
We hope that this article was useful in helping to troubleshoot the mobile access to your surveillance camera. If you need additional help, please post to our surveillance iPhone app forum.
The CamGraba is new Android mobile app is now available for Zavio network IP cameras. The app is available for free to download in the Android market. The CamGraba mobile app works in conjunction with the new 32 channel CamGraba NVR software that is included with Zavio cameras. Users must run the NVR software on a Windows PC, then they can configure the CamGraba client for Android to connect to the web server of the NVR to view their Zavio IP cameras remotely over the Internet from their Android cell phone. In addition to enabling access to monitor cameras from Android, the CamGraba is a full feature NVR / IP camera software package. More details about the Zavio NVR software can be found here. Users can download the CamGraba for Windows and the Android app using the below links.
The below screen shots show the single camera and six camera view that is available in the app. When users have more that 6 cameras on their system, they can access additional views of their cameras by swiping their finger on the screen to page through the views of their cameras.
Main App Features
View up to 32 cameras in live view display at QCIF resolution
Full screen single channel live view display at CIF resolution
Support taking snapshots
Support for Physical / Digital PTZ control
Support Digital IO
In addition to Android, Zavio also plans on releasing the CamGraba iPhone app very soon. The interface will be almost identical to the Android interface. CCTV Camera Pros also has the iCamViewer iPhone app available which works with Zavio IP cameras and does not require the Windows NVR software to work. The iCamViewer connects directly to the IP camera instead of the NVR software.
About CCTV Camera Pros CCTV Camera Pros is a master distributor for Zavio located in Palm Beach, Florida. CCTV Camera Pros sells Zavio and other video surveillance equipment for home, business, and government installations. For any questions related to this article or anything related to IP or CCTV camera equipment, please contact us.
Zavio IP cameras now include a 32 channel NVR software package called CamGraba. The software looks very much like and has many of the same features as NUUO IP camera software. The Zavio NVR software is compatible with all Zavio camera models and runs on Windows based computers. Previous versions of Zavio NVR software were limited in only allowing users to remotely view one camera. The new CamGraba software allows 4 cameras to be remotely viewed simultaneously. The combination of the already very competitive pricing and high quality of Zavio cameras with a full features NVR software creates a great value for home, business and government customers. Here is a list of some of the major features supported:
Compatible with all ZAVIO models, including VGA, 1.3 megapixel and 2 megapixel
Remote 4-channel live view and playback simultaneously
Motion detection & scheduled recording
Supports H.264/ MPEG-4/ MJPEG compression formats
Multiple user access levels with password protection
About CCTV Camera Pros
CCTV Camera Pros is a direct supplier of security cameras and video surveillance systems for home, business and government applications. We are a US veteran owned business located in Boynton Beach, Florida. CCTV Camera Pros is a master distributor for Zavio and can assist in the design of surveillance systems for any size application. Please visit www.cctvcamerapros.com to learn more about us and the surveillance products that we supply.
With the amazing growth of Apple products over the last five years, it is no surprise that the surveillance equipment industry has seen increasing demand for security cameras and video surveillance software for Mac computers. At CCTV Camera Pros, we recently tested to confirm that two of our favorite product lines include software that is up to date to work with the new Mac Lion operating system (Mac OS X 10.7): our iDVR-E series stand alone CCTV DVRs and Zavio IP security cameras.
The iDVR-E series video surveillance DVRs are used with CCTV cameras and include a free Mac software application that lets users manage and connect to one or more of these DVRs from a Mac desktop or laptop PC. The Mac DVR software allows the user to view the live video in real time and also playback recorded video remotely over the Internet. The user interface is easy to use and very powerful. This is one of the best Mac DVR clients that we have seen and we have confirmed that the software is compatible with the Mac Lion and Mac Snow Leopard OS. Please click on the below image to view additional screenshots of the Mac software included with the iDVR-E.
If your goal is to setup an IP security camera and log in directly to it from the web browser of your Mac, Zavio IP cameras are an excellent choice. CCTV Camera Pros has tested and confirmed that Zavio cameras can be accessed from Safari, Firefox, and Chrome web browsers on a Mac computer using Lion or Snow Leopard operating systems. Please click on the below image to view additional screenshots and demo videos of Zavio IP cameras being access remotely over the Internet using Mac.
About CCTV Camera Pros
CCTV Camera Pros is a direct supplier of security cameras and video surveillance systems for home, business and government applications. We are a US veteran owned business and are located in Boynton Beach, Florida. CCTV Camera Pros can assist in the design of surveillance systems for any size application. We specialize in assisting our customers not only in the selection of the best equipment for their needs but also in remote support and setup of the Internet access to their cameras. Please visit www.cctvcamerapros.com to learn more about us and the surveillance products that we supply.
CCTV Camera Pros is pleased to announce the availability of a new line of coaxial surge protectors for CCTV equipment. The SP-S1 and SP-R16 offer an affordable lightning power surge solution that can be used to protect CCTV cameras, surveillance DVRs, BNC monitors, and any other type of video device that uses a coaxial cable with BNC connectors. For devices that have connectors other than BNC, CCTV Camera Pros also offers a variety of connectors and converters such as BNC to RCA and BNC to F-connector. The SP-S1 is a single channel surge protector with a BNC male connector on one end and a female on the other. The SP-R16 is a 16 channel rack mount surge protector. CCTV Camera Pros recommends installing coax surge protectors on both ends of any RG59 or RG6 cable run for the best protection. It is very common for professional installers to install a SP-S1 on the camera end of a cable run and to install the rack mount SP-R16 by the DVR or other central location where all of the video cable runs terminate.
Commenting on the the new CCTV surge protectors, Mike Haldas, managing partner of CCTV Camera Pros says, “Being located in South Florida, we are all too familiar with the damage that lightning strikes can cause. The SP-S1 and SP-R16 surge protectors are extremely popular to use in locations where there is a risk of power surges from lightning strikes. We think that it is worth the additional investment to install surge protectors when running coaxial cable to protect valuable video equipment. CCTV Camera Pros has increased our supply of these devices recently to make them even more affordable.”
iCamViewer, the free iPhone app from CCTV Camera Pros used to remotely monitor security cameras, has many great uses. Some users have found it very useful when used to remotely monitor construction sites. It is very convenient for a construction project managers to be able to check on the progress of a job site at any time from his iPhone or iPad with the touch of a finger from anywhere in the world. In addition to commercial construction projects, CCTV Camera Pros has also helped many homeowners monitor smaller construction projects that they want to keep an eye on.
Commenting on the iCamViewer, CCTV Camera Pros co-founder and appliction architect Mike Haldas says: “I have personally used the iCamViewer to monitor a construction project at my house. My wife and I added a loft to our house last year and I used Vivotek IP cameras and network video servers on the site to monitor what was going on. Not only was it nice to be able to see the progress of the project whenever I wanted to, but it gave me some peace of mind to be able to keep an eye on the workers that were in my home when I was not there. I am very happy that we are able to offer this app for free to users around the world.”
Some screen shots of the iCamViewer app being used with Axis IP cameras can be seen below. Please click on any of the images for a larger view.
One of the most popular questions that we hear from our customers is “What is the best iPhone app to view CCTV cameras remotely over the Internet?”. With the exploding growth of iPhone usage worldwide, it is no surprise that users with video surveillance systems want to view cameras installed in their home and businesses from their iphone. Here are two of the best iPhone apps and surveillance solutions that CCTV Camera Pros recommends for viewing CCTV cameras. One solution uses an Internet enabled stand alone DVR, the iDVR, and the other uses an add-on device called a network video server that enables Internet access for CCTV cameras (with or without the use of a DVR).
Mobile CMS App for iPhone
The iDVR is the best CCTV DVR in its price range that has the type of high end quality and remote viewing support that it does. The iDVR is exclusively sold by CCTV Camera Pros and is available in 4, 8, and 16 channel models. There is a free mobile CMS iPhone app that is compatible with the iDVR that allows users to view their cameras remotely in single screen view as well as 4, 8, and 16 camera view grids on one screen. The quality of this app is the best that we have seen for a stand alone recorder. The app connects to the DVR’s H.264 video stream which enables very fast response time even over slower Internet connections. In addition to supporting remote view for iPhone, the app also works in 2x display mode for iPad and an app is also available for Android and Blackberry smart phones. If you want to view from a laptop or desktop computer, both Windows and Mac computers are supported. The iDVR pricing currently starts at $599 for the 4 channel model.
Click here to view an image gallery and demonstration videos of he remote iPhone viewing capability of the iDVR.
If you already have a DVR that you do not want to replace but it is missing support for iPhone access, then a Geovision GV-VS04H IP video server and the GV-Eye iPhone app may be the perfect solution for you. The GV-VS04H allows you to connect up to 4 CCTV cameras to it. The video server enables access to your cameras from the iPhone using the free GV-Eye app. Users can easily split the video signals from each of their cameras between their existing DVR and the Geovision video server. Click here to view video server installation options. The GV-Eye iPhone app supports viewing one or 4 cameras per screen and also supports connecting to multiple video servers and Geovision IP cameras. This allows users to view multiple locations from the same app session.
About the Author This article was written by Mike Haldas, co-founder and managing partner at CCTV Camera Pros. Mike is a subject matter expert in the area of video surveillance and mobile software applications. Before starting CCTV Camera Pros with business partner Greg Bond, Mike worked as an Internet software engineer and product manager. Mike has a passion for finding and testing the best video surveillance equipment and software applications available so that CCTV Camera Pros can provide them to their customers. If you have questions about this article or anything related to video surveillance systems and mobile viewer apps, Mike can be contacted at mike@cctvcamerapros.net.
CCTV Camera Pros iDVR recorders for CCTV video surveillance now include a free app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch which enables users to view their security cameras from remotely over the Internet. The free DVR viewer iPhone app allows users to connect to multiple iDVR-E series CCTV DVRs from CCTV Camera Pros (iDVR-E4, iDVR-E8, and iDVR-E16 models are all supported). The app supports viewing security cameras in single camera mode, quad view (four cameras on one screen), nine camera grid view, and sixteen camera grid view. The app also allows user to control the pan, tilt, zoom operations of PTZ cameras from the iPhone or iPad. The app is very easy to use. Users simply swipe their finger across the screen to navigate from one camera to the next. The setup of the app is simple and CCTV Camera Pros provides free technical support for all customers who purchase the iDVR-E4, iDVR-E8, or iDVR-E16 direct from CCTV Camera Pros.
iPhone CCTV App Screenshot
The below screenshot shows the new iDVR app being used from the Apple iPhone 4.
Please click on the image for a larger view.
iPad CCTV App Screenshot
The below screenshot shows the new iDVR app being used from the Apple iPad one.
Please click on the image for a larger view.
iPhone & iPad DVR Viewer App Demo Video
The below video demonstrates the new iDVR app using an iPad in portrait and landscape views. The app looks exactly the same on an iPhone.
For more information and pricing on the iDVR-E4, iDVR-E8, and iDVR-E16 model CCTV DVRs that are compatible with the mobile CMS app, please click here: iDVR H.264 Stand Alone DVRs.
Customers that have any questions about the new iDVR app or who wish to request a demo on their iPhone or iPad can contact CCTV Camera Pros sales toll free at 888-849-2288 or by emailing info@cctvcamerapros.net.
3/29/2011 – Palm Beach, Florida — CCTV Camera Pros, a direct supplier of video surveillance systems, today announced the availability of the new WIR12X infrared PTZ camera with 100 foot IR range. The PTZ-WIR12X IR pan tilt zoom camera uses a Sony 12x optical zoom lens which is equivalent to a 3.9 – 42mm vari-focal range. This PTZ camera is enclosed in a weatherproof housing so it can be used for indoor or outdoor video surveillance. The new WIR12X can be either wall or ceiling mounted. An optional extended pendant mount is also available. The WIR12X comes with a wall mount bracket and the required DC power supply.
Commenting on the PTZ-WIR12X, CCTV Camera Pros cofounder Mike Haldas says: “We are extremely excited to offer a high quality infrared pan tilt zoom camera that does not break the bank. Our customers have been asking for an IR pan tilt zoom model that costs less than $2000 and with the WIR12X CCTV Camera Pros has handily beat that expectation. We are rolling this new model out this week at a retail price of $1199. I believe that this represents a great value compared to the other options that we have seen on the market. Our quality assurance team has tested this camera with our iDVR stand-alone digital video recorders as well as our Geovision and NUUO PC based surveillance DVRs. The results were outstanding. Users can see the videos that were created from our QA testing on our website. This camera will integrate well with any DVR that uses Pelco D protocol for pan tilt zoom communications.”
The PTZ-WIR12X is currently available on CCTV Camera Pros website for $1199.99. For additional information and a complete specification of this PTZ, please visit: www.cctvcamerapros.com/IR-PTZ-Camera-p/ptz-wir12x.htm
About CCTV Camera Pros
CCTV Camera Pros is a direct supplier of security cameras and video surveillance systems for home, business and government applications. We are a US veteran owned business and are located in Boynton Beach, Florida. CCTV Camera Pros can assist in the design of surveillance systems for any size application. Please visit www.cctvcamerapros.com to learn more about us and the surveillance products that we supply.
At CCTV Camera Pros, it is common to receive phone calls from customers who are looking for a surveillance DVR or security camera that will support an unlimited number of remote users. These users are typically researching security camera systems for applications such as a day care that wants to allow parents to login and check on their children. For this type of application, multiple users need to be able to login to the system remotely at the same time to view cameras from the Internet. Most of the time customers that are researching these solutions have the unrealistic expectation that network-able DVRs and IP cameras can handle an unlimited number of simultaneous remote viewers. This article will discuss the hardware, software, and bandwidth constraints that make it impossible for any video surveillance system to handle an unlimited number of remote users. The variables discussed in this article apply to surveillance DVRs and security cameras (both IP and analog).
Zavio IP cameras now include a 32 channel NVR software package called CamGraba. The software looks very much like and has many of the same features as NUUO IP camera software. The Zavio NVR software is compatible with all Zavio camera models and runs on Windows based computers. Previous versions of Zavio NVR software were limited in only allowing users to remotely view one camera. The new CamGraba software allows 4 cameras to be remotely viewed simultaneously. The combination of the already very competitive pricing and high quality of 
CCTV Camera Pros is pleased to announce the availability of a new line of 
This article was written by Mike Haldas, co-founder and managing partner at 
