A customer contacting CCTV camera pros with the following question:

Could you please advise if you have a product that can convert a couple of outdoor analog PTZ cameras which are still in good order, into Internet protocol transmission and control.

In particular I'm wondering whether you have a product that will handle these legacy cameras and facilitate accessing and controlling the PTZ controls via an iPhone.

CCTV Camera Pros recommendation:

Thank You for contacting CCTV Camera Pros. Yes, you can use a network video server, also known as an IP video server, to turn the analog signal of a CCTV camera into a digital IP signal. This effectively converts your CCTV camera into an IP camera. We have two brands of video servers available that I recommend for your consideration, Zavio and Geovision.

This model will enable you to access your camera through the safari web browser that is built into the iPhone and iPad. The Zavio video server is and also compatible with our free iPhone app, iCamViewer.
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Zavio-Network-Video-Server-p/v111t.htm

Here is a link to the free iPhone app:
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/CCTV-Camera-iPhone-App-s/362.htm

The iCamViewer unfortunately does not support PTZ controls at this time so it is really better for non-PTZ cameras. You can control the PTZ of the camera from Safari using the Zavio video server. Please also be aware that the remote viewing and controls work great from a Windows PC through Internet Explorer.

The second choice is Geovision video servers which can be found here. There is a 2 channel and 4 channel model available.
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Geovision-Video-Servers-s/435.htm

The Geovision video servers offer a free iPhone and HD iPad application that does support PTZ controls. In addition, like the Zavio server, the Geovision server also lets you connect to your camera from Internet Explorer and the controls work great from there.

One other option if you are considering to replace your legacy CCTV DVR or VCR is our iDVR. Our iDVR video surveillance recorders are network capable and have one of the best iPhone apps available. The iPhone app supports remote PTZ controls. Please take a look here when you have a chance:

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Internet-Video-Surveillance-DVR-s/424.htm

You will find on that page many screen shots and videos that show the iPhone app.

Please let us know if you have any further questions regarding converting a CCTV camera to IP camera or anything else related to video surveillance.

A customer contacted us with the following questions related to using an LPR camera with a network video server and wireless bridge:

I am looking at a license plate capture camera for the entry gate of a gated community. The gate is 350 feet from the club house where the internet connection is located. I interested in the LPR-SC540CO camera with the V111T Video server. I plan to use a 802.11g/n wireless bridge to the clubhouse and connect it to a NUUO NVR mini network video recorder. My question will this camera and video server work together with the Nuuo NVR mini? Do you have another suggestion? I am on a budget of around $1000 for camera and video server. I did not see any IP License Plate Capture Cameras on your website.

Here is CCTV Camera Pros reply:

Yes, that configuration will work for license plate capture. However, I recommend that you use the LPR-SC600HC license plate camera instead. This is a high contrast LPR camera that will work in the day or night. Please note that this is a black and white camera (not color). This is required for high contract license plate detection and head light compensation.
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/License-Plate-Camera-p/lpr-sc600hc.htm

Typically, high contrast black and white LPR cameras are used in conjunction with a camera that provides a color overview. A much cheaper non-LPR CCTV camera can be used for the overview such as this one:

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/IR-Security-Camera-p/bipro-540l4.htm

If it is not within your budget to also include the overview camera, I do still recommend going with the SC600HC.

The LPR-SC600HC can be used with the V111T Video server. Here is a video of the NUUO mini being used with an license plate capture camera and the Vivotek VS8102 IP video server.

It is the video on that page titled "LPR Video using Vivotek Video Server and NUUO NVR"
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/License-Plate-Capture-Cameras-s/283.htm#LPR-Surveillance-Videos

Unfortunately, there are no ip based high contrast LPR cameras on the market, so the best solution is what you asked about which is attaching a CCTV LPR camera to a high quality network video server that is compatible with the NVR / DVR that you want to use.

Please take a look and let me know if you have additional questions.

The following chat transcript has some very useful information related to the Geovision GV-VS04H video server which provides CCTV to IP conversion for 4 cameras.

Customer:
Regarding the Geovision GV-VS04H network video server, I just wanted to make sure all 4 cameras could be veiwed at the same time & if i used used 25 or so if they would work with evologic software

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
Hello, yes you can view all 4 cameras on the same screen. From which device were you planning on viewing from?

Customer:
I was wanting to use a mac pro with evologic software

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
I am not familiar with evologic software. Is that for video surveillance?

Customer:
yes

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
Can you explain how you wanted the video server and the evologic software to work together?

Customer:
i currently have less than 100 analog cams & i want to convert them to ip & use software on a mac to veiw them

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
ah, I see. In order to view cameras connected to the Geovision GV-VS04H, you must use the included NVR software that comes with the server. This software is designed for Windows. Your Mac computers can then connect to the webserver on the Geovision NVR software PC to view your cameras.

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
Unfortunately there is not a direct interface to the web server of the video server for non-Internet Explorer browsers. You can connect direct to the server using iPhone, iPad, and Android. But not direct from Mac. I have spoken to Geovision product management and requested that direct Mac access be added to the development roadmap.

Does this make sense?

Did you realize that for Mac access you do need to run the Geovision NVR software on a Windows PC?

Customer:
no i didnt.. i am currently using pci cards in multiple pcs & its working ok but the pci cards are getting obsolete. i need something with more power & less pc's

Customer:
i would like to use network type cams instead of going thru the internet

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
So you are looking to migrate over time from Analog to IP cameras. That is the overall goal?

Customer:
yes, i need something to network my cctv cams if possible

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
OK, I think I have a better solution for you. For now, you can use Geovision DVR cards & your existing PCs for your existing CCTV cameras. The Geovision software that is included with the Geovision DVR cards is a hybrid so will work with both Geovision DVR cards / CCTV cameras as well as Geovision IP cameras

Customer:
a pc can only handle 16 cams, i need something to handle at least 100 cams

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
The Geovision software is awesome and accessible by both Mac and PC. Also iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackckberry, etc. Each GV PC can actually handle up to 32 cameras.

Customer:
i want to do away with pc's

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
There is software to manage more than one PC to scales to hundreds or thousands of cameras.

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
And you also want to eventually do away with your analog cameras?

Customer:
yes

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
So you want a non-PC based recorder?

Customer:
yes

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
OK. Let me check something...

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
This is a stand alone NVR that we supply: http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Network-Digital-Video-Recorder-p/nuuo-nv-4160.htm

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
There is a new version coming out next month that is completely accessible via Mac OS

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
There is no single device that I know of that can handle 100+ cameras and has direct Mac access. You will need multiple recorders but they can be managed centrally so it does not seem like separate physical devices. For your existing IP cameras, this IP server is compatible with the NUUO NVR: http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Video-Encoder-p/vivotek-vs7100.htm. That IP server is also accessible directly from Mac using Safari, Firefox, or Chrome web browsers, unlike the Geovision IP server.

Customer:
i will check this out .. thanx

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
your welcome. Do you have any additional questions?

Customer:
that will do for now ..have a good one

CCTV Camera Pros Support:
OK, if you think of anything, you can email me at mike@cctvcamerapros.net. Thank You!

Customer had the following question:

I have a question about the Geovision GV-VS02 IP video server. Does it control Pelco Coaxitron protocol?

CCTV Camera Pros answered as follows:

Unfortunately the Geovision GV-VS02, as with all other IP network video servers that we carry, support PTZ controls with RS-485 and RS-232 protocols / connectors.

Please reply to this forum post if you have any follow up questions.

Thanks.
-Mike