Need help picking out Equipment for remote Location- Needs to boot back up easily

SamSpade

n3wb
Joined
Feb 13, 2017
Messages
29
Reaction score
19
I can't believe I read all 15 pages. Lots of good stuff...
 

CaliGirl

Getting comfortable
Joined
Aug 14, 2016
Messages
659
Reaction score
252
Location
California
The Dahua IOS app has been very problematic. Sometimes it loads the camera fine, most of the time it would crash. I have tried every setting possible. Took a scientific approach today and went through the encoding settings for the sub stream one step at a time. Seems to be that it can only handle:
H.264, 704X408, 10FP,S CBR at 768 Kb/s.

If you turn it up any higher it will crash every time it tries to load a camera. With that said you, it is funny that, if you quickly switch the camera stream from sub to mainstream (full quality) before it tries to load the camera, it plays the main stream perfectly fine. I've reached out to the company about this 4 months ago. We exchanged emails , I sent in all the data and then they stopped responding. Certainly lack of help on their end, no one should have to work this hard to get their iOS app working for them :/ But happy it seems to be working again.

Videos showing sub stream encoding settings required to make iOS app work:
 

CaliGirl

Getting comfortable
Joined
Aug 14, 2016
Messages
659
Reaction score
252
Location
California
I solve one problem and a new problem pops up. Story of Dahua for me personally. Lots of bugs in the software. '

Now, every time I load a camera on SmartPSS2.0 it loads and then closes' it's self. Any idea how to stop this? It is getting tiring.


UPDATE ON ABOVE: I deleted the Smart PSS2.0 OSX, reinstalled, rendered admin info and now it doesn't close the camera each time. Buggy software.

 
Last edited:

tangent

IPCT Contributor
Joined
May 12, 2016
Messages
4,338
Reaction score
3,519
I solve one problem and a new problem pops up. Story of Dahua for me personally. Lots of bugs in the software. '

Now, every time I load a camera on SmartPSS2.0 it loads and then closes' it's self. Any idea how to stop this? It is getting tiring.


UPDATE ON ABOVE: I deleted the Smart PSS2.0 OSX, reinstalled, rendered admin info and now it doesn't close the camera each time. Buggy software.
I have a hunch your issues may be related to your internet connection (upload speed). It doesn't take much jitter to disrupt a video stream. I'm not suggesting the software is bug free.
@bababouy is the remote monitoring expert, maybe he has some ideas.

If you connect directly to the cams in other software like VLC do you have any issues? how about when you run multiple streams at the same time?

You certainly won't get the kind of support you're used to with american companies from dahua or hikvision, but you do get pretty good hardware for the price.
 

CaliGirl

Getting comfortable
Joined
Aug 14, 2016
Messages
659
Reaction score
252
Location
California
Thanks Tangent. The iOS app crashed consistently even streaming the cameras on the local network. I've tried it a number of times. I'm sure upload speed has something to do with it. But, not everything. My 3 Foscam cameras stream on their own app over and over again and never crash their app. They also load instantly, with audio playing and no need to add the camera each time I open the app.

But happy to report that iOS app has been stable all day now that I have changed all the substreams to the settings mentioned above :)
 
Last edited:

CaliGirl

Getting comfortable
Joined
Aug 14, 2016
Messages
659
Reaction score
252
Location
California
Ok, expanding the system to include (2) varifocal Dahua cams at top of property. It will be a long cable run with no 120v near by. So using Dahua POE Switch to power the cams and provide direct access to each cam for settings through the NVR @nayr helped me with. Adding surge protection to each camera that is mounted on a tree. Adding a ground from side of Dahua Switch to a ground on a spare 120V plug. Adding a physical timer to entire system to make it reboot once a week to power cycle model and router. I've needed that twice this winter where I had to call cable company to get them to reset modem remotely. If the Asus router hung, I would be stuck, so that should alleviate that issue if it were to happen. Also upgrading to direct burial cable that will really only be a few inches under the forest floor, there is nothing that drives on top of it to damage it and no one should be digging on our property. Will add nice flex conduit from junction boxes on tree to underground a few feet, then back to direct burial cable, and then add conduit back up at side of house and add a junction box to make it look clean.

What am I forgetting about or missing?

 

tangent

IPCT Contributor
Joined
May 12, 2016
Messages
4,338
Reaction score
3,519
Trying to install lightning protection at the cameras is fairly pointless. If a tree or pole a camera on is struck it's toast either way. Install surge suppression centrally to try to prevent surges from taking out your entire system.
 

smoothie

Pulling my weight
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
223
Reaction score
178
That is an impressive system you have built CaliGirl, congrats on accomplishing so much in the time you have spent with us.

I think you have a pretty thorough plan for your system upgrades. The physical timer to reboot to the system regularly is a simple and elegant solution. The direct burial cable should eliminate cable breakage due to snow/ice buildup, just be sure to bury it deep enough to avoid ground freeze issues.

It is possible to add inline surge suppression to PoE cables with a device such as this. Keep in mind this can reduce the range and/or power of PoE so it may or may not be possible to use a device like this on your specific implementation. As was already pointed out if the pole or tree a camera is mounted to takes a direct lightning strike there is nothing that can be done to allow a camera mounted there to survive. A device like this would hopefully prevent the strike from transmitting down the network cable to your DVR. This device states "outdoor" in its description but I would suggest that while you can mount this device "outdoor" it should be given maximum environmental protection to prevent issues. Having exposed RJ45 connectors where moisture can get in is a recipe for disaster. Most surge suppression devices such as this are designed to be sacrificial in the event of a lightning strike.

The only other thing I can think of is not necessary but you could consider it as it might be of some use to you. Perhaps putting some kind of small awning or roof over one or more of the exposed cameras as a means of reducing snow/ice buildup. I don't know if this would be beneficial to your implementation or not. A steep angle would discourage snow for sticking to it and building up too much. Just a thought since you have covered all the normal points of weakness in a system so well already.
 
As an Amazon Associate IPCamTalk earns from qualifying purchases.

CaliGirl

Getting comfortable
Joined
Aug 14, 2016
Messages
659
Reaction score
252
Location
California
I thought the point of protection at the cameras or at least prior to the switch is to protect the rest of the system. I don't care if one camera gets destroyed, as long as the entire system doesn't get taken out. So you are saying a surge protector near the switch wouldn't protect the system? Or are you saying the one camera will be toast?

Wasn't planning on burying below freeze level. That is almost 3 feet here and would require a professional, a trencher and lots of $. I thought the direct burial cable would be strong enough for my use if I put it 6 inches under the forest floor. Half of the year it will be buried deep by snow anyway. The direct burial cable really needs to be below free level I should be looking at a wireless setup and avoid the cables :/, but then I still need power to the cameras via POE.

I will def not be exposing the rj45 connectors, waterproof everywhere. I searched the forums and saw the complaints.

Good points on the Camera snow shields. The Big Black Face Dahua PTZ handled the snow perfect. It would build up for a few hours and then melt off bc the camera is just warm enough. The lens never was obscured. The Dahua turrets got direct snow and rain on the lens and obscured the image during rain showers and wind. That interferes with the image. SO, def need to build a small roof over the exposed ones to block the rain and sun glare. Was thinking of building a wood box for the new Varifocal cameras I got that will be on a tree. (luckily the tree blocks most of the snow where it will be) Although, I imagine the cameras do get a little warm and the snow would melt off on their own better, so I might create my own issue. The snow blinds might drip on the leading edge, re freeze and then create icicles in front of the camera. That is my concern. The ice is a real problem here as it warms and then freezes at night. So maybe deal with the rain and wind on the lens but avoid icicles?
 

smoothie

Pulling my weight
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
223
Reaction score
178
Sorry I should have clarified my statement. I was suggesting that given proper surge suppression protection a single camera on a tree/pole struck by lightning would still be destroyed but the remaining cameras, DVRs and other equipment should be unaffected. Whatever device is used for the surge suppression on the cable running to the camera on the tree struck by lightning, such as the device I linked earlier, will likely also be destroyed.

The physical distance between the surge suppressor and the Dahua switch shouldn't matter too much in terms of providing protection. There are a few considerations to this that you should keep in mind. The ultimate goal of electricity, such as a lightning strike, is to get to ground. As such the goal of any surge suppressor in design and installation should be to make itself the easiest path to ground so that the electricity will choose it over the remaining Cat5/6 cable, the switch, its power chord, the electrical circuit and finally to the ground for the home electrical wiring. Many surge suppressors will have a "sacrificial" circuit design such that a surge of sufficient power will physically burn out the circuit leaving only the grounding wire which the surge can flow thru. This sacrificial circuit designs also serves to inform that the unit has absorbed a surge and should be replaced because it no longer passes power or a signal or whatever is meant to flow over the circuit normally.
 

looney2ns

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Sep 25, 2016
Messages
15,521
Reaction score
22,657
Location
Evansville, In. USA
@CaliGirl The first thing the cable should plug into as it enters the house is the surge protector. No need for one at the camera.

Six inch depth should be fine, the stupid cable co's around here are lucky to get the cable 2-3" deep, and they survive for many years. Our frost line is approx 24" here.
 

smoothie

Pulling my weight
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
223
Reaction score
178
I honestly don't know enough about cable and the effects of freezing to know if a few inches of burial is perfectly fine or if additional depth is required. Rereading my comment I totally came across as stating factually that it must be buried deep enough and that ground freeze issues can and do affect direct burial cable.

What I had meant to convey, and did a terrible job of doing so (I am sorry about that), was if guidelines exist for direct burial network cable in freezing conditions you might want to check that your plan is in agreement with them.

I apologize for any confusion I caused with that earlier statement, I basically couldn't have worded it any worse than I did.
 

bp2008

Staff member
Joined
Mar 10, 2014
Messages
12,666
Reaction score
14,005
Location
USA
I think people often forget that 32°F or 0°C is just the freezing point of water and it doesn't necessarily have a special effect on other materials ... like copper wire or a PVC cable jacket. That said you certainly don't want to stress a cold network cable as it will be more brittle, and if freezing water in the ground expands a little it could crack a cable jacket and cause water to degrade and destroy the cable in upcoming seasons.
 

tigerwillow1

Known around here
Joined
Jul 18, 2016
Messages
3,815
Reaction score
8,424
Location
USA, Oregon
Just in case anybody wants to worry about the electrical code, my interpretation is that direct burial wire needs to be at least 24" deep, 18" deep in PVC conduit, or 6" deep in metal conduit. There's a narrow exception for 18" direct burial in residential applications that may or may not apply. If POE were 30 volts or less, a 6" direct burial depth would maybe apply (It's meant specifically for irrigation control and landscape lighting). With POE being current limited I think an exception would be in order, but I'm not aware of one.
 

Ford

Getting the hang of it
Joined
Feb 14, 2015
Messages
167
Reaction score
97
Location
BC
Around here we call putting network gear on a Walmart timer (because the gear is a bit flakey) a 'Redneck Reset'.

Best to put the shallow buried cable in cheap 1/2" pvc conduit, otherwise its just a matter of time till the critters nibble thru it.
 

CaliGirl

Getting comfortable
Joined
Aug 14, 2016
Messages
659
Reaction score
252
Location
California
Thanks @smoothie, that makes sense now. I just want to protect everything downline.



@looney2ns Thank you, I plan to lay the cable just under the surface. The the forest floor is mostly pine needles then it is hard rocks and tons of roots that will be impossible for me to get through alone. We don’t plan on selling the place ever so not sure if there would be an inspector to bother us about it and it is low voltage in cat5, max 30 volts I believe. If a rodent wants to chew through it, oh well, I will run a new cable but I think it will be fine. I ran plain cat 5 cable under the pine needles for the winter and it is all still working perfectly fine this spring.



@Ford I will consider your recommendation of burying the direct burial cable I bought from Mono price in cheap PVC conduit. I need to price out how much that would be for 300 ft and how much work and how I would get 300ft delivered on top of my SUV to the site.
 

looney2ns

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Sep 25, 2016
Messages
15,521
Reaction score
22,657
Location
Evansville, In. USA
Thanks @smoothie, that makes sense now. I just want to protect everything downline.



@looney2ns Thank you, I plan to lay the cable just under the surface. The the forest floor is mostly pine needles then it is hard rocks and tons of roots that will be impossible for me to get through alone. We don’t plan on selling the place ever so not sure if there would be an inspector to bother us about it and it is low voltage in cat5, max 30 volts I believe. If a rodent wants to chew through it, oh well, I will run a new cable but I think it will be fine. I ran plain cat 5 cable under the pine needles for the winter and it is all still working perfectly fine this spring.



@Ford I will consider your recommendation of burying the direct burial cable I bought from Mono price in cheap PVC conduit. I need to price out how much that would be for 300 ft and how much work and how I would get 300ft delivered on top of my SUV to the site.
@CaliGirl 1/2 in. x 10 ft. PVC Schedule 40 Conduit-67447 - The Home Depot
 
Top