WC> I've seen 1,000 hour camera tape machines advertized.

RJT> Oh really?  And these use standard tapes?  I wonder how they
RJT> do that.

RS> usually they use a stepper motor that advances the tape one step,
RS> pauses, then one more step, etc. This writes over the same spot on
RS> the tape a few times. The last time being "saved" and then
RS> advancing to the next step, pause, etc.

RJT> This is a modified VCR?

 Well, it was designed this way from the start, but
they "borrowed" existing technology, too. They look
very much like any other VCR of the same vintage.

 Why reinvent the wheel?

RS>  We currently use a computer system, with video going directly onto
RS> hard drives.

RJT> That's where my thinking was going next on this.  Aren't there a couple of
RJT> consumer appliances out there that use hard drives?

 Well, I have the ability to use my PC as a VCR.
Does that count?  :^)

 I've seen consumer "video cards" that support four
cameras. I've no experience with them.

RS> It can (does) do all of the above and more (alarm by time of day,
RS> access control camera call-up, playback during recording, etc.).
RS> Our system currently supports 64 cameras, but we're building another
RS> six story section, so we'll be expanding this a bit.

RJT> Hmm.  Is this sort of thing real pricey?

 I'm sure that it is; but, since it comes out of
Security's budget, I really don't know what they
pay. I DO know that we're spending over $500K for
Access Control Equipment for that six story add-on.

 The final cost might easily be double that. And
that's with ME doing all of the programming and
networking of all of the hardware.

 TTYL.

 Robert

 * SLMR 2.1a * Don't play stupid with me! I'm better at it!
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