Subscriber Discussion

TVI Camera - Works When Connected To Handheld Tester - But Not When Plugged Into DVR

RF
Robert Falus
•Aug 17, 2018

Hi,

I have a situation where I have a Speco DVR Hybrid. I have cameras running from the elevator machine room to the head end 45 floors below. Signal is running over Cat 5 using video baluns.  I have a great image from the elevator machine room to the cab. I have great image from the machine room to my tester at head end. As soon as I plug the balun into the DVR the signal is very poor to non existent.  Any ideas?

I have tested a the signal in a number of different ports/channels still makes no difference.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you.

JH
John Honovich
•Aug 17, 2018
IPVM

There are different variants/generations of TVI. That would be my first step. What is the manufacturer / model of the TVI camera? Is that supported by that specific Speco DVR? 

Also, does that Speco DVR offer any settings to change / adapt to different TVI formats?

(2)
U
Undisclosed #2
•Aug 18, 2018
In reply to John Honovich

What is "different TVI formats"?

JH
John Honovich
•Aug 18, 2018
IPVM
In reply to Undisclosed #2

There's different generations of TVI and there is not backwards compatibility to earlier generations is my understanding.

(1)
BP
Bas Poiesz
•Aug 18, 2018
In reply to John Honovich

That would be my first suspect too.

Tester may support a 3 or 5MP model the DVR may not.

check if the MP value exceeds the DVR. If so, see if the camera has an OSD menu where you can decrease the MP value (use the tester to do this).

(1)
RF
Robert Falus
•Aug 18, 2018
In reply to Bas Poiesz

Jonathan, thanks I did not think of that. I will give it a try.

U
Undisclosed #1
•Aug 18, 2018
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Robert Falus

But if

...I have more of the same cameras working with the DVR.

???

U
Undisclosed #1
•Aug 18, 2018
IPVMU Certified

What’s it look like when a camera is at the head end, using just coax, and then just minimal length cat 5 w/baluns?

RF
Robert Falus
•Aug 18, 2018
In reply to Undisclosed #1

I haven't tried that.  I may give it a go.  But again at when I plug the camera feed into the tester at the head end to I have a good image.  

It may be as simple as an incompatability between camera and DVR but not likely as I have more of the same cameras working with the DVR.

Thank you.

U
Undisclosed #1
•Aug 18, 2018
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Robert Falus

I have cameras running from the elevator machine room to the head end 45 floors below.

So all but one of the same-model cameras are working over similar long distances w/baluns?

If so, you could swap a working* camera with the problem one.

Then you would have possibly narrowed it down to the camera or the cable, based on the results.

As for the tester working, it could be as simple as the tester having better electronics, since it being a one channel diagnostic device, the dollars/channel might exceed the speco.

*meaning one of the same-model that works fine with the same dvr at similar cable length.

(2)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #3
•Aug 18, 2018

A quick check shows that recorder at 5MP for IP and 1080 for TVI.  I would start there, then also see if the power supply is correct for that camera.

JH
Jeremy Hoyos
•Aug 21, 2018

I would check for a ground loop between the 2 as well as termination at the head end (ensure you are not double terminated if looped out to another device). Also If they are powered baluns have you tried any of the distance adjustments on them if available?

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