Hi all,
On past projects we would take the composite out of analog DVR's and send the signal into our Crestron DM switches. We would use and IR emitter to change the camera view, operate the PTZ, and whatever else we wanted to do. Every display in the house has the ability to view the cameras and control them. This what pretty easy to accomplish with standard DVR units that excepted IR commands.

We are currently designing two systems with HD 720P cameras and we are searching for an NVR that has an HDMI output for the DM. It also needs to have some way for us to control the NVR output via IP, serial, or IR. This way we can achieve a "grid" view and control the cameras individually as before. We are using AXIS cameras which offer most open standards.

Is anyone knowledgeable or have experience putting together this type of system? I have twenty cameras so the unit is more of a pro class piece. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
M-

We are currently using the IC Realtime NVRs. We only have one installed. We have a few Snap DVR's and one NVR but that NVR is not on a DM system. We are having some issues with the client's Panasonic's plasma TV's due to resolution incompatibilities.

We did a recent job with a Samsung NVR and cameras.
It played well with DM.
Trying to get video to the touchpanels was a whole 'nother, frustrating story.

In progress job has a Wirepath NVR with DM, we shall see how that goes, haven't fired it up yet.

Mac Mini Running Security Spy (OSX based DVR software) at full screen is great for this purpose with up to 16 cameras.

He have utilised this solution for the past 2-3 years without fault and we are currently testing HTTP control for camera selction.

Alternatively Crestron will be releasing the IP stream inputs cards soon which are the pricier option..

I thought I heard the Wirepath NVR could do this native to most control system TPs. Meaning each camera could be viewed separate with a unique address or the entire NVR as a whole.

I dont know Crestron that well but I have done a lot of Snap Surveillance and the NVR and IP cams are very nice.

Worked with a Toshiba NVR a year ago. We sent the HDMI to a brand X kitchen TV, and switched between DirecTV and the NVR. When we switched away from the NVR, the NVR actually forgot that it had two monitors connected (as maybe a computer will do if you disconnect the second monitor?) and a reboot was needed.

We solved the problem with an HDMI detective.

So, yeah, I've had experience with one NVR! it took about six hours over two days to work out the problem and solve it.

Sound.SD, thank you for the compliment and for supporting us. You are correct that Wirepath IP cameras can stream video directly from each camera to your touch panels. This is accomplished using either the drivers built by the control manufacturer, or with a fairly universal URL based CGI request. The NVR's will not supply video directly to the touch panels, only via HDMI to your video distribution.

Control of Wirepath NVR's is still a work in progress. We've been in touch with most control system manufacturers and have provided our API's, now we're just waiting on each of them to build the drivers. Elan G! is already done and we're working on the Control 4 driver ourselves currently.

If anyone is using Wirepath, I'd recommend dropping Crestron an email to see their status for our NVR driver. If they're behind and you need something sooner, drop me a P.M. and I'll see what I can rustle up.

As always, happy installing.

Thanks for all of the replies everyone. We made a move on a Exacq (TYCO) NVR which has a serial interface that we can recall any view that we preset. This addresses our "multi-camera grid" and individual camera views. They have an integration guide on how to set this up with Crestron. The downside is that we have to control the AXIS PTZ cameras directly. Our programmer would prefer all control via the NVR but it will work for what we need. The NVR will handle up to 24 cameras.

NVR: [Link: exacq.com]

Crestron Integration Guide: [Link: exacq.com]

[email protected],
We contacted your team and we were told you weren't ready yet but it was in the works. As far as emailing Crestron we have. Our programmer also forwarded this thread with your comments. We would like the opportunity to try out your gear when its ready.