How to Reset / Recover / Change Forgotten Administrator Password in Windows?

Many times we face this problem when we or our friends forget Administrator account password in Windows and can't log into Windows. So here we are posting a few methods which can be used to change, reset or recover forgotten Windows password in Windows.

DISCLAIMER: Following information should be used only if its your system and you have forgotten account password. Don't use this information to access a system which is not yours without permission.

Method 1: Using Welcome or Login Screen

This method is the first thing which should always do whenever you forget your Windows login password. When we install Windows, it automatically creates a hidden user account"Administrator" and sets its password to blank. So if you forget your user account password then try this:

1. Start your computer and when you see Windows Welcome screen (Login screen), press <ctrl>+<alt>+<del> keys twice and it'll show Classic Login box.

2. Now type Administrator in Username box and leave Password box empty. Now press Enter and you should be able to log into Windows.

3. Now you can reset your account password from "Control Panel -> User Accounts".

Same thing can be done using Safe Mode. In Safe Mode Windows will show this in-built Administrator account in Login screen.

Method 2: Using Password Reset Disk

Windows XP and later Windows versions provide a built-in method to recover forgotten password by using "Password Reset Disk". If you created a Password Reset Disk in past, you can use that disk to reset the password.

If you don't know how to create a password reset disk, lets tell you in details. You can create the password reset disk using Control panel -> User Accounts applet.

First open Control Panel and click on User Accounts icon. It'll open User Accounts window. Now click on your user account and then click on "Prevent a forgotten password" link given in left-side pane. It'll open forgotten password wizard as shown in following screenshot:

Follow the instructions and you'll have a password reset disk in your hand.

Method 3: Using "Net User" DOS Command

You can also use a built-in DOS command "Net User" to change any desired user account password within seconds. You'll need access to Command Prompt window in this method:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator as mentioned here and run following command:

net user

2. It'll list all available user accounts in Windows.

3. Now run following command:

net user user_name new_password

Replace "user_name" with the desired user account name and replace "new_password" with your desired password.

For example:

net user "Arindam Bhadra" 12345

Here "Arindam Bhadra" is the user account name and 12345 is the new password.

4. That's it. It'll immediately change the user account password.

Method 4: Using Windows XP Setup Loophole

If the above mentioned tricks don't work for you, try following trick which is actually a loophole in Windows XP Setup and also a big security hole:

1. Boot using Windows XP Setup CD and follow the instruction like Accepting EULA, etc.

2. When it asks to repair your existing Windows installation, accept it and press "R" key to run the repair.

3. Setup will start repairing your Windows and will start copying files, etc.

4. After a few minutes setup will restart your system and when it restarts, don't press any key when it shows "Press any key to continue...". Otherwise Setup will start from the beginning. Don't press any key and setup will resume where it left.

5. Now it'll start doing other tasks and will show a small progressbar with a few details in left side.

6. Look carefully at the details and when it shows "Installing devices", press <Shift>+F10 keys together in your keyboard.

7. It'll open a Command Prompt window. Now type nusrmgr.cpl and press <Enter> key.

8. It'll open the same "User Accounts" window which you see in Control Panel.

9. Now you can remove or reset any account password without any problem.

Method 5: Using Bootable Rescue Disk

You can also use various bootable rescue CDs to reset your Windows password as mentioned in following link:

Method 6: Perform a Clean Installation of Windows

If all fails, simply reinstall Windows and create new user account. To recover lost data, you can use Data recovery tools available on net but the chances will be less to get your data back.

That's all we can suggest. If you know about any other method or tool, feel free to share it in your comment.....

Double Router Forwarding process

As a CCTV Engineer / Technician its very hard to configure Double Router Forwarding for your Installed DVR. As a Technical Writer this post is dedicated to all who call / Mail for writing this Process. My aim is to keep this guide as simple as possible, while still providing you with the information you need to know.

As you can imagine, port forwarding through two routers is a bit more complex than port forwarding through one router. Below is a diagram of a double routed network.

Important Things to Notice:

· Both "Router #1" and "Router #2" have TWO IP addresses; an Internal IP address and an External IP address.

·    There are TWO LANs (Local Area Networks).

·    There are TWO WANs (Wide Area Networks). If there is a LAN then there is an accompanying WAN.

Now that we have identified these things we can go on to learn how they affect us.

Network Address Translation

For the sake of readability, from now on I will refer to "Router #1" and "Router #2" as "R1" and"R2" respectively.

Every router does NAT (Network Address Translation), and has both an internal IP address and an external IP address. The external IP address is the one that connects that router to the WAN (Wide Area Network). Usually the WAN is the Internet. The internal IP address connects the router to the internal network. Our network here is a bit more complex than the basic network.

R1's external IP address connects R1 to the Internet, just like any other network. R1 also has an internal IP address which provides NAT to the internal LAN1 network below it. The only thing connected to LAN1 is the router R2. R2 connects to LAN1 with an external IP address. Notice that R2's external IP address does not connect to the internet, but to another private network. Another way to say that is, R2's WAN IP address is external to R2 but internal to R1. R2 then provides NAT to the LAN2 network below it. R2 provides NAT through its internal IP address. The computers then connect to LAN2 and receive data from R2.

Let's assign IP addresses to everything, and see how it would look.

Notice that the IP addresses that exist on LAN1 differ from the IP addresses on LAN2. The IP addresses that are on LAN1 are 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.5. The IP addresses that are on LAN2 are 10.0.0.1 and 10.0.0.15. Here is another diagram to help show the network divisions:

Configure Port Forwards

Okay enough idle chatter. Let's talk about how to forward ports through this network.

Step 1

We want to forward ports from the WAN of R1 to a computer connected to LAN2. To do this we need to forward the ports in R1 to R2's external IP address. In this example we would log into R1 and forward ports to 192.168.1.5.

Note: In order to connect to R1's web interface one will probably have to plug a computer directly into R1 and establish a connection on LAN1.

Step 2

The next step is to forward ports from R2 to the proper network device whether it be a computer, XBOX, or PS3. (The Proper network device is the device on which you run the program for which you are forwarding ports.) In our example we would log into R2, and then forward ports to 10.0.0.15.

If you are having trouble forwarding ports or just don't want to deal with the hassle of doing it manually, check out PFConfig; a software tool that automatically forwards your ports.

Using the Free Router Detector you can know IP address for each host. Download Now & Install.

Static IP Addresses

You have now set up port forwards in your double router network and everything is working without a hitch. That's great, but if you have not configured static IP addresses for the network devices for which you have forwarded ports then your port forwarding settings are just waiting to break. When your port forward settings stop working, the most likely cause is that the network device for with you have forwarded ports has obtained a different internal IP address than the internal IP address that it had when you originally configured your port forward settings. The result is that your ports are no longer forwarded to the correct IP address.

How do I stop my port forward settings from breaking?

Static IP addresses allow you to assign an IP address to a network device and ensure that its IP address does not change.

The network devices for which ports are being forwarded need to have a static IP address. If a device does not have a static IP address, then it has a dynamic IP address. Dynamic IP addresses can/will change. As stated earlier, if the IP address of a network device for which ports you've forwarded ports changes, the ports will not be forwarded to the correct place. So it is important to setup a static IP address on the network devices for which you intend to forward ports.

The same applies to R2 in our example. R2's external IP address should really be static. This is not too big of a problem if R2 is the only network device connected to LAN1. If R2 is the only device on LAN1, it is unlikely that its IP address will change. If you have other devices on LAN1, you really need to setup a static IP address on R2. You would make configurations for a static IP address in the WAN section of R2.

Alternate Logon to Windows XP without Password

Logon to Windows XP with Secondary Logon without the need to enter a Password

Dear Readers, if you ever tried to enter a Windows XP system usually found on Schools, Cafe, Offices, Work Place etc. and were unable to logon because you didn't know the password for a specific account available in that system, then this trick may solve your problem... All you need to do is follow these instructions:

Press " ALT + CTRL + DEL " (Without Quotes) twice at the logon screen. (Make sure there is no account with name Administrator)

A Secondary Logon will popup.

In the User field, enter " Administrator " (Without Quotes) and Leave the password field blank/empty.

Press Enter. It should let you in. ( If not, there is possibility that the User had set an administrative password during Windows XP Installation).

Q: Want to know why & how this trick works ??

A: The simple answer to this question is that during an unattended Windows XP Installation or Installing Windows XP from MiniXP or Certain Modded Windows XP ISO Image* files, the Installation process skips the User Account Setup and directly asks the user to Create user account with up to 5 accounts options as you may have already noticed. This setups the secondary User Account with Administrative Privileges, while the Primary Administrator is set without or a blank password which when used with this trick, doesn't require you to enter any password...

*  Modded ISO Images are modified form of an Original ISO Image file, in such a manner to allow customization of Core OS that may or may not include features, programs, customization, personalization, extra drivers, apps, themes, registry hacks, explorer hacks etc etc.

How To Setup Two or More Routers Together

One of the most common issues people encounter is when they have more than one router hooked up. Sometimes people don't realize their modem is also a router (Such as DSL) and other times people hook up an extra router to use things their router/modem doesn't have, such as wireless.

So now with 2 or more routers hooked up people start to realize port forwarding & port triggering isn't working. This is because they are only setting up the port forwarding or triggering in one router, which is what they should be doing! Now let me explain, no one wants to setup port forwarding & triggering rules in two or more routers, they should only need to do it in one, making things simple. But you may ask "If I have more than one router how can I keep it simple?" The answer: DMZ

First off DMZ is supported by nearly every router/modem out there. What DMZ does is allow you to tell the router to forward all incoming connections to a single IP address. So in this case we will setup DMZ in the first router to point to the second router. Now all incoming connections are sent to the 2nd router and thus your port forwarding & triggering will work again.

So here is a quick example. I log into router 1 and go to the DMZ settings and put the WAN IP address of the 2nd router there. Now router 1 is out of the way for port forwarding and triggering as all incoming connections are now being forwarded to router 2. Now in router 2 I can setup my port forwarding & triggering rules just like normal.

So here is a quick step by step.
Step 1. Login into your Router
Step 2. Find the status page that shows the WAN/Internet IP address and write it down. (The Gateway IP will be the IP needed to log into the first router/modem.)
Step 3. Log into the first router/modem now.
Step 4. Find the DMZ page
Step 5. Enter the IP you wrote down into the DMZ page and enable DMZ.
Step 6. Save and you’re done.

Quick Tip: You should setup a static WAN IP address for router 2. If you leave it on DHCP the IP could change thus breaking the DMZ and of course breaking the port forwarding & triggering. This doesn't happen very often, but it is always a possibility.

If you want to Setup 3 routers at home. Here is my plan to setup. Please let me know if it make sense.

1.    SMC. It is a modern with router. It locates in the first floor, Rogers cable connected to this router. It is the main router to connect outside. I turned off the wireless on the router. It has 4 ports connected to SMC all with wires. First one connect to D-615(second router) Second one connect to D-815(third router) Third one connect to WD Mybook live(NAS HHD) Fourth one connect to TV player

2.    DLink 615. It is a wireless router. It located in the first floor as well, but close to bedroom. It has 4 ports, but I only use 3 of them connected to PC. Also there are wireless device need connect to this router as well.

3.    DLInk 815. It is a wireless router. It located in the second floor. It connected with 3 PCs and also accept wireless connection. The signal in second floor is very weak if using D-615 wireless connection.

I setup the SMC to 192.168.0.1 with DHCP, D-615 to 192.168.2.1 with DHCP and D-815 to 192.168.1.1. I cannot get rid of the second router, since SMC doesn't have enough wired port. And I need to D-815 because the signal problem. Wondering if this gonna work? Thanks.

Hacking CCTV Security Video Surveillance Systems with Metasploit

A new module for the Metasploit Framework, CCTV DVR Login Scanning Utility*, discovers and tests the security of standalone CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) video surveillance systems. Such systems are frequently deployed in retail stores, living communities, personal residences, and business environments as part of their physical security program. However, many of these systems are vulnerable to exploitation that can allow attackers remote access. Such remote access, enabled by default, can allow not only the ability to view real-time video, but control of the cameras (if supported), and provide access to archived footage.

Most owners of CCTV video surveillance systems may not even be fully aware of the device's remote access capabilities as monitoring may be conducted exclusively via the local video console. This further increases the likelihood of attackers gaining/persisting remote access, with no indication to the owner that their video surveillance system and archived footage may be accessed remotely.

Here at Gotham Digital Science, we often encounter video surveillance systems during penetration testing engagements – some of which may be exposed to the Internet, either intentionally or by accident. With any video surveillance system it is often interesting (and sometimes very important) to find out exactly what cameras are monitoring/recording within the environment. Furthermore, access to such systems can often be utilized to support physical security testing initiatives.

This module targets standalone CCTV video surveillance systems by MicroDigital, HIKVISION, CTRing, and a substantial number of other rebranded devices.

msf > use auxiliary/scanner/misc/cctv_dvr_loginmsf auxiliary(cctv_dvr_login) > set RHOSTS 10.10.1.14RHOSTS => 10.10.1.14msf auxiliary(cctv_dvr_login) > exploit

[*] 10.10.1.14:5920 CCTV_DVR - [001/133] - Trying username:'admin' with password:''

[-] 10.10.1.14:5920 CCTV_DVR - [001/133] - Failed login as: 'admin'

[*] 10.10.1.14:5920 CCTV_DVR - [002/133] - Trying username:'user' with password:''

[-] 10.10.1.14:5920 CCTV_DVR - [002/133] - Invalid user: 'user'

[*] 10.10.1.14:5920 CCTV_DVR - [003/133] - Trying username:'admin' with password:'admin'

[-] 10.10.1.14:5920 CCTV_DVR - [003/133] - Failed login as: 'admin'

[*] 10.10.1.14:5920 CCTV_DVR - [004/133] - Trying username:'admin' with       password:'1111'

[+] 10.10.1.14:5920 Successful login: 'admin' : '1111'

[*] Confirmed IE ActiveX HTTP interface (CtrWeb.cab v1,1,3,1): http://10.10.1.14:80

[*] Scanned 1 of 1 hosts (100% complete)

[*] Auxiliary module execution completed

*CCTV DVR Login Scanning Utility:

This module tests for standalone CCTV DVR video surveillance deployments specifically by MicroDigital, HIKVISION, CTRing, and numerous other rebranded devices that are utilizing default vendor passwords. Additionally, this module has the ability to brute force user accounts. Such CCTV DVR video surveillance deployments support remote viewing through Central Management Software (CMS) via the CMS Web Client, an IE ActiveX control hosted over HTTP, or through Win32 or mobile CMS client software. By default, remote authentication is handled over port 5920/TCP with video streaming over 5921/TCP. After successful authentication over 5920/TCP this module will then attempt to determine if the IE ActiveX control is listening on the default HTTP port (80/TCP).

Module Name : auxiliary/scanner/misc/cctv_dvr_login

Authors: Mr. Justin Cacak

Visit: http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/auxiliary/scanner/misc/cctv_dvr_login

Portable CCTV Test Monitor with Camera Power

CCTV Camera Florida, announced the availability of the new MON-LCD25P portable CCTV test monitor with camera power. The LCD25P test monitor is a unique to other service monitors because it supplies power to the CCTV camera that it is being tested. The 2.5” LCD monitor provides a crystal clear image which allows installers to check the angle of view and focus of security cameras. Being that the LCD25P can supply power to a camera, installers can temporarily mount a camera or just hold it in position to confirm that the camera is supplying the right angle of view without going through the time and expense of running permanent power cable.

Commenting on the MON-LCD25P, CCTV Camera Pros co-founder and managing partner Mike Haldas says: “Our customers have been asking for a hand-held CCTV test monitor that also provides power to a camera for a while and we are very excited that we now have a manufacturing partner producing the MON-LCD25P for us to our specification and quality assurance standards. There are several test monitors on the market but none at this affordable price point that use the battery of the tester to also power the security camera being tested. Our product development team continues to listen to the demands of our customers and deliver the product solutions that they ask us for. I am very proud of how CCTV Camera Pros continues to adapt to market demands.”

The LCD25P comes complete with the following: 2.5” LCD hand-held test monitor, quick release neck strap, rechargeable battery with power supply, coaxial test cable with RCA and BNC connectors, camera power supply cable, and instruction manual. Click here for additional information about the MON-LCD25P portable CCTV test monitor.

Connect Your DVR to Your LAN

we will assign your surveillance DVR an IP address.  Make sure that your DVR is connected to your network by attaching an ethernet cable to the back of your DVR and attaching the other end to your router.

1. Login to your DVR by pressing the menu button on the DVR or on the wireless remote control.

2.  When you are prompt to enter a password, just press the OK button on the DVR or remote.  The default admin password for the DVR is blank.  If you have already setup an admin password for your DVR, then enter this, then press OK.

3.   From your DVRs System menu, select External Device.

4.   On the External Device menu, select TCP/IP Setup.

5.   On the TCP/IP Setup screen, select DHCP setup and press enter.

6.  On the DHCP setup screen, confirm that the DHCP mode is set to automatic.  If it is not, adjust it so that it is by pressing the OK button. 

7. Select Detect IP and press enter.  The screen should refresh and populate values below.  Note the IP address.  This is the internal IP address that your router has assigned to your DVR.  This is the IP address that you will setup port forwarding for.

8.   After you have noted this IP address, select DHCP Mode and press OK.  The mode will be changed Manual.  This will ensure that your DVR will always be assigned the same IP address from your router. THIS IS IMPORTANT because if you loose power to your router, your router may assign your DVR a difference IP address and you will no longer be able to access the DVR remotely.

9.   Press the menu button once to return to the TCP/IP setup screen.

10. On the TCP/IP setup screen, select IP config setup and press enter.  On the IP config setup screen, confirm the port number of your DVR as seen below.  The default port is 8000.  If your DVR is not set to port 8000, please edit this value to set to 8000.  NOTE: please ignore that the below screen shot shows port 50000.  Port 50000 was used for the last version of the JPEG DVR.

Since most businesses and many households have local area networks (LANs), you will find the task of connecting a security DVR to a LAN is a common procedure. While it is a relatively simple thing for most security equipment installers, it is complex enough to confuse many users, especially users who have never worked with IP numbers before or have never worked with LAN topology.

Let's begin by identifying your LAN topology. To do this, locate your

1) security DVR,

2) the router attached to your security DVR and

3) a computer/workstation that is attached to the same router. It can also help if you locate

4) the modem  (or router AND modem)  that connects to the internet outside your home or facility - it is usually the first piece of hardware attached to the internet cable the comes through the wall. If you don't have #3 (computer attached to the same router shared by your security DVR), create one now and verify that the PC/workstation has a working connection. If you can't find or locate #4 (modem that provides connection to the internet) don't worry about it at this point since locating it may not be necessary.

Some typical network topologies are shown below. Figure #1 represents a simple network topology you might find in small business, while figure #2 represents a very simple network you would find in many homes. (Figure #2 actually represents the bare minimum hardware & connections you need for remote DVR monitoring/programming.).

Make sure (verify) your network connection is active and your PC can connect to the internet without any problems. Start at your PC and do the following:

1. Go to the COMMAND PROMPT. Different Windows versions have different ways of getting a COMMAND PROMPT. Most Windows versions let you reach a command prompt by going to START, then RUN, then type CMD into the window and hit ENTER. If successful you'll see a screen similar to Figure 3.

2.  Figure 3 shows a computer screen with the command prompt, and the PROGRAM FILES folder is open. That location should be fine. Type IPCONFIG/ALL and hit ENTER.  You should see a display screen similar to Figure 4.

( If you DON'T see Figure 4, they you are probably getting an error message. You'll need to find the person who installed your OS and find out why it doesn't have essential DOS files - you won't be able to continue this procedure without them.)

IPCONFIG is a standard Microsoft DOS command. You can read all about it at the official Microsoft website (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb490921.aspx), if you want. When you use this command as described here, it will report the computer's IP numbers so you can record them for your records. It does NOT change any settings or perform any kind of configuration process.

3. Write down the IP numbers shown under

IP ADDRESS (192.168.1.100),

SUBNET MASK (255.255.255.0),

GATEWAY (192.168.1.1) and

DNS SERVERS (206.222.98.82, 216.199.46.11, 206.222.98.82 - this particular computer has 3 DNS SERVER connections) and label them.

NOTE: Some versions of MS Windows will display IPv4 ADDRESS and an IPv6 ADDRESS - you want to use the IPv4 ADDRESS numbers.

4. Now get the IP Address of the security DVR. Got to the VRR andaccesssthe programing menu and get to the NETWORK settings area. Find the option that says DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) and ENABLE it..

5. Still at the DVR, write down the IP addresses it shows in the DHCP screen. Now turn OFF DHCP (or DISABLE it). If the IP addresses shown did not change, go to the next step. IF THEY DID CHANGE, re-enter them in the fields shown (DO NOT enable, or turn on, DHCP again).). If the IP addresses shown did not change, go to the next step. IF THEY DID CHANGE, re-enter them in the fields shown (DO NOT enable, or turn on, DHCP again).

6. Note the PORT NUMBERS shown in the DVR NETWORK screen. Write them down.

7. Test your configuration. Do the following at the PC/workstation that shares the same router as your DVR:

·   Get to the COMMAND PROMPT.

·   Type PING [IP Address], hit ENTER. (In our example the IP address is 192.168.1.100)

·   If you get a REPLY message, it communicated. If not, and you got a TIME OUT message of any kind then check your settings.

8. Your DVR has CLIENT SOFTWARE or REMOTE VIEWING SOFTWARE that was included in the box. Locate it and install it on the PC/workstation.

·   If your DVR has a webserver you can use IE Browser to communicate with the DVR - just type in the DVR IP Address in the URL bar of the browser.

Port Forwarding & Accessing Your DVR from Outside Your Network

To set up external (remote) viewing of your DVR and attached cameras, you will need to access your router. Refer to the router's User Manual to learn how to set port forwarding. If you can't find it, look here http://www.portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/routerindex.htm. All routers have a different method of setting up port forwarding so it's impossible to instruct you here.

Program the router so that when it gets an internet request for the IP ADDRESS of the DVR it will refer (or activate) to the PORT NUMBER of the DVR (you wrote these numbers down earlier, right?). Normally most routers have a field for each physical connection and it will be obvious where to place the IP and PORT NUMBER information. If you can't find how to access your router, look at the router closely and make sure it is indeed a router and NOT a switcher. It should be ok if it's labeled ROUTER/SWITCHER but if it is an older piece of hardware and just says SWITCHER, discard it and get a true ROUTER.

Test the connection from an network external location. If the IP numbers and Port Forwarding numbers are set correctly you should be able to receive streaming video.

Using IE Browser VS Client/Remote Viewing Software

If the DVR has a webserver, then you can use IE Browser to connect to the DVR. Put the DVR IP address in the URL bar of the browser (like http://192.168.100.200, etc).

If the DVR does NOT have a webserver, then you will need to install the client/remote viewing software (that came with the DVR) on the PC/workstation you are using to view your security installation. The Client Software (or Remote Viewing Software) gives you additional features, such as ability to program motion detection, etc., that the IE Browser can not provide. Since each surveillance DVR has it's own client software, you'll have to refer to the software manual for help using their software.

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Copper cable wiring from CAT-5 to CAT-7

For several years, the standard cable used for home theater systems and computer networking with copper wire continues to be CAT-5 wiring. It is now dealing with the purpose of being considered old-fashioned, with a brand new standard emerging of CAT-6. Where on earth does that leave CAT-7? Basically, it is as leading edge as you can get within the field. From old to new, CAT-5 to CAT-7. What are the differences and similarities? Let’s take a closer look.

The Simple Answer: 

CAT-5 is rated to 100M 

CAT-5e is rated to 350M 

CAT-6 and CAT6e is rated to 550M or 1000M depending on your source 

CAT-7 is supposedly rated to 700M or presumably 1000M

If you’re establishing a home theater system, CAT-7 and CAT-5 wiring will offer similar benefits. There are obviously a few differences, however–something to be expected because of the newness of CAT-7. Either of these two, however, will work for the one who wants good quality sound.

In lots of homes throughout the nation, the old-fashioned TV room continues to be substituted with the house theater. The TV and audio system are set up so the family can have maximum enjoyment from their movies, sports, and favorite Television shows. To properly install your home theater system, you need to understand what it is set up–which means you need to know how to have it correctly wired.

There are a few possibilities for you for wiring you home entertainment system. Because we’re concerned with CAT-5 and CAT-7 here, we’ll only discuss those which involve those cables. The benefits for either of these is that they’ll offer optimum system performance, plus you can keep your video source at a long way out of your television, monitor or other output device.

You can use your CAT-5 and CAT-7 wiring with three types of distribution systems: Ip address (or IP, distributed via a USB port), RF and Analog. You can use CAT-5 and CAT-7 coax cables for any of those distribution systems. For the purposes, the real difference between CAT-5 and 7 may be the distance that you could run the cable but still achieve optimum results. You can run CAT-5 coax cables up to 100 meters from the output device; you are able to run CAT-7 as much as 1000 meters away.

Both CAT-5 and CAT-7 may be used to deliver video for cable TV (sometimes with a CATV amplifier), Internet data and telephone. Many of these are distributed through similar cabinets. CAT-5 and CAT-7 delivers video for example CATV , telephone, and data. All these is shipped via similar cabinets. There are many advantages for using CAT-5 or 7. Price is one of the main ones; the video for either of these standards is affordable and price efficient. That is because the cable eliminates your need for purchasing extra coax cables. It is also simpler to configure the video than it could be should you have had several splitter amplifiers and taps and coaxial combiners. The body will maintain a superior signal quality, because video distribution via CAT-5 or CAT-7 utilizes active RF video hubs.

When you are deciding how to wire your home video system, just make sure you have carried out your homework in advance, to make sure you are earning the very best choices. You might decide to go with CAT-5 wiring or with CAT-7. Indeed, you may decide to go with some combination of these two. But regardless, make sure you pick what matches with your needs as well as your budget. There are many web sites to find the information you need to determine what’s going to best help you create the ultimate home entertainment experience.

What Really Is an IP System

The market is being whipped into a frenzy by buzz about IP, yet studies show that only 10-15% of systems sold include IP cameras. What’s the deal?

One firm was recently retained by a new client to provide a strategic review on the electronic security industry. This client was focused on CCTV, and inevitably the topic of IP-based CCTV systems was high on their list. They had studied all of the market data they could find and were disappointed to discover that — depending on the estimates — only 10-15% of the systems being sold today are considered IP systems. “How can this be?” they asked. “Aren’t all systems today essentially IP based systems?”

They were right. Unless you are using a videocassette-based system or an extremely low-end DVR, all systems are IP based. Why? Because the recording is handled by a DVR, and that DVR virtually always includes client software that allows you to remotely access live or recorded video. So, if all systems are IP eventually, why is there so much discussion as to the pros and cons of IP based systems?

Close to the Edge

The real question is how far out to the edge do you go with IP. An IP system converts an analog video signal to a digital stream that can be transmitted over a conventional Ethernet network. But it can do this in a number of places.

If an IP camera is used, the signal is converted at the camera itself — this is what is commonly referred to as an IP-based system. An analog camera can also be used, and the signal can be fed into an IP encoder that converts the signal to a digital stream. The IP encoder can be located in a more convenient location, and multi-channel encoders are available to convert multiple cameras from one box. Or the camera can remain analog all the way to the recording device, which then converts the signal to store it. In that case, the recorder is also serving as an encoder, and the signal is generally available as an IP signal streaming from the recorder.

So, which system should you use? In general, we recommend that analog cameras be fed to IP encoders unless megapixel resolution is required. We base this on a number of factors, including cost, ease of installation and appearance.

1. Cost — In general, the cost of an analog camera plus an encoder is generally the same price or less than the cost of an IP camera, and technically the signal quality is identical. In fact, if multi-channel encoders are used the cost of the analog/encoder pairing drops significantly below the IP camera cost.

The true savings come in when you look at replacement cost. Edge devices fail or get damaged from time to time. One of our clients had a faulty camera installation and the outdoor IP camera filled up with water during a storm. Replacement cost was $900, but it would only have been $300 if an analog camera had been used and connected to an encoder that was safely installed in a closet or other weatherproof space.

2. Ease of Installation — An IP camera has some installation limitations that can drive costs up significantly. Primarily is cable distance — IP cameras are limited to 100 meters (328 feet) unless special converters, repeaters, or fiber optic cable is used. Analog cameras can run for great distances before being converted to IP — over a mile if the proper UTP (unshielded twisted pair) baluns are used. The same cabling can be used, so cable cost isn't an issue, and the convenience of locating equipment where conditioned space is available often outweighs other concerns.

Other installation factors include the sensitivity of IP cameras to power fluctuations, the difficulty in getting environmentally hardened IP equipment, and the limitations in size and form factor for IP base products.

Finally, analog cameras can be plugged into a portable monitor for setup, focusing, and field of view adjustments. While some IP cameras also include analog outputs to allow this, many do not. This makes installation far more difficult, involving a computer, extra network port (if power-over-Ethernet is used) and added time and complexity when installing.

3. Appearance — We are currently in the golden age of analog cameras in that the variety of sizes, shapes, features and performance levels available at low price points has never been better. This gives the designer or installer tremendous flexibility in matching cameras, housings, lens types, and other specification features to capture exactly the image that is needed. Too often, IP cameras require aesthetic or performance compromises that do not go over well with end users.

While these and other advantages make us lean in this direction, nothing trumps technical requirements. If your application makes IP cameras advantageous, feel free to mix and match or use whichever makes the most sense. As far as which type of device to use, keep both in your toolbox and remember the old adage; if the only tool you have is a hammer, pretty soon everything looks like a nail.

Fiber Patch Cable for Video Transmision

Fiber patch cable can also be known as fiber jumper or fiber patch cord. It is a fiber optic cable terminated with fiber optic connectors on both ends. It may be directly linked to other equipment allowing you to connect and managing convenience. It's used for making patch cords from equipment to fiber optic cabling. Having a thick layer of protection, it's used to connect the optical transmitter, receiver and the terminal box.

Many applications are used with fiber patch cables, for example, Communication room, FTTH, LAN, FOS, Fiber Optic Communication System, Optical fiber connected and transmitted equipment, Defense combat readiness, etc. Fiber patch cable applies to CATV, Telecommunication network, Computer fiber network and fiber test equipment.

 There are a couple of major application areas of fiber patch cable. They're computer workplace to outlet and fiber optic patch panels or optical cross connect distribution center. And there are single mode fiber patch cable and multimode fiber patch cable (multimode fiber optic patch cord). Ordinary cables are 125 um in diameter. The inner diameter for single-mode cables is 9 um and multi-mode is 50/62.5 um.

The single mode fiber patch cable is primarily employed for applications involving extensive distances. In fiber-optic communication, a single-mode optical fiber is an optical fiber designed to carry merely a single ray of mode. Modes are the possible solutions of the Helmholtz equation for waves. These modes define the way the wave travels through space, and just how the wave is distributed wide. Waves can have exactly the same mode but have different frequencies. This is the case in single-mode fibers, where we can have waves with various frequencies, but of the same mode, meaning they're distributed wide in the same way, which gives us just one ray of sunshine. Even though the ray travels parallel to the entire fiber, it is often called transverse mode since its electromagnetic vibrations occur perpendicular towards the entire fiber. It's generally yellow, having a blue connector and a long transmission distance.

Multimode fiber optic patch cord, however, is the cable of choice for most common local fiber systems as the devices because they are a lot more cheaper. Multi-mode optical fiber is a type of optical fiber mostly employed for communication over short distances, for example inside a building or on the campus. Typical multimode links have data rates more than sufficient for almost all premises applications. Due to the high capacity and reliability, multi-mode optical fiber is used for backbone applications in buildings. An increasing number of users are taking the benefits of fiber nearer to the user by running fiber towards the desktop in order to the zone. Standards-compliant architectures such as Centralized Cabling and fiber towards the telecom enclosure offer users the opportunity to leverage the distance capabilities of fiber by centralizing electronics in telecommunications rooms, rather than having active electronics on each floor. Multimode fiber is generally, orange or grey, with a cream of black connector along with a short transmission distance.

FiberStore offers many different types of optical fiber patch cables, for example mode conditioning patch cable, armored patch cable, MPO/MTP cable along with other special patch cables. For instance, SC OM3 Mode Conditioning Patch Cable is really a kind of mode conditioning patch cables with the wavelength OM3 and a SC connecter. All mode conditioning fiber optic patch cords are created with duplex cable with a single mode to multimode offset fiber connection part within the two legs.