DVR Security System Review

Avermedia have produced a number of PCI DVR cards, the NV3000 is one of their entry level DVR cards. The NV3000 is a reasonably cheap solution for anyone looking for a means to connect surveillance cameras to their PC. Only four security cameras can be attached to the NV3000 but you have the option to install more than one card in your PC providing you have the available PCI slots. When the card was initially released the software provided only supported screen resolutions of 1024*768. Avermedia have upgraded the software for the NV3000 and it now supports a number of screen resolutions, 1680*1050 being the maximum. An RCA jack integrated into the NV3000 enables you to monitor your surveillance system with a TV.

Once you attach the Avermedia NV3000 card into your pc and install the software you have the basics of a dedicated surveillance system. You can set the software to lock the Windows desktop so you can stay focused on activities being recorded. Two way audio is optional with the Avermedia NV3000 allowing you to communicate with people within your surveillance areas. The DVR cards software has playback controls that allow you to zoom in on recorded scenes and also play videos in reverse. The software also has features found on standalone security DVR’s. These features include alarm activation if motion is detected and you can search for video footage by entering a date or time.

You can set the software included with the Avermedia NV3000 to email you about events picked up by your surveillance system. You can also use the software to view video recorded by your surveillance system from any PC connected to the Internet. The settings of your surveillance system can be configured from a remote location allowing you to stay in control even if your miles away. If you have a Symbian Smartphone or PDA you can also use these to receive email alerts from your surveillance system.

System requirements for the Avermedia NV3000 and its software are moderate, you will need a PC with a Pentium 3.0 GHz processor or better. You also need a 64MB video card, 512MB of ram, 80 gigabytes of hard drive space, a sound card and a CD rom drive. If you are considering the card you will need to check that your systems main board does not have a VIA chipset as these are incompatible with the NV3000. There are other DVR cards out there that process the input from megapixel cameras better than the NV3000. If this doesn’t bother you, the cost of the Avermedia NV3000 and the software that comes with it make it a DVR card worth considering.

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