The Defender Sentinel 9 is another addition to the Defender range of surveillance systems, although it has significant features that are clear improvements compared to previous models there are a couple of aspects that are inferior.  Firstly lets take a look at video compression, the Sentinel 9 uses MPEG-4 compression, this choice is definitely a step ahead considering that M-JPEG compression is used in previous models in the Defender range.

MPEG-4 compression enables you to record smooth video with the Sentinel 9, much more so when compared to any of their models below the Sentinel 5.  At maximum the DVR can record video at up to 120 frames per second, you can also record in both PAL and NTSC video modes.  In NTSC mode you can record video at a maximum resolution of 704*480 and PAL recording offers a slight improvement in resolution that being 704*576.

Video is stored on the DVR’s internal hard drive and this has a capacity of 160 gigabytes, models prior to the Sentinel 9 have larger hard drives, one can only assume that Defender chose to fit a 160GB to this model as its video compression method requires less storage space.

Still the hard drive space doesn’t cause an issue as the system can be set to record continuously for up to 240 days, in order to do this you would have to be recording using its lowest video quality setting.  If necessary you can swap out the systems internal Seagate hard drive for one that has a larger capacity.

There are four quality settings you can select when recording video with the security recorder and these range from low, standard, high and highest.  4 surveillance cameras are included with the system and these can be connected to either of its 4 BNC or DIN attachments.  The cameras are weather proof, suitable for indoor or outdoor use and they can record activities on your premises in the dark, the DVR has motion sensor capabilities but the included cameras don’t have motion sensors.

As with other DVR’s in the Defender range you can monitor activities recorded by the Sentinel 9 remotely, you can also configure the system to email you when specific events occur.  The DVR has four audio inputs and one audio output, this allows you to set up at least one two way audio system on your premises, very useful if you need communicate with people at entrances prior to their access.

Four alarm inputs are built into the recorder and these can be used to trigger recording (with the use of separate alarms), there is also one alarm output built into the DVR that can be used to notify anyone on site when it starts recording.  As with many models in the Defender range the Sentinel 9 includes a monitor, the one included here has a 17 inch color TFT screen.

Check the latest price on the Defender Sentinel 9 Security Recorder.

The Lorex L15LD414161 observation system consists of a 15 inch monitor with a built in digital recorder and 4 surveillance cameras.  The DVR built in to the Lorex system has triplex functionality allowing you to play back and record video at the same time.  Camera footage is stored on the DVR’s internal hard drive, this has a 160 gigabyte capacity and can store a significant amount of video, you can change out the hard drive if you decide you need more space, the system accomodates hard drives that have up to a 400 gigabyte capacity.

The Lorex system uses MJPEG video compression and is compatible with both PAL and NTSC video signals.  In PAL mode the DVR can record images at a maximum resolution of 704*288, NTSC video signals offer a slightly lower image quality, that being a maximum resolution of 704*240.  The DVR is also capable of recording images in CIF mode and has a maximum recording speed of 120 frames per second.

A password protection system is built in so only authorised personnel are able to control its functions.  You can set the DVR to record video non stop or to save hard drive space you can set it to record only at times when motion is detected.  You also have the option to schedule recording or you can connect external alarms to the system, when the DVR detects an attached alarm has been activated it will start recording footage.

There are four alarm inputs built in to the DVR and it also has an alarm relay output, the alarm relay output can be used to notify you or anyone else on site when motion has been detected in a restricted area.  The alarm relay output can be used to alert you instantly when an intruder is hanging around a door or some other area that is off limits.

The cameras included with the system can be used in either PAL or NTSC mode and they have a maximum horizontal resolution of 420 TV lines.  The Lorex DVR can also be connected to the Internet or a LAN, attaching the DVR to the Internet with your broadband router gives you the ability to monitor events from your home or business while you are away.

Check the latest price on the Lorex L15LD414161 Surveillance System With 4 Security Cameras

Q-See have created another security DVR that being the QSD42908, as standard there is no pre-installed hard drive for storing video however this particular package does include one. The hard drive included with the security DVR has a 250 gigabyte capacity, there are two internal hard drive bays so you can remove the existing drive and replace it with another if you need more storage space. Surveillance cameras are also included with this model, there are eight of these included that connect directly to the DVR’s 8 BNC connectors.

A ¼ inch Sharp CCD color image sensor is built into each camera, the cameras are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use and each is fitted with 12 infra red LED’s to enhance images captured in dark conditions. The cameras electronic shutter speed range is between 1/50 – 1/10,000 and they have a horizontal resolution of 420 TV lines. The cameras have a 6 millimetre lens, a silver colored outer casing and an infra red wavelength of 850mm.

You can view the feed from the cameras by connecting the DVR directly to a television, an LCD display or to a PC monitor, the system is fitted with both BNC and VGA video outputs. At maximum the Q-See DVR can record video footage at a speed of 120 frames per second and it uses H.264 video compression. You can set the DVR to record surveillance camera footage continually or you can connect up to 16 external alarms to the system, the DVR will detect when an attached alarm has been activated and begin recording surveillance camera footage.

There are four alarm outputs built in to the DVR and these can be used to alert any personnel on site when the DVR detects motion, the system motion detection capabilities can also be used to determine when it records camera feeds. You can view the feed from each camera attached to the DVR individually on one monitor or the display can be split into a varying number of segments so you can monitor each camera attached to the system simultaneously.

An RJ45 Ethernet port is built in to the DVR so it can be connected to a LAN or to the Internet, this gives you the option to use computers on the same network as monitoring stations. Networking the DVR also allows you to view cameras attached to the system remotely and you can also control the DVR’s functions while off site. The DVR is capable of CIF recording (352*240) and it can also record audio, the Q-See DVR has 4 audio inputs.

Check the latest price on the Q-See DVR QSD42908 Surveillance System With Cameras

The Swann SW244-8CP is a digital security recorder that comes complete with surveillance cameras, eight surveillance cameras are included and these are attached to the system through its 8 BNC connectors. The cameras included with the system are known as ‘Bulldog cameras’ and each has a ¼ inch color CCD image sensor. The cameras use wither a PAL or NTSC video signal depending on whether the DVR is obtained from the US, Europe or Australia, the cameras are capable of capturing images in low level lighting and have a resolution of 420 TV lines.

Each camera has an internal synchronisation system and in dark conditions they are able to pick up images at a distance of up to 33 feet, this is the US model so the cameras electronic shutter speed ranges between 1/50th and 1/100,000th of a second. The Swann DVR has an internal hard drive for storing surveillance camera footage, the hard drive included with the system has a 250 gigabyte capacity.

You can monitor cameras attached to the DVR by connecting it to a monitor or a television, there are two BNC video outputs built into the system and it also has an S-Video output.At maximum the DVR can record video at a speed of 240 frames per second when you are using an NTSC signal, in PAL mode the maximum recording speed is slightly lower at 100 frames per second.

The image quality of recorded camera footage is reasonably high, in NTSC mode it can record video at resolutions up to 720*240, PAL video can be recorded at a slightly higher resolution, that being 720*288. The system has triplex functionality so you can playback video footage without having to stop the DVR from recording, there is also an RS485 interface that can be used for security cameras that have pan, tilt and zoom functions.

You can use the DVR to record surveillance camera footage throughout the day or you can set the system to record only at specific times. The Swann DVR also supports alarm sensor devices and it will begin recording when an alarm is activated, there is also a built in motion detection feature that you can also use to determine when the system starts and stops recording camera footage. The Swann system uses M-JPEG compression and it can be used to set up a two way communication system with the use of its audio input and audio output sockets. The CD re-writer built in to the system should prove useful if you want to use CD’s as an additional means to record surveillance camera footage.

There are four RCA audio inputs built in to the DVR so you can set up at least 4 cameras to record sound as well as images, there are also two RCA audio outputs. The DVR has a USB port that can be used for connecting the system directly to a PC, there is also an RJ45 Ethernet port built in so you can connect the DVR directly to a computer network or to the Internet.

Networking the DVR gives you more alternatives when it comes to the locations available to you for monitoring surveillance cameras. Remote viewing software is included with the package and you also get a 512 megabyte USB stick that can be used for transferring video footage on the fly. The Swann DVR also comes with an instruction manual and DVD to help you get the system up and running ready to monitor your premises.

Check the latest price on the Swann SW244-8CP DVR8-Net-8000 Security Recorder With Cameras

The QSD QSD2216C16 is a security recorder that has all the features required to set up a fully functional surveillance system. The system consists of a digital video recorder with 16 security camera ports, a 250 gigabyte internal hard drive for storing surveillance camera footage and 16 surveillance cameras. Before taking a look at the DVR lets take a brief look at the cameras.

The cameras include a ¼ inch Sony CCD sensor, they use an NTSC video signal and they have 12 LED’s for capturing images in dark conditions. The security cameras lens is 3.6mm in size, they have an automatic gain control that can be turned off and a shutter speed range between 1/50th and 1/100,000th of a second. The cameras don’t have pan tilt and zoom functions so you will have to position them manually, they do however produce a decent picture, the cameras have a maximum resolution of 420 TV lines.

Getting back to the DVR, this has a maximum recording speed of 120 frames per second, it uses M-JPEG video compression and is compatible with both PAL and NTSC video signals. The 250 gigabyte SATA hard drive inside the DVR is removable, it is kept secure with a lock that needs to be opened with a key, you can swap this out if you wish and replace it with other SATA type hard drives.

At maximum you can install a hard drive that has a capacity of up to 500 gigabytes into the Q-See DVR, there is also a USB port that can be used for updating the systems firmware. The USB port can also be used to attach external flash drives to the DVR that can be used for backing up surveillance camera footage.

A password protection system is built in to the DVR and it also has a digital watermarking function that can be used to verify the origins of recorded footage. The Q-See DVR supports cameras with pan, tilt and zoom functions (RS485), has 1 alarm output and 16 alarm inputs. The Q-See security recorder can also record audio, it is fitted with four audio inputs and two audio outputs.

Check the latest price on the Q-See DVR QSD2216C16 Sixteen Channel Security Recorder With Cameras

Here we have another surveillance system created by Lorex, the system is part of the Lorex L104 range and it has a very compact design. You can attach up to four security cameras to the system and four are included with its contents, the cameras are all identical, their specific model being the Lorex SG7518. Before taking a look at the cameras lets take a look at the functions of the DVR and its inner hardware.

Cameras are attached to the DVR through the four BNC connectors situated at the back of the device, the DVR also has a BNC video output for connecting it to a television and a VGA output for connecting it to a monitor. The maximum recording speed of the DVR is modest at 30 frames per second and it is compatible with both PAL and NTSC video signals.

In NTSC mode the DVR can record video at a maximum pixel resolution of 640*224 and PAL images offer a slight improvement, that being a maximum image resolution of 640*272. The DVR uses MJPEG video compression and has the capacity for one internal hard drive for storing camera footage, the hard drive included with the Lorex DVR has a 500 gigabyte capacity.

The Lorex DVR has an audio input and an audio output that can be used to set up an intercom system at the entrance of your premises, the systems USB port enables you to connect it directly to a personal computer. Video recording can be scheduled or you can use the motion detection capabilities of the Lorex system to determine when its starts and stops recording camera footage. If necessary you can set the DVR to record surveillance camera footage continuously through the day.

Moving on to the cameras included with the DVR, these have a ¼ inch interline transfer color CCD image sensor and an effective pixel range of 510*492. The cameras have a shutter speed range between 1/60 – 1/10,000 seconds, the horizontal resolution of the cameras with the DVR is 350 TV lines. The cameras have automatic white balancing, an internal synchronization and are capable of capturing images in low level lighting, they also have a built in microphone.

Check the latest price on the Lorex DVR L104V16C4 Surveillance System

Here is the Lorex L224V161C4 and the system consists of a 4 channel digital video recorder and 4 security cameras. So does the security system have features that are worth noting? Firstly lets take a look at the digital video recorder, as mentioned the system is 4 channel and can accommodate the same amount of surveillance cameras, these are attached to the systems BNC connectors.

The device uses three compression methods and these include MPEG-4, CIF and MJPEG, CIF compression provides the most flexibility when it comes to recording speed. At maximum the DVR can record video at a speed of 120 frames per second, you can adjust the recording speed for each camera attached to the system. Both PAL and NTSC video signals are supported and the device can record at a maximum pixel resolution of 720*480 in NTSC and 720*576 in PAL mode

You can select one of four preset image quality settings when recording video, the system has basic, normal, high and best image quality settings. Surveillance camera footage is stored on the internal hard drive of the DVR, the hard drive included has a 160 gigabyte capacity and can be replaced with other IDE hard drives that have up to a 500 gigabyte capacity. The recorder has an 8 megabyte pre alarm recording buffer and it has four alarm inputs that can be used to activate recording, the DVR also has 1 alarm output

As the DVR is fitted with an Ethernet port you can set up additional monitoring stations providing your premises has a personal computer or LAN on site. The Ethernet port also allows you to connect the device to the Internet so you can monitor your premises from anywhere. You can set the device to record continuously or you can use its motion detection capabilities to activate recording, you can also schedule recording. The Lorex system also supports audio but the drawback here is that the system only has one audio input built in.

The 4 security cameras included with the DVR are identical, they have an automatic gain control and have a weatherproof casing. The cameras have an effective pixel range of 512*492 and are capable of capturing images in low level lighting. Inside each camera is a ¼ inch CCD image sensor and the cameras have a resolution of 350 TV lines. The cameras serve their purpose but the DVR can accommodate cameras that have a higher pixel range and it can record sharper images as a result.

Check the latest price on the Lorex L224V161C4 4 Channel Security DVR With Cameras

The Mace DVR400 consists of a 4 channel digital video recorder, 4 security cameras and a 17 inch monitor.  Surveillance camera footage is stored on the system built in 160 hard drive, the systems built in CD burner provides you with another alternative means for storing video.  The DVR uses MPEG-4 video compression and the device comes with a mouse for controlling its features.

You can set the DVR to record based on a schedule or you can connect external alarms to it to trigger recording,  If necessary you can set the DVR to record continuously however this uses more hard drive space, the systems motion detection features enable you to record video that contains activity and to cut down on hard drive space usage.

As mentioned the system monitor has a 17 inch screen, the monitor is LCD based and it has both VGA and BNC video inputs.  At maximum the monitor can display images at resolutions up to 1280*1024, it has a built in speaker so you can hear any activities in the vicinity of your surveillance cameras.  The DVR has four channel audio but the drawback here is that not all of the cameras included with the system have a built in microphone.

There are two Mace CAM-67CIR security cameras included and these have a 1/3 inch super HAD color CCD image sensor, the camera has a maximum pixel resolution of 420 TV lines.  These cameras have 50 infra red LED’s built in to improve the quality of images recorded in low level lighting and they have a fixed board lens.  The housing of the cameras is vandal proof and the camera can be tilted between 10 and 90 degrees and can pan around 360 degrees.

The other two cameras included with the system are Mace CAM-74CIR security cameras, the image sensor for these cameras are identical to the other cameras included with the system.  There are fewer LED’s built into these cameras but it still has the same infra red distance as the systems other cameras that being 50 feet.  These cameras have built in audio and a 3.6mm lens.

Check the latest price on the Mace DVR400 4 Channel Surveillance System

Lorex have created a complete surveillance system that can be used for surveillance in multiple locations on your premises. The Lorex L20WD804321 consists of a 20 inch monitor with a built in digital video recorder and four surveillance cameras. Despite the fact that four surveillance cameras are included with the system it can accommodate up to eight, If you have an Internet connection on your premises you can monitor cameras attached to the system by connecting it directly to your broadband router.

To monitor cameras attached to the system remotely you will need Internet Explorer, the browser can be used to monitor your cameras while away from your home or business through a secure web page. The Lorex system also has the capability to record audio from your attached surveillance cameras, the drawback here is the system only has 4 channel audio so you can only record the audio feed from up to four cameras at once.

The flat panel monitor has a modern look and it contains the systems SATA hard drive used to store video eliminating the need for you to purchase or store tape cassettes. The systems hard drive has a large 320 gigabyte capacity, you can upgrade this is you wish or you can attach external storage devices to the system should the need arise. External storage devices such as flash drives and hard drives can be attached to the system through its built in USB port.

Compared to other security systems of this design the Lorex DVR has a high recording rate, it can record at a maximum speed of 240 frames per second, the system uses MPEG-4 video compression. Each camera attached to the system can record at a maximum image resolution of 704*480, pan tilt and zoom cameras can be attached and controlled through the surveillance system, these are connected to it through its RS-485 interface. The cameras included with the system don’t have pan tilt and zoom functions but they do have a built in microphone for recording sound.

At night the cameras included with the Lorex system have an effective range of up to 50 feet, they can pick up images over greater distances during the day and they have a maximum resolution of 480 TV lines. The systems cameras are weatherproof so they are suitable for either indoor or outdoor use. Video recording can be activated through motion detection or when the system detects attached alarms have been activated. Lorex also include software that is compatible with Windows so you can use computers situated on your premises to monitor cameras attached to the surveillance system.
Check the latest price on the Lorex DVR L20WD804321 8 Channel Surveillance System

Here we have another DVR manufactured by Swann called the SW245-SMD, it is also referred to as the DVR4-Pro-Net and is essentially a 4-channel security recorder. You can set up the cameras included with the DVR either indoors or outdoors, their outer casing is composed of an aluminium alloy. Inside each camera is a ¼ inch SuperHAD CCD image sensor and they have the capability to capture images in low level lighting.

The cameras automatically activate their built in LED’s to enhance images when lighting conditions fall below a certain level. The cameras use both NTSC and PAL video signals and they have a horizontal resolution of 420 TV lines. In NTSC mode they can capture images at a pixel resolution of 510*492, in PAL mode the maximum pixel resolution is 500*582. The cameras use a BNC video output and they are known as Maxi Day Night cameras, Swann ship these with a number of their DVR’s (such as the one in the previous review), their specific model reference being SW-C-MDNC.

Moving on to the DVR the SW245-SMD uses CIF, MPEG-4 and JPEG compression and it has four BNC inputs for camera attachment. The DVR can record video using either a PAL or NTSC signal and has a variable recording speed, it can record video at speeds of anywhere between 3 and 120 frames per second. High frame rates equal smooth video and typically when you set a security DVR to record video using its high quality image settings the frame rate dives, in this respect the SW245-SMD is no different to the majority of DVR’s.

Even so the system has all of the functions you would expect to find in today’s security recorders, it can start and stop recording by means of motion detection and/or alarm activation. You can set the DVR to start and stop recording by programming in a schedule and it has an 8 megabyte pre alarm recording function. The DVR also supports Pelco-D pan tilt and zoom dome cameras and you can connect the DVR to the Internet or to other types of computer network so you can control its functions remotely.

The DVR has one audio input and one audio output so you can set up a two way audio system but it only records audio in mono. There are four alarm inputs, one alarm output and the DVR can detect camera outages, the back of the device is fitted with a BNC video output and it has a fast hard drive cleaning facility.

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