DVR Security System Review

This is the Swann DVR16-8500AI and it is a 16 channel security DVR and surveillance cameras are attached to it through its BNC sockets. As standard the security recorder is packaged with 4 BNC to RCA adapters in case you have cameras with differing connectors. The DVR is compatible with both PAL and NTSC video signals, when recording in NTSC it can record at 120 frames per second, PAL offers a slightly lower frame rate that being 100 FPS.

The system uses H.264 video compression and for storing video it has a 250 GB internal Seagate hard drive. Three internal hard drive bays give you a few options when it comes to expanding on its video storage capacity, if needed you can install up to three 500 GB hard drives. The system uses an in house graphical user interface as opposed to a Linux or RTOS operating system but its functions are adequate. You can record video footage 24 hours a day if need be or you can devise a schedule that determines when the DVR will start and stop recording.

Using the motion sensor capabilities of the DVR is a good method of ensuring the video footage you record contains activity. You can set different levels of motion sensitivity and program the system to ignore specific activities. If you were looking to connect the DVR to an external alarm system your out of luck as the system does not have alarm inputs.

You can use the DVR to set up two way audio with your surveillance cameras, the system has two audio inputs and one audio output. The DVR also compresses audio to keep hard drive space usage to a minimum, the system uses G.726 audio compression. For monitoring the cameras attached to the DVR it can be connected to a TV or monitor, you can actually connect the DVR to both a TV and Monitor and view the output simultaneously. For connecting the DVR to a TV it has two BNC outputs and 1 VGA output for connecting it to a monitor.

Images from the DVR can be displayed at a maximum resolution of 1024*768 you can select specific events to view specific footage quickly. The DVR does not include a remote control but you can attach an external mouse to it via its USB port. The DVR can also be connected to the Internet or a LAN for the purpose of monitoring and controlling it remotely.

Check the latest price on the Swann DVR SW243-XG6 16 Channel Security System

The Lorex L508321 is a security DVR that uses MPEG-4 video compression and you can attach up eight surveillance cameras to the system. Cameras are attached to the DVR through its eight BNC sockets and the system has a maximum recording speed of 120 frames per second. Both PAL and NTSC video signals are supported and when operating in NTSC the maximum recording resolution is 704*480 and 704*576 in PAL mode.

Video is stored on the Lorex security system through its internal hard drive, this has a capacity of 320 gigabytes. Two hard drive bays are integrated into the DVR and each can accommodate hard drives with a maximum capacity of 750 gigabytes should you need more video storage space. As the system has a USB port you can plug a multitude of external storage devices such as hard drives memory sticks and CD or DVR drives to the system.

While monitoring surveillance cameras attached to the system you can view each one full screen on one monitor. One monitoring cameras full screen you can display their output in sequence, alternatively the DVR can separate the screen into four or eight segments so you can view camera footage simultaneously. For connecting the DVR to external monitoring devices it is fitted with VGA and composite video outputs.

To enable you to find specific camera footage quickly the security DVR has an event log that you can browse. The systems configuration is managed by the real time operating that you can update via the Lorex website. Motion detection is built in to the DVR and you can configure its level of sensitivity, the system has 10 sensitivity levels of motion detection. Motion detection is one way to trigger recording by the DVR, you can also schedule recording and make use of its four alarm inputs, when the alarms are activated the system will start recording.

You can connect the DVR to a LAN or broadband Internet connection and this enables you to transfer and playback camera footage on Windows based PC’s. The DVR is able to convert video into JPG and AVI files that can be stored and opened on PC’s. Pan tilt and zoom cameras can be connected and controlled by the security DVR through its RS-485 interface. Two way audio is supported, the system has an RCA audio output and programmable RCA audio inputs.

Check the latest price on the Lorex DVR L508321 8 Channel Surveillance System

Q-See have created the QSD42208, it is an 8 channel security DVR that uses CIF/QCIF real time recording. It’s great that the manufacturers have created a DVR that accommodates so many storage mediums but you will have to get past the fact that you have to buy one separately to get up and running. In other words when you purchase the DVR the first thing you will need is a hard drive or some other medium to store video.

You can attach up to seven SATA hard drives to the DVR internally and it also accommodates one external hard drive that connects to the system via USB. The USB port on the DVR will also accommodate a flash memory stick, mouse, CD and DVD drives. The system uses H.264 video compression and this may prove useful if you need to keep network bandwidth usage to a minimum.

For connecting the DVR to a broadband router or LAN an Ethernet port is built in to the system. Installing the remote client software on a PC gives you the ability to control DVR from a remote location. You can use the same PC as a further storage device and you can playback and distribute camera footage recorded by the DVR. There is no MAC support here but the client software is compatible with Windows Vista as well as Windows XP.

To connect the DVR to a monitor the system has a VGA interface, the system also has a BNC video output. While previewing camera footage the system has a maximum preview resolution of 704*576 in PAL and 704*480 in NTSC. Other DVR systems in the QSD range include eight or 16 audio inputs however this particular DVR doesn’t have any. To compensate for this Q-See have added a 1 channel BNC compatible voice talk feature so you can set up audio.

Pan tilt and zoom cameras can be attached to the surveillance system through its RS485 port and it also has a port for an external keyboard. Video recording can be scheduled or you can connect up to 16 external alarms to the system that will active recording if triggered. The DVR also has a built in motion detection feature you can use to determine when the system will start and stop recording.

Check the latest price on the Q-See QSD42208 8 Channel Security DVR

The KJB Security DVR-4T has very similar features to the 16 and 8 channel versions of the DVR. The DVR-4T will accommodate up to 4 security cameras and these attach to the system through its four BNC ports. The system uses JPEG 2000 video compression and is capable of recording video in both NTSC and PAL modes. When monitoring cameras attached to the DVR you can view the cameras individually full screen or select quad mode to view them simultaneously.

A zoom feature is included and this can prove useful during playback if you need to see recorded incidents in detail. The DVR can be set to record continuously or you can set a schedule that determines when the system will start and stop recording. The DVR also has built in motion detection and this feature can also be used to trigger recording. The DVR also has four alarm inputs and when the system detects an attached alarm has been activated it will start recording footage.

You can set all of the cameras you intend to attach to the system to record at the same time and record smooth video. The DVR can record video at a maximum of 120 frames per second, the systems rate of playback is real time for all camera channels. The maximum PAL recording resolution for the system is 720*288 and for NTSC recording the maximum is 720*240. You are given a number of options when it comes to video storage one of these being to attach the DVR to a conventional VCR. A 160 GB hard disk is also fitted to the system for storing video and it also has a built in CD-RW.

More storage options are available by networking the DVR, the back of the device has an Ethernet port so you can connect it to a broadband router or LAN. Once networked you can send footage recorded by the DVR to other PC’s connected to the network. Networking the system also gives you the option of taking control of it from a remote location, you can adjust its settings and you can monitor the attached security cameras while miles away from your home or business.

The DVR converts video into AVI or JPEG files so you can make use of a standard PC to playback or share the video footage. The DVR also has five preset rates of video compression you can select so you can strike a balance between image quality and usage of storage space. A USB port is built in to the system for the purpose of updating it with firmware upgrades.

This is the WJ-HD309A/500 by Panasonic and you can attach up to 9 surveillance cameras to the DVR. Security cameras are attached to the system through its BNC connectors, the majority of video output connectors fitted to the DVR are situated at the back, the front of it has 1 RCA output. The system is capable of recording video at up to 120 frames per second and it has a 500 GB hard disk for storing video footage.

Controlling the features of the DVR is done through remote control or through its front panel. The front panel controls are extensive and allow you to control PTZ cameras attached to system with precision. Multiple accessories are available for the DVR that allow you to expand on the systems features in a variety if ways. An extension unit you can attach to it contains four hard drive bays if you require more video storage space. A joystick is also available that you can use to control cameras attached to the system

Panasonic have fitted multiple video output connectors to the system, it has one VGA output, one s-video output and two BNC outputs. You can connect the system to a broadband router or LAN enabling you to take control of it and its attached cameras remotely. For networking the system is fitted with an RJ45 compatible Ethernet port, the DVR also has RS485 data ports and an RS232C serial connector.

Video recording is activated through either motion detection or alarm activation, you can also set the DVR to record continuously if required. You can also set a schedule that will determine when the system will start and stop recording for each attached camera. You can also set up a two-way audio system with the DVR, the system is equipped with two RCA audio outputs and four RCA audio inputs.

When it comes to monitoring cameras attached to the system the DVR has the ability to display multiple cameras attached to the system at a respectable frame rate. You can select to monitor cameras attached to the system individually or you can split the monitors display to allow you to view 4, 7 or 9 cameras at once. Even when multiple cameras are recording it can display their output at 60 frames per second. The DVR can record video at resolutions of 720*480 and can record in either PAL or NTSC modes. The WJ-HD309A/500 is designed for professional security applications and is more expensive than the majority of security DVR’s but it is certainly an advanced piece of hardware.

Check the latest price on the Panasonic WJ-HD309A/500 9 Channel Security DVR

Very similar to its 16 channel counterpart the KJB Security DVR8T enables you to connect up to, yes you guessed it, eight cameras to the system. The DVR8T surveillance system uses JPEG 2000 video compression and can record video at a maximum of 120 frames per second. The system has Triplex functionality enabling you to watch and record video simultaneously. The recording speed of the DVR varies dependant on whether you set it to record in PAL or NTSC.

PAL recording offers the slightly higher maximum recording resolution that being 720*288. When recording in NTSC at maximum the security DVR records video at a resolution of 720*240. You can also see images captured by the system in detail with the use of its zoom function. You can set the DVR to record continuously or set it to record at specific times by programming the systems timer. Motion detection is also built in and the system can also be set to start and stop recording based ion the motion it detects.

The DVR has multiple alarm inputs, there are 8 in total and connecting external alarms to the system is another method of activating recording. An alarm relay output is built in to the DVR for the purpose of notifying you when the system detects a camera outage. For storing video the DVR is equipped with a 160 GB hard disk, further storage options include a built CD-RW so important footage can be transferred to CD.

You can also network the DVR by connecting it to a broadband router our LAN through its Ethernet port, this gives you more options for storing and transmitting video. Once networked you can take control of the security system from remote locations that have Internet access. Networking the DVR also gives you the ability to monitor the activities recorded by the system remotely.

During video playback you can set the DVR to quad mode for monitoring four surveillance cameras attached to the system on one monitor. You can also view surveillance cameras attached to the system in sequence in full screen or split screen modes. Like its 16 channel brother the DVR8T has 5 preset levels of video compression that you can select helping you strike a balance between video quality and storage space usage.

The KJB DVR16T is a 16 channel security DVR that accommodates up to 16 surveillance cameras. The DVR uses JPEG 2000 video compression and has a CD-RW drive and a 160 GB hard drive for storing video. There are five different levels of video compression you can select when recording with the system. The ‘basic’ video compression setting reduces image quality but requires less storage space while the ‘fine’ video compression setting enhances image quality but increases the load on the hard drive.

At maximum the DVR is able to record video at a rate of 120 frames per second and you can record video at resolutions up to 720*288 in PAL mode. You can also record video in NTSC mode with the DVR with the maximum resolution setting being 720*240. You can monitor cameras attached to the DVR in numerous ways, quad mode enables you to monitor multiple cameras attached to the system at once.

You also have the option of monitoring the cameras in a set sequence in full screen mode or you can view them in split screen mode. The DVR has Triplex capabilities so playing back video footage will not interrupt recoding in progress. Video recording by the system is activated in a variety of ways, you can set the DVR to record continually twenty four hours a day.

This kind of continuous recording uses up a lot of hard drive space, this should required unless cameras attached to the system are situated in an extremely busy area. Alternatively you can set the DVR to record only at times when motion is detected, this reduces the probability of recording footage that has no activity. Setting the DVR to record At times when motion is detected also reduces the load on its hard drive.
The system also has multiple alarm inputs to accommodate external alarms on your premises, when the alarms are triggered the system will start recording.

Further backup options are available when you network the DVR, the system has an Ethernet port so you can connect it to a LAN or broadband router. Once connected to a network you will be able to distribute video recorded by the DVR, and you can take control of it from remote locations. As the system has the ability to convert video into JPEG or AVI files you can open the files easily with a standard PC.

Check the latest price on the KJB Security DVR16T 16 Channel DVR

Lorex have designed the L516321 and you can add up to 16 security cameras to the DVR through the use of its 16 BNC ports. As long as no more than four cameras attached to the DVR are set to record simultaneously you can expect each camera to record video at 30 FPS. By configuring the recording functions of the DVR you can ensure that the video you record with it will be smooth even when recording at high resolution. At maximum the DVR can record video at up to 120 frames per second, the system is capable of recording in either PAL or NTSC modes.

The security DVR uses MPEG 4 video compression and it can convert video footage into either AVI or JPG file formats. The ability the DVR has to convert videos into the mentioned files gives you the option to transfer the information to a PC for copying or distributing. Transferring the files between the DVR is a fairly straightforward process, the DVR is equipped with a USB port that can accommodate a memory stick or other storage devices.

There are a number of recording resolutions you can select; at maximum the system can record video at resolution of 704*576 if you set it to record in PAL. The DVR also has a built in event log feature, the event log enables you to select a recorded event, the DVR will then display the footage recorded at the time of the event. When monitoring the video captured by the DVR you can monitor cameras full screen or set the system to quad mode, this allows you to view multiple cameras on one monitor.

Recording by the DVR is activated if it detects an alarm attached to it has been triggered. The back of the DVR has four programmable alarm inputs, you can also set the DVR to start and stop recording at specific times. Further to this the DVR also has built in motion detection capabilities and this feature can also be used to trigger recording.

The DVR comes with a 320 GB hard disk for storing video footage; you also have the option to install an additional hard drive as the system has an additional hard drive bay. You can also use the DVR to relay messages to people who are in the vicinity of your attached surveillance cameras. For setting up two way audio the DVR has an RCA audio output socket and you can also set up two way audio conferencing by networking the system.

Check the latest price on the Lorex L516321 Security DVR

This particular DVR is the Piczel 5170 and it is designed to record surveillance camera activities in multiple locations within your home or business. The Piczel 5170 is a 16 channel DVR so you can attach up to 16 surveillance cameras to the system through its BNC connectors. This particular DVR uses wavelet video compression so video footage looks less blocky when using the systems zoom feature. A 120 gigabyte IDE hard drive is fitted inside the DVR, Piczel have also included an additional hard drive bay so you can fit it with up to two hard drives.

The DVR can record video footage in both NTSC and PAL modes and it can play back video at a maximum resolution of 720*480. Although the display resolution is reasonable the drawback with the Piczel 5170 is at maximum it records video at 25 frames per second. Recording smooth video footage may prove difficult if you set all of the cameras to record simultaneously. For best performance you can set the DVR to record only at times when it detects motion.

A motion detection log is built in to the DVR and you can use this for finding specific events recorded by the system. Video recording can also be activated when the DVR detects an alarm attached to it is activated or you can set the DVR to start and stop recording at specific times. You can attach alarms to the DVR through the TTL input that is built in, the Piczel 5170 also has an alarm output. The alarm output for the DVR will let you know when the system has detected a problem with cameras that are attached.

You can use the DVR to transmit messages to people that are in the vicinity of surveillance cameras attached to the system. You can also hear people that are in your cameras surveillance areas, the DVR has four RCA audio inputs and 2 RCA audio outputs. Controlling the DVR is possible through the standard control buttons on the front of the system, you can also control the DVR with the remote control included.

The DVR has the ability to display multiple cameras attached to it through its picture in picture function, alternatively you can monitor one camera at a time full screen. It would have been nice to see some sort of network port attached to the system such as a Ethernet port. An Ethernet port would have been useful for controlling the system remotely, other than these drawbacks the Piczel 5170 is decent all round DVR with good video compression and it accommodates many cameras.

Check the latest price on the Piczel 5170 16 Channel DVR

Security labs have come up with another versatile DVR, this particular model is the SLD275 and you can attach up to 8 surveillance cameras to the system. The SLD275 has a respectable frame rate; specifically the DVR can record video at up to 480 frames per second. Since smooth video can be recorded at 30 frames per second you can set the all surveillance cameras attached to the system to record simultaneously without the video becoming choppy.

The system can accommodate two hard drives, a 160 GB hard drive is included as standard and there is an additional hard drive bay if you wish to expand on storage. You may find you have no need for an extra hard drive as the DVR also has a DVD writer that you can use to burn video to disc for archiving.

Security labs have added MJPEG-2000 video compression to the DVR and it can display video at resolutions up to 720*480. Five preset video compression modes are built in; selecting a preset compression mode switches video from low to high quality and has an effect on the usage of hard drive space. You have the option to monitor the cameras attached to the DVR with either a TV or monitor as the system has both VGA and composite video outputs.

The SLD275 is a triplex DVR so you can playback video footage without having to stop the system from recording surveillance camera footage. An Ethernet port is built in to the DVR so you can connect it straight to your broadband modem or LAN. By networking the Security Labs DVR you can monitor and control the system from a remote location.

Four audio inputs and 1 audio output is built is built in to the security DVR so you can communicate with people being monitored by your cameras. You can also attach and control pan tilt and zoom cameras attached to the DVR through its RS-232 communications port. Video recording is activated by various means including motion detection; scheduling or when the system detects an alarm attached to it has been triggered. You can also set the SLD275 to record continuously; a remote control is included with the system as standard.

Check the latest price on the Security Labs SLD275 8 Channel Security DVR