DVR Security System Review

The hardware inside the Mace DVR has many similarities to what you would find in a personal computer, the Mace DVR-800T contains an AMD processor and it has a Linux based operating system.  There are 8 BNC connectors built in to the DVR to accommodate your security cameras and there is a built in hard drive for storing video.  The hard drive included with the system has a 240 gigabyte capacity, you can replace this with another IDE hard drive with a larger storage capacity, the system can accommodate up to 4 internal hard drives.

At maximum the DVR can record images at a speed of 30 frames per second, it is compatible with both PAL and NTSC video signals and it uses both MPEG-4 and H.264 video compression.  There are also numerous CIF recording modes you can select for adjusting the image quality of footage.  In NTSC mode the security recorder is capable of recording at a maximum resolution of 704*240, In PAL mode the maximum image resolution is 704*288.

You can also record audio with the DVR and set up a two-way communication system, the DVR has eight audio inputs but it only has one audio output. A DVD burner is built into the Mace system so you more than one means for storing your surveillance camera footage.  You can connect cameras to the Mace DVR that have pan tilt and zoom functions and the system also has an RJ45 connector so you can connect it a LAN or to the Internet.

Connecting the Mace recorder to a LAN gives you the option to use PC’s also connected to the same network as monitoring stations, connecting it to the Internet allows you to monitor attached cameras remotely and you can also control the systems functions.  There is a password protection system built in to the DVR and each user given access can be assigned certain privileges that determine what functions of the DVR they can operate.

You can set the DVR to record surveillance camera footage non stop if this is a necessity, you can also schedule recording.  The Mace DVR also has motion detection capabilities and these can be used to determine when it starts and stops recording camera footage.  There are also 8 alarm inputs built in to the DVR that can be used to activate recording and if you want to notify personnel on site about specific activities picked up by the DVR you can make use of its three alarm outputs.

Check the latest price on the Mace DVR-800T 8 Channel Security Recorder

The GeoVision GV1240 is a 16 channel DVR card that is able to handle both audio and video, the card connects directly to a free PCI slot within your PC’s casing and you can view cameras attached to it through your systems monitor.  The GeoVision DVR card is compatible with security cameras that use either a PAL or NTSC signal and it is capable of recording camera footage at up to 240 frames per second.

There are a variety of video compression methods that can be used with the DVR card including MPEG-4, H.264 and Wavelet compression.  At maximum the card is capable of capturing images at a pixel resolution of 720*480 in NTSC mode, PAL mode offers images of slightly higher quality, the maximum resolution here being 720*576.  An extensive password protection system can be set up for the card, the software included allows you to create up to 1000 user accounts, the password protection system ensure only you and those you select have access to the cards functions.

A variety of network protocols are compatible with the DVR card, its notification system gives you peace of mind as it can keep you up to date about events recorded by your security cameras.  You can use the notification system to keep you appraised about events via email, telephone or with a text message to your mobile.  The DVR card can be used in conjunction with your PC to record surveillance camera footage 24 hours a day, alternatively you can use its motion detection capabilities to determine when recording starts and stops.

Recording can also be scheduled or you can attach external alarms to the card, when an attached alarm is activated it will activate recording.  The DVR card is also compatible with security cameras that have pan, tilt and zoom functions, these types of camera can be used in conjunction with the card for automatically tracking objects.

The software included with the GeoVision card allows you to view multiple cameras attached to the card simultaneously from one monitor, you can also connect the DVR card to a large screen TV if you want a bigger picture.  The GeoVision card also supports audio so you can hear the activities on your cameras vicinity, as the card has both audio inputs and outputs it can be used to set up a two way communication system.

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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 AverDigi Hybrid NV6240 is designed to fit into a free PCI Express slot within your PC and it is suitable for both analog and digital security cameras. NTSC video signals are supported by the card and it can accommodate a maximum of 8 surveillance cameras, if you have more than one PCI Express slot in your PC you may have the option to attach more than one card.

You can view the feed from attached surveillance cameras on your PC’s monitor or on a television as the NV6240 has an RCA output, if you have a high megapixel security camera and have been looking for a DVR card that is up to the job of processing its video feed the AverDigi Hybrid may very well serve the purpose.

The DVR card supports resolutions as low as 352*240 and as high as 1920*1200, there are also a number of 2.3 megapixel security cameras supported by the card. Static, de-interlaced and dynamic interlaced video modes are also supported by the card with the dynamic interlaced modes producing the best image quality. You can route the video output from the DVR card to two monitors simultaneously and it also has a built in noise reduction feature that helps to improve image quality. The DVR card not only processes video signals but also audio signals, You can record the audio feed from up to eight cameras with the card.

Security cameras with pan, tilt and zoom functions are supported by the NV6240 and you can control the position of these cameras through a dedicated joystick attached to your PC, Avermedia have created a dedicated script for PTZ cameras for adding new protocols. The DVR card uses both MPEG-4 and H.264 video compression and it has a built in night vision feature designed to improve the clarity of images picked up by attached surveillance cameras in dark conditions.

Video recording can be activated by various means, you can use the DVR card for recording surveillance camera footage continuously or you can use its motion detection features to activate and de-activate recording. You also have the option to attach external alarms to the DVR card, the card will detect when an attached alarm has been activated and trigger your PC to begin recording surveillance camera footage. A single NV6240 card can accommodate four alarm inputs and four alarm outputs however Avermedia state that up to 96 relays can be attached to the card with the use of third party hardware.

The software included with the video capture card has a significant number of functions, it allows you to view the feed of multiple surveillance cameras attached the DVR card simultaneously on one monitor and you can configure it to send you an email when specific system events occur. Remote monitoring is also supported through Internet Explorer and multiple users can monitor cameras attached to the card through the web browser at the same time. The NV6240 is fairly new at the time of writing and requires a PC with fairly high specifications in order to operate at its best. Avermedia recommend you attach the DVR card to a PC that has either a 3.2 GHz Pentium processor or an Intel dual core 2.4GHz processor in order to achieve the highest frame rates.

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The Sanyo DSR-2016 is a digital security recorder offering multiple camera inputs and a significant amount of storage space for your surveillance camera footage. The DSR-2016 has 16 BNC inputs for attaching your surveillance cameras and has hard drive for storing video with a 500 gigabyte capacity. You can upgrade the systems capacity for video storage, the DVR has two internal hard drive bays and you can attach hard drives that have up to 540 gigabytes of storage space.

The Sanyo recorder uses MPEG-4 video compression and is compatible with both PAL and NTSC video signals. There are 5 image resolutions you can select, at maximum the system can record video at a pixel resolution of 704*480 using an NTSC signal, PAL offers an improvement to image quality and a maximum pixel resolution of 704*576. In addition to the DVR’s internal hard drive it also has a built in CD writer that can be used for storing surveillance camera footage.

Pan, tilt and zoom security cameras are supported by the security recorder, it has an two RS-485 ports that can be used for connecting PTZ cameras, the cameras position can be adjusted with the use of the PTZ button situated at the front of the DVR. The majority of the DVR’s functions can be controlled through its front panel, it has a password protection system so you can ensure only specific individuals can operate its functions.

The DVR has a maximum recording rate of 240 frames per second, it can also record audio and uses G.711 audio compression. You can use the DVR to set up a communication system operating between the position you choose to situate the DVR and an entrance on your premises, there are four audio outputs and one audio input. You can connect the DVR to a variety of monitoring devices, the system has VGA, BNC and S terminal video outputs.

You can set the Sanyo DVR to record continuously, schedule recording or use its motion detection features to control recording. The system can be used to notify personnel on site when the system detects breaches in security by connecting an external alarm to one of its four alarm inputs. You can use external alarms to activate the systems recording function, the Sanyo DVR will detect when an external alarm is activated through one of its 16 alarm inputs.

The Lorex QLR1660 provides a cost effective means of setting up multiple surveillance cameras within your home or business.  The DVR card accommodates a maximum of 16 surveillance cameras and records surveillance camera footage at up to 30 frames per second.  You will need a mid range PC with a free PCI slot in order to get the Lorex QLR1660 up and running, it includes software that allows you to view surveillance camera footage on your PC’s monitor.

The DVR card literally turns your PC into a fully functional recorder and monitoring station, once it is inserted and set up it shares many of the functions of a dedicated digital security recorder.  Installation is straightforward, you simply open your PC’s case and insert the card, when you turn the power on Windows detects the card at which point you insert the CD that includes the software drivers for the card.

The Lorex card provides you with multiple alarm relay inputs and outputs, it will detects the activation of attached external alarms and begins recording surveillance camera footage (by storing it on your hard drive).  The software for the Lorex card has a password protection system so you can ensure unauthorised personnel are locked out of its functions.  The DVR card also has motion detection that can be configured to control when the system starts and stops recording surveillance camera footage.

Like many security DVR’s the Lorex cards software has a scheduling facility so you can specify what times you want the card to start and stop recording surveillance camera footage.  The DVR card is capable of processing audio and you can use it to set up a two way communication system between your PC and an entrance on your premises.  If you have 16 cameras attached to the system you can’t record the audio feed from each one, the DVR card can accommodate up to 4 audio feeds.

Spider cables are included for connecting alarm, video and audio devices to the card, its software is compatible with Windows 2000, XP and Vista.  You will need to attach the Lorex card to a PC with at least a Pentium 1.6 GHz processor, 256 megabytes of RAM and a graphics card with at least 64 megabytes of RAM.  These are the minimum requirements for the Lorex card but you will gain higher frame rates and have overall better performance if your PC has higher specifications.

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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 the Safety 1st 08280 baby monitor, the monitoring portion of the device is one of the smallest in comparison to other video baby monitors and can easily fit into your pocket. The safety 1st baby monitor has high definition video and it uses H.264 video compression, what’s more unusual is the camera for the device has pan and zoom features that you can adjust from the monitoring device.

You can use the Safety 1st baby monitor wirelessly and it operates on the 2.4 GHz frequency range. A software enhancement is embedded in the baby monitor to help with interference, Safety 1st have considered the fact that homes consist of a growing amount of wireless technology, the baby monitor will not interfere with wireless networks and other wireless hardware.

At maximum the monitoring portion of the baby monitor can detect the signal of the camera at a range of 650 feet, The baby monitor handles both pictures and sound, it is capable of picking up very low audio noises so you can hear exactly what your baby is doing, whether they are turning around in their cot or if they start to cry.

There is also a background noise elimination feature built into the baby monitor so you can cut out extraneous sounds. There are three sound levels options that allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the cameras built in microphone.

To conserve power the system has a battery conservation mode, you can select 1 of 5 preset options that determine when the LCD display automatically shuts down, this ranges between five, fifteen and thirty seconds. The beauty about the battery conservation mode is that the sound of your baby’s voice will re-activate the LCD display so you can see what they are doing.

You can see what you baby is doing in either light or dark conditions, the night vision capabilities of the device activate automatically when lighting levels fall in your baby’s room. The monitoring portion of the baby monitor is rechargeable and the camera for the device can be either plugged in to your mains power supply or operated with batteries.

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This is the Secure Sounds Summer Infant baby monitor released in March 2008, it is used for monitoring your baby through its LCD display and includes a unique baby soother that emits a variety of sounds to help your baby sleep. To conserve battery power the LCD display of the baby monitor can be turned off, the device comes with rechargeable batteries that last up to 10 hours. You can also plug the device into your power supply at home, two AC adapters are included in the contents of the package.

A total of 5 different sounds are played by the baby soother, two of these are nature sounds, 3 of these are lullabies, either of the sounds played by the soother can be used to help you baby fall fast asleep. The baby soother also has a vibration function with varying levels of strength, the monitoring portion of the unit has a 1.8 inch color LCD screen and has a belt clip you can use to carry it around your home.

A child lock button is built into the baby soother to keep it secure and the device shuts down automatically after twenty minutes. You can attach the baby soother to your baby’s crib and it also has volume controls so you can set it to play lullabies at just the right levels.

The monitoring unit of the device has an LED that acts as a power indicator to warn you when the power is running low, there are also brightness controls so you can adjust the picture. The camera included with the baby monitor can be placed in numerous positions so you can monitor your baby at just the right angle, alternatively you can hang the unit on a wall or place it on a bureau.

You can use the camera to monitor your baby at both day and night as the camera has night vision capabilities so you can monitor your baby in the dark. A power save feature is built into the device that serves to shut down its screen after three minutes, the baby monitor is wireless and operates at a frequency of 2.4GHz.

Check the latest price on the Summer Infant Baby Monitor And Baby Soother