DVR Security System Review

The Mobicam Ultra is designed to primarily act as a baby monitor, It has a reasonably sized color LCD display and a separate wireless camera module.  You can place the camera module a few feet away from your baby, take the monitoring portion of the device to another room and watch over your child.  The camera for the baby monitor can also be wall mounted and it has night vision capabilities.  It is suggested that the camera is placed no further than 25 feet away from your baby if you want to monitor them at night.

As mentioned the baby monitor is wireless, it operates on the 900MHz frequency range, to prevent interference it is best not to use the device in the same vicinity as microwaves or other wireless devices.  If your baby is a light sleeper and the sound of their bedroom door opening is likely to wake them, the baby monitor may prove to be invaluable.  At maximum the monitor can pick up the signal from the camera at a range of 300 feet, the Mobicam Ultra also has a voice activation feature that works by activating the monitoring portion of the device when your baby starts crying.

You can connect the baby monitor to a television set if you want to monitor your baby on a large screen, you can also connect the device to a video recorder if you want to record your baby.  The drawback is no AV cable is included with the baby monitor so if you want to connect it to a television or video cassette recorder you will have to purchase AV cable separately.

The baby monitor can operate on batteries and it has a battery indicator that displays the remaining battery life for the device.  Alternatively you can connect the baby monitor to the mains with the use of the adapter included with the package.  At maximum you can use the baby monitor in conjunction with two cameras at the same time.  Usually a discount is available if you purchase the secondary camera at the same time you get hold of the baby monitor.

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The Q-See QSD001 is easily one of the lowest priced 4 channel security recorders on the market.  The Q-See DVR is compatible with both PAL and NTSC video signals and uses M-JPEG compression.  As mentioned the system is four channel so you can attach up to four surveillance cameras to the DVR through its composite BNC video inputs.

At maximum the DVR can record video at 30 frames per second in NTSC mode, PAL signals produce a better picture however the maximum frame rate falls to 25 frames per second when using a PAL signal.  The first item you may need to consider if you get hold of the QSD001 is purchasing a hard drive as no hard drive is included with the DVR, a standard serial ATA hard drive can be attached to the system for the purpose of storing video footage.  If you own a PC this offers you an alternative to obtaining and installing a hard drive for the DVR

A USB port is built in to the DVR and this can be used to connect it directly to a PC, connecting the devices together enables you to use the PC to store footage from the DVR and it can also act as a monitoring station.  Q-See provide software with the DVR for installing on your PC that allows it to recognise the recorder, the software includes an interface that can be used to monitor surveillance camera feeds.

The software interface can display all four camera feeds on your PCs monitor at once, the interface is controlled with your mouse and you can use it to fast forward rewind or pause video playback.  You can convert any surveillance camera footage into AVI files and then save them to the computers hard drive.

You can set the DVR to record continuously or you can enable its motion detection capabilities for the purpose of activating and deactivating recording.  The DVR has an internal buzzer that you can program to sound in the event of the device detecting motion.

Check the latest price on the Q-See DVR QSD001 Security Recorder

This is the Sony SNCDF50N security camera that has wide dynamic range and a feature known as ‘Dynamic Frame Integration’, this improves the clarity of images that include stationary and moving objects.  The Sony security camera has a 1/3 inch CCD image sensor and an effective pixel range of 768*494.  There are three user selectable video compression modes, these include MPEG-4, JPEG and H.264 video compression.

The camera is designed for use on computer networks and up to 20 users can monitor the cameras video feed simultaneously.  You can attach external alarms to the security camera, if you have motion sensors on your premises these can also be attached to the device.  The camera also has two alarm relay outputs that can be used to sound an alarm, you can program the camera to sound attached alarms based on various actions detected by the camera, i.e. motion detection.

You can configure the camera to transmit an image with its motion detection feature to keep you apprised of events.  One of the cameras more advanced features is object detection, this works by activating an alarm when objects enter and remain in the cameras view for a set period of time.  Object detection can be used to inform personnel when a subject in the vicinity of the security camera leaves behind a bag or to monitor the presence of motor vehicles.

There is a speaker output built in to the Sony security camera you can use to attach an external speaker to the device, you have the option record an audio file and store this in the cameras memory, this feature is known as voice alert.  Voice alert can be used in conjunction with the cameras alarm features, when the alarm is activated voice alert can be used to direct subjects in the cameras vicinity to walk to an exit on your premises.

The camera has a vari-focal lens and a shutter speed range of 1/60 – 1/10,000 s, the camera also has exposure control and white balancing.  The Sony camera has a horizontal resolution of 420 TV lines and uses an NTSC video signal.  You can zoom in up close to objects in the cameras range as it has a 3.6x optical zoom and a 1.5x digital zoom.

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Here is the Security Labs SLD230M security recorder, the first feature you will notice about the device is its extremely compact design.  With the SLD230M being so small does the system contain cutting edge technology? The security DVR contains an internal hard drive for storing camera footage, the hard drive has a 30 gigabyte capacity.  The hard drive capacity is modest compared to other security DVR’s out there however Security Labs state it can store 400 hours of video when recording with the use of its highest image quality setting.

The DVR uses MJPEG compression and at maximum it can record video at a resolution of 720*240, the maximum recording speed of the device is 15 frames per second.  A buzzer is built in to the DVR to alert you when the device detects motion, the buzzer will also sound when the system detects video loss.  You can give cameras attached to the DVR a specific title to help you identify the camera feed quickly, unless you mean to use the DVR in conjunction with an existing surveillance system your unlikely to use the title feature as it has only one video input.

You can select 1 of three preset levels of video compression, higher settings reduce image quality but the video required less storage space, choosing the lower video compression settings has the opposite effect on image quality and storage space.  The SLD230M can also record audio from your attached surveillance camera providing it is fitted with a mic, the DVR has 1 channel audio.

If required you can set the DVR to record surveillance camera footage 24 hours a day, the other option is to use its motion detection features to control recording.  You can also schedule recording by specifying a date and time when you want the system to record.  The Security Labs DVR also has an auto recovery feature that retains the settings of the system and restores them in the event of a power outage.

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Here is another model in the range of Sony security cameras, the Sony SSC  DC593 is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The Sony security camera has a feature known as variable gamma curve, there are four preset variable gamma curve settings you can select, each has an impact on the sharpness of dark and bright portions within an image.  There is a 1/3 inch interline transfer CCD type image sensor built into the camera and it has an effective pixel range of 768*494.

You can capture images at both day and night with the Sony security camera, it automatically detects changes in illumination levels.  When light levels fall to a specific level the camera remove any infra red filtering applied to an image, at this point switches from color to black and white mode.  The camera has a maximum resolution of 480 TV lines and operates in light levels as low as 0.8 lux in color mode and 0.07 lux in black and white mode.

The camera has a wide dynamic range lens and it also has a feature known as DynaView, DynaView improves the clarity of images shot in high contrast environments.  DynaView works by capturing two shots of an image by using a normal and a high shutter speed, it uses LSI technology to combine elements of both images to produced one enhanced image.

There are four gain control options you can select, the camera has a feature known as Turbo AGC, this feature allows you to adjust the cameras gain to 24dB.  The gain control functions include normal, turbo and manual, you also have the option to turn the gain control off.  Another feature that makes adjustments to the cameras settings based on lighting conditions is auto white tracing, the camera also has motion detection capabilities.

You can specify what elements within an image trigger its alarm relay with its activity detection function, when the camera detects motion in a specified area it also sends a visual alarm activation signal to your monitor.  The Sony Security camera also has a privacy zone masking function and the camera is compatible with CS-mount lenses that can be used for precision back focus adjustments.

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CPcam have developed the CPD561 security DVR, the system uses MPEG4 and MJPEG video compression and is compatible with both PAL and NTSC video signals. The DVR can be set to record continuously for considerable time as it has a hard drive capacity of 500 gigabytes, this gives you the means to leave the device recording for months if necessary. You can attach a maximum of 4 surveillance cameras to the DVR and it has a multi lingual user interface.

You can swap the hard drive if necessary and replace it with one that has a larger capacity, at maximum it can accommodate IDE ATA66 hard drives with up to 750 gigabytes of storage space. As mentioned you can set the system to record continually or you can attach external alarms to the system, the system has four alarm inputs and one alarm output. If an alarm attached to one the DVR’s four alarm inputs is activated it will begin recording camera footage.

The single alarm output can be used to alert you when the camera detects motion so you can use it to let you know when someone walks into a room. There is also an 8 megabyte alarm buffer that enables you to view camera footage recorded just before an alarm is activated. You can record audio with the DVR as it has an audio input and audio output you can use to set up a two way audio system, the drawback here is the system can’t record the audio stream from four surveillance cameras simultaneously.

At maximum the DVR can record video at a speed of 120 frames per second, there are also a number of CIF resolution modes you can select. The maximum recording resolution for the CPcam DVR is 720*480 in NTSC mode, in PAL mode it can record at a resolution of 720*576. There are also four preset image quality settings you can select, these range from basic, normal, high and best. Selecting the higher image quality settings improves the picture drastically but recording at this quality also uses hard drive space more quickly.

You can schedule specific times that determine when the DVR will start and stop recording, it also has a USB port that can be used for a flash drive. The DVR also includes software that you can use to monitor cameras attached to it while you are away from your premises. Each camera attached to the DVR can be identified easily as you have the option to give each of them a specific title enabling you to tell what feed you are monitoring at a glance.

Check the latest price on the CPcam DVR CPD561 4 Channel Security Recorder

Here we have the Sony SNC DF40N security camera, it is compatible with both PAL and NTSC video signals and uses both JPEG and NTSC video compression.  The Sony security camera is designed for use on computer networks and it is capable of capturing sharp images at a smooth frame rate.  If your premises have a PC you can easily set the device up to act as a monitoring station for the Sony Security camera, A mid range specification PC will suffice.

The security camera can capture images at a rate of 30 frames per second and you can select one of six image quality modes, you can set the pixel range to a maximum of 640*480 and a minimum of 160*120.  To monitor the camera your PC needs to be connected to the Internet, through its web browser window you can view the camera feed with either a Java or Active X viewer.

As both Java and Active X viewers are supported the camera feed can be monitored through the Firefox web browser or through Internet Explorer.  The Active X viewer does have the advantage when it comes to the smoothness of the camera feed as it supports MPEG-4 compression.  From the viewer you can send image files to colleagues, adjust the cameras zoom and control a multitude of its other functions.

A 32 bit RISC processor is built into the camera and it has 64 megabytes of memory and 32 megabytes of flash RAM.  The camera has ¼ inch inter line transfer super HAD CCD image sensor and it has a horizontal resolution of 480 TV lines.  You can also hear the activities of subjects in the vicinity of the camera as it has a built in microphone, the camera uses G.711/G.726 audio compression.

The camera has white balancing and it is capable of capturing images in low level lighting, its alarm relay output can be used to attach it to an external alarm.  The alarm rely feature is very useful for alerting you when the camera detects motion, there is also a pre alarm buffer built in so you can view occurrences that lead up to an event before an alarm is activated.

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Here we have the Sony EVIHD1 security camera, arguably the most revered feature of the device is its high definition image capabilities. The Sony EVIHD1 has a 2 mega pixel range (16:9), the camera has an HD-SDI video output making it compatible with High definition televisions and standard NTSC and PAL TV’s. Inside the camera is a 1/3 inch CMOS image sensor and the devices shutter speed range falls between ½ to 1/10,000 of a second.

The Sony security camera has pan tilt and zoom functionality, you can select from one of six preset camera positions when monitoring the camera, it has the capability of retaining its position settings after it has been turned off. You can see objects from great distances with the camera as it has a 40x zoom ratio, specifically it has a 10x optical zoom and a 4x digital zoom.

The camera also has a wide viewing angle of 70 degrees so it can capture a high degree of objects through its image sensor without you having to adjust its position. As the camera has an RS-232C interface you can control its functions from a remote locations, you can control the camera remotely with use of the Sony Visca protocol. The cameras Visca protocol consists of a variety of commands that allow you to control features such as its shutter speed, zoom, zoom speed and more.

A neat remote control is included with the Sony security camera so you make adjustments to its position and image settings, this is very handy as a user does not have to be at a dedicated monitoring station to control it. The Sony EVIHD1 is not one of Sony’s cheapest camera but if image quality is paramount it will serve its purpose. The camera can be used both as a surveillance device or as a key tool for setting up a video conferencing system.

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Here we have another network camera produced by Sony, the SNC-DF70N is compatible with both PAL and NTSC signals and could possibly be the ideal camera for adding surveillance to your premises.  The Sony SNC-DF70N has a discreet design and when positioned correctly it can go relatively unnoticed, its outer casing is composed of die-cast aluminium.  Inside the casing is a ¼ inch Super HAD image sensor and the camera is capable of capturing images at both day and night.

You can connect the camera to either a standard PC or to a DVR in order to record its feed, the cameras outer design makes it suitable for either indoor or outdoor use.  The Sony security camera has a feature known as ‘Adaptive Rate Control’ and the function automatically adapts the cameras bit rate usage to compensate for fluctuations in network speed.  The purpose of the cameras adaptive rate control feature is to ensure there is no break in its audio and video feed.

The cameras built in microphone makes it ideal for setting up an intercom system that you can use to monitor and communicate with subjects at the entrance of your premises.  The outer casing of the camera is durable and can resist attempts of vandalism to a limited degree, it also has a built in pre alarm recording function so you can see a limited amount of footage that leads up to events.  The pre alarm recording function gives you the ability 15 seconds of camera footage that leads to an event.

Video feeds from the camera are high quality, it has a maximum effective pixel range of 768*494 and the cameras gain control can be set to automatic or manual.  The camera uses G.711 audio compression and you can select between JPEG and MPEG-4 video compression.  You can connect the camera to digital video recorders that have BNC video inputs and it has a horizontal resolution of 480 TV lines.

Software is included with the SNC-DF70N that you can use to set up a PC as a monitoring station, the software requires Windows 2000 or XP for installation.  The feed from the Sony security camera can be monitored over the web via Internet Explorer, this feature will prove useful for monitoring your premises while you are away.

Check the latest price on the Sony SNC-DF70N Security Camera

Here we have another Q-See DVR produced in 2008, the QSD2304L has the ability to record surveillance camera footage at a high frame rate and you can attach up to four surveillance cameras to the system. You can search for surveillance camera footage recorded by the Q-See DVR by various means and it you can connect it to either a local area network or to the Internet.

Surveillance camera are attached to the DVR through its four BNC video inputs and the system uses H.264 video compression, the functions of the DVR are kept secure through its built in password protection system. The Q-See system is compatible with both NTSC and PAL video signals, its recording resolution is modest, in NTSC the maximum pixel resolution is 352*288, in NTSC mode the maximum pixel resolution for recordings is 320*240.

As mentioned the recording speed of the DVR is considerably high, at maximum it can record video at a speed of 120 frames per second. You can set the DVR to record video footage continually or you can program the system with a schedule that determines when it will start and stop recording camera feeds. Alternatively you can use the systems motion detection capabilities or attach external alarms to it to activate and de-activate recording.

The DVR supports one IDE hard drive that is used for storing footage from your surveillance cameras, the drawback here is that no hard drive is included. On the plus side as there is no hard drive included with the DVR its cost is quite low in comparison to other systems, there is no limit on the storage capacity of any hard drive you choose to install.

Networking the DVR is another means that can be used for storing surveillance camera footage, this also allows you to control the system and monitor cameras attached to it while you are away from your premises. The system also has a USB port you can use for plugging in external storage devices if you don’t want to install an internal hard drive. The QSD2304L has 4 alarm inputs, one alarm output, two audio inputs and two audio outputs.

Check the latest price on the Q-See DVR QSD2304L 4 Channel Surveillance System