DVR Security System Review

Q-See has created the Q4DVR4CM that has the basic functions that you would expect from a surveillance system. The Q4DVR4CM is a stand-alone digital video recorder that includes four surveillance cameras you can attach to its four video input channels. The DVR can record video in NTSC mode at resolutions up to 720*480 and 720*576 when recording in PAL. You can record video at 30 frames per second when four cameras are attached to the Q4DVR4CM, the fps drop to 25 when recording in PAL. When using one camera the DVR can record video at up to 120 fps in NTSC and 100 fps when you record video in PAL format.

For video output the DVR has a 2 channel composite BNC and the DVR uses modified motion-JPEG video compression. The system automatically detects cameras that are attached to it and it will sound an alarm if there is any video loss. You can activate recording manually with the DVR or you can set it to record only at times when motion is detected. You can also set the DVR to follow a recording schedule so it only records footage at specific times of the day.

There are four CMOS color night vision cameras are included with the Q4DVRCM, the cameras can be set up indoors and are durable enough for outdoors. The DVR does support PTZ cameras but the ones included with the system don’t have PTZ functions. When recording at night the cameras revert to black and white mode and will pick up images at a 30-foot range. Video recorded by the Q-See Q4DVR4CM is stored on its 160 GB internal hard drive; this can be upgraded to over 200 GB. The design of the DVR’s hard drive bay makes changing the hard drive a fairly easy job.

When viewing recordings with the Q4DVRCM you can select a specific time of day with its user menu and the DVR will display what was recorded at the time. Unfortunately no Ethernet port is included with the DVR for networking the device but Q-See have provided a CD-Rom and USB to compensate. If you want to connect the DVR to your PC you can do so with the USB lead and then install the Drivers for DVR on you PC. This allows you to view footage recorded by the DVR on your PC and you can store the video on your PC’s hard drive.

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