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Posted: 9/24/2015 2:22:16 PM EDT
Yes another one of those threads.  Got a couple of questions for those who have setup surveillance systems at summer homes or cabins.
Going to be helping a family member wants to setup a low cost video surveillance system at their summer home to monitor it during the winter or when they are not there. Have been digging through the many threads (including stickied threads) of this forum and other websites. To that end have a few question. Keeping in mind the family member is not going to drop $1,000 or more (they don't even want to spend more than $500) on an IP NVR camera system. Its been a mess trying to come up with a half way decent 4 camera system that would work for them and won't break their bank. They want the ability to record video (duh), to monitor the cameras remotely via their PC/mobile device, and be notified (via motion detection) by email with the ability to save the video remotely in case of break in so they'd have something to show police. It appears that most lower cost systems will fulfill more or less their basic requirements. Issue becomes video quality of the cameras and the quality of the cameras/DVR (or NVR) systems. The cameras/DVR (or NVR) systems will be subjected to cold north east weather (prolonged below freezing weather) in an unheated location/house/cabin. To that end are people heating the DVR (or NVR) unit? Or is the heat of the electronics (and sunlight on the home/cabin) enough to keep the electronics/hard drive operable? If heating the equipment, what are people using? Are there any decent low cost systems or ones to absolutely stay away from? Currently we've been looking at several kits from; Lorex, Swann, Defender, Amcrest systems from places like Costco, Best Buy, Amazon, Home Depot/Lowes and the like. Is it better to forgo a DVR (or NVR) and use four independent IP cameras, have the video recorded to SD card within the camera, and access them independently sans a central controlling unit? I suggested the Netgear Arlo system but they rejected that idea due to the need to replace batteries every four to six months. At best (if I'm lucky) the family member might go with this Lorex system (but I don't think so due to cost): https://www.lorextechnology.com/HD-IP-security-camera-system/HD-Home-Security-System-with-1080p-Security-Cameras/prod910003.p Or http://www.costco.com/Lorex-8-Channel-IP-NVR-with-2TB-HDD%2c-4-1080p-Cameras-with-130'-Night-Vision.product.100153164.html# Or http://amcrest.com/qcam-3mp-8-channel-nvr-4-poe-bullet-ip-cameras-211.html# Otherwise they are looking at the following systems among others. http://www.costco.com/Lorex-8-Channel-Analog-DVR-with-2TB-HDD,-8-1080p-Cameras-with-130'-Night-Vision.product.100218592.html http://www.amazon.com/Amcrest-1080P-Analog-Security-System/dp/B00RKNRDKA/ https://www.lorextechnology.com/HD-DVR-Security-system/HD-720p-4-Channel-4-Camera-Home-Security-System/LHD84.p Any suggestions, experiences or comments on the lower end/cost systems? |
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I just installed this and it had been recommended in these thread. Very happy with it except the price just dropped another $100.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1122002-REG/swann_swnvk_873004_us_nvr8_7300_8_channel_3mp_nvr_with_4x_nhd_815.html |
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I installed a camera system from different components for a fraction of the cost of a box store system. I went with Evertech cameras and a Zmodo DVR. I found that it was cheaper and the system works fine. Ordered everything off of Amazon. If you search around, you will find a great system to put together. From what I understand, you can have great HD cameras, but the display comes down to the DVR.
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Thanks for the link, will add it to my list. That setup is similar to other SWANN kits we were looking at. Still slightly out of the price range though that the person was looking to spend. Forgot about B&H selling this kind of stuff. Quoted:
I installed a camera system from different components for a fraction of the cost of a box store system. I went with Evertech cameras and a Zmodo DVR. I found that it was cheaper and the system works fine. Ordered everything off of Amazon. If you search around, you will find a great system to put together. From what I understand, you can have great HD cameras, but the display comes down to the DVR. Which Evertech camera and which Zmodo DVR did you go with? Piecing together a system is a possibility if the price is right and the cameras/recording unit get decent reviews. Finding good independent reviews of both cameras and recording units has been difficult. Also difficult finding out who actually makes the cameras on some of these rebranded systems. |
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Looks like the family member is leaning towards the Amcrest 720P HD Over Analog (HDCVI) 4CH Video Security System with 4 bullet cameras. Seems like that manufacturer gets generally positive reviews and that particular system may give them decent video quality, features and recording time, without breaking their bank. It appears even though its limited to four cameras supposedly one can add two additional IP cameras or so this Foscam link claims.
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Take a look at the QSEE. One 1080 8-camera is on sale at Costco right now. A friend of mine showed me his 1080 system on his phone app yesterday and I was impressed. I'm not 100% certain they have "alert if motion" feature but I imagine it would.
In the future I will buy my systems from Costco just to get their concierge service. I was having issues setting up my older QSEE system remotely through my firewall. I called their concierge line, really expecting a generic CSR to read off a script. The guy on the other end really knew what he was doing. He installed logmein on my laptop and configured the system remotely. It took him 30 minutes moving at a pretty fast clip. It would have taken me hours. All for free. |
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Quoted:
Take a look at the QSEE. One 1080 8-camera is on sale at Costco right now. We looked at the Q See systems and others from Costco but the family member decided the cost of the Costco offerings we were looking at was out of their price range. Which is too bad as the Costco warrantee/return policy and their concierge service would have been a major plus. They ended up ordering the Amcrest HDCVI 720p 4 camera 1T drive system mentioned previously for $329 on Amazon earlier this week. The user reviews for that specific system appeared to be mostly positive. The DVR, at the very least, appears to be a rebranded Dahua. Most systems, even these lower cost one's, appear to have motion alerts (usually via email). There is a free and paid mobile app for that Amcrest systems (Amcrest View Lite and Amcrest View Pro). The Pro version of the app apparently supports "push" notifications based on; motion detection, camera being masked, local system alarm, or local hard drive alarm. The one subject that I haven't been able to find much information on is the export format of the file from these Dahua based systems. Apparently some or all of these Dahua based systems save or export the file to a propriety format called ".dav". Which then is played in a supported viewer/converter software from which that ".dav" file can be exported to ".avi" format. From there it can be converted to ".mp4" or some other format. Just an inconvenience, one that will take some extra time to get the file into a format that anyone can view if one needs to show that file to others. |
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Finally got around to installing the Amcrest 720p HDCVI 4 channel/4 camera kit for my family member. Install was relatively straight forward after the family member decided where they wanted the cameras and DVR to go, and how they wanted the wires routed. Only problem was the piss poor user manual included with the kit which is a common complaint. The Amcrest user manual for the DVR doesn't really give explanations too many of the DVR option settings or what changing values will do. In some cases there is no explanation at all for what certain options do. Image quality is pretty good considering the bullet cams were 1mp. The night vision is also pretty good but only at closer ranges.
The remote access works fairly well, but there is currently no Chrome support for the plugin needed to drive remote access due to Chrome dropping Java support recently. The free mobile apps work well but do not allow mobile access to programing the DVR administration interface. Still fine tuning the motion detection and email notification. Occasionally get false motion detection emails that are triggered by shadows or tree/bush movement. Can post a few pictures if anyone is really interested. |
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Quoted:
I just installed this and it had been recommended in these thread. Very happy with it except the price just dropped another $100. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1122002-REG/swann_swnvk_873004_us_nvr8_7300_8_channel_3mp_nvr_with_4x_nhd_815.html Thanks for the link! I was going to buy this system at Costco base on TGM's recommendation in another thread, but they no longer carry it. And you saved me a hunnerd buxs too ! 
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