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I bought their B/W cameras 2 yrs ago liked those had to buy new DVR so i bought this system.Only thing is the color cameras can not use the B/W camera wiring had to run all new wires and to use computer i did not know i needed a router to connect to just to veiw on my monitor at home other than that system seems to be working just fine i have no coplaints
Short range (~10 ft) zero-light performance is good.All in all, the price is pretty good for what it is. Awesome.The cameras show blues in weird shades (yes I tried the [limited] adjustments) and the image quality isn't great. I have yet to mount the cameras outside, so I can't comment on their long range performance. The web interface is pretty mediocre and limited. However, I wish I would have pieced together my own system with a better DVR and better cameras. You can't just pick a recording of an event and download them onto your computer - you have to watch recordings as if you're sitting at a TV and controlling the unit via the front panel. Looks like it was put together by a high school student. Also, it doesn't seem like you can turn off or change the password for the administrator account.
It's just not solid enough to count on it for a lot. But, fine-tuning it and getting more out of it without their input was just wishful thinking. Out of the box, this deal is simple enough. And, anyone who wants to sneak up on you can check out the camera layout easy enough and find a way to get to you without being seen.Third, reviewing and off-loading video is slow, clumsy, and, akin to video editing.
It's a good "nanny cam," and it can be handy for watching day-to-day real time comings and goings. Second, four cameras is probably not enough for any real security. Still, for under $600.00 AND providing some remote access ability, you can't knock it on the very basics that it CAN deliver. You may want to set up different profiles/users to get around some of this. I had no problems (after reading and heeding all the reviews) installing the system.
And, if you have it on FF3, you may miss the tiny bit of activity that happened entirely. In my area, installation was offered for $250.00. I was disappointed, to the point I quit asking, with tech support. If you do not have prior networking experience, and/or hard wire experience, do NOT buy this as it can eat you up. And, if you have done lots of hardwiring, this system has you making some pretty big holes in things and leaves you wondering what to do with the excess cable, wondering how well the soft cable will hold up under stress and time, and so forth.
I'll give this five stars because it's an ambitious effort for under $600.00However, read all the reviews carefully for the cons; there are many and none noted seem unfair. Again, handy for some things - like, "Is somebody in the driveway.". Unless you know when something happened, you'll be at this a long time. Otherwise, be prepared to work, perhaps hard, to get this to do what you want it to do.If you do have prior networking and hardwire experience, keep in mind that this system, used fully, opens up your PC to all sorts of evils in order for it to work remotely. But, once you start thinking about it, there are many areas around home or work that you might want to keep an eye on. Meaning, in real time it can do x frames per second, but when motion is detected it begins recording at x times 4 frames per second so you can see more detail.
Just take them into account before jumping into anything. From what I can figure, when it detects motion it records at the frame rate you set. Fourth, it would be nice if it could be set to record ONLY motion. But, rewind is slow and viewing/copying is in real time. It has fast-forward features, etc. It's handy for seeing that "something" is going on.
Do not, however, bet the farm on this thing.
I'll stop there.
First off, you have an effective range of 15 to 20 feet.
If your actor is moving quickly, you may get nothing at all, or, nothing at all useful.
If you can get that deal, go for it.
In fact, for practical purpose, everything happens in real time.
But, it's not really a good ID system to prove "who" was doing something.
My use for this system is short-term and I have a spare laptop to dedicate to this, so I'm OK with lots of the downsides just mentioned.
It worked well enough for what I wanted to do, but it is by no means a "heavy duty" system or a "one size fits all" solution.
However, SVAT people don't support it because it's not theirs and the other people don't offer support unless you upgrade to the paid version. I may just be missing something.Update: I sent the dvr back to Amazon and got a replacement one. I choose to send it back to Amazon. I made my extensions with cat-5 wire and s-video connectors. The extension cables at Radio Shack are 6-pin. Due to that chosen location, it was necessary to run approximately 100' of Ethernet cabling to my router. I had arranged to send it back to the SVAT folks; however, they wanted me to send the unit to them and wait for them to send it back. I had to have a patch cord to change one female to male.The unit works most of the time.
I already had conduit from the shop to the house so that wasn't too bad. I came up with it myself. I couldn't get anyone to answer the phone. However, I have had to reboot the dvr on a few occasions due to it being frozen up. You would have to be looking for the cameras to see them.That leads to why I wanted to speak to someone. I found some on the Sam's Club website (Clovers or Glovers) that I think would work.
My efforts to reach support was in their business hours of either 8-5 or 9-5 eastern. To get cameras where I thought they should be to cover both the house and the workshop, I opted to bury conduit out to my garden area. The length of conduit required that a extension cable be necessary. Amazon sent out the replacement unit right away and paid for the return of the faulty one. I put two cameras in bird houses, one I had, the other I had to build.
Bottom line someone called me Monday while I was at work. I like the product pretty well. I still have not completely broken the code on world wide access to my dvr. I worried that water/condensation would affect the conection. The issue lies in the fact that I have a dynamic IP address i.e.
My shop is in the back yard detached. The biggest problem I encountered was trying to get support from SVAT. You can't access the setup menu to set the date and time. I emailed them please contact me while I am trying to set this thing up. I had gone four days needing input from the support people and couldn't get it.My installation was non typical in that I choose to install the dvr in a hidden place in my workshop. Also, the remote location of my dvr requires viewing via internet only (unless I carry a TV out to the shop). it changes regularly. Note, I would only hold for about 40 minutes due to cell phone charges.
The SVAT people have not been overly helpful in that area. The extension cable is nothing but a long s-video cable (4 pin). You can control most functions from inside the house. It has worked flawlessly for I guess a couple weeks, however long its been.
In order to access your dvr, you have to know the ip address. I never did get good information from the support people. I was off that Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. But the length of conduit was going to require that the coupling would be underground. There is a "free" web service you can sign up for that is suppose to be the key.
I left a message please call me back while I am trying to set this thing up. The viewing on my laptop works well however. I wanted some guidance as to if a longer than 60' extension cable was available or if there was a way to make one. I don't see the value in storing the dvr next to items like the TV and computer that are likely to be stolen during a break in. That's not an issue in itself.
Relocating the camera solved the problem. The night vision works just as well up to around 10', maybe less, which was a very pleasant surprise. So far, very easy to install, good quality, a very good complete surveillance system. Fast forwarding through those events could be faster.
The daytime resolution and detail is very good up to around 15'-20'. I will reevaluate during the summer and winter months to see how it holds up. This system works surprisingly well. Installation is a breeze and the DVR is intuitive enough that you barely need to look in the manual to figure it out. Even in total darkness you can see very clear. Playback breaks the recordings into long timewise sections.
Only time will tell how well they hold up under the summer heat and the freezing winters. Playback speed is a bit fast making the video like an old black and white silent film, only this system is in color. I thought there was something wrong with the camera or wire then realized that a metal awning was interfering with the camera. It was even a problem if it was too close, ie within an inch of the awning. At night, the camera emits a cool red half circle near the lens indicating the night vision is active. If the camera was attached to the awning, there was little or no video. Each camera wire houses the power and video so you can have all your plugs in one location near the DVR.
The only problem I had was 2 cameras were very grainy when set up. The camera also has two holes in the back to allow for installation from the ceiling down, ie vertical install., or wall mount intallation.Negatives. ie You can get a good detail of a person up to that distance. The cameras have metal covers/hoods which can be removed or adjusted for more protective shade from the sun and rain.
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