Security DVR Advice Needed

Buy a purpose built COTS DVR warranty and all and be done with it.

What is a COTS DVR?

Commercial Off The Shelf.

Pelco isn't bad, but technically it is PC based (runs under Windows platform). Very stable, high frame rate. Good resolution.

Dedicated Micros DS2 series is also very good. Solid reliable, extremely stable. Not as high a frame rate as Pelco, but also much cheaper. Good resolution.

Both are feature rich, support telemetry, and ethernet access, and have support for remote access via port forwarding if broadband is available. Motion recording, trigger input recording, etc etc...

To go a little cheaper look at the Eco series from Dedicated Micros. Not as feature rich, but reliable.

I have first hand experience with a number of these units and have set up lots of them on networks for LAN, Internet, WAN, and VPN access. \\

I decided to try the GeoVision DVR card and software. I figured I already have the server with gads of memory and hard disk space.

I got the GV-1480 and so far it's working great.

Ive never had much luck with pc-based servers, due to reliability issues. It seems theres too many support variables with Windows, cards, software etc.

I have experience with some stand alone solutions:

"Dedicated Micros, DS2-DX9C-320" is a rock solid 9 channel DVR that Ive installed a few times without any call backs. Full features are available via web control, but priced out of reach for most of my customers, at around

Also the "Everfocus EDSR9" is a similar product, but with fewer features. Its a good buy if youre only interested in viewing/recording remotely and not concerned with complete remote administration and control. It sells for

JOhn

Nice buy, check out the DSP output for real time analogue display on a TV or CCTV Monitor.

Also check out the CCTVforum.com for other stuff related to Geo.

As for stand alones, ive used DM and Everfocus (as well as a ton more - just spent a couple years testing DVR after DVR) and found them both a waste of money, the EV crashes like its on drugs, and this is alot of them, not just a couple, and its remote software is horrible. DM is a waste of money on the US side. The GE (used to be Kalatel) is 20 times better and costs less. BY the way EV is not even in the league of DM and no where near GE.

Thanks!

So far the GeoVision is solid.

All the EVs i used were the 1600's. The 4s may have less issues, but if they have the same software, there are much better units out there for less $$, for example the Active-Tek unit(sold under various names in the US) comes with USB, great remote video software, built in CDR, etc, a truly neat mid range 4 channel DVR (also sold as the Nubix by Eclipse CCTV), and even the AvTech for a real budget, never crashes. AvTechs are also sold under various names in the US.

As for the GE, its not cheap, but cheaper than the imported DMs, with much more powerful network software. I use the StoreSafe Pro, and the DVMRe-CT, the rest i dont bother with right now. If you are in Europe however, you may want to check out the Bosch, Dallmeier, and Baxall DVRs, as the GE can get really expensive on that side.

As for PC cards, i use GeoVision and Iview, and currently working on getting my own cards to write software for, actually same cards Geo uses. The manufacturer really has a great line of cards and accessories.

also sold as the Nubix :

which Ev have you used? I've used a few edr400 and have had no troubles. Which GE unit is it that costs less? less cost = mo money!

is that the S Korean made Active tech?

gracias

thanks again for the links. that is the s korean company. why is nobody posting pricing on those sites, dadburnit. this is the internet, I want info now.:)

rory said they were less expensive, he is not misleading me is he? how come your site doesn't load right in my browser?

The DVR is from $400-780 depends which one you buy, which company you buy it from,and if you are an end user or dealer, and can go higher depending where you live. There is one with a CDR and one without, and you can also buy them without HDDs or with.

Those sites generally deal with dealers and wholesale pricing which is why you dont see prices, plus prices change so much. Email them and they WILL quote you a price, all except for Active-Tek..

URIEL is the cheapest as they strictly sell wholesale.

Active-Tek is the manufacturer of the actual case and hardware, the boards as far as I can tell are mass produced by another company which is used by several other korean manufacturers, such as "Nadatel" (main reason being is they both only have 4 channel versions with same specs, and are on the same time line for the release of the 8 and 16 channel versions, this has been the same for a year now).

Active-Tek is even more wholesale than Uriel and will not sell to you unless you are a huge company.

think about it though for a second. Now i sell PC based myself, as well as stand alone embedded DVRs, mostly the GE DVRs though.

Any PC DVR, even the $99 card needs a decent PC if you are selling it to a client and giving a warranty on it, other wise welcome to the world of PC service, and alot of it.

Therefore even if you pick out the parts, and build it yourself you are looking in the range of around $600-700 for a decent starter PC for a dedicated DVR system.

Add time to phyically build it, load windows, the other software, clean it up and tweak it, then at least 24 hours burn in time. You are then well over $1000 for the PC alone.

Next add a decent PC DVR Card, say a 16 channel 120fps at $400 for example.

Then, add time to show the client how to use it, as most PC DVRs, from lowest end to highest end, can take some time to learn. I can install a stand alone in 5-10 minutes and client knows how to use it. A PC based DVR, forget it, and if they arent PC literate, good luck.

PC DVRs are good for high speed recording and easy upgrades of Hard Drives. Stand alone embedded DVRs are good for plug, play, and forget, easy install and simple to use, DVRs.

Personally I dont sell them only because I sell high end. Otherwise they are very decent decent DVRs with as much features as most people ever need.

AND, if you want a stand alone embedded plug and play DVR that doesnt crash and is the ultimate cheap one on the market, try the AvTech units, they have been around for a long time, and trust me, i have 1 here right now AvTech sent me to test (that means test only and review it), and several 16 channels that we have tested to the max, and even installed, and nothing I can do will crash them. They are budget, and very little features, but, they are cheap, the ultimate budget DVR that actually works. These are the ones with LAN for remote video by the way.

Ones that have crashed after only minutes of testing - Neverfocus, HiSharp, and Provideo.