Just when I am thinking that I'm making head way..i get pulled right back in... I read alot of the archives forums and i run into more and more unknowed "to me" brands...i have save in my favorites so many websites from manufacturers, brands, makers its ridiculus.

I might find a good Stand alone,good recording quality ,etc.. then BAM!! the remote viewing is crap...

Rory, it would be great if you could download all your knowledge onto a CD and sell/post on this website. Is there a Dvr standalone that does everything like it should?...record,playback and remote viewing perfectcly not minding the price?

PC base are by far faster,more options, cleaner, more for the professional system. Do you all choose that over stand alones if money is not an issue?..do they work as good remotely then Standalone?...what about online viruses?..i am pretty clueless with PC base..installed one American Dynamics, didn't have to install internet so i have not seen it remotely.

Its alot easier to stick to one or two brands and sell it and know everyting about them...but right now I really don't have one specificly...Specotech, Everfocus, all the brands that you guys don't rate to good or high...oh my!...what have i done...

Anyways, you can't by on-hand experience but if i can cut done the time to learn about it, more power to me and I think this website is great for that..glad i found you guys!..thanks!

PS..what brand do you install in PC and Standalone?

Well there are Low end, Mid Range, and high End Stand alones.

With the low end you will generally find the network software is really crappy, while the mid range ones become better, some of them being very good, and then the High end Standalones will have the more powerful network software generally.

High end being big name brands, cost can be more than the fastest PC based, and less configurable as far as hardware - but generally solid machines.

If your client wants great remote software then you wont sell them the lower end units. There will also be certain features you will only find in the PC based, so you can base the sale on what they want. If they can only afford the low end units, then thats all they can get.

Typically I like to deal with Companies that have been around a long time, and arent going anywhere soon. I have some old DVRs from Kalatel (now GE Security) and 6 years later while the hardware and firmware is now outdated, I can send them back to them to get refurbished instead of the client buying a whole new system.

Easiest thing to do is pick a select few models and stick to them, know them inside and out. If you are a small company and really want to specialise, then just use 1 brand, or 2 at the most, like 1 PC brand and 1 Stand alone Brand, both having a great range of products.

DVRs are an ever changing industry and what was a POS a year ago could be a great product now, best thing is to get demos, test them out, see which works best for you and your clients, and make sure you get some decent tech support and warranties for them. Doesnt matter how great the DVR is if you cant get support for it, small warranties, then its a waste of money. Think about the features your clients need, and what you would feel best selling, then look around for that.

Me, its Ge Security and GeoVision, and contomplating a couple budget Stand Alone DVRs also, such as the Active-Tek, AvTech, and the PowerTellecom.

Rory

Rory, you just made my day and its close to 11pm...thanks for taking time to answer...turn the pc off and go to bed!!..:)

Whats that?? Rory sleep?? I don't believe it!!!! He is right though most inexpensive dvr's have slow networking or other limits but to some people thats all they want or need. Take a cheap 4 ch networkable dvr and compare the network veiwing to a time lapse vcr and you will think you have struck gold and that is all some people want or need but then take that and compare it to a $10,000 PC DVR or NVR and it looks like crap. Pretty much there is a dvr out there for everybody anymore and generally you get what you pay for if you did your research for you client. I like to send out demos if possible, so the customer can see ahead of time what he is getting.

It all comes down to what can the person you are selling these to afford? What I would sell to the united states air force I would not sell to a gas station. Also do you think that a gas station needs what the air force needs? It all comes down to:
What can they afford
&
What do they need?
Yes there are some you need to stay away from. But like rory said. There are low end, mid, and high end. Figure out what category the people are mostly likely needed/wanting and then go from there on the different manufacturers.

Man, I get on the phonoe "skype" with rory from 4:30am to 6:30-7am every couple of days, that's when he goes to sleep.