Choosing the right DVR in the UK

Hi, I've been searching for a while now for a DVR that will match my requirements but I'm still at a loss. I'm no expert and I'm looking to upgrade from an older AVTECH 4-channel to something that has the following capabilities.

8-channel

960H

Analogue camera support

Push video

Alarm inputs for PIR's

I find the Hikvision range overly complicated, such that I was fooled into buying the 7208HWI-SH which was great and all I wanted, right up to realising that it doesn't have alarm inputs. There is one apparently with a /A on the end of the model name but I cannot find these for sale in the UK. So I asked various CCTV specialists and they all tell me to buy the 7208HGHI-SH but from the reading I've done this doesn't do push in the same way that the HWI models do. I've also looked at the KPD677D which is the closest I can get but only provides push on 2 out of the 8 channels.

It's possibly a long shot given the various requirements that someone might just know a DVR that will do what I need but hoping someone can please help. It would seem my logical choice would be the 7308HWI but this is over double the cost of the others mentioned and for my needs is too expensive. Again, I find them hard to find in the UK too. I've also e-mailed Hikvision UK only to receive no reply, and will chase them up shortly but not hoping for much.

Is there another brand perhaps I should consider? or maybe the future lies with PC cards and I ought to be looking at that? Or am I simply missing something with the Hikvisions.

Thanks for reading.

Hi you problem is your budget £200 ($360)

Is not going to get all that you want

Dahua 4 cameras DVR 960h is going to be your limit

That has alarms .... Needs external sensors and also push

I find the Hikvision range overly complicated, such that I was fooled into buying the 7208HWI-SH which was great and all I wanted, right up to realising that it doesn't have alarm inputs. There is one apparently with a /A on the end of the model name but I cannot find these for sale in the UK. So I asked various CCTV specialists and they all tell me to buy the 7208HGHI-SH but from the reading I've done this doesn't do push in the same way that the HWI models do.

DS-7208HWI-SH *DOES* have alarm inputs! And everything else you are asking for. It should be like this on the back.

DS-7208HWI-SH/A is exactly the same as DS-7208HWI-SH, but with 4 audio channels instead of just 1.

DS-7208HGHI-SH is an HDTVI unit. It does support push.

Hi, I'm happy to go with a bit more on the budget but don't really want to stretch to a full £500

I bought the 7208HWI-SH from Amazon and it definitely didn't have the inputs like that. The manual also supports what I found by saying the alarm inputs section was only applicable on the 24 and 32 channel 7200hwi or the 7300hwi.

The manual for the hghi mentions the surveillance centre option but describes it has having different functionality to the hwi. It seems to suggest that it can push to a local alarm handling system. There is a push guide that is supposed to list all the push capable units and the 7208hghi isn't listed.

I've heard of the dahuas but again the range is huge with tiny little differences between the models. Is there a particular one you're thinking of?

As for the Hikvisions, I'm happy to be proved wrong on either model but the one I had definitely was in full branded box and didn't have the inputs.

Could euro stock be different to UK I wonder? That's why I emailed Hikvision as they should know what I should be able to buy.

If anyone knows where I can get a 7208hwi-sh from UK stock with alarm inputs then I'll certainly buy one as otherwise, the one I had was perfect.

Just for the sake of completeness I wanted to thank everyone who responded. After much research, I ended up opting to shift over to an NVR so went for the 7608ni-e2-ap/a which gives me push notification (Well it will when I downgrade the firmware - long story) and 4 alarm inputs. It just means that my analogue cams are going to be surplus to requirements and my costs have been greatly increased. I'm selling it to myself that I'm future proofing my investment.