Q-See dvr problems

[copotay 0]

First off hello, this is my first post in the forum other than the introduction forum.

 

I just purchased a Q-See QC448-854 8 channel, I bought at Costco for $399.00, reg $599.00, it was on sale, one month ago and set it all up to replace my three month old QT474-403-5. I was able to return it to Home Depot, (great return policy), because I did not think ahead needing 8 channels instead of 4.

 

The small QT474, with 420 res cameras was ok but a little lacking in resolution so I opted for the 600 res cameras with the deal package at Costco. You can tell the difference.

 

The QT had different software on the DVR and easily setup and ran without a problem recording only motion sensing which was easily searchable.

 

Here comes the QC, got everthing up and running, working fine, connected to internet, mobile iphone, etc. The problem is when I try to set the system in settings it would not let me keep "all" channels for motion under "schedule" nor under "record setting". After pressing "ok" on the different screens it would not save and upon reopening each screen both would stay return to channel 1 in the drop menu and record setting as "regular" instead of motion. I can only turn all cameras off or keep them recording full time.

 

Now the Q-See help messaging system: I posted the problem in their help desk area and received a quick response with an agent who ran me through the mill having me do all kinds of things that would not work, reset to default, reboot, set each camera separately, etc. I can understand they will try to diagnose problems before acknowledging it could be a problem with their equipment where they have to RMA you, but really, I just installed one of their systems and it was working great.

 

I finally had to go through Costco's concierge tech support who assisted me greatly in having Q-see send me another DVR to replace the one I had. Just got it Tuesday and installed it July 4. The "new" DVR went through setup fine then when I tried to start inputting my settings it rebooted. Ok I will give it that, might have been a glitch. Went back into settings after an 8 minute boot time and two minutes later it rebooted. It then came up again after 8 minutes and the loud beep came on with a warning screen ""NO AVAILABLE HDD FOR RECORDING". Do what? This occurred a few times then recognized the hard drive and did it again, rebooted. and is still constantly rebooting. Now this is the "new" one.

 

So back to the help desk and pretty happy at this point as one can imagine, the yoyo there gets me to start trying to diagnose it by reformatting the hardrive, but hello, it says no hardrive available to reformat. Then he gives me a link to "buy" a new ac adaptor. I proceed to tell him I tried the new adaptor and the one they sent with the new unit, does it on both and both power adaptors work fine with the old unit. He now wants me to exchange the hard drive from the old unit into the new one. That took the cake, got back in touch with Costco's concierge tech support and got Q-see on the line and now waiting for Q-see RMA division to contact me to give me a new RMA so I can ship back the "new" DVR to get another "new" one. Also after reading several reviews of this unit at the Costco website, posted after I bought it, people had been complaining about constant rebooting.

 

Sorry to be so long winded just wanted everyone to know the situation because as of right now I am hoping someone in here might have an answer as to the old one I have now, if there was someway to have it KEEP the settings to make the DVR record only on motion since it looks like most of these dont work and I am afraid I will get another rebooting one. "The Q-see person said it was tested before shipping" yeah right even though it had a refurb sticker on the back.

 

Any help greatly appreciated and hope this could answer some questions for people looking to purchase Q-See equipment. So far cameras are pretty good but this DVR is trash.

[tomcctv 187]

"The Q-see person said it was tested before shipping" yeah right even though it had a refurb sticker on the back.

 

 

 

fantastic ...... you pay for a brand new DVR RMA it and they send you a refurb (which they have listed on ebay) for half the price.

 

 

dont give them a 3rd chance. 8 way dvr with cameras for $400 dont exist

 

i would say get your money back and start fresh. $400 for a system sounds good ....... but if it does not work or when you need it most find out you have no footage then $400 turns into a waste of money.

 

 

start of with a new 8 way DVR a brand name and then add cameras as and when your budget allows. it wont take long to have a full system built.

 

spend some time on the forum pick up ideas on cabling baluns cat5 cameras DVRs and you will build yourself a good system.

[mike_va 0]

Not to argue the point but I have a 8 ch qsee and 4 cams on sale $300 from costco that works fine and I use as backup/overview to the main rig...

 

For a little more you can do better quality and reliability wise.

 

We skipped that step spent even more and went with some 3MP cams (Panasonic and Axis). No comparison.

 

Good luck. If it's from Costco just take it back to the store even if bought online, I would not screw around with a RMA. I think they even refund the shipping.

[groovyman 0]

Thanks for sharing your story. I think it's unfortunate that the DVR cannot perform the way you want and hope you can resolve the issue, either with a replacement QSee or another brand.

 

Personally, I would return the unit and get something of better quality. You're seeing first hand how these bargain dvr-in-a-box systems are not necessarily a bargain.

[copotay 0]

Tks for the replies, I know I know I should have known better, cheap Chinese trash, I had tried locally for some systems and the lowest price I got, wireless for 3 cameras and dvr was $3000.00 not installed. So I figured I would give it a shot. The first one worked great, the QT, but I only had it up 2 months. I appreciate any suggestions on a good mod priced setup with 8 wired cameras that can be accessed via web and iPhone and what is the cat 5 u are talking about? I thought the cameras weren't to bad so thought of ditching the DVR and connecting a brand name DVR to my eight cameras since all the wiring is already ran and the are up, for now anyway until i could afford some better cameras, what are y'all thoughts

[shockwave199 0]

To return the whole package, you'll need to pack it all up including the cables, cameras, dvr, the works. If you like the cameras and you've run the cables, you may want to consider purchasing a Dahua PRO 8 dvr. It's gonna cost you money over the top of what you spent on that packaged system- about 400 more bucks for the dvr with a 500gb hard drive. That's the approximate penalty price you usually pay for buying and installing a pakaged system. I bought a q-see package and the dvr has been great, but the cameras came down quickly. Every one was upgraded- all eight of them. Time, effort, and more money spent to do that. You live and learn with this. There's no way around spending at least a grand for an eight channel system- at least. A four hundred dollar package deal with everything included is almost too good to be true. Usually, it IS too good to be true and you end up having to upgrade something in the package that either breaks, is outdated, or just inferior to what you can buy separately. They count on the customer who doesn't know any better, that's all.

 

Get your mind settled on spending as much money for the dvr that I suggested as you did for that whole package. Keep everything else in line- all eight 600tvl cameras if you like them. The wires have been run- you are invested in that install now. Put the dvr in line, get it all working, and there you go. Keep working on q-see for that replacement dvr. Be sure they make good on it. Don't let them off the hook. But in the mean time, you'll have a working system that in the end, you'll prefer.

 

Either that, or pull it all down, box it up, return, and spend a grand piecing together and installing another system. No matter how you flip it, it's more like a grand.

 

Good luck to you!

[copotay 0]

Tks for the insight shockwave, I will probably just keep what I have and upgrade the DVR since I don't feel like spending another 3 hours in the 135 degree heat in my attic crawling around taking out the wires to return the whole package then having to re-install another set of wires with another system. I guess as the system (cameras) break down I will replace with better equipment. Live and learn

[tomcctv 187]

Tks for the insight shockwave, I will probably just keep what I have and upgrade the DVR

 

 

 

hi. that will be a mistake. send everything back. dont loose money anymore