Picking out an NVR

[Darren75 0]

First, if I am posting this in the wrong section please let me know where I should be. I couldn’t find a section for NVRs.

 

I am hoping I can get some help picking out an NVR. I have been reading quite a bit in this forum and other websites but unfortunately the more I learn the more confused and inadequate I feel in picking out an NVR.

 

What I would like to have:

1 Preferably a 16 channel for expansion but 8 is a minimum.

2 Capable of recording in 1080p.

3 High frames per second around 30 per channel at 1080p.

4 Budget is hopefully less than $1000 for the NVR (and POE port if needed).

5 Hard drive expansion for 4 or more.

6 Dummy proof and easy to use.

7 Apple and android compatible.

8 Capable of recording sound on each channel. (I forgot this on my original post)

 

Things to answer:

1 POE or not. If not what POE port do you recommend?

2 Where is a good place to purchase your recommendations?

3 What other considerations should I be thinking about?

 

I have seen that Dahua is a recommended brand. Unfortunately, most of them only have a max 120fps at 1080p. Their 5000 series is 240fps at 1080p but that is only 15fps per channel on a 16 channel system which is half of my target point. I have ran across hikvision (or is it hik vision) but I am not sure of the quality. Any recommendations and guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

Edited August 23, 2013 by Guest

[shockwave199 0]

The best NVR out there at the moment looks to be dahua

 

http://www.securitycameraking.com/32-channel-security-nvrs-233-ctg.html

 

If you want dummy proof plug & play, get the one with 8 poe built in. Adding a 3tb drive will put you in at around your budget for now. Hard drives can be expanded as budget dictates. Don't think of it in terms of channels, like you'll never need 32 and it's overkill. It has a higher throughput than anything else available out there that I've seen, which right there makes it worth the investment. It has 8 poe built in, so if 8 channels is actually what will hold you than you're all set. If you need more you'll have to get a poe switch, but at least the horsepower is there in the nvr to begin with if you need to expand. If you price out 16 channels in the dahua line, the first thing you'll have to do is figure in separate poe even if you only want 8 channels because they only include 4 poe built into those units. Plus, the horsepower is less in those. For dahua, price wise and spec wise it's better to just grab a 32 channel. I happen to think the dahua GUI is excellent as well- better than what I've seen from the hikvision nrv [swann/lorex]. Although, I haven't seen much of the hikvision nvr. In terms of hikvision, people are mostly fixated on their cameras, not the nvrs. And in terms of cameras, hikvision looks like it gives a better picture than dahua. So, there's that to consider as well. But overall and all things considered, personally I'd still go with a dahua system. But that's me. Good luck.

[Darren75 0]

Shockwave,

 

Thank you for taking the time to help me out. I am struggling with a few things on the unit you recommend and other Dahua NVRs. Fist this unit only has a max frame rate of 240fps. If I ever got close to the 32 channel capacity I would be looking at 7.5 frames per second which is way to slow in my opinion. Even If I only used 16 channels that would still only be a frame rate of 15fps. Also, this unit is only capable of holding 2 hard drives. I agree with you statement about expanding hard drive in the future but this unit just doesn’t give you much expandability. Can you help me out with anything I am wrong about or maybe give me some more ideas? I know there are a lot of people on this forum that like the Dahua but I am having a hard time accepting a DVR with such a low frame rate per channel.

[tomcctv 187]

Hi. the link is not for a 32. they are 16. and are the lowest budget dahua do.

 

that's a lot of money to have no audio and very limited to makes of ip cameras it supports,

 

how many cameras in total are you looking for

[luckyfella 0]

If your budget is under 1000 for an NVR, HDD, and POE switch, than you probably will not find the specs that you are

aiming for. If you want the best NVR for your budget, than the 5232 or 5216 is the way to go. 15fps is more than enough

fps, or you can use 1.3mp (720p) cameras and get slightly more fps.

[shockwave199 0]

Hi. the link is not for a 32. they are 16. and are the lowest budget dahua do.

 

that's a lot of money to have no audio and very limited to makes of ip cameras it supports,

 

how many cameras in total are you looking for

??? What link are you looking at?

[tomcctv 187]

Hi. the link is not for a 32. they are 16. and are the lowest budget dahua do.

 

that's a lot of money to have no audio and very limited to makes of ip cameras it supports,

 

how many cameras in total are you looking for

??? What link are you looking at?

 

 

The link for the 32 from kings .......there 16 not 32 and are budget range

[shockwave199 0]

How is it a 32 channel nvr is a 16 channel?

[shockwave199 0]

Oh yeah, that's the wrong unit pictured- and specs too it seems?

[Darren75 0]

Thanks for all the feedback. I appreciate everyone’s help. I had an interesting weekend. My budget may have gone up overnight. Friday night my wife pulled the car out of the garage so she could work on a project in the garage. Unfortunately, she left the car unlocked. While she was in the garage she heard someone in the car. She got me but by the time I made it outside they were gone. I found the center console open and my wallet and GPS gone. I got in the car to look for them as my wife called the police. On the street behind us my neighbors were outside. They saw two teens that got spooked when they noticed they were outside and ran off. After looking around we couldn’t find them. Their timing couldn’t have been better. I had several hundred dollars in my wallet because my wife wanted to get some furniture off of craigslist. Now she is scared and being the minister of war and finance she increased my budget.

 

Continued help would be greatly appreciated because I still don’t know which brand and model to go with.

 

Tommcctv - # of cameras – 8 would be bare minimum but leave me dead zones. I would like to install 11 with the possibility of expanding in the future. To allow for a nicer recorder I could even start off with less cameras.

 

Luckyfella – With all the recommendations for Dahua on this forum I am remised at why they don’t have a unit than can’t do more than 240fps at 1080p. I really want something with a higher frame rate. I see a lot of NVRs on the market that claim they have a record rate of 30fps per channel at 1080p. I am new to this market so I don’t know much about the brands and whether or not they are junk or have inaccurate specs.

 

Thanks again for your help.

[RelaxIN 0]

I hear a lot of positive things about Dahua as well, Including rebranding... that's where I get lost, trying to stay in touch with the rebranded names. I would be open to hear or receive an PM's for online resellers...

 

Thanks...

[shockwave199 0]

Do not get hung up on frame rate. 15fps is actually quite good on the high end and 10fps is fine. You do not need and in my opinion should not use 30fps recording for high def. It's simply not needed. If you must, 15fps looks just about like fluid real time motion. The one I linked to above is a good unit. You should consider it. The dahua GUI is excellent, and that 32 channel has plenty of room for expansion.

[tomcctv 187]

The one I linked to above is a good unit. You should consider it

 

 

 

shockwave that unit does not exist ..... and the 16 is way over priced with no POE no audio in or out and is called the lite. its a lot of money

[shockwave199 0]

Tom, please do not keep a secret. If you know why this 32 channel unit is only a 16 channel, let us know why. More than one vendor has this unit in stock.

 

yFq8AsbdUTA

[tomcctv 187]

Tom, please do not keep a secret. If you know why this 32 channel unit is only a 16 channel, let us know why. More than one vendor has this unit in stock.

 

 

 

 

its not a secret read spec. there both 16. its your link. its only for the lite not a 32 and no POE

 

 

but for that price having a NVR that you can connect most make of ip camera would be a much better buy. why pay that and be restricted

 

Recording Speed 1080p@240fps / 720p at 480fps / D1*960fps

Resolution 3 Megapixel(2048x1536) / 2 Megapixel(1920x1080) / 1080p(1920x1080) / 720p(1280x720) / D1(704x576/704x480)

Drive Capacity 2 SATA

Video Inputs 16CH Total

Ethernet Ports 1

Video Outputs VGA / HDMI / BNC

Audio Inputs NO

Audio Outputs NO

Internal DVD Burner Support NO

Smart Phone Access/Push Notification Yes

Motion Activated Recording Yes

PTZ Control Yes

Simultaneous Remote Users 20

[shockwave199 0]

Tom, please do not keep a secret. If you know why this 32 channel unit is only a 16 channel, let us know why. More than one vendor has this unit in stock.

 

 

 

 

its not a secret read spec. there both 16. its your link. its only for the lite not a 32 and no POE

 

 

but for that price having a NVR that you can connect most make of ip camera would be a much better buy. why pay that and be restricted

 

Recording Speed 1080p@240fps / 720p at 480fps / D1*960fps

Resolution 3 Megapixel(2048x1536) / 2 Megapixel(1920x1080) / 1080p(1920x1080) / 720p(1280x720) / D1(704x576/704x480)

Drive Capacity 2 SATA

Video Inputs 16CH Total

Ethernet Ports 1

Video Outputs VGA / HDMI / BNC

Audio Inputs NO

Audio Outputs NO

Internal DVD Burner Support NO

Smart Phone Access/Push Notification Yes

Motion Activated Recording Yes

PTZ Control Yes

Simultaneous Remote Users 20

 

The non poe

 

http://www.securitycameraking.com/32-channel-elite-mini-network-59238-prd1.html

 

The poe version

 

http://www.securitycameraking.com/32-channel-elite-mini-nvr-59239-prd1.html

 

Yes, 2mp at 32 channels is 7.5fps. For 32 channels, still respectable. For 16, it's 15fps, perfectly fine. It does have audio in/out for two way audio. Recordable audio needs an audio MP camera, of course. The no audio spec is a misprint. The 16 channel video inputs is a misprint. It's a 32 channel unit with or without 8 poe built in and of course has limitations. Still though, nice unit to me and if you're a residential install that needs room to grow beyond 16 channels it's a worthy consideration for an nvr box.

[tomcctv 187]

The no audio spec is a misprint. The 16 channel video inputs is a misprint. It's a 32 channel unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

might all be misprint ok NOW LOOK AT picture of NVR 16 blue led for each camera connected. NOT 32 ..... 16

 

they never made a 32 in that case which is called the lite.

 

 

its not the picture that's wrong its not the spec that's wrong ITS THE HEADING

 

 

we sell all dahua

[Darren75 0]

I could be wrong but I really think that there are a lot of people that would benefit from a good discussion on NVR selection. I expected a lot more feedback from experienced users and installers on the plethora of brands. I did receive a few emails so in an effort to help others in the quest of the best NVR for the price I thought I would post some of them. Anyone with any good suggestions please post them here. I gave some desired requirements in the original post. Here is the first:

 

Hello,

this one fits all of your needs (besides budget I guess)

Has also a built-in PoE:

http://en.cbc-cctv.com/uploads/tx_n21download/NR8H_NR16H_en.pdf

Kind regards

 

The link isn’t working anymore but the unit recommended is a Ganz NR16H. You can find it by performing a google search. The unit starts at about $1800 with a 3TB hard drive and goes up from there.

[Darren75 0]

Here is another email that I found useful and confusing so any feedback on it would be great. I understand a little about compatibility and it is a huge issue in my opinion. I wonder about the accuracy of the statement about Dahua compatibility though. Dahua advertises their units to be “ONVIF Version 2.0 conformance” on their website. My limited understanding is that if it is ONVIF compatible it can use any ONVIF camera and that this is the industry standard for compatibility? The user that sent me this message definitely knows much more about this than I do so I probably misunderstand. If anyone can enlighten my I would appreciate it. Also, does anyone have an Avermedia or Logic model that they recommend?

 

 

lots recommend dahua but most are DIYers who don't look at other out there.

 

I see you have noticed FPS on some units ..... on a true NVR fps are done at camera and not at recorder like dahua.

 

also a true NVR should be able to run any ip camera ..... the dahua cant. hence the reason its limited to fps and res depending on amount of cameras used.

 

avermedia or logic and both very good system and are updatable some have been running for over 6 years.

 

what is your budget ??

 

regards