DVR Recommendations

[Miles Fawcett]

I would love to get people recommendations for CCTV/DVR products. What
of the following list do you feel are the strongest products?

DVRs

Dedicated Micros
GE (Kalatel) DVMRe or Store Safe - utilizing the wavereader software
Honeywell Fusion
Surveillx
Digital Watchdog - utilizing the remote watchdog software
MACE
DigiOP
Hunt eDVR

Thanks,
Miles

Urban Alarm | Washington DC | www.urbanalarm.com

 

[Bob La Londe]

These DVR's are so unlike it is apples and oranges.

I was thinking more like apples and Yugos.

 

[Bob La Londe]

Never heard of it, other than the kind cops like to spray on drunks.

Mace is a low price unit that is sold through distributors for retailers. I
bought one to play with. It is simplex, but networks (lan & wan) ok. Feels
like it may be Linux based, but can't tell for sure. Standard boot up hides
any signs of the OS. I may jerk the hard drive and take a look at it. I
had one in service 24/7 with no shutdowns or reboots for over a year in the
old office. It worked. I have to set it back up on my demo rack in the new
office yet, but will soon.

You forgot to look at Winblows based stuff like Falcon & Pelco.

Falcon & Pelco have similar architecture but Pelco costs a lot more.

I've not had many failures with the Pelco stuff. Had one DOA. There are
some funky setup issues. Make sure the guys at Pelco actually understand
your questions. I sent one unit back only to find out the first guy I dealt
with didn't understand the problem, and told me a good unit was bad. Not
unusual for Pelco though. I think their telephone tech suport is mostly
scripted with only a few guys who really know the product. Should setup to
autoreboot atleast once a week like any Winblows machine.

The Falcon stuff is nice, but backups to CD are Winblows based, and not
integrated into the program. Yuck. Also, have had drive, and CD drive
failures. Probably a large part of the much lower price. Ok if you are a
good PC tech. Can easily use Norton Ghost to mirror an initial setup to a
backup drive for in the field repairs in the future. Like I said, not bad
if you are a decent PC tech. Lan is easy, wan is not bad. Should setup to
autoreboot atleast once a week like any Winblows machine.

Add on to comments about DM. Some intermediate versions require command
line abilities on the part of the tech for full setup. Otherwise pretty
point and shoot. LAN setup is the easiest I have ever seen. Wan setup can
be a pain with some of the older models as they only used one port address.
They can be upgrade to support other ports with software upgrade, free, but
requires command line experience or step by step instructions from DM tech
support. Lan is point and shoot. Older versions you point your browser to
the IP of the unit and it lets you download the viewing software across the
lan directly from the unit. Newer versions allow direct browser viewing
with a tiny applet. I have a DM unit in my demo rack running with no
problems, and I have used it as a loaner a few times as well. Note: I have
a bunch of DM units in the field, and so far I have had two fail. Both at
about 4-5 years in continuous 24/7 use. Both cost about 750 to rebuild
including both hard drives. Had another start showing drive problems at
about the same age, but a burglar broke into the building and set fire to
the unit by heaping paper all over it, and pouring some kind of accelerant
on the paper. The insurance company replaced this one, and the police took
it to see if they could recover any video off the drives. It was still
working when it was assaulted, but one drive was flaky.

Kalatel... only if you don't like the client. Yech!

Geovision. Winblows based, and really flaky to setup for networking.
Basically an open internet video server with crude PW protection. Yuck.
Stability is mediocre, and they play feature and add-on price games with the
client. Also, watch out for illegal clones and software pirates selling
these or similar through the grey market.


--
Sincerly,
The guy who makes the final decision
on who we do business with.
Bob La Londe

The Security Consultant
Bob La Londe - Owner
P.O. Box 5720
Yuma, Az 85366

(928) 782-9765 ofc
(928) 782-7873 fax

Licensed Contractor
ROC103044 & ROC103047

 

[Robert L Bass]

I was thinking more like apples and Yugos.

Installers and Olson.

 

[Jim]

Installers and Olson.

Life and DEATH

 

[I brive a dus]

Mace is a low price unit that is sold through distributors for retailers. I
bought one to play with. It is simplex, but networks (lan & wan) ok. Feels
like it may be Linux based, but can't tell for sure. Standard boot up hides
any signs of the OS. I may jerk the hard drive and take a look at it. I
had one in service 24/7 with no shutdowns or reboots for over a year in the
old office. It worked. I have to set it back up on my demo rack in the new
office yet, but will soon. <

Mace is a Linux based DVR.
The units aren't too bad at all. Mace does offer tech support and
replacing equipment is never a hassle.
I'm not sure of what company distributes them because I buy directly
from Mace.

A surprisingly decent DVR from a company called Unimo is manufactured
in South Korea and is relatively inexpensive.
I'm not certain of who distributes their products in the States.

I'll tell you one to run like hell from and that's the Samsung monitor/
dvr combo. That thing is so crappy it should come with a few rolls of
toilet paper.

 

[Crash Gordon]

any experience with GeoVision capture cards?

--
**Crash Gordon**






| > >> MACE
| > > Never heard of it, other than the kind cops like to spray on drunks.
| >
| > Mace is a low price unit that is sold through distributors for
retailers. I
| > bought one to play with. It is simplex, but networks (lan & wan) ok.
Feels
| > like it may be Linux based, but can't tell for sure. Standard boot up
hides
| > any signs of the OS. I may jerk the hard drive and take a look at it.
I
| > had one in service 24/7 with no shutdowns or reboots for over a year in
the
| > old office. It worked. I have to set it back up on my demo rack in the
new
| > office yet, but will soon. <
|
| Mace is a Linux based DVR.
| The units aren't too bad at all. Mace does offer tech support and
| replacing equipment is never a hassle.
| I'm not sure of what company distributes them because I buy directly
| from Mace.
|
| A surprisingly decent DVR from a company called Unimo is manufactured
| in South Korea and is relatively inexpensive.
| I'm not certain of who distributes their products in the States.
|
| I'll tell you one to run like hell from and that's the Samsung monitor/
| dvr combo. That thing is so crappy it should come with a few rolls of
| toilet paper.

 

[Bob La Londe]

any experience with GeoVision capture cards?

Geovision. Winblows based, and really flaky to setup for networking.
Basically an open internet video server with crude PW protection. Yuck.
Stability is mediocre, and they play feature and add-on price games with the
client. Also, watch out for illegal clones and software pirates selling
these or similar through the grey market.

I have played with setup on three of these. Tech support was ok.

 

[Bob La Londe]

Mace is a Linux based DVR.
The units aren't too bad at all. Mace does offer tech support and
replacing equipment is never a hassle.
I'm not sure of what company distributes them because I buy directly
from Mace.

Are they all simplex? They one I bought to play with sure is.

I'll tell you one to run like hell from and that's the Samsung monitor/
dvr combo. That thing is so crappy it should come with a few rolls of
toilet paper.

I have been disappointed in all of the combo units I've seen. Lorex is
another one. Also, Sylvania & Philips. Actually I think these are actually
all the same units relabeled.

 

[Crash Gordon]

I was considering the 650 for that lady I was posting about a few weeks ago
here. Two cameras and going back to her puter...maybe modulate to TV..maybe.
Nothing fancy really. This is all that would run on the puter nuttin else -
probably wouldn't set it up for internet viewing either.

Winblows?



--
**Crash Gordon**






|
| | > any experience with GeoVision capture cards?
|
| Geovision. Winblows based, and really flaky to setup for networking.
| Basically an open internet video server with crude PW protection. Yuck.
| Stability is mediocre, and they play feature and add-on price games with
the
| client. Also, watch out for illegal clones and software pirates selling
| these or similar through the grey market.
|
| I have played with setup on three of these. Tech support was ok.
|
|
| > --
| > **Crash Gordon**
| >
| >
| >
| >
| >
| >
| > | > | > >> MACE
| > | > > Never heard of it, other than the kind cops like to spray on
drunks.
| > | >
| > | > Mace is a low price unit that is sold through distributors for
| > retailers. I
| > | > bought one to play with. It is simplex, but networks (lan & wan)
ok.
| > Feels
| > | > like it may be Linux based, but can't tell for sure. Standard boot
up
| > hides
| > | > any signs of the OS. I may jerk the hard drive and take a look at
it.
| > I
| > | > had one in service 24/7 with no shutdowns or reboots for over a year
| > in
| > the
| > | > old office. It worked. I have to set it back up on my demo rack in
| > the
| > new
| > | > office yet, but will soon. <
| > |
| > | Mace is a Linux based DVR.
| > | The units aren't too bad at all. Mace does offer tech support and
| > | replacing equipment is never a hassle.
| > | I'm not sure of what company distributes them because I buy directly
| > | from Mace.
| > |
| > | A surprisingly decent DVR from a company called Unimo is manufactured
| > | in South Korea and is relatively inexpensive.
| > | I'm not certain of who distributes their products in the States.
| > |
| > | I'll tell you one to run like hell from and that's the Samsung
monitor/
| > | dvr combo. That thing is so crappy it should come with a few rolls of
| > | toilet paper.
| >
| >
|
|

 

[I brive a dus]

Are they all simplex? They one I bought to play with sure is.


I have been disappointed in all of the combo units I've seen. Lorex is
another one. Also, Sylvania & Philips. Actually I think these are actually
all the same units relabeled. <

All Mace stand alone dvrs are linux based.
They have some decent systems and the staff down there is nothing
short of professional.
They're exactly what you're looking for in a company, Bob, in that
they will kiss your ass and thank you for the opportunity to do it.

 

[motley me]

All Mace stand alone dvrs are linux based.
They have some decent systems and the staff down there is nothing
short of professional.
They're exactly what you're looking for in a company, Bob, in that
they will kiss your ass and thank you for the opportunity to do it.

I have dealt with mace also and he is right. they are extremely helpful.

 

[Bob La Londe]

All Mace stand alone dvrs are linux based.
They have some decent systems and the staff down there is nothing
short of professional.
They're exactly what you're looking for in a company, Bob, in that
they will kiss your ass and thank you for the opportunity to do it.

But are they lower priced by lack of features? Like I said, they one I
bought to play with is simplex. Its a 16 channel unit.

 

[Miles Fawcett]

Supper helpful! Thanks!

What about Speco Tech? Any other recommendations?

Thanks,
Miles

 

[Bob La Londe]

Supper helpful! Thanks!

What about Speco Tech? Any other recommendations?

Never used any CSI/Speco DVRs. I have used some of their cameras in the
past, and they tend to last pretty well. I thought their DVRs were little
expensive for the features listed, but like I said. I have not tried any of
them.

 

[Jim]

Supper helpful! Thanks!

What about Speco Tech? Any other recommendations?

Thanks,
Miles

I have one installed about 6 months now in a residential "nanny" job.
No problems so far.

Used 5 days a week for about 12 hours a day. Viewed continuously via
internet every day it's in use by three children of an invalid parent
being cared for at home by hired help. Smoke detector camera with
three cameras.