Hello folks,

My landlady would like to replace her aging camera DVR. Currently it's 8, she tells me, but she wants to be able to add more. 16 would be preferred.

She would like to have storage for at least 30 days, if possible 90 days. Of course, which I assume is the norm, be able to transfer a recording to a disk or be able to keep it from being deleted or over written. This disk could either be CD/DVD and or USB.

Having access via the internet would be great too.

I am new to this so I will try to figure out what is currently installed if needed.

What are the options out there and a some what of a price point so I could go to her for a better budget. The current set up is at least 10 years old.

Thanks,

KOT

SnapAV Luma TVI System. It can use the existing Coax, give you much better cameras, and the NVR will sit onthe network and give her an App.

Unfortunately I am not an authorized dealers, so that wouldn’t work well with me. Should’ve mentioned that fact.

KOT

I discovered the current model, it’s a Speco Technologies DVR-8TN.

It of course has coax cables with the typical BNC for input.

She would like to keep the current cameras and cabling, up to the DVR at the very least.

Hopefully that helps with what I’m looking for.

KOT

I would replace the cameras or refuse to do it.

1) Speco cameras (especially from that time period - 10yrs ago) were complete garbage. It is nothing short of a miracle all 8 cameras still work. Matter of fact, are you sure they all work? Are you sure they are Speco cams and several haven't been replaced already with something?

2) Any modern DVR with a large hard drive will do what you want. Any of them! From a cheap $200 unit from the flea market to a $10K unit.
Quality matters as always. So what is she willing to spend? Does she only want to spend $200? Then she will get a piece of crap. "But I don't want a piece of crap", then she has to spend more money - common sense.

I'm guessing this is not for a government building. So here is an example of something you could get for her: easy to use, descent quality, good price.
[Link: supercircuits.com]

Upgrade the hard drive to an 8TB WD purple and that should get you over 30 days with motion recording, when she has 16 cams. With only 8 cams, should get over 60 days, depending on the amount of traffic & settings.

So find someone to sell it to you retail? I dont understand what the problem is with "I'm not authorized"


Are you "authorized" with any cameras systems?

Pretty much any supplier we deal with sells some kind of camera system, so you should be able to find a system from one of your suppliers.

As others have mentioned, I would replace the cameras with new as well. You are just asking for trouble if keeping the existing cameras installed and it will be a matter of time that the first one dies and needs replaced.

If wanting to utilize the existing wiring there are many TVI cameras that are fairly cost effective and will work with either a TVI or 4/5 in 1 recorder. The customer will be much happier when they can actually make out what they are looking at with a new TVI camera. Find a recorder with multiple HDD bays (most 16 channel recorders accept at least 2 HDD) and buy the stand alone unit (without hard drives installed). Then find the largest size surveillance hard drives it will accept (most are 8-12TB/slot) and load up the bays, install the system and walk away.

For our cost effective systems we use Galaxy (HikVision OEM) cameras and recorders and have little problems with them. The app works for what people need it for and is a cloud based system so no need to modify any networking. For security and better options we get into Samsung and Axis, but these come at a higher price point.

I am bring this thread back up because my landlady wants to move forward with this project.

However, she wants to keep the current DVR and such. Unfortunately the HD is shot. I was able to remove it, by using a plastic straw to unlock it since she lost the barrel key.

It’s a 400GB Seagate. Now my questions are as follows. Can I go up in storage capacity? And is the OS on this HD? Or is the HD just storage and all I need to do is install a new HD and turn it on?

Thanks,

KOT

The HD is just storage. Install a new 1-2TB drive ($50) and boot up the system. You will go into the menu and click to reformat the drive. And off it goes.

What exactly is she moving forward with? If she is keeping a 10+ year old DVR system and all its components (that was a POS when it was new).

Look, this is what is available now:
16 ch DVR, (8) 5mp HD cams, 2 TB HD, and all the accessories for $539. You can't beat that. Anything cheaper than that, is probably going to be a steaming pile of vial.
[Link: supercircuits.com]
This is based on a Hikvision OEM.

What does this lady want from you? Is she playing the long game, thinking you will eventually pitch in your own money for her?

From what she’s told me, she wants the current system up and running due to a couple gates being found opened in one night.

And that she’s building a house in Florida, we’re in CT now, and she’ll have a newer system installed there.

No, I will not give any of my money into this. Just my time on working on it and a lower rent for the month(s), as she has different projects.

I appreciate the information and I’ll pass along the suggested system.

KOT

Looks like one wheel is already off the track. Expect a wreck.

It's clear that money isn't a problem- her DVR is too old to be any good for newer cameras with higher definition, so tell her she needs to replace everything. Does she have some kind of emotional attachment to the DVR?

Working down the rent with my landlady is on my bucket list

Those were my exact thoughts. lol

Sounds like an easy job, wire already in place so just swap out old cams and recorder for new.

Go and get something like that Supercircuits deal and trade landlady for a couple two or three months rent.

I make deals like this with my slumlord, it's great to trade a couple days of work for a couple months rent.

Did you just say youused a straw ro unlock?