Digital Video Recorders: A look behind the curtain

Recently I needed to purchase a new TV, so I turned to a networking friend of mine for advice on a solid purchase. He advised me of all the technical mumbo jumbo in a way that made perfect sense to me (your average consumer) and offered a variety of solutions. He even pointed me to a big box outlet where I could purchase the same TV for the same price.

Ultimately, I gave him the business and felt good knowing that he explained all I needed to know. This inspired me to take my role a step further and explain about a product we sell that seems simple but has many factors to consider.

Video Surveillance (CCTV) has had many changes over the years and the brains behind those systems, Digital Video Recorders (DVR’s), are becoming more readily available to the end user. With a set of 4 cameras, you can find a few options through big box stores. Lots of clients look at this option, but ultimately it’s not for everybody.

So what are you looking for in your DVR?

Let’s start with STORAGE.

How much storage do YOU need?

As with anything, it depends on you.

Will you be recording all the time, or just based on events?

Motion on the camera?

How far back to you want to be able to search?

When will you be looking at the storage?
Once a month?
Once a week?

Storage typically starts at 500 Gigabytes(GB). This is the lowest anybody should recommend going. I usually recommend 1 to 2 Terabytes (TB). This will typically allow for 6-8 weeks of recording depending on your number of cameras, how often/how long it is recording. Below is a calculated table of the time you can expect to get on 1 or 2 TB.

You may also notice the section on the table labeled, Compression. MPEG-4 Compression is an older format and while it is the base for H.264 compression, it still occupies double the space on your hard drive as H.264. Older DVR’s will be recording on an MPEG-4 format and will not be able to record as long, so if you’re debating about picking up an older model for a “sweet deal,” think twice. If you’re using a machine that was installed around 5 years ago, it may be time for an upgrade.

SMART Recording

Something else to be looking for is a SMART recording feature. More cost effective DVR’s will lack this feature which means when a section of the hard drive corrupts, the recording will be lost. If the DVR cannot record in that section, it will try, fail and you will be without that information. What the SMART recording does when it finds a section of the hard drive that is corrupted, is skip over that section and continue recording properly where it can. It will then repair that section of the hard drive for future use.

Motion recording is a valuable space saver on a DVR but what about that tree or bush in the view that keeps blowing in the wind? There are DVR’s that come with a masking option which allows you to block out areas where there is constant motion from things like plants. They will still be recorded but the pixilization change will not initiate the recording on the DVR.

The last thing I want to touch on is remote viewing. This is the ability for you to tap into the DVR from your computer or smartphone to view live and recorded images. Older DVR’s obviously lack this capability and nearly every new model has been set up with remote viewing capability, so how can you differentiate the good from the bad?

Most DVR’s will rely upon a 3rd party app for remote viewing on your smartphone. This can present challenges when the apps upgrade because they aren’t directly tied to the manufacturer. The app maker wants their app to be usable by many different DVR users, so it is generic and can often create conflicts with DVR’s when an app upgrade is applied. DVR makers who have invested in making an app for their remote viewing will have the most stable solution.

There certainly are lots of factors to consider when purchasing a DVR and building a video surveillance solution that works for you. Working with a team of security professionals to design, tailor and install it will ensure that you get a great solution that works for you. If you need some help with your video surveillance solution, contact SecurU where we are Working Together for a Safer Community!