Surveillance Cameras

Comments

1. K. Klecker says:

   September 16, 2010 at 12:34 AM

   Review by K. Klecker for VideoSecu Color Security Vandal Proof Dome Camera 1/3″ Sony CCD 420 TVL 3.6 mm Lens 28 IR LEDs with Free Surveillance Warning Sticker 1PC
   Rating:
   I am a mid-20′s tech-geek, that happens to work in private security. I do a lot of camera work, so my expectations are always high. Our neighborhood has had a lot of break ins, so this system has a purpose…to make sure I put the guy behind bars. This camera was very easy to install, and the brackets went on very secure. I also purchased an Aposonic DVR card for a dedicated PC with 500gb’s of storage, so keep in mind that when I refer to video quality it is describing the video after being converted to digital. So far I have been recording 4 shots, at 640×480 @ 100% quality and in a week have only used 4% of my storage capacity.

   The housing design is very slick, and is by no means an “eye sore.”
   
   The IR lights are powerful enough to view the immediate area of the camera, but the quality deteriorates at about 30 ft. The iris adjusts very quickly if any light sources enter the shot (ie: headlights). I purchased 5 of these cameras, all for outdoor use (however I only used 4…I ruined one, which I will explain later). This camera does capture a wide angle, so I probably could have covered my entire house/yard using 2-3.

   Pros
   
   -Crisp, clear shot during the day. Adequate shots in the night.
   
   -Very solid, great quality
   
   -Great design, which is also very functional
   
   -Great Autofocus, Iris, and Color.

   Cons
   
   -The factory cable is built in, and cannot be replaced if ruined (that’s how I ruined a camera)
   
   -Wires are accessible when camera is positioned at certain angles.
   
   -Very fast movement (such as wind blowing) makes the camera appear very pixelated.

   Overall recommendation:
   
   A+ This product is great for home security, or to cover large areas. If this is to catch shoplifters, you may want to go with something that gets you a closer shot.

   Side Note:
   
   This camera does not include a power supply, so make sure you purchase one. Also, be careful when loosening the enclosure as I stripped the security screw….and I had to drill it out.
2. replayreb says:

   September 16, 2010 at 12:50 AM

   Review by replayreb for VideoSecu Color Security Vandal Proof Dome Camera 1/3″ Sony CCD 420 TVL 3.6 mm Lens 28 IR LEDs with Free Surveillance Warning Sticker 1PC
   Rating:
   Very sharp picture day and night that smoked the two other $220 cameras I bought. I exchanged those for two more of these. Great camera.
3. Mike the K says:

   September 16, 2010 at 1:43 AM

   Review by Mike the K for VideoSecu Color Security Vandal Proof Dome Camera 1/3″ Sony CCD 420 TVL 3.6 mm Lens 28 IR LEDs with Free Surveillance Warning Sticker 1PC
   Rating:
   The “microphone” model is just the standard camera with a seperate external microphone add-on: it looks like a 12inch siamese cable (but it’s 3-way:power-in, power-out, audio-out) with a tiny mic wraped in tape. The “microphone” is just thrown in the box of their standard model.

   Over the last six months I’ve bought 6 dome cameras from warehouserseller: two 420 line with power supply; two, of the “microphone” and two of the 480 line models (power supply extra). The manufacturer’s spec sheet is the same for ALL cameras that I received. The camera housing varies a little (pull-apart or twist (or screw) off).

   As to the Videosecu label and serial, most the cameras I ordered didn’t not have it, but Jenny who answers the phone (and does tech support) swears everything is good.

   OK, the cameras work fine.

   The 480 line camera had a sticker on the outside of the box, but inside the box the manufacture’s spec sheet says that its a 420 line camera.

   I like the camera (all cameras I orderd appeard to have the same resolution) and warehouseseller ships quickly.

   I recommend ONLY the standard model ($65.00) that comes with the power supply, because that’s what you’ll probably get anyway.

   These dome cameras are fish-eye wide-angle: good as a front-door cam, back or front-yard cam. For a driveway get the swann Bulldog (bullit type) cam. To keep an eye on my car in the street, I use the swann.

   Mike the K
   
4. R. Brooks says:

   September 16, 2010 at 2:05 AM

   Review by R. Brooks for VideoSecu Color Security Vandal Proof Dome Camera 1/3″ Sony CCD 420 TVL 3.6 mm Lens 28 IR LEDs with Free Surveillance Warning Sticker 1PC
   Rating:
   The camera was ordered shipped recieved in less than 5 days regular ground shipping. Camera provides clear sharp image day or night. Very good value for the price, 480 tvl res with manual zoom and focus, adjustable on external of camera (4mm – 9mm). This and other products purchased from Blue Computer, to date, excellent quality and value.
5. E. E. Davis Jr. says:

   September 16, 2010 at 2:25 AM

   Review by E. E. Davis Jr. for VideoSecu Color Security Vandal Proof Dome Camera 1/3″ Sony CCD 420 TVL 3.6 mm Lens 28 IR LEDs with Free Surveillance Warning Sticker 1PC
   Rating:
   The camera I received was a cheap knockoff copy. After many emails and frustration and help from Amazon I able to resolve this complaint. Do buy this camera from this vendor, EverSecure!
6. J. R. Barrett says:

   September 16, 2010 at 3:00 AM

   Review by J. R. Barrett for Defender SN300-4CH-001 User-Friendly Web-Ready DVR Security System with 4 Indoor/Outdoor Night-Vision Surveillance Cameras (Black)
   Rating:
   I replaced my 15 year old VCR based Black and White security system with the Defender SN-300 color Security system with 4 Nightvision cameras for my small retail business. In the past, it was difficult to see a small 9″ quad screen in B/W. Now I have a 19″ color monitor hooked to the Defender DVR and the difference is huge. I really like the ability to switch from quad view to one camera for monitoring and playback then back to quad again. The picture is not HD quality, but is VERY, VERY good and clear. The DVR in highest quality will record 7-10 days of monitoring only. I haven’t tried the low quality setting, but I am sure the DVR would record much, much more with the 500GB drive in the low quality setting! The nightvision cameras are a must and light my office well for recording. That was a huge bonus. The setup is easy and the menus also are easy to use. The networking is a little more of a challenge, but am working through this for watching the store from home. All in all, you can’t beat the system for the money.
7. B. Kirby says:

   September 16, 2010 at 3:01 AM

   Review by B. Kirby for Defender SN300-4CH-001 User-Friendly Web-Ready DVR Security System with 4 Indoor/Outdoor Night-Vision Surveillance Cameras (Black)
   Rating:
   I purchased an all-in-one (monitor/DVR) wih four cameras. The installation was a cinch (except for the internet viewing access). About two weeks after having three of the cameras on the roof looking at three sides of the property, two of the cameras began getting condensation inside the lenses. Support told me to send them back or remove the lense covers and wipe the glass. I wiped and they worked fine for a couple of days. I’m in Florida and if high (not that bad) humidity in November is a problem-imagine what will happen in July and August when the rains start. I plan to return them and see if the new ones leak.

   I am still working with Defender to see what they are willing to do. The support (telephone) department seems to be handled by one very busy, polite young lady. We’ll le tyou know how it turns out. My warranty is ticking.

   Good Luck with your search.
8. William W. Davis says:

   September 16, 2010 at 3:12 AM

   Review by William W. Davis for Defender SN300-4CH-001 User-Friendly Web-Ready DVR Security System with 4 Indoor/Outdoor Night-Vision Surveillance Cameras (Black)
   Rating:
   QUICK SUMMARY: I setup this surveillance system (not really a security system) with minimal trouble. It’s doing what it’s supposed to do WITHOUT having to call Tech Support, without reading the owner’s manual, and without scouring the Internet for solutions to problems — I didn’t encounter any serious issues, and the few minor installation bumps I encountered were easily remedied. Don’t expect much from the “color” cameras – the default colors from them are abysmal (but for an inexpensive surveillance system, I’m willing to put up with lousy color). I’ll wait a month before deciding whether or not recommend this system, but overall, I’m pleased with what I’ve seen so far.

   What I LIKE:

   - Well packaged and complete. It comes with a Quick Start guide and an owner’s manual which is only slightly more informative. You can do the installation just from the Quick Start guide, and refer to the owner’s manual only if you need to.
   
   - It worked! It does what it says it will do — without having to call Tech Support for assistance. Yea!!
   
   - The color “high-res” cameras (which are NOT “high definition”) are really quite small and unobstrusive.
   
   - The cameras can be installed indoors or outdoors (but if outdoors, they must not be directly exposed to the elements, so says the owner’s manual).
   
   - Lots of configuration settings let you decide which cameras to turn on/off, how many frames-per-second they’ll record (from 1 fps to 30 fps), resolution quality, when to record, and more. I haven’t tried many of the features yet, like connecting to my home network, or recording only when the camera’s sensor indicates something is moving within its narrow field-of-vision.
   
   - If I really want to have this system professionally installed in my home, there’s an option the manufacture provides to do just that. But I don’t know what the cost of that would be.
   
   - The “night vision” feature (for darkly lit rooms or outside at night within ~15 feet of the camera) works pretty good! I’ve never used “night vision” electronics before, and it’s startling how clear someone’s face can be seen using this feature.
   
   - At night using available streetlight, you won’t be able to read a license plate from the video that’s recorded, but you will be able to see the model of a vehicle driving by.

   What I Did **NOT** Like:

   - The default colors from these “color” cameras are awful. The color green — leaves on trees and the color of grass — show up grayish-brownish-purpleish, NOT green, on both the live video feed and the corresponding recorded video. Strangely, the only time grass and leaves show up green is during a torrential downpour of rain. White and black show up well, orange shows up okay, but most other colors seem way, way off. You can improve the colors by manually adjusting the hue setting for each camera.
   
   - Using the remote, sometimes pressing the “Menu” button (which should exit a screen and return to the main menu) instead caused the toggling of the configuration setting which was highlighted on the screen.
   
   - The 1st camera I connected to the DVR did not work until I connected the 2nd camera, and then both cameras worked. I swapped the camera inputs on the DVR and still had an issue with one of the cameras. I suspect a suprisingly loose connection between the video cable and the DVR to be at fault. I stopped debugging the problem, though, once both cameras began working.
   
   - There is no chart that explains what types of settings will lead to what kind of disk usage within the DVR. The retail box says it can record up to 2 years of video, but the fine print explains that is at the lowest frames-per-second (that is, 1 fps) and at the lowest video resolution possible. In other words, you’re not going to get 2 years of recorded video from this unit! After a few days living with this system, I found that I could record a total of 20fps (among all 3 cameras combined, where all cameras are set to the highest quality resolution), and that uses about 7%/day of the hard disk space. So, in my installation, I’ll get about two weeks’ worth of recorded images before I begin overlaying the oldest images with newer images.

   What Could Be BETTER:

   - The camera’s field-of-vision is very narrow, and there’s no adjusting that. On the camera I installed outdoors, the field-of-vision 30 feet away is about the width of my double-wide driveway plus the mailbox.
   
   - The zinc-plated hardware (wood screws) used to install the cameras will rust quickly outside, even if they’re not directly exposed to the elements.
   
   - There is no glitz when it comes to the menu user interface. It’s like something out of 1980. Just white, block text…no icons, no graphics, no media bling at all.
   
   - The tightening screw on the installed cameras (that applies pressure to the ball-and-joint of the stand) tends to keep the cameras from moving vertically out of place, but it still seems too easy to move the camera horizontally with a very light touch. I need to investigate this some more to ensure it’s not “user error” though. The cameras themselves aren’t moving out of place, but with a strong wind outside, I’ll bet they would.

   BACKGROUND: I already have a home monitoring system — that is a much better deterrant than a 4-camera surveillance system. If all you’re relying on is this system to protect your home or business, a burglar can easily haul off the Defender’s DVR unit, leaving you empty-handed and without any video proof of the crime! But a surveillance system has many other uses and benefits. It’s a great compliment to the measures you’re already taking to secure your property. For instance, what ARE my kids doing while I’m not at home and they’re home alone?!

   INSTALLATION: As I said already, it really was easy. I mistakenly assumed I could connect the DVR to my computer and use my computer to do the setups. Afterall, the DVR has an Ethernet jack and it comes with an Ethernet cable. But you can’t configure this DVR using your computer — you *must* use either a TV or a monitor with an RCA-type video input. So, I moved the DVR from my computer desk over to the home theater armoire in the family room, and quickly connected it to my Samsung LCD TV. Right now, I’ve connected one camera atop my armoire, and another two outside my home overlooking my driveway, street, and walkway up to our front door.

   Note for Northerners: The operating range for these cameras is 14°F ~ 140°F, so if you live in a part of the country that gets very cold in the wintertime (I don’t!), this may be of concern to you if you plan on installing any of these cameras outdoors.

   CONFIGURATION: Simple to do. Hit “Menu” on the remote control, and walk through each menu choice to make your selections. Hit “Menu” again after you make a configuration setting change, and “Menu” once more to update the settings on the DVR.

   VIDEO QUALITY: Okay, don’t expect to see anything approaching HD videos here! The live video feed is probably like TV’s standard definition. The cameras struggle with most colors, like green, navy or dark blue. Other colors, like honey oak on our table, look good. Indoor lighting can get screwy if you’re using a combination of different lighting equipment within the same camera’s field-of-vision (for instance, my kitchen with fluorescent lighting in the foreground looks okay, but the background incandescent lighting in the dining room causes the walls to look faintly purple). By default, outside colors are awful. Tree leaves and the grass outside look gray-brown-purpleish using the camera’s default settings. If you change the “hue” setting for cameras placed outdoors from the factory default 64% setting down to 40-50%, tree leaves and grass obtain an acceptable green color. Most everything tends to look washed out, but the objects you’ll see in this video — people or pets, for instance — are easily recognizable. In other words, it’s “good enough” to be useful, as you won’t be using these video cameras to record baby’s first steps! Recording at the “Highest” resolution setting won’t be quite as good as the live video streaming. Lower resolution settings just make the recorded video look that much worse. My suggestion is to take some short video samples and see which resolution you can live with. Note: There is no audio feed coming from these cameras — you only get video.

   CONCLUSION: I’ve only had this system for less than a week, but I like it. It can help identify the goings-on around and inside my home. I’ll continue to update this review until I decide whether I’ll recommend it or not.

   *** APRIL 27, 2010 UPDATE

   Here’s how this system helped solve a mystery for me. Yesterday, I left for work in a downpour. While backing out of my driveway, I ran over our garbage can which had been emptied by the city workers just a few minutes before! Why did I run over my garbage can? Did I not look behind me, before backing up? Did the city workers place the emptied trash can directly behind my vehicle? Later in the day, I watched the video and saw that the city workers had placed the emptied can at the corner of my driveway, but yesterday’s storm blew over the can and pushed it directly behind my vehicle! There was no one to blame; it was a freak incident. The video explained exactly what happened. Pretty cool!
9. James Smith says:

   September 16, 2010 at 3:40 AM

   Review by James Smith for Defender SN300-4CH-001 User-Friendly Web-Ready DVR Security System with 4 Indoor/Outdoor Night-Vision Surveillance Cameras (Black)
   Rating:
   I recently purchased this system directly from the vendor. Overall I feel that their customer service was just awesome. They were very knowledgeable about all systems and help me find the one that fits my needs. When I did purchase this unit, I was missing a power cable and they sent me one in 36 hours. I understand these things happen but they made good on their service.

   Very easy system to install. No problems doing so. I am able to view my house from work and find that very comforting. So far I would reccomend this product or any other product from Defender (SVAT).
10. Gary Ruo says:

    September 16, 2010 at 4:36 AM

    Review by Gary Ruo for Defender SN300-4CH-001 User-Friendly Web-Ready DVR Security System with 4 Indoor/Outdoor Night-Vision Surveillance Cameras (Black)
    Rating:
    I have purchased this unit directly from Defender and it arrived within a week. Installation was a breeze and it was easy to hide the wires as there is only one small wire for each camera going from the cameras connector to the connection on the DVR. I did put the cameras under the sill of my home protecting them from direct rain and snow and so far I have had no issues with them. I did have one camera mount that did not work properly when I received the system so I contacted Defenders customer support and I had a replacement mount in two days. I must say so far I am quite happy with my purchase and also with Defenders customer service.
    
    Having been the victims of theft prior to installing this system, my wife and I feel better knowing that our home is being watched even while we are not there. This time if the theives return I will have video evidence for the police. Night vision works great, even better if you have a little extra ambiant light such as a low wattage porch light to help illuminate the area.
11. A. McClure says:

    September 16, 2010 at 4:44 AM

    Review by A. McClure for Color Security 1/3″ Sony CCD DSP CCTV Dome Camera with Free 12V 500ma Regulated Camera Power Supply and 100ft Video Power Cable DM30KC 1OM
    Rating:
    Great deal, pretty good picture on these little color cameras. I will probably use them again!
12. HMMWV says:

    September 16, 2010 at 5:00 AM

    Review by HMMWV for Q-See QSC48030 High Resolution Weatherproof CCD Camera w/80ft of Night Vision (Color)
    Rating:
    Update 12-20-2008: This camera has been running flawlessly except for mother nature. It seems that spiders like the infrared light at night (I’m not an insect person but I know some insects can see IR light). As a result they tend to make webs over the lit area at night. The spider being so close to the camera looks like you are being robbed by king kong to your DVR and thus makes all night tapes of spider web weaving which are fun to watch in 16X speed but the reality is you must clean the lens once a month to maintain good night vision. Daytime it is not a problem.

    Update 5-15-2008: This particular camera has been running for about 2 months now and faces the street where we have had a drug problem. Last night it caught the evicted drug dealer breaking into his old house to retreive forgotten property when the police escorted him out the first time. Since our neighborhood watch had been warned that the home should be vacant I noticed the movement across the street, called 911, and 2 minutes later the former problem was cuffed and stuffed into the squadcar for criminal trespass, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, violation of a restraining order, violation of an eviction order, and breaking and entering. We’ll see him again in 5-10 years. Does the camera work at 100 feet in pitch black conditions? Yes. But a human pair of eyes was needed to resolve a man at night. The sony can see it w/o the help.

    Camera 1 Bad-guys 0
    
    —————-original review below—————-

    I bought both the bottom of the Q-see day/night camera line (this camera) and their mid-range unit (the 540 line resolution, 65 foot range for the night IR leds model Q-See QSB520SR Weatherproof Color High-Res Day/Night Camera Kit (540TVL) with 65-Feet Night Vision) I have them both hooked to a Q-see DVR recorder and there is a difference when I compare their pictures side by side on my DVR display. I hope these notes help people pick which one is best for their intended use.

    This model is selling for $130 while the next step up listed above is $230 right now.

    Pros ($130)

    Cheapest day/night camera in q-see product lineup
    
    LEDS provide a wide area of lighting that matches the lens field of view
    
    Comes with a really long cable (100 feet+) and it runs power plus video
    
    wide field of view lens covers a broad area without any fisheye distortion.
    
    (cable is longer on this model than their more expensive model by about an extra 45 feet)

    Cons ($130)

    Lacks any zoom or focus control for the lens (present on the $230 version)
    
    not as good of a mounting bracket as the $230 version
    
    washed out picture compared to the Sony image sensor in the $230 camera
    
    more picture noise at night compared to the Sony image sensor camera.
    
    Less resolution than the $230 camera – picture is not as sharp

    Summary -

    I’m really nitpicking here – these are all small differences that separate the low end, mid range, and their high end camera (which amazon did not carry when I purchased them – the high end is just the mid range with higher power LEDS and a higher price tag in the $300′s). All of them do what they say – they give you a picture day or night. Unlike other day/night cameras these provide color at night if enough light is present or black/white if using the LEDs. I prefer the color from the Sony image sensor, and I like the adjustable lens on the sony based camera. Is it worth another $100? That depends. Both cameras work well and do what they say – it’s only when you put their pictures side by side that the quality difference is noticable.

    I think both cameras have a use which is why I bought one of each and put them in different locations. If the tradeoff is quality vs. having more views of a building, then the less expensive camera wins because you can cover more doors and gates using them. On the other hand, if you already have Sony cameras in your security system, the extra $100 will make the q-see sony based mid-range model blend into your existing system better. Having a choice and knowing what you get or give up is important which is why we post reviews. I’m happy with both of my cameras in their applications and I won’t change them out. If I buy another camera, I would consider it’s use to decide which model to buy. The zoom lens on the $230 model q-see camera is nice for a long driveway, but a wide view of a close porch would probably best be served with one of the $130 models.
    
13. J. Griffiths says:

    September 16, 2010 at 5:37 AM

    Review by J. Griffiths for Q-See QSC48030 High Resolution Weatherproof CCD Camera w/80ft of Night Vision (Color)
    Rating:
    Great picture night and day. If you want to get a picture of the bad guys that will stand up in court this is the one to buy. I’ve tried the lower resolution cameras and you can’t get a good picture of their face. The only reason I didn’t give this camera 5 stars is because it needs the ability to sense when security lights are on. The low light camera feature only turns off in daylight and floodlights tend to wash out anything light in color like faces and license plates. I plan on adding more of these cameras to my Q See DVR system because I’ve found that one camera isn’t enough . I only have one camera now and I just came home to find my passenger side window smashed on my car. The perpetrator manage to stay out of sight of the camera.
14. Gregg Cornett says:

    September 16, 2010 at 5:49 AM

    Review by Gregg Cornett for Q-See QSC48030 High Resolution Weatherproof CCD Camera w/80ft of Night Vision (Color)
    Rating:
    The QSC48030 has been a fine camera, day and night recording, for about 18 months.
    
    It has now begun to have very cloudy images at night to the extent that it is impossible to see any detail. Q-see tech said to check the power supply…it was fine. Then they said to call customer service and exchange for another one.
    
    I called customer service and they informed me that since it was out of warranty there is nothing that can be done. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO THROW IT AWAY AND BUY A NEW ONE…THAT THERE IS NO SERVICE ON THIS UNIT!
    
    I thought it very important to enlighten potential buyers of this issue as I believe that these are too expensive to be classified as disposable cameras.
    
    BUYER BEWARE!
15. Nicholas Mc Cartney says:

    September 16, 2010 at 6:32 AM

    Review by Nicholas Mc Cartney for Q-See QSC48030 High Resolution Weatherproof CCD Camera w/80ft of Night Vision (Color)
    Rating:
    Ok heres the info that I was lookin for but had to find it the hard way. First off I was looking for a camera that had good range, clear picture and the ability to see clear at night. For the price this camera is well better than the others in the same range. In fact probably the all around best for the price. It offers a wider picture, A little bit more distance and a slightly clearer picture. But a fact you should know!!! I mounted this camera and with a day or so I caught my car getting robbed. The distance was about 30 to 40 feet and it was impossible to make out a face. The burglar stopped the car and the car was difficult to spot make model and accurate color but with some effort got it done. If your intention is to catch someone in the act and be able to prosecute them, upgrade to some better models. Spend the money. My things were still taken and all I can do now is watch it happen. Nothing else. I have tried all the cameras just about and all the different ranges. This is the best one but like I said before, you get what you pay for. Hope this helps.
16. Amberman says:

    September 16, 2010 at 7:11 AM

    Review by Amberman for Q-See QSC48030 High Resolution Weatherproof CCD Camera w/80ft of Night Vision (Color)
    Rating:
    This camera is definitely superior over all others I’ve seen in quality.

    There is a BNC female connector on the back plate (male BNC adapters for RCA cables are available at Radio Shack, as is the 12v power converter. Save more money and time. Positive polarity.)

    I noticed the camera rattling and loose inside. If your camera begins to rattle, open up the back plate and carefully remove the whole assembly – with the plate-attached metal stair-step stand that supports the camera. You can adjust the stand by twisting any loose columns. But be careful not to unfocus the camera.

    Do not try to open the front of the camera, unless you absolutely have no choice – like to replace the IR ring!

    The IR ring (infra-red led lights attached to a curcuit board) is held in place separately in the front of the camera with a small white pin connector with wire leads to the camera board. This is convenient because when the IR leds may burn out after a few years, you can just disconnect and replace the ring for cheap.

    The sun shade slides only if the front and back end screws are loosened. At the top-back of the camera, there are 2 built-in screw fittings that confused me at first. (Be sure to refer to the picture here that shows how the wall connector is put together, or you will become frustrated since there are no instructions or diagrams on how to use the supplied hardware.) Do not try to move the angle of the shade, since the only way it moves is from front to back on slides.

    The reason this or most surveillance cameras on the market today do not have any audio is because the public privacy law has changed to make eavesdropping illegal in many states. But if you are so inclined, find mini-microphones, transmitters and receivers on the hobby shop sites selling motorized airplanes that employ digital cameras. You might find better prices for mini-box color cameras as well with portable power supplies.

    Note: Found this camera (54-IR leds) for $50 cheaper on Amazon – do a search on 1/3″ Sony CCD Long range 54 IR Camera with 16mm Lens IR80P 1DT.

    Enjoy!
17. K.H. says:

    September 16, 2010 at 7:15 AM

    Review by K.H. for Defender SN500-4CH-002 Feature-rich 4 Channel H.264 DVR Security System with Smart Phone Access and 4 Indoor/Outdoor Hi-Res CCD Night Vision Cameras
    Rating:
    Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R39DOMPNW07CGJ This is a video review of SN500-4CH-002 which is Defender’s feature-rich 4 Channel H.264 DVR Security System with Smart Phone Access and 4 Indoor/Outdoor Hi-Res CCD Night Vision Surveillance Cameras.

    This all-in-one system contains everything you need to setup and record a 4 camera surveillance system in your home or business.

    For my installation, I did not need to buy anything extra or subscribe to any monthly service to use the system. I can now access the system through any computer in the world as long as it has internet access. I can also access footage by using my smart-phone when I am on the go.

    I really do recommend the Defender SN500-4CH-002 system for anyone looking for an affordable 4ch DVR security system with web and smartphone access.
18. D. Kan says:

    September 16, 2010 at 7:49 AM

    Review by D. Kan for Defender SN500-4CH-002 Feature-rich 4 Channel H.264 DVR Security System with Smart Phone Access and 4 Indoor/Outdoor Hi-Res CCD Night Vision Cameras
    Rating:
    I setup the 4 cams and used my tv as the monitor, had it up and running in about 30 min. Mounting the cams and getting the view I wanted and installing the cords to where they were hidden took me 2-3 hrs. Daylight images are pretty good quality. The cams are not waterproof and as other said over 20 ft details get fuzzy. I have cam 1 overlooking the driveway set under the eaves above garage, cam 2 in mudroom overlooking main entrance and garage (cam1), cam 3 inside looking at back sliding glass door, cam 4 inside living room looking at main entrance. I installed the outdoor wire through a 25 ft long 3/4″ diameter plastic conduit to prevent someone cutting it (use a lubed up electician’s fish wire tool helps).
    
    -1/2 star for during the night mode the LEDs cause too much reflection to have the cam setup to record vid through a window even with an antiglare shield. I recommend when you get the cam angle you like, use a bit of lock tight on the clamp screw (the temporary kind, not the permanent) I can see the clamp getting loose during natural cold and heat cycles.
    
    The settings I use are best quality recording and only on Alarm mode (movement). The motion detector is fine during the day, a bit buggy during the night mode (-1/2 star). car lights shining will activate the recording, moths and bugs also are attracted to the IR light during night mode even with the sensitivity turned down. During the night mode also there is about a 1-2 second delay from detection to start of recording… the suggested setting is 24/7 record on low quality unless Alarm or movement mode activates a higher quality record setting, but this will eat up a lot of HD space and you end up with a lot of nothing video.
    
    I use about 1% of HD space a day on Alarm only record mode on Best quality so it will possibly record up to 100 days before rewriting, which is pretty darn good.
    
    -1 star is converting the vid (H.264 format) you want to web friendly or any computer viewable (AVI format) requires a few steps and you end up with a pretty large file (the option to convert to MP4 or other format can be done with a secondary converter, will give you a smaller file with decent quality). You can use USB thumb drive or an alternative you can have another external HD and dump your vid there, then use a PC and the provided AVI converter. You can only convert the one cam vid at a time, so if you have 20 some events on different cam views it will take a while to convert. Practice this step a few times just in case you need to do it for an incident where you have to submit video as evidence to police.
    
    The remote control is very cheaply made and if you have a fat thumb like me it was a bit cumbersome to use… I only use the remote because it has the easiest to find PB button (playback) compared to going through the menus manually. I mainly use the provided mouse to navigate otherwise.
    
    If you want better night vid, there are other better quality waterproof outdoor cams available (any brand with a Sony CCD is good or Panasonic).
    
19. M. Klein says:

    September 16, 2010 at 7:49 AM

    Review by M. Klein for Defender SN500-4CH-002 Feature-rich 4 Channel H.264 DVR Security System with Smart Phone Access and 4 Indoor/Outdoor Hi-Res CCD Night Vision Cameras
    Rating:
    This is a great system as a beginner system goes. It is limited to 4 cameras which is the only drawback, really making it applicable for home or small business use.

    I installed this on the outside of my home.

    The system came well packed, directions were detailed and a snap. It took just over 2 hours to get it all set up. I would say that I am expert at handy man type jobs, so if you aren’t comfortable on a ladder, with a makita drill and spade bit, better leave installation to an expert.

    Picking the location of the cameras was the toughest part, as I wanted them to have the best views and yet somewhat un-obtrusive. We have had 3 friends come over since I installed the system and none of them had any clue there were cameras around.

    I have not tried the web set up yet, but will soon.

    The software allows you to fast fwd at an 8x speed so you can search easily. The night vision is awesome as well. The cameras work well in ambient lighting, so no issues there either.

    I have a friend who is a police officer take a look at the video quality and he said if anything ever happened, the quality is good enough for law enforcement as well.

    Bottom line: If you can drill and route wires, you can install this. Maybe the best $500 I have ever spent.
20. BK says:

    September 16, 2010 at 8:09 AM

    Review by BK for Defender SN500-4CH-002 Feature-rich 4 Channel H.264 DVR Security System with Smart Phone Access and 4 Indoor/Outdoor Hi-Res CCD Night Vision Cameras
    Rating:
    After 3 years of researching for a system to place in my home and with my needs of Web/Smartphone ability this company is highly recommended. My line of work allows me to see alot of professional DVR security systems in Corp. and private retail industry. I truely believe in camera security over just an audile alarm for homes. More crimes are solved with a picture over an audible alarm which is monitored. I bought the system due to the cost and features. Once received it was out of the box and running in 10 minutes (No camera’s mounted or internet connection at this time). Internet connection took me about 45 minutes (Now I could do it in 5 minutes if I did it over). When it comes to setting up the router read carefully I have Linksey G wireless and everything works using DHCP IP address mode. I also use a first generation iPhone which does allow me to see the cameras in real time. This unit has capabilities to record on different days, hours and or an area of motion can be set within the cameras view to activate. The system does have a notification setup for emails which sends a still photograph if the camera is activated (Would be nice if updated software was to add notifications to phone numbers). Added features in the back of the DVR allow setup of an audile alarm. For around $500 one time fee with no monthly service to monitor or cost to maintain, who can beat this product. Four cameras with IR are very well made with metal bodies and 60ft of cable. Video quality is great, clean and crisp.
21. Camera User says:

    September 16, 2010 at 9:02 AM

    Review by Camera User for Defender SN500-4CH-002 Feature-rich 4 Channel H.264 DVR Security System with Smart Phone Access and 4 Indoor/Outdoor Hi-Res CCD Night Vision Cameras
    Rating:
    We ordered an SN-500 to use in an outdoor application, to monitor a calving barn. This unit was a great value for the money and is working extremely well for this application. It was easy and quick to install, but took me some time to understand how to make the unit accessible via the internet. Once it was up an running, we have had no problems. It works o.k. with a dynamic DNS service, but does not update the DNS address when it changes, only on a set schedule. This makes the unit go off-line for a few hours before the update occurs if your service provider changes your DNS address on occassion. This is my only complaint and I can live with it. The cameras have worked well in sub-zero temperatures with clear pictures during daytime hours. Night vision also works well and by adding a little light, the picture quality improves greatly. I would highly recommend this unit for the price.
22. Charles Evans says:

    September 16, 2010 at 9:07 AM

    Review by Charles Evans for Lorex Edge LH314321C4 Internet Access DVR and 4 Camera Surveillance Bundle
    Rating:
    Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1GKOFE1YT3PNF I will warn you – this review (especially the video portion) will not tell you every detail of the Lorex Edge Security Bundle. However, I will attempt to show you on how the system sets up (from a basic installation) how it works what it looks like on your video monitor.

    Notes -

    - Pretty good picture – not HD, of course, but it does have good picture for this price point.
    
    - Decent low light capability
    
    - Basic set-up is relatively easy. IF YOU DO NOT plan to integrate the security bundle to network installation will take about an hour – and be accomplished by anyone
    
    - If you are planning to run this through your network you will need some advanced understanding of port forwarding and ways to set-up your router.
    
    - For some reason the bundle does not come with a VGA cable- which is required for use with a monitor.
    
    - Does not have RCA outputs…. the unit only works with a network or through a direct VGA output. I found this to be an odd oversight.
    
    - Comes with a basic remote control and mouse.
    
    - Security bundle is NOT wireless – each camera comes with 60′ of cable that must be plugged into the base unit. This is not as big of a disadvantage as it may seem – wireless security packages can be hacked and require each camera to be individually powered.
    
    - Cameras do NOT need to be near a power outlet. The video output cable (That plugs into the back of the base unit) runs next to a power cord, in fact, the cable can ONLY be plugged into an outlet near the base unit.
    
    - Unit can record based on a timer/calendar
    
    - Unit can record based on a motion detector.
    
    - If you watch the video you will see a bird that sticks his beak directly in front of the camera. This is impressive because the camera has a focus and capture zone ranging from 1′ to about 100′. This gives you great security coverage!
    
    - All of the mounting hardware is included, this includes wall anchors.

    Final Verdict –

    While I am sure that I have left out a few of the details I can still say that I am very impressed with the Lorex Security Bundle. This is the perfect set-up for a small business, store, or nature lover.

    4 1/2 stars
23. Naomi (Storm) says:

    September 16, 2010 at 9:13 AM

    Review by Naomi (Storm) for Lorex Edge LH314321C4 Internet Access DVR and 4 Camera Surveillance Bundle
    Rating:
    The Lorex Edge LH314321C4 is a nicely packaged system with four cameras and a DVR with a 320GB HDD which fulfills the general needs of a home-based video security system. Based on a Linux OS with a USB connector and removable standard SATA HDD, the possibility of a homebrew system is there should anyone be daring enough to try.

    Out of the box, the LH314321C4 comes with 60ft of cable per camera and a 10ft network cable which connects to the DVR. All units must feed back into the main system – since this DVR unit has no built in power surge or power backup options, installing it into a UPS or other backup power supply is highly recommended – at the very least, a surge protector. The biggest “oops” in this package is the lack of a VGA cable (or option to connect via a standard S-Video or HDMI). If you actually want to be able to configure and view your DVR, you must supply a monitor with a VGA input (ie: a computer monitor or a TV with VGA out).

    You are reading this correctly: out of the box, you have zero way to monitor and configure this system. You must supply your own monitor and/or monitor cable.

    Once you get past that hurdle (I had a spare VGA cable lying around from an old KVM set up and therefore hooked up this device to my TV), the initial set up and configuration is relatively simple. The difficulty of the placement of the cameras will of course vary home-by-home, but the 60′ radius should be enough for most installations. Also, once this system is actually configured, you probably do not need to have a monitor hooked up to the DVR full time, which is where the remote monitoring option comes into play.

    The LH314321C4 has the ability to set up a remote monitoring option which allows your system to connect directly to your local network and by using the Lorex DDNS service, from anywhere with internet connectivity. By using this method, you could hypothetically set up your own secured hosted service (where you would control the security option instead of relying on Lorex as your provider). If you are OK with the somewhat creepy option of having a live video feed into your house on the internet (secured or not), this is a neat feature to allow you to monitor your home while on vacation – or bored at work. By default, there are no audio monitoring options, so if you want sound pick up, you will have to purchase separate components. The device also has an option to plug into an existing home security system by way of a DSub9 connector – since I do not have any sensors with this functionality, I was unable to test. You also have the ability to backup the recorded video onto a PC via their web browser based application.

    The DVR functionality was pretty standard – by default the cameras are set up to automatically record video from the cameras. You have the options of changing this to Motion, Alarm or Video Loss (video captured before the camera lost functionality). The included cameras aren’t bad – directly from the box mine had quite a bit of red-bleed, but after fidgeting with the hue and saturation a little bit, it was much better. The black and white night vision was actually pretty impressive and seemed a bit crisper than the color daytime version of the video. These are not high-def cameras by any means, and the sample photos on the box are very misleading. These are slightly better than the standard webcam camera, and since the encoding is highly compressed, there’s a bit of detail lost. However if you have the misfortune of being robbed, you will still probably have enough facial detail to identify the bad guy.

    All-in-all this is a pretty standard system as far as the components are concerned, however the additional functionality added by the remote viewing and backup abilities pushes it past the “average” benchmark. And while the browser based application is rather clunky and cumbersome, it does work (hopefully Lorex will make sure to keep their firmware and software upgrades timely). In my mind, this system lost the five-star mark due to the rather thoughtless lack of a VGA cable and zero sound support. The lack of expansion options (ie: adding additional wired or wireless cameras beyond the initial four) also hurt. Still, for a good ninety percent of the homes out there looking for a DVR-based video security system, this is a good product.
24. R. Jensen says:

    September 16, 2010 at 9:27 AM

    Review by R. Jensen for Lorex Edge LH314321C4 Internet Access DVR and 4 Camera Surveillance Bundle
    Rating:
    The other reviews cover the capabilities so I will concentrate on what were the disappointments. The system has many good features and the price was great.

    The system setup of the DVR is NOT intuitive. Especially setting the recording quality and frame rate and the schedules for the cameras. Setting the password(s) is a pain due to a tedious interface.

    The BIGGEST complaint is the triggering settings for alerting and recording movements. Each camera has zones and sensitivity settings that trigger the alerts and start the recording. The problem is if you point the cameras outside, or mount it outside it is virtually impossible to not have it trigger every time the sun changes, due to a cloud going by, there is rain or any small critter such as a spider, or bug crawling by. You will spend 99% of your time deleting the useless clips. (Really needs a “delete all” function)

    For $500 it is worth the money, but don’t count on using the recording/alerts outside or looking outside.
    
25. S. Peterson says:

    September 16, 2010 at 9:30 AM

    Review by S. Peterson for Lorex Edge LH314321C4 Internet Access DVR and 4 Camera Surveillance Bundle
    Rating:
    I live in a 2,000 sq ft home next to a private park. We also live near enough to a freeway that when the police are chasing someone, they tend to end up in our area after getting off the freeway. Our park is frequently being tagged by poser gangsters from our neighborhood. So I was excited to receive this four-camera set and see if I could lend some help to our homeowner’s association. That’s the context.

    The reviews this product has thus far received have been excellent and spot-on. So I won’t repeat their findings. But I will add to it. First, seriously consider if you are going to install this yourself or hire someone to do it for you. I decided to do it myself. Because I made that decision, I made a serious time commitment. Because of where I needed to place the four cameras, I was in for a lot of work. Little did I realize just how much work it would be. As previous reviewers have stated, this kit comes with four 60ft spools of wiring. I’ve found this isn’t nearly enough to cover all four sides of my home. Running wire to these areas is quite the chore. Longer wire can be purchased from the Lorex website but you’ll pay $70 for a 100ft roll and $130 for a 250ft roll. That’s way too expensive for wire. So, I went online and found a spool of wire that I could splice into the middle. I bought a 1,000ft roll for only $40, free shipping. It worked great. You just need to know how to properly splice wire which isn’t that hard. If you plan on reaching the four corners of your house, you’ll be spending a lot of time in your attic, under your home, and on tall ladders drilling holes through your siding. Just be prepared for that. And think things through.

    Second, having internet access to your cameras requires more Geek know how than my brain contains. If you’re challenged in that way, be prepared to either hire a Geek, or bribe someone you know with dinner in exchange for a set up. I have not gotten to this point yet because the person I know is very, very busy. Once their schedule clears I’ll be making tri-tip.

    Third, the scenario I did not think about when I installed it is this. What if someone breaks into my house? A smart thief will think to find the DVR and take that. Since I have it connected to our big screen TV, I’m hoping they take the TV and leave the evidence. Otherwise, what I would have to do is purchase a computer monitor, hide it along with the DVR, and hope the thief does not track it down. I’d also have to rewire everything. At this point, I’m counting on the continued stupidity of criminals. I wish I would have thought about that before I went to all that work installing it where it is.

    All in all it’s a great product. You just need to really think things through before setting it up. I hope these extra hints are useful to you.
26. I. R. Smart. says:

    September 16, 2010 at 10:15 AM

    Review by I. R. Smart. for Lorex Edge LH314321C4 Internet Access DVR and 4 Camera Surveillance Bundle
    Rating:
    OK, since I will say from the outset that since this unit really is designed more for the small store owner, this will be a more serious review! Store ownership is serious business.

    So here we go…

    It took me about 15 minutes to unpack the product and another 15 to make all the necessary connections. The connectors are color coded, which makes it easy to setup. I then consulted the Quick Setup Guide to verify that I had not missed anything.

    The only issue I had was finding a suitable display to use for the setup. Since the device has a network port, I expected to be able to configure and use it over the network, similar to using other network devices such as a wireless camera. I did not find any indication in the manual that this is possible. Not only that, but I only had a DVI cable for my display, so I had to search around for a VGA cable. Once I found a VGA cable, I was able to connect it to a monitor and was able to continue.

    The system boots up very quickly. You see the Lorex logo and hear the faint hard disk drive spinning. And after a few seconds, the system was up displaying all 4 camera feeds. I continued to follow the guide. The next step was to setup date and time, but the system had already updated it via the network, which was a pleasant surprise!

    I tried the remote control initially, but opted to use the mouse instead. The interface is easy to navigate. It does not look like the most modern interface, but it is simple to use, which is more important than fancy effects. The left mouse is used to select an option as usual and the right mouse button acts like a back button, which is nice. The system also beeps each time you click, giving you immediate feedback which I personally liked a lot.

    Issue number 1:

    There is no hover text, which makes icons and options a bit harder to decipher. Some of the options are self explanatory, like the wrench icon which is for the setup menu. But other options have icons that are not very intuitive. For example, the backup menu has an icon that looks like a USB thumb drive. At first I was thinking how can I backup up to 320GB of data onto a thumb drive? It makes sense once you read the manual which states that you can backup individual recordings to a thumb drive up to 8GB in size.

    ——

    The basic options are easy to configure. But the more advanced options, like scheduled recording or recording options, required me to consult the instruction manual.

    Setting up access from a PC requires installing and configuring QuickTime. Once QuickTime is configured according to the guide, you can access the DVR using a web browser. The web interface is called DVR Netview. The guide specifies Internet Explorer (IE), which worked without problems. I tried accessing the DVR using FireFox 3.0 and it did not work at all. All I got was the content of an HTML document. I got the same results using Safari from my Mac. The manual states that FireFox is supported but you need to install the IE-in plug-in, which I did not attempt. Note that even if the DVR Netview site loaded properly on non-IE browsers, some function will be missing because it uses ActiveX controls.

    Issue number 2:

    Another thing that was not clear in the guide was which user ID could log into the DVR Netview site. The guide lists 2 IDs and neither worked. A screenshot in the guide showed another ID being used. Consulting the instruction manual clarified the issue. There are separate ID for local and network access. Following the instructions on the manual worked fine. Let me reiterate: keep the manual nearby!

    ——

    From the DVR Netview I was able to view live video from all 4 cameras. It has a top message bar that lists active cameras, alarms and motion detection. The interface has 4 main options: setup, live video,playback and backup. The backup feature uses Active X, which worked fine from IE. You can also setup Dynamic DNS to access the system from the Internet. This requires that you signup for a free account on Lorex’s website.

    You cannot perform all the administrative configuration options from the DVR Netview. You will need to access the system locally to perform certain configuration tasks. And the interface, while usable, is not very user friendly. It is also slow to load, even over the wired LAN. It was due to the first time I accessed it, as subsequent access were more responsive.

    Once everything is setup, the system will record continuously. The system can be changed to record until the hard drive is full or to record based on events. There are 3 types of events: motion, alarm and video loss. You can then search for these event when playing back recordings. I setup the system to record motion events. You can set the amount of time to record once the event is triggered. You can also select motion sensitivity and the areas of the captured images to monitor for movement. I did not use these options. Using the default worked as expected. One missing feature I really miss is the ability for the system to send an email message with an image of the event. Stand-alone network cameras have that feature.

    Accessing the system locally, the recordings can then be listed under the List option, which shows all the recorded events. You can filter by event type and camera, making it easier to narrow down the list incase you have many recordings listed. Clicking on an event brings up the playback menu to review the recording.

    Issue number 3:

    Another missing feature is the ability for the DVR Netview to list events and allow you to play them back over the network. Without this option it is not possible to know what date and time to playback to review recorded events. This is a big oversight because without it,the remote viewing software is mostly good to view the live feed.Otherwise you will find yourself randomly playing back segments in hopes to confirm that no events were triggered. Having the email feature would help the remote viewing software immensely because you could then set the playback around the time the event is listed on the email.

    ——

    Overall, though this is a good product. It’s small, quiet, and integrated. It is easy to setup and use. Even with the aforementioned shortcomings, I was able to setup a camera monitoring system that records events based on motion. The system’s local console works well. The remote viewing software needs some features to make it useful, but even then I would recommend this to someone looking to setup and use this system locally. Just bear in mind this is probably overkill for a “normal”-sized house, and would definitely be more useful in a small store.

    4/5.
27. Ouachita Mike says:

    September 16, 2010 at 10:46 AM

    Review by Ouachita Mike for SC-NVA5 Wired Color CCTV Security Spy Camera with AC Adapter
    Rating:
    This small camera worked great out of the box. I set it up in our vacation cabin and it gives a nice view of the whole room. I connected it to an inexpensive video capture card and will be able to access it via [...] via the internet (we have Hughes Satellite internet). I will be able to check the cabin from home to make sure that everything is alright. I may purchase more of these to put at the front door and other locations. For the money you can’t beat this camera. I’m not sure how well it will work out for an outdoor location, but I am pleased with the indoor picture-it looks much like a picture that you see from security cameras, certainly not high resolution, but for money I don’t think you will find a better bargain.
28. hrtf says:

    September 16, 2010 at 11:35 AM

    Review by hrtf for SC-NVA5 Wired Color CCTV Security Spy Camera with AC Adapter
    Rating:
    great quality/sharpness/color, can easily see individual leaves blowing in yard from 20-30 feet. latest version of camera doesn’t have a microphone and IR leds have been replaced with black plastic pieces.

    make sure to focus camera (twist lens) for best picture.
29. Steven Dement says:

    September 16, 2010 at 12:23 PM

    Review by Steven Dement for SC-NVA5 Wired Color CCTV Security Spy Camera with AC Adapter
    Rating:
    Just got this today. Hooked it up straight to my tv to test it. There was no color, and the picture was very jumpy, like a vcr will do when the tracking needs adjusting…only, as far as I can tell, there’s no way to adjust it!. It came in an original, unopened package, but no instructions/troubleshooting guide was included. So I looked it up. Apparently this product used to be good, but the quality has since been downgraded drastically. It’s supposably got night vision, but what used to be infrared sensors are now just fake pieces of plastic. Apparently the microphone has been removed also. Now I have a camera that is basically useless. Always read up on a product before you buy!
30. Nathan L. Warshawsky says:

    September 16, 2010 at 12:29 PM

    Review by Nathan L. Warshawsky for SC-NVA5 Wired Color CCTV Security Spy Camera with AC Adapter
    Rating:
    bought to spy on my self while I sleep. the wife said I was doing some crazy stuff in my sleep. so wanted a cheap way to watch my self sleep. a real camcorder is expensive. didnt need sound. picture reselution is ok. not high quality and a little grainy. but is a security cam so this is normal. very small and compact. could hide it well. doesnt do well in low light though. just hook up to vcr and have fun with it.
31. ElectoEverything says:

    September 16, 2010 at 12:31 PM

    Review by ElectoEverything for SC-NVA5 Wired Color CCTV Security Spy Camera with AC Adapter
    Rating:
    I received this 6/3/2008. It was $16.99. The weight is about 2x as a
    
    normal plastic camera. The stainless steel might have some advantage.
    
    It’s more durable do a hard knock but while plastic might bend and come
    
    back this would dent. I can’t see an advantage to stainless case.

    LENS
    
    The lens was so very tight when I got it. It appeared to be cross
    
    threaded. I could not turn it by hand being a strong man it worried me.
    
    Using a thick soft cloth between a pair of slip joint water pliers it
    
    was easy to turn and then was loose. It was simply stuck. It turns
    
    fine now. A sping keeps tension on the lens so it stays where you setit.

    VIDEO QUALITY
    
    I have no info yet. Will update you if I can.

    POWER REQUIREMENTS
    
    This came with a 9 volt adapter plug and a power supply of 12 volts at 100ma. The unit has 6 IR leds. The fact that they don’t have an off
    
    switch nor do I think they shut off in daylight since I see no sensor
    
    makes me think they waste power if you’re running from a 9v battery.

    9v battery is about 300mah. So this means it will run 3 hours before you
    
    can’t use it. The leds probably add 30ma or more to the power
    
    draw. More would be my guess otherwise they would not be useful past a
    
    few inches.

    HACKING:
    
    If you want to take apart the camera there are 2 Phillips screws in the
    
    back to facilitate this. While the LEDS would be on the other side of
    
    any circuit board there might be a wire or other easy method to turn them
    
    off to save power when on battery.

    If you do open it as I might let’s put up the video or images. I can make
    
    an animated gif if you like.

    Figure out for ajajaj at rediff to contact
32. C. Jordan says:

    September 16, 2010 at 12:50 PM

    Review by C. Jordan for Astak CM-818C2 2.4GHz Security Surveillance Camera Set
    Rating:
    This is a decent set of cameras at a good price, especially compared to similar brands. I found the cameras to be weatherproof, solid, and easy to use.

    Due to no fault of their own, I would HIGHLY recommend you buy the wired version if you live in an urban area and/or near too many wireless access points. This is the primary reason behind the degradation in signal & video that cause many reviewers of wireless cams to wrongly give 1 star ratings to what are actually decent products. You can download the free tool, Netstumbler, and use it on a laptop to see how many access points are in your neighborhood.
33. T. McGettigan says:

    September 16, 2010 at 1:02 PM

    Review by T. McGettigan for Astak CM-818C2 2.4GHz Security Surveillance Camera Set
    Rating:
    I purchased this as an option to a driveway alarm. I have a home office, and have an obstructed view of my driveway. I really liked the idea of being able to use Batteries vs Hard wiring the cameras. Unfortunately these cameras have a working range from the wireless receiver of about 5 feet. After that lots of static, and poor picture quality. I followed the instructions and tried every frequency but the same static poor quality image continued. Although, I bought this one due to the battery option on the camera, I even tried the A/C adapter thinking it could be a power problem. The box says 150-300 range (line of site) HA. Not even 10 feet before noticeable loss of image 20 feet worthless.
34. ebirm says:

    September 16, 2010 at 1:36 PM

    Review by ebirm for Astak CM-818C2 2.4GHz Security Surveillance Camera Set
    Rating:
    Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3UVSM5DTQ3QAC I live in a 2nd story apartment and installed a Swann 2.4GHz wireless that I picked up from the local hardware store about a year ago. I installed it after scaring off some would-be car thief’s. I decided to replace it because one of my receivers went out and I replaced it with the standard Astak 2.4GHz wireless receiver. I was impressed with the receiver (w/remote) and so I thought I’d give these cameras a try (the Swann was very choppy and I had to mess with the brightness controls in the software I use, a lot). I use the second receiver to hook to the TV in my living room. The cameras and receiver are in the same location as when I was using the Swann.

    These cameras are way better than the Swann. The video that comes with this review was taken from my PC (I wire it through a Roxio RCA to USB connector) and use a freeware program to capture it (Debut). There are three walls between my computer and the cameras.

    Others post about bad reception because of wireless routers. I don’t use one, but there are several that appear in my wireless network list on my Windows PC. To be fair, they could have changed their routers after I installed the Swann a year ago.

    Downside: The audio is choppy and has static. I don’t use the audio; I didn’t use the audio with the Swann, either. This is the reason for my “low” marks. Also, in the manual I discovered that in low light the cameras will switch to black and white. However, as you can see from the video, the b/w hasn’t switched on. There is a big flood light in my parking lot which may be the reason. Color 24/7. Judge for yourself.

    Tip: you may need to adjust the antenna on the receiver to get the lowest amount of static. I’ve found that moving it about 20 degrees at a time lets you see the difference.

    Well worth the money. I hope this helps.
35. Gary Mccreath says:

    September 16, 2010 at 2:24 PM

    Review by Gary Mccreath for Astak CM-818C2 2.4GHz Security Surveillance Camera Set
    Rating:
    Have had these cams in use almost a month. Good for daytime surveillance. Not so much at night. They are outside and have weathered some severe storms.For the money I don’t think they can be beat.
36. Leonard Eng says:

    September 16, 2010 at 2:38 PM

    Review by Leonard Eng for Astak CM-818C2 2.4GHz Security Surveillance Camera Set
    Rating:
    For a low price at a local store that “Costless in bulk” I found this to be a bargin in wireless security. Fry’s does have deals with other companies/brands but for the stats and price I just had to have it. So far it’s hooked up to a DVDR and set for 6hrs and works just great. The only thing I would recomend is to get a motion sensor light also on the area being screened so that your picture is in color and not B&W.
    
    I like this brand better than some of the other companies because of the price and features. BTW I do also use Web cam for security monitoring.

    Cheers.
37. Shaun P. Michalak says:

    September 16, 2010 at 3:03 PM

    Review by Shaun P. Michalak for Astak CM-812C2 2.4 GHz Security and Surveillance Camera Set
    Rating:
    This is a decent camera. It is well made on the camera end, but the antenna on the receiver feels a little cheap. The rest of the receiver feels of average quality (not cheap but not high end either). I have the cameras placed, one about 20 feet away and one about 70 feet away. both signals go through walls. both come in pretty clear.

    Some things to watch. This is a 2.4GHz frequency so if you have anything that is 2.4GHz frequency, it can interfere with the signal. This goes for wireless phones and wireless networks for the PC. IF you have corded or things in the 5 GHz range, then you should be fine. Also, the video is good to distinguish what is going on and make things out, but do not expect a complete crisp picture. I can still make out the stress crack in the sidewalk about 50 feet away, but to try and read a license plate from the same distance is not possible. You could make out the type, color, and style of the car, just not the license plate. Also, most colors do show up fine, except the green. Grass comes up as a yellowish green with some grey mixed in. I have seen the same thing on other cameras, but worse.

    The way that this picks up video at night is with red LED lights around the inside lens. They do not turn on until it gets dark enough, but if you are trying to hide the camera, they can stand out. They are not real bright so they do not draw a lot of attention and can only mainly see them if you look straight on, but are still there so are not completely hidden. (This would explain the other persons review about not working inside a vehicle) I would say that you can make peoples faces out at up to about 15 (maybe 20) feet and can make movement out up to about 30 feet at night. But if there are other lights on that will light up an area, then it will be expanded.

    The camera comes with an adapter so you can use an AC plug and a 9 volt battery plug adapter so you have your choice what to use to run the camera. They come with a super heavy duty 9 volt battery. I ran that battery for about 2 hours before it died. So if a super heavy duty battery will last that long, then if you got an alkaline battery, then I am guessing that you could probably get about 6 hours out of one battery. But can not say for sure because i have mine plugged in to the AC outlet so no need to try it. It also comes with the RCA cable (but it think that is only about 3 feet long so if you need longer ones, be prepared to buy some) and a remote.

    The receiver has the ability to scan different cameras. You have have it set to just view one camera, or you can have it set to flip from camera 1 then 4 then back again about every 2 seconds. If you buy additional cameras, then you can choose which ones you want it so scan in sequence. meaning that if you have camera 1, 2, 3 and 4, then you can have it set so it will scan 1, then 4, then 2 if you want and never do camera 3. It is nice that they give you the option.

    Overall, I am happy with the purchase. It is made good and definitely does the job. For the price, especially taking into consideration that it has 2 camera, a receiver, is expandable and is wireless, this is definitely a good price.
38. Bernice says:

    September 16, 2010 at 3:27 PM

    Review by Bernice for Astak CM-812C2 2.4 GHz Security and Surveillance Camera Set
    Rating:
    They are nice, but they did not work at night while being inside the jeep. Windows made it impossible to see anything but shadows.
39. Juan Carlos Ordoñez says:

    September 16, 2010 at 3:45 PM

    Review by Juan Carlos Ordoñez for Astak CM-812C2 2.4 GHz Security and Surveillance Camera Set
    Rating:
    It is good, good quality of video, much is distorted when there is much solar light, the reach is not much like which they say, I have it to a distance of 25 mts, through two walls and have a little interference.
40. Jennifer Dalton says:

    September 16, 2010 at 4:24 PM

    Review by Jennifer Dalton for Astak CM-818W Wired Security and Surveillance Camera for Interference-Free Monitoring
    Rating:
    This is a good cam for the price. The only down fall is it only has about 60 degrees of veiw. If you plan on putting this somewhere and you want to see up close do not get it. five feet infront of my truck and all you can see is the windshield. If i point it at the house next door( about 200ft) you can see there whole house and yard.
41. T. W. Elliott says:

    September 16, 2010 at 4:44 PM

    Review by T. W. Elliott for Astak CM-818W Wired Security and Surveillance Camera for Interference-Free Monitoring
    Rating:
    This security camera does a good job for the money. I actually mounted it indoors to monitor the main living space of our home with a digital DVR programed in motion detection mode. The picture quality is okay for what I need it to do, easy to recognize people, but the colors are washed out, and I would be a lot happier if this unit had a better wide angle view. The night vision works really well with my application, probably due to the limitation of the indoor space, but the microphone is really weak, have to turn the system volume almost all the way to hear. All in all I’m happy with this product (you get what you pay for). I’m thinking about getting another one for the patio area, the unit is pretty well built, I believe it would work well outdoors. As always Amazons price and service is great, gotta like that free shipping.
42. Brandon G. Racine says:

    September 16, 2010 at 5:15 PM

    Review by Brandon G. Racine for Astak CM-818W Wired Security and Surveillance Camera for Interference-Free Monitoring
    Rating:
    WORKS FINE INSIDE AND OUT, CLOSE-UP OR TO VIEW A WALK WAY OR A YARD, SUPER. FOR WHAT IT COST I AM SUPER PLEASED ALL AROUND, NIGHT VISION FINE. SOUND AND QUALITY OK FOR ME. I THINK PEOPLE EXPECT MILITARY GRADE EQUIPMENT BUT NEED TO BE REASONABLE FOR THE AMOUNT OF COST OF THIS UNIT. PRICE FOR VALUE IS THERE AND AM BUYING THREE MORE, I AM THAT HAPPY. THANK YOU!!!
43. Jorge A. Zuniga says:

    September 16, 2010 at 5:40 PM

    Review by Jorge A. Zuniga for Astak CM-818W Wired Security and Surveillance Camera for Interference-Free Monitoring
    Rating:
    We decided to buy a surveillance camera after my mom’s car kept getting vandalized and flat tires. We didn’t have much money. and after looking here on Amazon. This camera seemed like the best choice..

    The package came with the camera, an 100 foot cable,and manual..The picture quality is very very good for a $40 camera. The picture is very clear during the day. and still pretty good during nighttime. You just need to angle the camera right. We took the spring off of our window and left the window open a crack so we can point the camera facing outside towards our car. With the spring in the way nothing was visible. which was a disappointment

    Another disappointment was that the camera isn’t very discreet. I thought,yeah it looks a little big,but we can probably hide it pretty well. We can hide it pretty well,but red little lights shine off of it(they’re on the lens). This can be kind of obvious especially at night time.

    The good this is you can connect the camera into any TV with RCA inputs. Or you can do it the way I do and plug it into a capture card and record onto your computer.The cheapest capture card your can get is $9 off of ebay. I recommend this setup for anyone low on cash & looking for a surveillance camera.

    Easy cap comes with recording software for your computer.First install the easy cap on to your computer. After, plug the camera’s output cables into the easy cap and record. We do this over night. you can set the video quality to be good or a lower resolution (to save up computer space since the files are big). We then look through the videos the next day and delete them off of our computer.

    The mic on the cam works good. But I can’t really say much else about it. Easy cap doesn’t capture the sound well. that seems to be the worst down side to it.

    Decent camera for 40 dollars.

    If I ever get a chance to. I will upload video quality of the camera so you all can get a look.

    4 out 5 stars
    
44. AJS says:

    September 16, 2010 at 6:19 PM

    Review by AJS for Astak CM-818W Wired Security and Surveillance Camera for Interference-Free Monitoring
    Rating:
    This camera is great for the price – my problem is with the length of cable from the back of the camera to where is separates into audio, video and power jacks. IF they had this cable a few inches longer before it splits (the small think black cable) it would be a lot easier to fit into the corners of doors. As is, the jacks are where the door and jamb meet, meaning the two RCA jacks, and power jack interfere with the door. A few inches longer, and there would be no problem routing the small single thin cable before it splits. I contacted the mfr before purchasing, and they said the cable is 6″. True, but mount takes about an inch of that. If you go through a wall, you need to have a hole large enough to fit the RCA jacks (1 at a time + cable) as the cable to the back of the camera is not removable. Overall, a good price for the weatherproof camera, 100 ft cable and power supply.