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Yes, this is true; it should be pretty clear to anyone who has read the thread, plus I pointed it out in the original post. There is no support for the software pre-installed in these, and I've disabled it. The auction also clearly states that GVI is out of business. NOTE: Anyone who wants a turnkey NVR should absolutely read all this carefully and avoid this box. It's an ultra-compact Core i3, 2GB, 2TB, Intel MB PC with Windows Embedded 7 that's been selling for around $270, which is less than I can build an equivalent box for, even without an OS. It's run every Windows program I've tried so far (not many, to be sure), including Blue Iris 3 and various IP cam vendor support software. It'll also run normal Windows 7 or XP or Linux or whatever, supplied by the user as if they had built an identical PC from parts. I know many of the pros here prefer top-shelf gear, and I definitely understand that, but there are also lots of tech-minded folks who are looking for bargains or wanting to get their feet wet with IP cams without spending a mortgage payment and don't mind trying out different solutions. I've gotten a ton of good info here over the last 5-6 years, and just wanted to give back a little to the other hobbyist types. Personally, I've been running an older P4-3GHz box as my NVR test bed, and was looking for something to replace it with, as it bogs down completely by the time you get 6-8 MP of IP cam feeds on it (a common complaint on this forum). This has filled the need for me for several hundred dollars less than I expected to spend, and I'm just passing on the info for others who may be interested. YMMV, as always - clearly this isn't your cup of tea. I appreciate the license info, though; that's good to know, as the GVI software is somewhat functional, but that's enough info to keep me from spending any serious time with it. You must have some good contacts, as GVI's website is completely dead except a shell on the Wayback Machine, and there's essentially no documentation supplied with the units.

I'm looking for a simple, uncluttered app that I can run on various Windows desktops to view 2-4 IP cams of various makes over the local intranet. I don't need a recording or anything except switching between small and large windows. Blue Iris does this well, but would be a bit expensive to put on multiple PCs, and I really don't need the full functionality except on the NVR pc, and the BI web viewer shows all the BI cams, while I only want a few of them for this use. I've been using multiple web browser windows, which are a pain to manage. Is there anything inexpensive or free that's simple, low resource, and user friendly? Something like IP Cam Viewer for the iPhone/Android would be perfect!

This is the approach I think I'll take. I'm alternating between several individual web pages (one for each cam) and the demo version of BI3, but both get a little cluttered, even on a multi-monitor system. I'm playing with the code example mike_va posted, but don't have much time except on the weekends. That simple view is perfect for casual monitoring in my setup.

There are a couple up now, one auction, one BIN/BO (resale of a buy from the main seller). Looks like they're trickling them out to keep the price pressure on, after having a half-dozen listed at a time earlier. Search on autonvr.

I didn't know about the license expiration, so that's another good reason not to bother with the software. I've made images of the original setups, but I'm not running these in autoIP mode. It's got a limited set of cameras that it specifically supports - GVI (of course), Arecont, Sony, Axis, a few others. Most of mine show up as ONVIF cams, but at least one has trouble due to the buggy software. It can probably be hacked, but I doubt it's worth the time and effort. GVI was pinning a lot of their post-Samsung hopes on this line, after buying the autoIP software and hiring the developer. Their new business model was based on intellectual property and licensing revenue (as you can see from their pricing), but it looks like they didn't make it past the initial rollout of the hardware. Best laid plans, etc. Anyway, the point was that this was marketed as a high-end DVR, and it doesn't appear they skimped on hardware quality. Really, the value is as a standalone, simple PC, and the price reflects that. Sure, you could put it in a bigger case to support an add-in card, DVD, whatever, but the PS is only 200W, so that would need an upgrade for many video cards. By the time you upgrade much more than the RAM, you might as well build a system and get more modern CPU support. As a simple NVR with 5 IP cams and headroom for 3-4 more, it's hard to beat. I'm putting 8GB of RAM in one to install Windows Home Server 2011, and it'll be fine for that too. The video's built into the CPU core, and performance is fine for the stuff I've been doing. Looks like the vendor's dropped his listings for now, so it's a bit of a moot point unless he starts selling more. It'll go to 1920x1200 on the HDMI port. The full specs on the motherboard are here: http://downloadmirror.intel.com/18702/eng/DH57JG_TechProdSpec.pdf This MB is popular with the HTPC crowd, due to the lower power and small form factor (they use the onboard video). Here's a review of this MB and the next lower CPU in an HTPC context: http://www.missingremote.com/review/intel-dh57jg-and-core-i3-530

There's always a risk buying on ebay, of course, but some deals to be had as well if you use judgement. I'm a pretty serious PC geek, and this looks legit to me. I'd normally avoid an orphan NVR, and that's probably keeping a lot of people away. These are new in box, unopened, but no warranty, and the seller has a DOA guarantee. I bought one to check it out. Once I saw it's just a simple PC, nothing custom except the case and apps, I bought some more. You can't buy the individual parts for this, and I need a few simple PCs to update some old P4s, as well as some big HDs. The motherboard's a very good standard model Intel board, not fancy, but good performance and very reliable, if a little outdated (only Clarkdale dual core support, no Sandy Bridge). The HD is not a common model, but it's a WD 2TB AV hard drive (WD20EVDS), so it's not much different than the chances you'll take with any similar HD. List price on these was $6k, and the few places that still list them have them in the $3k range. Yes, I know, nothing sells for list price, but it was being pushed as a quality piece of gear, and the build quality feels very good to me. The autoIP software includes 16 cam licenses, and the software's not bad, but buggy and never likely to be fixed. It likes most of my ONVIF cams pretty well. So far, I can't tell the difference between Windows 7 and Windows Embedded 7, though I'm sure it's there somewhere - it's not all stripped down like Windows Embedded XP usually is. The vendor had a bunch up at once at first, which probably kept the price down. It's been creeping up as people find out about them, and he's started putting a few at a time on. I've seen several people buy 4-6 of them, probably for the same reason I am. Dunno how many he has left, but for the bargain hunters out there, it's worth checking out. More cautious people should probably avoid them and just pay a few hundred more. By request, here are a few pics. After setting mine up on the bench, I installed ultraVNC on it and am running it headless - just a power cord and network cable. It had run Blue Iris 3 for 3-4 days with no problems when I shut it down to put it with the other gear. The cams are all running from an 8 port GB POE switch, and are also being recorded by an NV5000 box. The front - nothing but power and HD LEDs - no switch, no ports, no nothing. The rear - standard DH57JG rear panel and power. Inside - a tight layout, but so far, everything's run both cool and quiet. Summer will tell how effective the cooling is with high ambient temps.

mike_va, thanks for the link. Your example in that thread is just what I'm trying to do, and this will be a big help. I'm already working on some sample code from cam-it, but this is closer to what I'm after, so less learning curve and tweaking in the limited time I have for it. A turnkey app would be ideal, so I don't have to tweak the code as my setup changes. Something like BI3, but just a simple viewer, without all the bells and whistles of the full recorder version, would be perfect. I'd pay a nominal sum to BI for that (BI3 is already a great value for the full setup), and I bet there are others who would. In this day of selling more simple apps for less money, it seems like a workable business model (IP Cam Viewer for mobile phones is a good example).

Yeah, the client limit's a no-go for Milestone Go for this app, and I'm looking at 5 current, probably 8 total channels, so the cost creeps on up for the licensed version. I'll give it a try when I get the time, though. I've played around a little with some BI related javascript, but I'm an engineer, not a programmer. I can hack existing code pretty well, but not so good on building from scratch, so a sample version would be just the ticket. I couldn't find the viewer code after a quick search, so any pointers or links would be appreciated.

I use True Image for restoring images to different hardware. For XP, I use 9.1, with the optional Universal Restore package, and it's saved me more hours than I can say over the last 3-4 years. Between installation, reloading SPs and updates, re-installing apps, etc, it used to take me days to get an XP install back up to speed after a crash (I hate repair installs too). Now, it's done in an hour or so, depending on the image size, and is right where the last backup left off. For Win7, it takes the latest version, TI Home 2012, with the Plus Pack for restoring to different hardware. I'm not as happy with the new versions, and also have only done a few restores and all to the same hardware. I don't know how it compares to the built-in Win7 backup. Both of these cost, but if you use them enough, it's worth it. I'm sure there are some excellent free versions out there, but I don't know of any that handle restores to different hardware.

I'm no expert, but I have a couple of Vivotek IP8332s and a Messoa NCR875, and I'd take a Vivotek over the Messoa any day. The Vivotek firmware and functionality has been much better than the Messoa. They work with the various packages I've tried, both as native cams and ONVIF, while the Messoa has required a lot of fiddling and tweaking, but still doesn't work as well. The Messoa h.264 video in Blue Iris is a mess, though it looks good from VLC. I haven't had the Messoa very long, but it's been much more frustrating so far. Also, the Pro may have some improvements over the non-Pro.

My FD8134 is harder to get right than my IP8332 due to the differences between bullet and dome design. For the IP8332, it's not so hard to get a seal against the flat glass if the seal material is in good shape. Neither of my IP8332s have halo problems, but the weather is moderate here. My FD8134 has a lot more trouble getting the dome against the IR seal, depending on which way the camera is pointing, due to the curve of the dome. Even a half-mm off of the seal causes major reflections, and I've been running it without the dome temporarily.

Here's another thread on the GVI cams on ebay: viewtopic.php?f=53&t=28349 If everyone starts bidding on them, they'll be heading up in price!

These cameras are being blown out on ebay from a liquidator that bought a bunch when GVI went out of business. Unsupported analog cameras are a lot lower risk than unsupported IP cams or recorders, IMO. There's no warranty, but at the prices they're going for, you just buy a few spares. I'm tempted to pick one up, but I'm moving to all IP.

QSee has lots of info on doing this. Go here: http://www.q-see.com/products/security-product.php?ProductId=289 Click on the Installation Guide tab and check out the Quick Internet and Smart Phone Setup Guide and Simple Port Forwarding Instructions. Essentially, you need to do the following, and the guides above will give the details: - Figure out your DVR IP address and port. - Figure out your home network external IP address (not the same set of addresses your DVR is part of) - Forward the DVR port to a port on your router. - Plug the external IP address and port into your remote access system. Some providers will let you put your external IP and port into a browser on your home system and see it there, just as if you were outside your home network.

I've got a couple of 924s from back in the day, and they're good, especially in low light. Best bet for lenses is to watch ebay for inexpensive 1/2" varifocal lenses with 1.2 fstop, as you can get some excellent deals if you're not in a hurry. Search for good name brands, like computar, cosmicar, pentax, fujinon, and avoid the modern cheap Chinese gear.

There are some GVI PTZ cams with nice specs being blown out on ebay now, due to GVI having gone out of business. As a result, there's no support beyond DOA guarantee, so if you're willing to take a chance, it may work out. Otherwise, there's not much available in that price range.

Some hard drives don't spin up fast enough for the controller, causing them to be unrecognized when the power is cycled, but they work OK after a reset with the power still on. This used to be an occasional problem on PCs back in the day. If this is what you're seeing, a different HD may take care of the problem. It would be easy enough to test.

I fixed this problem on another capture card by lowering the frame rate on the IP cams, and by not leaving multi-cam view up all the time. Switching from a 4 IP cam window to a single window drops me from 90% down to about 40%, so I leave it like that when I'm not actively watching (which is most of the time). The real solution is a better CPU, as everyone says, and is what I'm heading for.

can i ask which remote port you are using. plus which app. (can you record to your iphone ?) I'm using port 5550, forwarded to another port on my router. I think that's the standard port for their software; I'm keeping it simple for starters. I've got both the AverViewer and DSS iViewer installed; they are very similar to each other, and neither one records. I think AverViewer is newer, but it's hard to tell. Both crash pretty regularly - I'll touch a window to open full-screen and the whole app closes down. I've had much better luck with IP Cam Viewer, but it won't talk to the NV5000. I haven't seen any other apps that do talk to it, but I also haven't looked that hard.

You also didn't mention frame rate requirements. The Avermedia NV5000 is about $300, and the NV3000 is under $150. NV3000 frame rate is pretty low for 4 D1 channels (3 FPS max?), while the NV5000 is much better performance. IMO, it's the best bet for an inexpensive capture card, unless you want to go with no-name Chinese gear, and their software often dissappoints. I'm pretty sure Aver's recent software runs on Win7. My NV5000 is on XP, but the remote console runs fine on Win7 64.

I'm using the Aver software on an NV5000 card right now, and it's been pretty good. It's stable on the 2 boxes I've tried it on, has lots of options and flexibility, and is updated regularly. They use the same software for all their PC cards, as far as I can tell, so the supported base is quite good. I haven't upgrade to their recent SP4, so all this is for the SP3 version. There's probably a lot I haven't figured out about the software yet. Pros: Solid and stable Lots of options and flexibility Lots of IP cams supported No per-cam IP licensing fee Good documentation overall Exports .mpg video that's easy to open in generic PCs Remote console PC software is good, allows you to view recordings but not do major setup changes. Cons: Wants to run full screen or minimized, doesn't have a "Restore Down" button to run in a mid-size window Always wants a password to exit/minimize, go into setup, etc. Maybe good for a system run by flunkies, but a pain for a home system where there's only one user Remote viewer for iPhone is unstable and crashes fairly often, and is not a great interface compared to IP Cam Viewer. Options can be confusing and are not always well documented Runs other software in the background (POS and such); probably can disable this, but I haven't figured it out yet Uses a lot of CPU cycles on software compression cards, especially when viewing multiple h.264 cams at once (not a problem if the PC is modern and powerful) Video export can be slow, depending on CPU power My Arecont 3MP and 5MP cams are getting slow frame rates, but I'm not sure if that's due to the NV5000 or the antiquated Arecont firmware So far, I'm pretty happy with it as DVR software for a hybrid card. I'm looking at pure NVR software as well, and Blue Iris has been my favorite.

There was a recent thread discussing a similar system setup - the OP may be able to offer some suggestions on what they came up with: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28593

You didn't say if it's a DVR or a PC. My experience on dedicated DVRs over a number of years is that HD temperature is more important than most other features (except basic compatability), especially if you have multiple drives in the box and they're mounted close together. Some DVRs don't have fans these days, which makes the problems worse. This is true in PCs as well, but they often have more flexibility in drive placement and airflow, and better cooling management (like variable fan speeds). I have a few rules of thumb for buying commodity drives for any application: - Check the reviews for the model you're interested in at Amazon and Egghead. Look for a large number of 4-5 star ratings, and minimal reports of early drive failures in the most recent month or two of reviews. - Avoid bleeding edge drives unless absolutely necessary. When 3TB drives are the latest and greatest, I try to buy 1.5 or 2 TB drives. It often costs a little more per GB, but the older designs are usually better debugged and have better manufacturing stability. - Look for low power consumption, as well as reviews that mention how cool the drive runs. User reviews are not always accurate and users sometimes don't know what they're talking about, but by the time you get a few hundred of them, you can get a pretty good consensus on a drive model.

i will have to send you my manual .... aver has not put half the things it can do. Sounds good; that would be a huge help. I'll send you a PM with my email! you dont need another card to change to 8. just a $40 expantion card. this then gives you 4 ip and 4 analog the nv is getting some good updates. if you are using the aver ddns then they will update but if not keep looking at the new firmware I've got the expansion card, but haven't actually connected it, just put a jumper on the NV5000 header to activate the extra 4 analog channels and see how it acts. Right now, I've got it showing 3 IP cams (2 1MP Vivotech IP8332s and one Arecont 5MP AV5100), and one analog cam paralleled from my old DVR. It's dropped my max frame rate on the analog cam to 3 FPS, which is a little odd - I thought I'd stay with 120 fps across 8 cams, but I'm not sure how it deals with the IP cam frame rates. They're all set at 5 fps to keep the CPU cycles down. I was thinking about getting a second NV5000 card to go to 8 IP cams, but now I'm thinking it might make more sense to go all IP and switch to some NVR software. If I can find another cheap NV5000 used, I may give it a try, just for grins. The main drawback I've found to the NV5000 software on a dedicated system is that it only wants to run full screen, and minimizing it is a pain with the admin login. I'd like to be able to see my CPU and network graphs alongside the Aver software. As long as something else is running, I can alt-tab, but that obscures some of the controls. Blue Iris (on another PC) is pretty flexible that way, but doesn't seem to handle high MP IP cams well.

I don't have an EH, but have recently built up an NV5000 after many years of mid-range standalone DVRs. I already had an old P4 3.0 PC to dedicate, so there were no extra costs beyond the NV5000. I'm also switching over to IP cams, so that was a bonus with the NV5000. So, the NV5000 software is pretty good stuff - very flexible, stable, and doesn't load up the PC too much if I keep the IP framerate down. I've had it running for weeks without reboots, but I'm still fiddling with it, so I haven't had it running longer yet. I don't think I've scratched the surface on the software yet. The remote access software on other PCs is pretty good, too. My network is mostly GB, and remote viewing of recordings is fast and easy. I'm also running the remote viewer for my Samsung DVR on the same box. It's also possible to add another card for more IP channels, but I doubt my 8 year old CPU would handle it. So far, I've been happy with it, though I've had a few glitches here and there, like IP cam drop-outs that went away when I replaced a switch (other PCs didn't see the dropouts, only the NV5000 PC). Like anything PC based, there's a lot of complexity, and lots more to go wrong. My standalone DVRs over the years (Aver EB1304 hybrid, Samsung SVR-440, Sony X200) have been mostly bulletproof, but you lose the flexibility of PCs, and once the vendor stops supporting them, there are no more software updates. These DVRs ran for years nonstop - literally - with no problems except the occasional HD failing. At the same time, you're stuck with the (sometimes limited) setting built into the DVR firmware. Doesn't handle daylight savings time well (like my Samsung)? Sorry, out of luck. So, for ultimate hands-off reliability, it's hard to go wrong with a standalone, based on my experience. You lose flexibility, upgradeability, and that whole world of PC stuff, like VNC remote control, NAS access, whatever (yeah, I know, more standalones have these now). Want a ton of flexibility and a whole array of software versions you can try until your hair is strewn around your workbench? PCs are the way to go, and the NV5000 is a mature platform. I'm sticking with the NV5000 until I can go to all IP.