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got my hdcvi system from Costco. It has Dahua name on the board chips. Running cat6 with baluns. Picture much better then the old analog system. The DVR has 4 audio in. 16 alarm sensor in, 3 alarm out. Another audio out, hdmi, ptz connections.. I nice upgrade over my old q-see system. I did not even test the included cables, just run cat6 with baluns. I might buy one rg59 cooper cable just to see if there is any difference. If I understand right, there might be cameras with included mic that would run over the same cable. These cameras have no mics. I had some mics that I tested with the four audio in and they work. I tried using the same mics in parallel with another set of balun and power n the same cable with camera and the sound doesn't work. It's nice that I can hear the audio from the mics through the hdmi cable on my tv. It's bad that you can only use up to 4 mics. I wish the cameras had included mics...

I just ordered the 16 channel version from costco. I have a q-see D1 now. Some cameras use cat6 (under 100ft) with baluns and some use the basic q-see cables (60ft). Would these cameras work over cat6 with baluns better then their cables? I would not want to run new RG59 cables. Planning to return the D1 system to costco as the DVR died 4 times. 2 times in the warranty, one time right after the warranty expired (they fixed it at no charge) and now the fourth time. Tired of it. Hopefully they will take it back. I hope the new one has the same cables so I can return those new cables with the old system and leave the old cables in place.

I don't remember which fan. The DVR died two times in the past. They fixed it the first time and sent a new one the second time. After the second time, I use it without the case and the fan disconnected. (It gets good airflow in the place it is).

OK, after sending the DVR the them the second time, it took about 2 weeks including both shipping times to get a new one. This time they did not repair it, they sent a new one which works so far. Another camera died. Actually the one I got as a replacement for the previous one that died. So both cameras died on the same location. This time I connected to a different cable (same location). That is the only Qsee camera that stays in full sun for the most part of the day, so I think this has something to do with it going bad.

I realized a week ago that my dvr is dead again. Contacted the customer support. If it dies one more time after this, I might take everything back to costco and get something reliable.. or see if q-see wants to solve this by offering me something that actually keeps working..

See this post for some screenshots: http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=28670

At least I bought them from costco and I can return them at any time, even after 2 years. These are not included in their 90 days special return policy for TVs and cameras/computers. It's on their general return policy... I think..

Can someone help me understand how to use the audio out of my Q-see DVR? I'm planning to install 3 MIC's in the audio in ports. The DVR is connected to a TV with VGA. Can I get live audio from a MIC on the TV speakers? I can't select the audio source on the TV to be the AV-in, since the video source is the VGA. Or it's just recorded audio that I can get from that audio out output? Also, can you recommend an IR light that I can use separately to illuminate the back yard at night? Thanks!

CNB at night.

Night screen shots.

OK. I had a Q-see 526 model for 7 months from costco. (still have it) you can view the full story with it here: http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=28670 basically the mother board died in 6 months and 2 cameras died. But: They replaced it very quickly. When the first camera malfunctioned they sent me a return label pretty quick and then sent me a replacement camera. When the motherboard of the DVR died it took 2 and a half weeks from RMA request to getting the DVR back at my door. I just installed it and it works, but now I see that second camera is dead. So I will request a new RMA tonight. So I can't complain about their customer support. I think that if you buy it from Costco then they take care of it very quick. (They even have a link on their website support page that say: Click here if you bought the item from Costco, so probably they take care of costco customers faster because costco has a good return policy). That being said, one of my friends house was robbed in March. I bought the QT426 with 8 cameras for him from costco for $500 (after $300 off). Installed fine. No problems in almost 2 months so far. Works over the internet. And it WORKS on IE9 on Win7 x64. I can manage his DVR from my home in IE9, Chrome, Firefox and iphone with no problems. His cameras are the same as mines 600 TVL and the quality of image is almost like CNB monalisa 24vf. Actually I can't see a difference in day time. (not the same build quality as CNB and two died in 6 months). His 426 DVR is smaller in size, but has 16 channels as mine (526). In 526 you can put 3 HDDs (I know they say 2, but there is room for 3 HDDs and there are 3 sata ports). The biggest difference between his and mine is 526 can record full D1 on all 16 ports. I can't remember his fps number, but it can't record D1 on all channels. If you use less then 16 channels, then you can have a few channels on D1. Q-See Conclusion: Reliable? ...so far not really. Customer support: I will give it 9 points from 10 so far (quick enough and free shipping labels). Image quality/options/functions: good enough, I have nothing to compare too, just one CNB24VF. Works in all my browser from home network and from remote locations on internet using Windows 7 x64. Works on iphone and ipad app. You have to buy 2 apps if you want iphone and ipad. There is a free app, but it;s limited in functionality. Iphone app is $2. Ipad: I think it was $10 or $20 (I didn't buy it using same iphone app on ipad). 18 months warranty if bought from costco. Buy it from costco! At least you can return it if it stops working any time.

DVR was sent for repairs at no cost (in warranty). They take it seriously if you bought it from costco (because costco has a very good return policy). They sent me a label to ship it. From shipping day to getting it back: 2weeks. Mother board was replaced. Now i noticed both heatsinks are hot (probably that's how it should be). I would cut the top part of the case and install a larger computer case fan, but I don't want to do it while I'm still in the warranty period. Got it back with HDD formatted and I had to set everything again from start. Now I noticed one camera is dead, will RMA it. This is the second camera that goes bad from 8 in half a year. This camera was the most exposed to the elements. In full hot GA sun all day. Not covered. Not under an eve or something. Full sun, full rain.

I removed the HDD (that's what the customer service representative recommended too), no changes. I actually put the original fan back shortly after cutting the grill out because I realized that most of the noise was coming from the grill, not the fan Cutting the fan grill should not affect the warranty since this modification can't damage the DVR. I can always take it back to costco if they refuse to fix it. Now they sent me a firmware update that I should put on a USB, connect it to DVR, then turn the power on. This should flash the firmware automatically. .. tried, no changes. Tried twice, once with the HDD connected and once without HDD. Noticed one of the heatsinks on the motherboard is very hot.

My Q-See died... Nothing will appear on the connected monitor, same for the LAN and online. It receives power because the fan is spinning. The HDD is spinning too. Just contacted Q-See. Will see how long will take to hear from them.

Same image quality. I don't check them as often now. just when I expect a UPS delivery.. I don't have any night pics so far.