daveshoot

I have the 4 channel system with 2 more cameras that I have yet to install. I am really hoping they add a ptz to the line up that will work with this system. I have most of the same little issues (hotspot, poor night, motion) as the OP, but I have not had any fogging issues. I will add that one camera seems to drop out from time to time. The IR stays on, so it has power, it just seems to lose communications. If I disconnect and replug, it comes right back. Fortunately it's one I am able to reach fairly easily, but this is not a good feature. I haven't tried logging into the cameras directly but I need to try that. Overall, it's been a good system for the money, but there is room for improvement. I really don't like the software but from what I understand, others are much worse. It just seems overly tekkie and yet underfeatured in some obvious ways... digital zoom is difficult, and not available in full screen view, playback is unnecessarily difficult, and other quibbles. Still, it does what it's supposed to once you figure it out. I have had both good and mediocre experiences with Swann support, but at least they have someone to talk to. The higher level guys have been good.

Swann/Hikvision Had the 4 camera Costco IP package installed since June, still working. There are things I would change in the NVR software, and it's disappointing that the Swann software won't support all the features the camera can offer. The night pictures are a little disappointing, although the IR works pretty well within its range. Night is just noisy as heck, even without the insects. That said, it's been a very reliable system. So far the NVR keeps chugging away within its limits. There have been several power outages locally, where we switch automatically to backup generator- no problem with spikes or resumptions. Cams can lag a few seconds at times but they are doing their job.

Thanks very much! I would suggest at least a bulleted list of advanced features with one-liner descriptions, if you can't get into detail. My NVR8-7200 system doesn't list the camera IPs at all. The only device I ever see is the NVR itself. I will have to try resetting the camera IPs manually. I really wish we could access the Day/Night settings.

Reckon no one has heard of it, and "1000 TVL" is a little hard to process. There isn't much detail to go on.

Did you set the cameras to sub-stream for remote viewing? The mainstream is just too large for mobile browsers, on mine. Substream worked great remotely but the main would never load.

Of the Costco brands, right now the hot tickets are the Swann and the Lorex. They both provide equipment from the same manufacturer, in their own respective packages. At the moment the Lorex is the better deal for the amount of equipment at the price. The Swann NVR has more features, and better tech support. My guess is you are going to end up talking with tech support no matter which system you buy, and you might factor this into the decision. The Costco Concierge service was surprisingly well-informed and helpful, also, if you get the right person on the phone. Since you have the CAT5 already, you might avoid the SDI system packages, and just look at the network IP systems. I went with the Swann and while I am bitter about the Lorex offering two more cameras at a lower price now, I am really pretty happy with this system and the support provided.

Wow, a lot to digest here, but "brave skincare" kinda leaped off the page at me. This is almost certainly what my system has been lacking.

Priceless. Was that another camera he was carefully covering? If you do it really quick, the recorder will just forget about it.

Just read up on the support first. At my level, support is an issue; Swann (and Costco) have been very good in this area. I am not sure if Lorex and Q-See have the same track record. If you can DIY everything then go with the price. I was kinda sour about the price + for the Swanns, but they do answer the phone. I don't actually know beans about the first systems you linked. I compared the Q-See, Lorex, and Swann systems for quite a while, and was set to go with the Q, but the better specs on the later systems turned my head. I have had relatively good luck with Swann support.

You will always end up wanting "more than you need", or needing more than you originally wanted. Better to get a toe in the water with a decent, expandable system, and seeing just what it delivers in your particular situation. A grand is nothing for quality, flexibility, and support, when the difference is only a couple hundred. I am glad I went IP although some have made a case for the SDI systems. Either delivers 1080 or higher.

You should compare specs to the Swann and Lorex IP packages at Costco. I believe the cameras are still higher resolution than the Q-See. Without recommending anything in particular, these are among the better deals in your price range and should be on the list. I am actually pretty happy with the Swann, despite some little annoyances. Seems like no one is making that "perfect" package yet but these are pretty good.

I am no expert but here are some thoughts based on being a month in to the similar Swann... Did you figure out where you'll be placing the NVR yet? If you haven't plugged it in, do so. See what you think about that fan, and where you want it to live. This won't directly affect camera placement, but will let you assess how you're going to route cable from it to each camera. That, in turn, might suggest some areas are more do-able than others. Bugs are drawn to the IR leds and then you get the spiders. Now I am looking for external IR sources, and a way to turn off the camera LEDs while keeping them in night mode. This seems to be a common problem. You will want to be able to reach the lens to spray and/or clean off webs. 20 ft up doesn't make for very good ID on people, try to get high enough to avoid casual vandals, but still get some facial ID. Consider where the sun rises and sets, as it will cause subjects to be backlit during those times of day. This occurs indoors also, as in your garage where the sun will be streaming in the windows. You wouldn't want to point at them, when you could use them for illumination if they were at the camera's back. Your pics don't show which way is north? I installed a couple of cameras temporarily with woodworking clamps to see what would happen with the pictures throughout a day. Based on the results, I moved both of them slightly. You can use a regular masonry bit for stucco (if that's what it is), or even a beater wood drill. Since I don't have soffets, all of mine are mounted to rafters or fascias with wood screws.

What I learned is that it's pronounced "hike-vision" instead of "hick-vision", among other things. I hope they produce more demo videos; I find them very helpful.

I am curious how all that occurred. How did you log into the camera? Where is the software online? What Hik firmware did you flash?

The screen shots are of IE9 browsing to the NVR. NVR takes care of addressing the individual cameras over its own network, but you can see the cam IPs if you want, down at the Camera Management menu selection. If you are right at the NVR with the live view, it has the same settings displayed a little differently (like the NVR Client windows app). And then, you can run the Swannview NVR Client, and access (via the NVR) from there. So there are at least 3 ways to access the same feature set. Unfortunately, the more useful settings for f/stop, WDR, etc. still appear to be inaccessible with any of them. These are more important to me than the OSD settings, since the night vision is rather disappointing. I know these cams can do much better. In the Display options, you can drag the displays to where you want them for each camera. There are red highlights, move with the mouse, and the display will follow.

I have 2 pages of OSD settings. I wish Swann exposed all the video control settings that the Hikvision allows, instead!

Did you reflash the cameras and/or NVR, or just load Hik software to operate them? I would be interested in giving the latter a try. I went the IP route or I might have been interested in your SDI domes. I am pretty happy with the cameras overall, but the night vision needs work, and the Swann software limits access to camera features. The software has been the only real disappointment in general. I will be adding PIR and external IR sources, though. The circle of LEDs is too attractive to bugs (and I have sprayed) and too intense in spots, not enough in others.

Nothing says "ghetto" like security screen doors (don't have). I think most people write cameras off to paranoid or eccentric individuals... but cameras AND security doors would spell "target, in ghetto". I am still working on trimming up the install, and I envy those of you with accessible soffets. I am just drilling through the rafter blocking to get cable from the attic to outside, for the most part. There is no way to access from the inside unless you are 6" tall. On the other hand, the Swann white matches our stucco, and the overhang is gray underneath so the PVC conduit blends in (back side only). I bought some gray split-flex to go from the conduit to the cams, but that giant connector pigtail is like a pig in a python in there. I'll have to tape it somehow... and I know duct tape is gonna say "redneck target in ghetto".

It's the Lorex version that has the 6 cams on sale at $999 this month (http://www.costco.com/.product.100048576.html?cm_sp=RichRelevance-_-categorypageHorizontalTop-_-PopularProductsInCategory&cm_vc=categorypageHorizontalTop|PopularProductsInCategory). The Swann version is $1199 for 4 cameras, at present, unless I am missing a special again.

I can hook you up. If you want to PM me I will try to let you into my little system. I have 3 cams installed and hopefully a 4th today. I would probably learn more about my system and settings from you, than you are going to learn from me. The NVR is a nice little box (except for the fan as noted) but I really find the software annoying. I mostly use it via IE9. It is laggy when logging in from the web and I am working on solutions for that, but you can see whatever you want if you're patient. My home upload speed runs around 2.7 mbps, and maybe that's the best I can expect? Can't help you with the Windows phone, but the iPhone app works great... now... after considerable mucking about. Viewing the cameras as substream works out way better on the phone app. It's also confusing that they have several different apps for mobiles, even for iOS, and I finally found one that worked. In the home network, the iPad is beautiful. Yes, the alarm inputs can be configured to trip alarm outputs. You could then use a relay to fire a siren or whatever. PTZ remains an undocumented mystery, but it's all over the place in the apps and web client. I am patiently waiting. Seriously, if you want to muck about with it, I would like to get your opinion on things. PS: Hurray, I got camera 4 up. It's my best one yet. It was also a case of 60 ft cable being too short; the 100 feet would have made all the difference. I had to put an inline coupler and a 25 ft. extension. For $200 more and 2 cams less than the Lorex package, it would have been a small premium... Also, if you want to know a little more about the iPhone app... it works well enough that I have used it to set my camera angles, while balancing on the ladder, in real time. These cameras are really good in the day, and decent at night. I will have to mess with the night opportunities more but the gain is very noisy.

I did used to see ground loops with analog cameras that required more than one isolator to resolve. You could borrow one from one of the other lines to add as a test.

Yup, easy peasy. I have static IP so not an issue, but this is the painless solution for dynamic IPs. Swann has a server for setting up a DDNS (swanndvr.net) and Lorex may have one too.

I would love to know what the Lorex software is like. I am too committed to the Swann now to pull down the cameras, which are great (I ordered another 2-pack). The Swann NVR seems ok but I don't care much for the software(s). I would not like to give up the alarm inputs and it seems like an unnecessary dilemma. I can't imagine having fewer than 6 cameras anymore for a single family dwelling with detached garage (and I started out looking for two!). Down the road, I might be a candidate for the Hik flash of the NVR at the least. On a side note, yesterday I was messing with live view and the camera angles. When I came back in the house, I saw a pesky California ground squirrel that I have been stalking for some time scurrying back behind the house (cam 1) to the garage, which he has been busy undermining. I was able to sneak back out and get him with my air rifle. The whole thing was caught on video, but was erased when we reformatted the hdd. Perhaps just as well for the faint of heart, but I thought it was cool. My first cctv perp! I actually found him with the virtual zoom option, after noting movement in the distance. This told me exactly where the wary little bugger would be as I rounded the garage corner. I don't know how many more are living there but at least there is one less. I have a lot to learn about recording options, and local vs. remote storage options.

I think that's why it is the first step, rather than the solution? Canyouseeme.org immediately tells you if the port is available. If yes, troubleshoot connection to the port or map the device to the port; if no, troubleshoot connection at the port or change the port. If the web can see the port, it's different than if the port is blocked or not configured, then move down the appropriate line(s) as though it were a flow chart. Still new at this stuff, but that's been working for me.

Outta my league on most of those questions. There is a thread with extensive discussion of flashing Hik firmware over the Swann/Lorex, and some were ultimately successful. If I remember right, it did enhance resolution, but not to full true 3 mp. I am still trying to get all my little toys working and positioned, so I am a ways off from any of that. I will say that Swann and Costco concierge support have been good. Higher level Swann support comes from Australia, so they talk to you in the evenings. The Costco guys are surprisingly experienced but it's not their product. I have no experience with the Lorex support. No way I can compare this system to anything else (Empire) but hopefully some of the pros will chime in. As far as your basic question , would it work, I would say heck, yeah. Figure out where you're going to put the NVR first.