Boogieman

With that camera you need to mount it and install it correctly or your will have ir reflection or "fog" at night (the 2332 turret is a better option). Where are you recording to? Why would you only record part time? you have a camera use it! Motion detection is pixel based and only where the camera can see. Note: that camera cannot be wall mounted without a wall mount (it is only 2 axis)..you need to ceiling mount it (on a horizontal plane)

No. It would only affect your upload stream when someone is remote viewing..this would be the same for a DVR with remote viewing capability. If you connect the cameras directly to the NVR if it has poe, it wont even be on your network...even if you use a separate poe switch, the cameras will not saturate your network.

it is rebranded dahua... Costco also introduced two new lorex systems. http://www.costco.com/Lorex-8-Channel-HD-NVR-Security-System-with-2TB-HDD-and-4-1080p-Cameras.product.100153138.html http://www.costco.com/Lorex-8-Channel-HD-NVR-Security-System-with-2TB-HDD-and-6-1080p-Cameras.product.100153162.html These are also rebranded dahua...note the domes are two axis and cannot be wall mounted without a special bracket...

How many cameras are you running and at what resolutions...seems strange that its choking your pc.

Thanks. I do have alarm inputs on the DVR. Can I use a pir that would be used in an burglar alarm system? How would I wire it? Thanks, I appreciate the input. Bob Yes you can..here is a basic example http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/DVR-Alarm-Input-Setup-s/717.htm

A light going on is going to trigger it...you will have to block off way to much to avoid the trigger..the more you block and or raise the sensitivity the more you risk missing footage...You need a camera with a PIR sensor like the hikvision 2432 or attach a pir sensor to your camera if it has an alarm input.

Turn the noise reduction up to 100 percent. Make sure wdr is less than 10 at night...

Is this system really worth it? It seems to be very low priced for 6 camera HD IP system. Whats the drawback? Its a good system. You cannot build your own for less. If you need a basic 1080p system get it...its costco, you can return it anytime if you dont like it.

For a new install you dont want cvi/tvi/sdi those are just technologies that allow hd over coax cable used for older analog system. You want an IP system. The good ones are all POE-you will use a single ethernet cable to both power the camera and transmit date...1080p is worthwhile...note that generally the lower MP cameras like 1.3mp perform better in low light than 3mp cameras... There are tons of posts here on ip cameras...just start reading.

Forget about the window...with your budget look at the hikvision DS-2CD2T32-I8 (the i8 has the longest ir range) and the 16mm lens option.

Should we guess at the make and model of your system?

look for hikvision cameras with alarm inputs (you will need that if you want to use a pir sensor)...

Unless the installed specifically included a charge for 500m of cable for the install and only used 60m the cable belongs to the installer...it is no different than leaving your drill behind...the customer is a POS...What would I do? I would BUY the cable on ebay, then file a complaint saying the cable was not as described and send back a box of scraps with your business card in there...but thats just me.

The cameras are all ONVIF (I believe 2.2) certified. However, when looking for one of these I found an ACTi one online for $450. Are these devices really that expensive, or am I getting ripped off? I have tried this app on my Android phone (galaxy s4), and it lags like crazy. When viewing even 1 cam it takes around 10 seconds to update the live view compared to the NVR. I have no idea how crazy it would get with the weak CPUs inside those HDMI sticks. Try a fire tv wiith ethernet...if it doesnt work return to amazon... You can also try a cheap NVR that can pull a separate stream from the camera...otherwise just use an hdmi splitter and display all the streams in each locations.

Because the quality is crap..it might be "working" but the analog image is likely horrible...

Is google down?

Go for the IP hd..run new ethernet cable..you will thank yourself later... If you absolutely refuse to rerun cable consider something like this http://www.costco.com/Lorex-16-Channel-HD-720p-Security-System-with-2TB-HDD-and-12-HD-Cameras-and-1-12X-Zoom-HD-PTZ-Camera.product.100125952.html There are also other systems out there that do hd over analog, look for cvi sdi tvi...but you will be limiting yourself...Dahua makes a tribrid nvr that does analog/hdcvi/and ip...

What camera?

Consider that if you want to go to an ip hd system later you will have to rerun cat5/6 unless you run ethernet now and use balluns...otherwise you will be forced to use analog hd like cvi sdi tvi which are limited.

If they worked with your NVR, then they will work with a compliant device..you may have not installed sadp correctly (there are issues with windows 8, if you dont install the wincap component properly sadp will run but not detect anything... Best way to test is to change the ipv4 settings on the pc and log directly into the cam...

The OP solved the problem..read the post above yours.

Did you format the drive in the dvr?

I am quite not understanding this? for example Lorex NVR has 8 network ports, I am thinking all cameras cat5 cables directly connect to NVR? I am not correct? But in your words we can connect cameras cat5 cables to switch and switch to router. from there is to NVR (everything in the single network). Is that correct? Yes, you dont need to use the NVR's poe ports..you can use a POE switch connected to any network connection (another switch or your router)...The NVR can then also be connected to any network connection. Using the NVR's poe ports negates one of the benefits of ip cameras over analog, in that they dont have to be homerun to the NVR...

I dont care how many fans you have in it, its going to get freaking hot in the attic...With an NVR, you can easily hide it anyplace you have power and a network connection...

Why dont you test hikvisions vms and see how it goes...see how many cams you can load before it chokes..