Spark

No - screw straight to wall.

From what I have seen the NVR8-7085 is a 720p recorder. The SWNHD-820CAM is a 2.1 Megapixel camera. I didn't see anywhere that it is compatible, but it may be by turning the resolution down to 1280 x 720. The DS-2CD2032 is a 3 Megapixel camera, but can be turned down to 1280 x 720. I have previously connected a HIKvision camera to a Swann NVR. No need to change firmware, and you wouldn't have known it was any different.

Use a USB mouse and VGA or HDMI. (VGA may be best for first setup depending on what modes your HDMI monitor supports).

Sounds like you had split pairs. Another thing to watch is the Cat 5 & 5e standard run length of 100m is approximately 90m of solid core with 10m of stranded for patching at each end. A 100m run of stranded cable will most likely fail.

I am in the process of installing an NVR8-7200 with four of the SWNHD-821CAM Domes. The picture quality during the day is fantastic. My issue is the performance of the Night Mode and the IR / Infrared illumination. I seem to be getting allot of bleed or internal reflections washing out the picture. My cameras do have the foam ring that is supposed to isolate the lens from the LEDs. I have tried adjusting this, along with replacing cameras but no real change (in actual fact, I think the first camera I had in this position was slightly better). As I am new to this game, is this just what these domes (with plastic dome enclosing both the lens and illumination) do and this is the best that I can expect? I don't think the street light opposite is causing the problem, as I have another camera installed that has a similar washed out image. What can be done to improve the night image with infrared illumination - I have been through all the settings via the camera's web interface. Night Image in Night Mode: Night Image in Day Node:

What is different about the Hikvision DS-2CD2732f-I? It looks like it would (potentially) have the same issue? The DS-2CD3332-I does look interesting, especially with the 3 axis. Is the DS-2CD2332-I the same? Is it a Chinese version vs. a US version? Anyway, I have submitted a support request with Swann to see what can be done - especially as I bought them for there 30 - 35m IR performance.