JJM

I'd heard Dahua is often rebranded and sold by other vendors. Good to know the unit in question is in fact Dahua. I believe I now have all the info I need to move forward so I'll propose the Lorex LHD84W for our building. Assuming it's approved and installed, I'll post a follow-up with details of our installation. Thanks again, Tom, for the feedback. - JJM

Yes, a system that allows us to re-use our existing wiring would make the installation substantially easier. Thanks for the recommendation. In the course of my research on DVR's and cameras, I've read many postings (including some on this forum) that indicate Lorex is generally a consumer-class brand, and, as such, it may be lacking in quality/reliability. Quite a few opinions suggest a professional-class system such as Dahua may be a better choice. What's your general take on that debate? - JJM

tomcctv: Thanks for the feedback and recommendation. The unit you've suggested (Lorex HDIP44D) sounds like a good bargain. My primary concern about it is implementation time. While I have the technical knowledge to set it up, the new cameras would require me to run several hundred feet of suspended cable and also install new camera mounts in elevated locations. Entirely doable, just very time-consuming. With that in mind, I wonder if it's worth getting this system vs. just buying a replacement DVR that's compatible with my two existing cameras. Would the Lorex LH03045GW DVR be worthwhile? You also mentioned my Toshiba cameras were 14 years old. (Not surprising since they were probably installed when this building was completed in 2002.) Since the cameras have no moving parts, I imagine they would last quite a while longer, as most technology does when not exposed to the elements. Do feel these Toshiba cameras are likely to fail soon for some reason? I'm open to other ideas as well. - JJM

I have a 12-unit condo building with 2 decent surveillance cameras (Toshiba IK-6400A) and an old non-functioning DVR. Can anyone recommend a replacement DVR that meets these 4 criteria?: 1) RELIABLE: e.g. non-buggy software, WD purple hard drive 2) INEXPENSIVE: less than $400 3) REMOTE ACCESS/VIEWING: for PC, Mac, IOS, Android 4) GOOD TECH SUPPORT: knowledgeable & readily available by phone or email To date, I’ve done extensive research, and the multitude of DVR options is dizzying. I was considering purchasing one of these 3 models: A) Dahua DHI-HCVR51A04HE-S3 B) Hikvision DS-7204HGHI-SH-1TB C) Lorex/Flir LH03045GW I have 20+ years of experience in IT support so I think I’d be comfortable configuring the system myself. But I wouldn’t have time to administer an especially complex system or babysit a buggy one. Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! JJM