My review of the CCTV Factory DVR and camera

[JPA 0]

I finally got the system up and running. Once I got the correct +/- wires from the 2.1 connector to the multi-cam 12v converter I had a camera signal.

 

I'm disapointed with the quality of the image. Not sure how much of the quality is due to the camera or the DVR yet because I only have hook-up and playback through the network connection. The PC playback is very choppy. It looks more like time-lapse than the 30fps advertised. Also the the pixelation is really bad. So much so that I don't think this would be able to be used to identify a face as evidence.

 

The software that came with it is terrible. Anyone know if other software works with any hardware? I am a software usability specialist and I can say in my professional opinion that this UI is not very good. I kept getting several cryptic errors and the software crashed when exiting. While viewing the video feed, the lower half of the screen cuts in and out. Not sure yet if that's the camera, the DVR or the network playback. Also, when playing back the recored video, the image moves up and down like someone is bumping the bottom of the camera.

 

As far as the DVR itself, the remote has to be pointed very precisely or it won't get the command. I entered all my settings and then unplugged and moved to the closet. The some of the settings sty and some do not when it loses power. I set it for mothion recording only but as soon as I plug it in it's back to recording all the time and the annoying system beeps came back too after I turned them off.

 

They advertise a power/video cable on their site: "Unlike those cheap all in one cables made with telephone wires, we design these Plug and Play Siamese cables to work as good as the professional RG59 Siamese cable in picture quality." This cable is thiner than any phone cord in my house. I'm very disappointed with it and sure it is part of the video quality problem.

 

I think this is a very cheap system and not worth the money. Defininely not the quality advertised. I may change some of my impressions once I can view the camera on a TV monitor but the reason I got the DVR was the ability to monitor and save to a PC and clearly that quality is not good at all.

 

Don't do business with CCTVfactory unless you want a cheap and inexpensive system. Do not trust the hype in the product descriptions.

[CCTV_Guy 0]

Jonathan,

 

sorry to read of your disappointment with CCTVfactory, but why would you select equipment from Bob's Jams, Jellies and CCTV Stuff when there are so MANY well-known brand names in the marketplace?

 

If it's price, then you haven't done your homework .... for instance, check out ATVideo's Falcon DVR for $250 (and up) [http://www.atvideo.com/Sales/disconprod.asp]. These units are new and under warranty, and ATVideo has an honest-to-goodness Tech Support staff. And their stuff works.

 

I have a Falcon here at the office [we paid $1400 for ours when they were new]; we have one at a remote site which the client prefers over his $3500 Dead Micros DVIP (http://www.thermosight.com/HanfordHawk.htm), and we have a number of them elsewhere ... all earning their keep, so to speak.

 

re the camera .... cameras are dirt-cheap and can be picked up anywhere. Indeed, I'm sure my local grocery store is gonna start selling them in blister paks at the checkout counter next week. However, unless someone whose opinion you respect recommends a no-name device, I recommend stickin' with known-good brand names.

 

And, if you select the system components yourself rather than buying what the vendor wants to sell to you, then YOU get to determine overall system performance by selecting components that fit your application, rather than making the application fit the equipment you bought.

 

I'm sorry to read of your disappointment (I remember my dissatisfaction with some NetGear equipment!) and hope that by the time you see this, you'll have resolved the system problems you had.

 

Best wishes,

 

bill

[MetzLyov 0]

Jonathan, we wish that you could have stressed your requirements with this forum members before your purchase. If anything, you could have gotten several great and more cost effective options that you may not be aware of.

 

My suggestion is to contact them and stress your dissatisfaction and see what they can do. You should always give them the chance to fix the problem before taking any actions. If they do not comply and give you a run around, then take other measures..

 

Levon

[JPA 0]

I didn't find this forum until after I bought the product because the instructions were so poor that I was looking for other help. I'll have to look into the possibility of a return. I'm sure I'll get screwed on that too.

[MetzLyov 0]

Jonathan, see what they say. The best form of an approach is very polite but demanding voice. If they say that they can not help, ask to speak someone higher up... Since I am not familiar with what they sell, I can not make any comments. If they misrepresented their products, then you actually have a better recourse than you think...

 

How did you buy this equipment? Was it on the credit card, debit card or a check?

 

Levon

[rory 0]

Do you mean this DVR?

http://www.cctvfactory.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=cmctech&Product_Code=DVRT3&Category_Code=dvr

 

If so dont expect too much from a budget DVR, in fact it comes with a IR Remote which is rare. According to the specs it is real time in low resolution, in multiplexed mode (time lapse) it is higher res, which is also normal for most stand alone DVRs that claim real time with non windows OS.

 

CF backup, Motion Detection (though you said didnt work?), IR Remote (didnt work far?), specs are impressive for that price - for a budget DVR that is.

 

Anyway, contrary to the advertising on that web page, those cameras are really junk, but if thats all you can afford, thats what you get for that price.

Best camera on there value for money will end up being this. I have a couple of them myself from another OEM company, but I dont sell them to my clients.

http://www.cmctechnology.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=cmctech&Product_Code=UC8555&Category_Code=WATERPROOFBULLET

 

Anyway, I dont think they are out to rip anyone off, its just mostly DIY gear they sell, which is okay for budget installations. I always tell clients like it is though myself. Their 16 channel DVR is alot cheaper than a decent 4 channel DVR - FYI.

[alpinesecurity 0]

I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE EQUIPMENT I HAVE PURCHASED FROM THIS COMPANY. THEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE EQUIPMENT THAT HAS FAILED. I HAVE SENT EQUIPMENT BACK TO THEM FOR SERVICE, AND THE EQUIPMENT IS SENT BACK AFTER BEING REPAIRED NON OPERATIONAL. iT IS VERY HARD TO GET A RETURN PHONE CALL ABOUT PROBLEMS. MY SECURITY COMPANY WILL NO LONGER USE THIS COMPANY, AND I RECOMMEND NOT USING THIS COMPANY.

[gunthonungo2 0]

Back in Dec 2008 I bought cameras from this place based on the recommendation of a friend. And I've pretty much regretted it since day one.

 

I bought a total of 9 cameras from these guys and 6 of them turned out defective. Out of those 6, one I had to pay more money to replace and three they have refused to do anything about. The owners are pretty much crooks and are only interested in the short term grabbing of your money and aren't worried about long term relationships with customers. They don't stand behind anything they sell for very long at all, and never return phone calls.

 

I wish I'd known about this site before doing anything because I'm not a pro of any kind. I was simply trying to replace some cameras at my parent's business that were damaged by a hail storm that the insurance company wouldn't pay for. That's a rediculously high failure rate, and the crooked manager/owner is a real jerk about doing the right thing. I wasn't trying to be cheap when I went to these guys either. Nor was I expecting free replacements,,,, I originally bought from them based on what a family friend had told me. Now I have to find some good cameras to replace the ones that have burned out on me. I'm going to end up spending double what I should have. What a sick joke.

 

STAY AWAY from these jerks. You'll wish you had.......

 

 

By the way,, can anyone recommend a few good reliable brands I should look at for outdoor bullet cams with IR's that are reasonably priced?

[tomcctv 190]

Jonathan, see what they say. The best form of an approach is very polite but demanding voice. If they say that they can not help, ask to speak someone higher up... Since I am not familiar with what they sell, I can not make any comments. If they misrepresented their products, then you actually have a better recourse than you think...

 

How did you buy this equipment? Was it on the credit card, debit card or a check?

 

Levon

 

 

+1 be polite and demanding... this is how i would approach the problem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7gCd-C-Tys&feature=related