Lorex 8-channel NVR with 6 1080p cams @Costco for $999.99

[rayt 0]

whats the secret to getting a dome for $170? coupon code buellwinkle?

 

I think the secret code word is "please", LOL. Just ask them, sales@wrightwoodsurveilance.com.

 

sales@wrightwoodsurveillance.com is the right address, you left out a L in your email!

[Alan2000 0]

I found the spec sheet to the Hikvision NVR here:

http://www.hikvision.com/UploadFile/image/2013052207022774584.pdf

 

Based on that I would need to limit my total recording bandwidth to 40Mbps. I think I'm starting to understand this now...

I'm guessing the "Video Quality" setting is the amount of compression. As you change the Video Quality and FPS the DVR will give you a "Max. Bit Range Recommended" which if you exceed it, there is no benefit, and if you exceed 40Mbps total among all the cameras, the cameras start shutting down. It appears that at the highest possible video quality, the most you can set your FPS at is 12. (Assuming all cameras are set to the same.)

 

So now the decision needs to be made whether it is best to have 12FPS at the highest possible video quality, or 30FPS at "medium" quality. When I get time I will record some clips at 12FPS max quality and some at 30FPS medium quality and see if the tradeoff in the slower frame rate is worth it. I'm guessing this may also be dependent on the quality of the cameras being used. If you have a crappy camera you may not get any extra benefit from the higher quality setting.

 

I was hoping I could get 30 FPS at max quality but I guess that is why this set cost $999 and not $3,000. Not complaining, as for the price this seems like a very nice system.

[JoeyJoey 0]

Based on that I would need to limit my total recording bandwidth to 40Mbps.

 

If you go into the local UI, you can see the network utilisation when you have all cameras connected.

You can see that in the iVMS application too.

 

It will tell you how much you're using and how much you have to spare.

 

Set your camera to Constant not variable. I use 3000 at full resolution.

If you have 40Mbps available and you have 8 cameras. 40 Mbps / 8 = 5Mbps per camera.

Give a small buffer, set them to 4.5Mbps each, see how that goes.

 

Use whatever fps rate you want to.

[MaxIcon 0]

I always prefer image quality over frame rate. Having smooth, high FPS video of pixellated, blurry images doesn't do you any good, while 10 fps of high quality images is useful.

 

When you do tests, be sure to include fast motion where a lot of the image changes, as that's where the problems show up. You can have a beautiful static image, but things get all pixellated when lots of motion starts if the compression's too high or the bandwidth's too low.

[mav 0]

I got my cameras yesterday and just set up one dome to test. I noticed it had the round ethernet plug. Does that mean I have the new model? I didnt see a manufacture date except for on the NVR which said it was 7/2013

 

Mine have the round Ethernet plug and were considered the old style (back on page 3 or 4 of this thread)...

 

Not sure if we're 100% understanding old vs new tho because I thought I read another thread suggesting I was looking at the wrong aspect of the camera.

[uh2 0]

I always prefer image quality over frame rate. Having smooth, high FPS video of pixellated, blurry images doesn't do you any good, while 10 fps of high quality images is useful.

 

When you do tests, be sure to include fast motion where a lot of the image changes, as that's where the problems show up. You can have a beautiful static image, but things get all pixellated when lots of motion starts if the compression's too high or the bandwidth's too low.

 

 

QFT

 

When I need to take a picture of someone's face or license plate to the police, I need that one crystal clear image. A bunch of smooth blurry images does my absolutely no good.

[Alan2000 0]

I always prefer image quality over frame rate. Having smooth, high FPS video of pixellated, blurry images doesn't do you any good, while 10 fps of high quality images is useful.

 

When you do tests, be sure to include fast motion where a lot of the image changes, as that's where the problems show up. You can have a beautiful static image, but things get all pixellated when lots of motion starts if the compression's too high or the bandwidth's too low.

 

 

QFT

 

When I need to take a picture of someone's face or license plate to the police, I need that one crystal clear image. A bunch of smooth blurry images does my absolutely no good.

 

That is a good point. Smooth 30FPS motion is "cool" to watch but has practically zero value for the purpose must of us are recording the video, which is to identify the thief.

 

I decided that I would leave my video quality settings at "Highest" which I believe has the least amount of compressions. From there as I change the FPS settings the NVR gives a range for the bit rate. I then use the maximum bitrate for the specific FPS setting. (Keeping in mind the 40Mbps max for the NVR.) At that point it's a matter of how low of frame rate do I want to go and then set the maximum bitrate supported by the NVR for the given bitrate.

 

I found this article helpful is choosing a FPS setting:

 

http://www.mistralsolutions.com/hs-downloads/tech-briefs/dec11-article2.html

 

I still plan to play with this NVR using constant bitrate, and with using a lower than optimal bitrate for the constant recording so I can then use a higher FPS and high bitrate for the motion activated recording. However, the problem I anticipate with motion activated high quality recording is what happens for example when it rains and motion is detected on all cameras? In that situation cameras will start shutting down as the bandwidth capacity could be exceeded if too many cameras detect motion around the same time. So in the end I may just settle for the best constant quality and not worry about using the option to boost quality with motion detection. It can get rather complex truly maximizing the system to the best potential! I'm learning a lot playing with this system.

[JoeyJoey 0]

I just got a Vivotek IP7330 working with this NVR, really surprised how simple it was to install, select Vivotek and just made sure that the http port was correct.

Not bad for using an old camera.

[BoomerangThree 0]

Hey everyone.

 

Wanted to see if I can get some technical info from anyone about the Lorex 8-channel NVR, model LNR200?

 

I bought the Costco package and I know when I bought it that the odds of getting in linked up to my Tuxedo Touch alarm keypad that supports video would be minimal, but wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts.

 

So the Tuxedo Touch has settings for RTSP port, path, ect. and I'm trying to track down what these might be for the LNR200.

 

Any ideas on how / if I can get my Lorex 1080p cameras hooked up to the Tuxedo Touch?

[Chow 0]

I am guessing this is the old style dome?

[Alan2000 0]

I am guessing this is the old style dome?

 

Mine were not that bad but also did cover some of the LEDS. What I did with mine was just flip the foam upside down and press and tuck the foam down between the lens and LEDs. Looked fine after than.

[rayt 0]

I am guessing this is the old style dome?

 

Mine were not that bad but also did cover some of the LEDS. What I did with mine was just flip the foam upside down and press and tuck the foam down between the lens and LEDs. Looked fine after than.

 

thats exactly what i did as well!

they have been working well for a few weeks now that way.

[cliff369 0]

Hi there..

i'm wondering if anyone could tell me how the recorded video looks like compared to the live video on this lorex 2MP camera system or

if you could export and .avi clip of a daytime or nighttime type shot that i could download and look at before I purchase this system.

 

Can you tell any difference between live and recorded or is the video compressed down.

 

thanks

[Alan2000 0]

Hi there..

i'm wondering if anyone could tell me how the recorded video looks like compared to the live video on this lorex 2MP camera system or

if you could export and .avi clip of a daytime or nighttime type shot that i could download and look at before I purchase this system.

 

Can you tell any difference between live and recorded or is the video compressed down.

 

thanks

 

There are 6 levels of recording quality you can select for each channel ranging from "Lowest" to "Highest" which I believe is the level of compression. You can also set the bit rate which will also impact image quality you record. No time yet to compare the various settings. Here are some video clips. What I just found out is that the clips look very nice compared to watching the recordings on the monitor connected to the NVR. I am not using a HDMI cable so maybe that is the reason, or the resolution on my Mac laptop is a lot better that the monitor I have connected to the NVR. To me the live view quality on the NVR is better than the recorded playback video on the NVR, but the downloaded videos seem as good as watching the live video with the NVR if this all makes sense. Maybe the built in player also is not as good as playing the files on a laptop, not sure.

 

Here are links to some video files I just pulled off the NVR for the first time. Also my first time using Dump Truck file sharing so hope it works. I have not posted to YouTube as the high level of compression on YouTube screws up the video quality.

 

These videos were shot with the NVR at "highest" video quality, 12 FPS, and variable bit rate set to 3,992 kbps max .

 

BTW, I think Costco already sold out of these a few days ago.

 

Wide angle shot using Costco Swann camera- 5.6MB:

http://www.filedropper.com/wideswann

Frame capture:

https://truck.it/p/P4zUw9wriJ

 

Mail lady zoomed in - Swann Costco cam - 7.1MB:

http://www.filedropper.com/rightswann

Frame capture:

https://truck.it/p/gXdo9CQk12

 

Mail lady overhead - Lorex dome - 14MB:

http://www.filedropper.com/overhead

Frame capture:

https://truck.it/p/gnjoWGNYO6

 

Mail lady - Lorex Bullet - 6.9MB:

http://www.filedropper.com/left

Frame capture:

https://truck.it/p/spZeGbsG7p

 

Night sample - Lorex bullet - 6.5MB:

http://www.filedropper.com/dark

Frame capture;

https://truck.it/p/w8ysCDiHah

 

Player.exe files in case you don't have codec to play on your PC. This is the player the Lorex NVR puts on your USB drive when you save a video clip. I used VLC to play them on my Mac:

http://www.filedropper.com/player

Edited August 28, 2013 by Guest

[Chow 0]

Thanks for the info Alan2000, but your videos don't seem to play.

[Alan2000 0]

For some reason only the photo files were downloading. I changed links from Dump Truck to File Dropper and they are now working. Sorry about that. I tested one photo link and though all was good with Dump Truck.

[Alan2000 0]

Here are a few samples as I start to tinker with the NVR setup options. Camera used was the dome camera in the Costco Lorex280 NVR kit. This is a bit of a hard shot given the contrast between light and dark portions. Clips are all about 10 seconds. I stuck my hand out to trigger the motion to quickly find each clip on the NVR. I'll post more clips as I get around to the other cameras on the NVR.

 

The still image on left side was cropped from highest quality video #1 and the right was cropped from Medium quality clip #5. Not as big of a difference as I expected. Then again, I'm a total newbie so that doesn't mean a lot. But as you zoom in at 200-300% the right side is quite a bit more pixelated.

 

Video Quality, FPS, Bit Rate, Mode

 

1 - Highest, 30, 16384, Variable (Note video got very choppy. Think settings exceeded capacity of NVR or camera hardware to handle.) 21 MB

http://www.filedropper.com/1ch0116384kbpsvariable

 

2 - Highest, 30, 16384, Constant (Same as above but CBR.) 18 MB

http://www.filedropper.com/2ch0116384kbpsconsant

 

3 - Highest, 30, 7680, Variable (This is highest bit rate the NVR recommended for 30 FPS at Highest video quality.) 10 MB

http://www.filedropper.com/3ch017680kbpsvariable

 

4 - Medium, 30, 4096, Variable (I think this is the default NVR setting which allows enough bandwidth for 30 FPS on all cameras.) 6 MB

http://www.filedropper.com/4ch014096kbpsmedvar

 

5 - Medium, 30, 4096, Constant (Same as above but with CBR to see if any difference in quality.) 6 MB

http://www.filedropper.com/5ch014096kbpsmedcon

[zikronix 0]

I am guessing this is the old style dome?

 

Mine were not that bad but also did cover some of the LEDS. What I did with mine was just flip the foam upside down and press and tuck the foam down between the lens and LEDs. Looked fine after than.

 

thats exactly what i did as well!

they have been working well for a few weeks now that way.

 

Cant do that with the latest builds. Its a hard piece of plastic with foam on it. It would be a pita to remove and theres not enough space in the in between the leds and the lens to push iit down in there.

[rayt 0]

i have 2x june build 4mm domes, 2x july build 4mm domes, and 2x august build 2.8mm domes. no hard plastic in any of mine?

they fit right over the lens via friction.

 

 

which domes are you talking about?

[zikronix 0]

i have 2x june build 4mm domes, 2x july build 4mm domes, and 2x august build 2.8mm domes. no hard plastic in any of mine?

they fit right over the lens via friction.

 

 

which domes are you talking about?

 

From Wrightwood 8/2013 2.8mm

 

http://imgur.com/a/bHGdY

[MaxIcon 0]

Hi there..

i'm wondering if anyone could tell me how the recorded video looks like compared to the live video on this lorex 2MP camera system or

if you could export and .avi clip of a daytime or nighttime type shot that i could download and look at before I purchase this system.

 

Can you tell any difference between live and recorded or is the video compressed down.

 

thanks

 

In general, recorded video on IP cams should be very similar, if not identical, to the live view. This is different from analog cams, where the live view is uncompressed and the recordings are compressed.

 

On IP cams, the compression is done in the chipset before it's sent out over the network, and the received live view will be the same as the recorded view. Some NVR software re-encodes the video, which can cause a change in quality as well as use a lot of CPU, but most software that comes with the camera just records the incoming stream directly.

 

Blue Iris, for instance, lets you choose between direct to disk recording or re-encoding, while the Aver software records directly and doesn't re-encode. I'm not familiar with other software.

 

Exported video is another matter - some exporters re-encode the original recordings, some don't. Re-encoding is generally much slower and results in really different file sizes, either larger or smaller, depending on your settings. Exporting the same video without re-encoding into a different wrapper is faster and results in closer file sizes. You have to test your system to find out for sure.

[rayt 0]

i have 2x june build 4mm domes, 2x july build 4mm domes, and 2x august build 2.8mm domes. no hard plastic in any of mine?

they fit right over the lens via friction.

 

 

which domes are you talking about?

 

From Wrightwood 8/2013 2.8mm

 

http://imgur.com/a/bHGdY

 

thanks, i didn't even realize that was plastic. thanks for the pics, wished websites were as through with posting pictures of items they have for sale!

[zikronix 0]

Is yours plastic

[rayt 0]

Is yours plastic

i have to double check, i looked it over and it looked just like the foam i moved around on my 4mm, just bigger, no idea that was a plastic piece.

[Whatthehex 0]

Is yours plastic

i have to double check, i looked it over and it looked just like the foam i moved around on my 4mm, just bigger, no idea that was a plastic piece.

 

So is the old style dome camera the one with the hard plastic insert?