Difference between DVR cards and standalone DVRs?

[Garry 0]

Hi guys, may I know what's the difference between DVR cards and standalone DVRs? Why is there such a big price difference between the two? The DVR cards seemed to be so much cheaper than the standalone DVR?

 

Thanks guys.

[rory 0]

A stand alone is an all in one DVR and Multiplexer/Quad. Typically, though not always, a Stand alone has push buttons or an IR Remote, and no Mouse or Keyboard. They have an Embedded Operating System (on CHIP not on the HDD) and are generally non Windows. Most are Embedded Linux and some more expensive ones use an Embedded RTOS (Real Time Operating System). This means they dont use standard PC Components, most have been specially built or modified for their purpose.

 

Embedded Windows XP models are also available but are not as common due to price. The main advantage to the Windows XP embedded units is you can obtain speeds and features which can not typically be duplicated in other embedded DVRs. The disadvantage is similar to a normal Windows PC Card system, where it is vulnarable to Viruses and Worms; though if set up properly, the chance of this lowers considerably.

 

A PC Card is simply that, you use a Desktop PC with either Windows or less common, Linux, installed, and put the Card inside it. You must then install the DVR server software, burn it all for a period of time to ensure sure there are no Hardware conflicts and the software is installed properly, and you have a DVR. Most PC Cards also have a form of multiplexing, and some of them use programming on the Card itself to perform CPU dependent functions such as Compression and Multiplexing, while most still perform this in the DVR Server software. Some extremely cheap DVR Cards only record in very low quality and do not multiplex the signal at all.

 

As for price difference, that depends on the DVR card, some are cheap and some are high quality. The main difference in price is the actual software that comes with the DVR card also, that it is stable and has alot of features, brings the price right up.

 

Same with the Standalones, there are very cheap ones that have very few features, then there are much more expensive ones loaded with features.

 

As with some of the very cheap PC Cards, cheap Standalones can encounter problems also, causes ranging from bad hardware to poorly written software, which can cause system freezes among many other issues.

 

Rory

Edited August 28, 2007 by Guest

[Garry 0]

Thanks Rory, but the DVR cards states that it comes along with an OS for Windows 2000/XP so meaning it's embedded with OS right?

 

A stand alone is an all in one DVR and Multiplexer.

 

Typically, though not always, a Stand alone has push buttons or an IR Remote, and no Mouse or Keyboard.

 

They typically have an Embedded Operating System (on CHIP not on the HDD) and are generally non Windows. Most are Embedded Linux and some more expensive ones use an Embedded RTOS (Real Time Operating System).

 

Embedded Windows XP models are also available but are not as common due to price. The main advantage to the Windows XP embedded units is you can obtain speeds and features which can not be duplicated in other embedded DVRs. The disadvantage is similar to a normal Windows PC Card system, where it is vulnarable to Viruses and Worms; though if set up properly, the chance of this lowers considerably.

 

A PC Card is simply that, you use a Desktop PC with either Windows or less common, Linux, installed, and put the Card inside it. You must then install the DVR server software, burn it all for a period of time to ensure sure there are no Hardware conflicts and the software is installed properly, and you have a DVR.

 

As for price difference, that depends on the DVR card, some are cheap and some are high quality. The main difference in price is the actual software that comes with the DVR card also, that it is stable and has alot of features, brings the price right up.

 

Same with the Standalones, there are very cheap ones that have very few features, then there are much more expensive ones loaded with features.

 

As with some of the very cheap PC Cards, cheap Standalones can encounter problems also, causes ranging from bad hardware to poorly written software, which can cause system freezes among many other issues.

 

Rory

[rory 0]

What is the name of the DVR card are you looking at?

 

One specific brand has the OS on chip, embedded, on the card, but that is rare. Another gives you the actual embedded board (not card) and you can place that inside any PC Case. Rare once again.

 

Perhaps they are just selling you the Windows OS also?

Or is it just already installed in a PC and setup for you?

[Garry 0]

Ermm I think some of it has no brand. I think the brand is Kodicom, there is also one for Geovision.

 

What is the name of the DVR card are you looking at?

 

One specific brand has the OS on chip, embedded, on the card, but that is rare. Another gives you the actual embedded board (not card) and you can place that inside any PC Case. Rare once again.

 

Perhaps they are just selling you the Windows OS also?

Or is it just already installed in a PC and setup for you?

[rory 0]

If its a Card, and its Kodicom or Geo, it should not be embedded.

 

Kodicom and Geo are brands. There are pirated copies of them that dont match up to the real ones, which also use cracked versions of their older software. But we cant discuss those here

[Garry 0]

Oic Thanks man. So it means those that i saw might be fake...

 

If its a Card, and its Kodicom or Geo, it should not be embedded.

 

Kodicom and Geo are brands. There are pirated copies of them that dont match up to the real ones, which also use cracked versions of their older software. But we cant discuss those here

[rory 0]

Umm .. possibly .. need more info ..

 

Rory