hey can you add a hard drive to this system? thanks

After checking the YouTubes and seeing reviews and watching this in action I'm very impressed with the abilities of this unit. I'm sure it wasn't the exact unit model and such, but for this price its a start and better than nothing. Christmas money spent wisely for once.

Ok. I ordered it... but why?!

No. BNC connectors push in and turn to lock. That way they stay more secure. Tools and connectors available at most electronic stores, espec. Radio Shack.

jordf21 wrote:hey can you add a hard drive to this system? thanks

Yes.

Some advise for installing. Toss out the power adapters and cables. Get on ebay or Amazon, buy a box of 1000ft cat 5e for about 50 bucks. Then get balun adapters (about a Buck each) and a 10 unit power box for about 35 bucks. You run 2 of the wires of each run to the power box, rest to the other ends with baluns to the dvr. Now you can go any distance you want without the fuss or mess of crappy cables.

$20 off coupon for woot? Did I miss an email?

Low temp performance is a killer for me. Sounds like I would have about 2 months of crappy performance every year.

Will it support 2048x1536 resolution on a VGA monitor to display all eight cameras simultaneously in a 3x3 grid, assuming some cropping on the sides (682x480)?

lordebon wrote:The BNC video signal is the same as the RCA (the "yellow" cable, typically). You can use a < $1 connector to go from BNC to RCA video.

If you do, you lose the security of a locking connection. This is NOT recommended if using this as a security camera, (why else?) Stay with the BNC connectors.

In all sincerity, thank you sir, for your service in law enforcement

Nice starter system and awesome price. Good job woot! I had a high end system but each individual camera was $129.

PBJ wrote:$20 off coupon for woot? Did I miss an email?

Woot "pays" people who are active on deals.woot with coupon codes. I usually get $5 or $10 in coupons each month for just rating the daily deals every day, but apparently if you post a lot of deals and ask a lot of questions in the deals.woot forum you can get $20 or even $40 coupons.

I don't find the site useful and wouldn't go there at all if it weren't for the way Woot cemented Sellout to it. Most of the deals are spam (sometimes even the sponsored deals) and the people there are very weird about what they upvote and downvote. But as long as I'm there to look at Sellout, I may as well click a few buttons to get a $5 or $10 coupon once a month.

That little white triangle that's next to your username lets you know what your deals.woot "reputation" is. Once it picks up some kind of color, you should start getting the monthly coupon. My level for rating the five sponsored deals each day seems to be stuck at 44, so if you're OK with the little coupons that I've mentioned, aim for around that number.

Question – I have a remote location that could use this, but there is no phone or wi-fi. There is however, cell phone coverage and power.

Would it be possible to view the surveillance remotely (from afar), say by using a prepaid cell phone at the site, without having to wire the place for full time internet?

Thanks

Anyone have any idea how these withstand cold weather? If so what is the coldest temperature that they can handle.

How well will these mount on a vehicle? Can the system, including night vision, run off 12V DC power or will I need a better power source? Google Street View is just too sunny.

What resolution is REALLY used for recording? We need absolute confirmation this time, Woot!

@ww4570
In your remote location, you could set up a 3G/4G stick hooked up to a Cradlepoint router, or a mifi device.

CowboyDann wrote: Moofi has a 16 channel set in case eight channels aren't enough (oh it also comes with a 1TB HD)

The Moofi model only records at very low CIF resolution. Stay away.

you will NOT be able to identify the person 9 out of 10 times.

can you offer some best bang for the buck options? say cheap mid and really good that we would be able to find?

Tanks,

blaze0ne wrote:In the video review, it was written on the box the cameras have a 3.8mm lens (non-variable and no focus adjustment)

All of these cheap CMOS cameras can be focused by snapping the case apart and rotating the lens. It's on a spring-loaded, threaded shaft.

Be sure not to lose the rubber seal and the dessicant packet--these are what temporarily keep the inside dry and the glass from fogging.

The video is not the same model !!!

alvodka wrote:@ww4570
In your remote location, you could set up a 3G/4G stick hooked up to a Cradlepoint router, or a mifi device.

anybody need a cradlepoint 3g4g router? I'm in Chicago btw

In response to weather proof Cameras:

I have these outside in Ohio and they have endured sub 20 degrees just fine.

Water doesn't appear to be a problem either, but I used some heavy electric tape during installation to ensure they wouldn't get water in them.

However, don't know if this has been noted or not, but insects seem to be attracted to the IR light source. Mainly spiders. A camera with low resolution being shot through a spider web just sucks. I've had to broom off webs on 2 camera probably 3 times in 6 months of ownership.

psaux wrote:Oddly enough, this deal comes with higher-res (slightly) cameras than the moofi deal.

480 lines tall vs. 420 lines.

(EDIT: I just noticed this was commented as a possible typo in one of the two descriptions by someone else ... personally, judging by staring at the photos, I think the camera models are actually different, though I'm certainly not possessing additional knowledge, so don't blame me if I'm wrong.)

According to the specs at ZMODO, they are slightly different camera models. Woot and moofi have taken the specs correctly from ZMODO, so according to ZMODO, the moofi cams are 420 lines and the woot cams are 480 lines. Otherwise they appear to have the same specs. ZMODO does not appear to sell either camera by itself, only in packages like these. I've been watching these for quite a while and this is the lowest price for a system with 8 cameras that I have seen. Adding a SATA drive should be a cinch. The documentation at ZMODO seems to be pretty good. Quality? I'm going to find out..............

Really considering buying this. Concerned about the low temperature rating while up here in Massachusetts. Can anyone recommend a one step up from this system for comparison? Its tough to find a single wireless network camera for this price!

ljygiuy wrote:Then a lot of people are complete foolish with their money. I bought the last one and it could not have been more obvious that it had no drive. That was the selling point for me because I have a bunch of 750GB drives lying around and I didn't want to pay the jacked-up price for an included one.

yeah, you're right. it was definitely more obvious after I bought it then before..

Will this work and set up using a Mac?

No audio on these cameras.

emisha wrote:Anyone?

No audio on these cameras.

jordf21 wrote:hey can you add a hard drive to this system? thanks

Yes. In fact, it's required.

With all respect, you have no idea what you are saying. The cameras are a 6mm lens. Which means it covers 111 degrees and can see approximately 30ft, not 10.

better than one I got at Fry;s

Very easy... essentially plug and play.

Great price. If I were in the market I would be in for 1. My home was set up with a similar system 12 years ago.

Batman4oz wrote:Okay...it's late and I'm tired...But...if it comes with a DVR, which is a Recorder, then What does it record To, if there is No hard drive?! My DVR with my TV records about 150 hours of stuff...so What am I Not getting?!

^^X^^

A hard drive.

adammconway wrote:I have to say, this is the first time I have seen a spec that says 480 lines HORIZONTAL, usually they talk about vertical lines - Seems like a nice fake way to boost specs - I would assume it is 320 Veritical

Hello,
I am a Zmodo representative and would like to address the confusion stated on the quoted post. This is the highest resolution camera that we have put on WOOT! so far to date.

I wanted to share with you a link that shows the specs for the image sensor in this camera and show that it does state that in NTSC the image sensor produces 720 (H) x 487 (V) effective pixels.

http://mt9v136.en.b2b168.com/shop/supply/14552474.html

The image sensor in these cameras are capable of producing 480 horizontal TV Lines which is a rating commonly referred to in surveillance equipment.

If there are any other questions about this product please contact Zmodo Customer Service via live chat at Zmodo.com or toll free at 866-551-6881.

emisha wrote:Anyone?

It will only record video not audio. Most situations video is all that is needed. In a lot of places recording audio is illegal in a business setting. Depends on what your uses are and local laws.

Maybe Detroit should build these instead of cars.

uatu2004 wrote:Anyone have any experience with installing a hd into these? Is there a guide? What about formating?

Hello,
I am a Zmodo representative. Installing a hard drive into this DVR is quite simple. Simply remove the DVR lid, place your hard drive label side down on a flat surface, place the DVR upside down on top of the hard drive. Match up the holes in the bottom of the DVR case with the threaded holes in the bottom of the hard drive. Secure the hard drive to the DVR case with the 4 provided hard drive mounting screws using a #2 Phillips head screw driver. Turn the DVR case upright and plug in the SATA power and data cables into the respective slots on the hard drive.

The DVR will prompt you to format the hard drive when the DVR is initially powered on.

If there are any other questions about this product please contact Zmodo Customer Service via live chat at Zmodo.com or toll free at 866-551-6881.