RetiredGuru wrote:Not sure I understand how a "DVR" can not have a have drive included. What would it be R-ing on?

Did your first VCR come with a tape installed? Did your DVD recorder ship with a DVD-R disc in the tray?

Think of it as a plus, not a negative. You can buy whatever brand and size of drive you want. You're getting a great deal on the DVR and cameras, now you can search all your favorite computer retailers for the best deal on a drive. I'm sure Newegg gets better pricing on hard drives (and turns inventory much quicker) than Zmodo ever could.

sandersgas wrote:DOES THIS D V R HAVE A HARD DRIVE IN IT OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE ORDERED SEPERATE

Hello, this DVR does not have a hard drive included in it.
Supports up to 2TB 3.5” SATA hard drive (hard drive not Included) and includes (2) hard drive mounting screws

caribejam1 wrote:Are these available in white ?

No I'm sorry we only have these in the black currently.

lonniegl wrote:Are the cameras plastic? I live near the ocean and anything metal corrodes in no time

These cameras are not plastic, however they are weatherproof.

Hi, ZMODO rep,

do both the DVRs offered today support Mac OS? I didn't see that in the specifications on the listing at sellout.woot. I think I see the same product for sale on your website for only $30 more. Is that, in fact, the same product? (PKD-DK1664-1TB)

aaronwoolf wrote:If the specs are to be believed (they were WRONG on the last Zmodo DVR+4cam deal), the 4 channel unit has MUCH higher resolution than the 16 channel version. ("D1" vs "CIF" - roughly DVD resolution [~720x480] vs VCD/VHS [~320x240] - 4X the resolution)

As a former video system installer, I can tell you there is a BIG difference, even on the cheap cameras it includes.

Avoid CIF-only (~320x240) camera systems at all cost.

I'm going to wait for Woot to offer an 8-channel D1-resolution system with 4 cameras. This way you can add good quality (~$100ea) cameras for critical areas, without wasting money on included cameras that will just be replaced.)

I had a hard time understanding these acronyms. Here's a nice flow chart to help
http://www.security-camera-warehouse.com/knowledge-base/cif-vs-d1/

aaronwoolf wrote:If the specs are to be believed (they were WRONG on the last Zmodo DVR+4cam deal), the 4 channel unit has MUCH higher resolution than the 16 channel version. ("D1" vs "CIF" - roughly DVD resolution [~720x480] vs VCD/VHS [~320x240] - 4X the resolution)

As a former video system installer, I can tell you there is a BIG difference, even on the cheap cameras it includes.

Avoid CIF-only (~320x240) camera systems at all cost.

I'm going to wait for Woot to offer an 8-channel D1-resolution system with 4 cameras. This way you can add good quality (~$100ea) cameras for critical areas, without wasting money on included cameras that will just be replaced.)

Or just save the 4 you're not using as replacements for the cheap ones when they die, and they DO die...

Is additional equipment required to record the audio?

redjeep0 wrote:I had a hard time understanding these acronyms. Here's a nice flow chart to help
http://www.security-camera-warehouse.com/knowledge-base/cif-vs-d1/

I've never heard the term "Full D1" before, but they do have a good point. The option to record D1 at 30fps would certainly be better than only up to 7.5fps. But, you're not going to find that at the <$300 price point that Woot is hitting.

I always recommended "resolution over framerate" to my customers. 30 frames per second of tiny blocky video is worth much less than a handful of larger clearer images. (If you have to compromise, many DVRs offer a half-step of 720x480 @ 15fps)

When you're trying to make out the face of the burgler or stick-up guy, you'll be less concerned with the number of frames, and glad you had 4X the resolution to work with.

I stick by my previous recomendation - avoid CIF (~320x240) at all costs. It used to be that any sub-$500 DVR was CIF, but now even sub-$200 DVRs are D1!

swattnlez wrote:Is additional equipment required to record the audio?

I don't believe that the cameras have a microphone. You'd have to connect one seperately.

Zmodo: Can you confirm that this DVR does, in fact, record at D1?

I bought the previous Zmodo DVR+4Cam deal from Woot. It was advertised as supporting D1, but in fact only did CIF:

http://www.woot.com/Forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=4714550

What about that Mr. Zmodo rep? Doe it record in D1?

Phoenix84 wrote:I use IP Cam Viewer on Android with no problems. I haven't had an issue watching the live feeds in real-time (recording on the other hand had problems last time I tried it). I purchased the pro version and haven't been happier with it.

I wonder if that is the difference between the pro and basic or lite versions? I've been extremely displeased with the basic and lite versions. After trying with the 'Asee' app, not only the speed is better for me, but the quality of the picture itself is 3x better. My only thought about this is that I notice the 'Asee' goes the 1 connection at a time route, vs the connect to all 4 always route that Ipcamviewer does.

Could you do me a favor and try the basic or lite version with your setup and see if you have the same streaming problem I did? If so, I'll give the pro a shot.

Thanks,

I apologize if this question has already been asked. I did not see it when i scrolled through all the posts.

I see that this has two usb ports. Does the DVR support an external usb type hard drive?

Im in for 3.

RebelTaz wrote:Don't bother with the 24/7 live chat. If you do get an agent, they will only refer you to the 866 number. If you don't get an agent (more often than not), you'll be asked to leave an email - which they will not answer.

These are only my personal experiences so far.

We recently bought the 16 channel version from sellout, and I was (and am still) unable to get it working through an outside network to view the office from home. (any help with this would be awesome.)

But to the point, they were helpful on the live chat, and did not try to push me over to the support number. I give the effort a 4/5 but it was not enough to fix my network issue.

I'm thinking it might be a router issue, we have a 2wire router through ATT.

Can I use this to watch via my computer, whats going on in my rental house thats in another state or does it just record on the dvr?

munchkin01 wrote:Can I use this to watch via my computer, whats going on in my rental house thats in another state or does it just record on the dvr?

Not quite sure about the legalities of recording your tenants. But it does allow you to view the cameras from anywhere in the world via the network access.

DJGosch wrote:I wonder if that is the difference between the pro and basic or lite versions? I've been extremely displeased with the basic and lite versions. After trying with the 'Asee' app, not only the speed is better for me, but the quality of the picture itself is 3x better. My only thought about this is that I notice the 'Asee' goes the 1 connection at a time route, vs the connect to all 4 always route that Ipcamviewer does.

Could you do me a favor and try the basic or lite version with your setup and see if you have the same streaming problem I did? If so, I'll give the pro a shot.

Thanks,

It indeed sounds like you were using the mobile port.
I originally used the lite version (not basic though, as at the time I tried it, it didn't support h264). After the guy was nice enough to let me decompile his code to write my zmodopipe app, I bought it as a thanks (plus I have more than 4 cameras, so I needed it anyway).
Looking at his latest FAQs http://hit-mob.com/ip-cam-viewer-android/faq/, all 3 are the same (and at least the basic one can be upgraded in app).
I don't know how long ago you tried, but try again. Also, there are many different Zmodo configurations, I would try all of them except 'mobile' port, that doesn't support streaming, iirc.

EDIT: Don't forget to check all the settings as you change configurations. Also, try emailing him, he seems really good about support.

Unless I missed it, I never received an answer from the zmodo rep as to whether or not you can access this (or any of there DVRs - especially the 8 channel 8118 version) via a native Linux client. And if not, is support for Linux planned?

I always find it odd that all of these devices that are based on Linux kernels are only accessible through Windows. Talk about an oxymoron!

Munchkin01 wrote:
Can I use this to watch via my computer, whats going on in my rental house thats in another state or does it just record on the dvr?

Do you think tenants will rent a place knowing that the landlord's cameras might be recording them at any time?

Or are you planning to install the surveillance system, but not tell prospective renters?

JSNash wrote:Munchkin01 wrote:
Can I use this to watch via my computer, whats going on in my rental house thats in another state or does it just record on the dvr?

Do you think tenants will rent a place knowing that the landlord's cameras might be recording them at any time?

Or are you planning to install the surveillance system, but not tell prospective renters?

I have people renting rooms in my house and of course NO ONE is responsible for this and that. They only rent a bedroom and my son rents one also, so there shouldnt be an issue as to whether or not there is surveillance in & out of the house, right?

It's your place, so it should be up to your discretion. Your tenants might appreciate knowing that there is a monitored surveillance system on the premises. I commend you for taking up the responsibility of implementing a security measure!

Does this use a SATA drive or PATA drive?

kjwestm6 wrote:ok if I don't care about recording (anything). I simply just want to be able to turn a chanel on my TV to see who is knocking on my front door. Can i do that with this system? and is this even worth it for my minimal aspirations of a security system?

It has a VGA input. So u could run a VGA to your newer TV and change inputs to see it

shout out to zmodo!!

please explain weather resistant and weather proof, please.

munchkin01 wrote:I have people renting rooms in my house and of course NO ONE is responsible for this and that. They only rent a bedroom and my son rents one also, so there shouldnt be an issue as to whether or not there is surveillance in & out of the house, right?

The outside shouldn't be an issue, but having one inside would (most likely) require you to disclose this to the people staying there. Voyeurism can be a federal crime. If there are any underage persons that happen to be "filmed" with certain parts of their bodies exposed, you run the risk of having to register as a sex offender, if you are caught.

As the Exec. Dir. of a soup kitchen serving on average 160 people every day, five days per week, I am most interested in knowing who is outside in front of our building (an old fruit distribution warehouse) or out back behind the building. Likewise, I want to be able to see from the internal area across the dining room (+/-70 feet) to the kitchen windows. The other cameras we have now are two in the back warehouse area which give us a vantage point of who is going in and out the back door or over in the dry goods area. My site manager is able to see much of what has to happen most days and squelches things proactively whenever possible (7 years in adult corrections gave him that ability). I particularly like the ability to access it remotely from my phone when off site or away to know if anyone is in the area when we aren't.

adamk81 wrote:Does this use a SATA drive or PATA drive?

It uses a sata drive. I just put one together over the weekend. I busted open an external Toshiba 1T drive and moved it into the DVR. It worked like a charm.

nernburgler wrote:It has a VGA input. So u could run a VGA to your newer TV and change inputs to see it

It also has an RCA out but I have not used it.

dustinvarnell wrote:We recently bought the 16 channel version from sellout, and I was (and am still) unable to get it working through an outside network to view the office from home. (any help with this would be awesome.)

But to the point, they were helpful on the live chat, and did not try to push me over to the support number. I give the effort a 4/5 but it was not enough to fix my network issue.

I'm thinking it might be a router issue, we have a 2wire router through ATT.

This requires you to know the external ip address of the location where your device is installed and it requires some port forwarding. If you are familiar with these things it is very easy. If not it can be a little intmidating at first, but not so complicated that you cannot do it.

would it be creepy if i just set these all up around my room?

chrislk1986 wrote:The outside shouldn't be an issue, but having one inside would (most likely) require you to disclose this to the people staying there. Voyeurism can be a federal crime. If there are any underage persons that happen to be "filmed" with certain parts of their bodies exposed, you run the risk of having to register as a sex offender, if you are caught.

Oh, I wasnt going to hide the cameras, just put 2 on the roof, 1 out on the deck and 1 in the kitchen aimed at the front foyer!

THERE! ARE! FOUR! CAMERAS!

Make It So.


^^X^^

munchkin01 wrote:Can I use this to watch via my computer, whats going on in my rental house thats in another state or does it just record on the dvr?

I bought two of these and found that the picture is fuzzy and blurry. The night vision is only good for about 15 feet away at best. There is no hard drive in the unit so you will need to purchase one if you want to play recordings. However, you can record to a remote desktop without having the internal hard drive. I’m selling my second unit for its that much of a disappointment. I must say the limit video clarity is somewhat usable if the lighting is extremely bright. Most of the time your color images are black and white/ grey. The sms email notification has never worked and there is no audio. Email me if you want to see the images of the video.
There is something that I do like about the system though, I can be at work and pull up its internal webpage. Make changes and view live video that not limited to just a web browser. I can use my smart phone or my iPad to see the live videos. There is a 15 to 30 second lag on video streaming on my 3g ipad or cell phone. It’s choppy and clarity it terrible to say the least but its better than nothing.

chrislk1986 wrote:The outside shouldn't be an issue, but having one inside would (most likely) require you to disclose this to the people staying there. Voyeurism can be a federal crime. If there are any underage persons that happen to be "filmed" with certain parts of their bodies exposed, you run the risk of having to register as a sex offender, if you are caught.

Yeah. Not to mention the fact of how incredibly sleazy the whole idea of secretly monitoring renters is.

steventoo wrote:I bought two of these and found that the picture is fuzzy and blurry. The night vision is only good for about 15 feet away at best. There is no hard drive in the unit so you will need to purchase one if you want to play recordings. However, you can record to a remote desktop without having the internal hard drive. I’m selling my second unit for its that much of a disappointment. I must say the limit video clarity is somewhat usable if the lighting is extremely bright. Most of the time your color images are black and white/ grey. The sms email notification has never worked and there is no audio. Email me if you want to see the images of the video.
There is something that I do like about the system though, I can be at work and pull up its internal webpage. Make changes and view live video that not limited to just a web browser. I can use my smart phone or my iPad to see the live videos. There is a 15 to 30 second lag on video streaming on my 3g ipad or cell phone. It’s choppy and clarity it terrible to say the least but its better than nothing.

I would love to see an image - maybe even a small video sample?


I am not sure how to find your email though. Perhaps you could submit it as a reply so that others could also see?



Thanks!

Anyone used this as a baby monitor. It would be nice to keep an eye on the little one while he sleeps. Dont know if the night vision is all that good though. Also I have a panasonic viera which has the viera link that allows you to watch an IP cam on the tv. Would this be compatible with that as well?