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At the heart of every modern surveillance system is a DVR (which stands for Digital Video Recorder), which records and processes the video sent in by the cameras. For such a common item, though, the quality of DVRs can vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer. There’s a lot to keep track of, but by knowing the biggest specs and features to watch out for, it becomes very easy to separate the good models from the bad.
The most basic form in which a company can support its DVR is through tech support, which can come in a variety of forms and is the very first thing to make sure your DVR includes. The most forward-looking companies have begun to offer remote desktop support (which allows the technicians to take control of the system through the internet to diagnose and fix problems), but any company worth purchasing from should offer a bare minimum of free online tech support (meaning the customer is able to go through two-way communication with a technician via email). Having a system supported not only means that you can get help when you need it, it also means that the vendor you’re purchasing from is willing to stand behind its products.
Beyond that, to determine the merit of the DVR itself requires a review of its spec sheet, a task which is time consuming even to those with experience, however there is only one spec that every DVR, regardless of its application, needs to have, and it’s easy to find. Look for the line item for “Recording Resolution,” which makes or breaks the usefulness of a DVR. Virtually any system will be able to operate at a recording resolution of 320 x 280 (roughly the size of a YouTube video), however when shopping for surveillance equipment it is crucial that the DVR be capable of D-1 recording (720 x 480, about twice the size of YouTube). The reason that high-resolution recording is so important is that it directly aids in identification of a person or object from recorded footage; if the resolution is set too low even a great camera would look fuzzy and pixilated, meaning identification of objects and people becomes very difficult. A common trick with inexpensive, low-res DVRs is to leave that information off of the spec sheet, however if no Recording Resolution is listed it should always be assumed that the DVR does not have the capacity for high res video.
The final point to watch for isn’t usually listed on spec sheets, but is arguably the most important feature to have. When buying a DVR, it’s crucial to pick one out that is not only designed to perform, but also is meant to last long and ensure compatibility with future products so as not to become obsolete. An excellent example of this would be the PC Witness Pro series of DVRs (the LT, V\RT and RT), which were designed to function as NVR\DVRs (Network Video Recorder \ Digital Video Recorder), meaning they can take on both IP and analog cameras with equal ease. By using a DVR from the PC Witness brand, users are not only covered for the state of camera production today, but they’re also easily set for the next ten years as IP camera technology develops and matures. Additionally, with an expected lifespan of 11 years (another important spec to watch for), the PC Witness series comes with the assurance that they will live to see the day when that compatibility will be needed. Though spec sheets only sometimes have that information, any sales rep at the company you’re working with should be able to answer that question for you.
Part of that as well, though, is being able to predict one’s own future needs. If buying for a business that plans on moving to a larger space within just a few years, purchasing a DVR with extra video inputs for future cameras would be wise, and the same might be true for a homeowner planning an addition later down the road. Similarly, if there is a certain operation or feature that you know you really want or need for your application, don’t compromise until you find it, or something that comes very, very close. In short: a DVR isn’t just a tool, it’s an investment, and like any good investment, it should not only be stable, backed with features you need and support you can trust, it should be ready to face the test of time in a way that works for you.
