Re: What Brand / Model DVRs ??

["Bob La Londe" <none@xxxxxxxxxx>]

"ABLE1" <someone@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:rU1ix.72575$775.30196@xxxxxxxxxxx
> On 6/22/2015 5:50 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
>> I was a hard corp Dedicated Micros fan for a long time.  Many years.
>> Unfortunately they have priced themselves out of the market.  In general
>> I had pretty good luck with their units, but the price was just too
>> high. When they came out with their ECO units I thought that was a nice
>> answer. Slimmed down feature set at only a little over the average price
>> for other name brand units being installed.  Sadly they had issues.  I
>> had to send units in for repair in relatively short life spans.  Some I
>> sent in more than once, because they came back unfixed.  (I know Moore's
>> in a separate company, but they are the official repair center for DM.)
>>
>> I decided to give Digital Watchdog a try.  For the first couple years
>> they were great.  Competitive price, decent feature set, and seemed to
>> just work. Lately I've had multiple problems with very low usage.  A
>> couple months to a year.  When I called tech support today I was hung up
>> on three times.  I said please, and thank you and I never raised my
>> voice.  I know.  Seems unusual for me.  They seemed to have a chip on
>> their shoulder from the moment they answered the phone.  Then they
>> proceeded to lecture me on my lack of professionalism even when I asked,
>> can we please just address the problem.  A DVR with no video output on
>> the HDMI ouput.  Last week video failed.  I had to hard power cycle the
>> unit to get video back.  It dropped HDMI video out again on Saturday.
>> They finally on the third (or maybe it was the 4th) call gave me a list
>> of things to try.  All of which I tried when I was there on Friday.
>>
>> So, I am off to the customer site to repeat the things I did on Friday,
>> and then call them back and say , "ok I tried them again."
>>
>> When I get back I plan to start shopping.  Any suggestions?
>>
>>
> On 6/22/2015 5:50 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
> > I was a hard corp Dedicated Micros fan for a long time.  Many years.
> > Unfortunately they have priced themselves out of the market.  In
> general > I had pretty good luck with their units, but the price was just
> too > high. When they came out with their ECO units I thought that was a
> nice > answer. Slimmed down feature set at only a little over the average
> price > for other name brand units being installed.  Sadly they had
> issues.  I > had to send units in for repair in relatively short life
> spans.  Some I > sent in more than once, because they came back unfixed.
> (I know Moore's > in a separate company, but they are the official repair
> center for DM.)> > I decided to give Digital Watchdog a try.  For the
> first couple years > they were great.  Competitive price, decent feature
> set, and seemed to > just work. Lately I've had multiple problems with
> very low usage.  A > couple months to a year.  When I called tech support
> today I was hung up > on three times.  I said please, and thank you and I
> never raised my > voice.  I know.  Seems unusual for me.  They seemed to
> have a chip on > their shoulder from the moment they answered the phone.
> Then they > proceeded to lecture me on my lack of professionalism even
> when I asked, > can we please just address the problem.  A DVR with no
> video output on > the HDMI ouput. Last week video failed.  I had to hard
> power cycle the > unit to get video back.  It dropped HDMI video out again
> on Saturday.  > They finally on the third (or maybe it was the 4th) call
> gave me a list > of things to try.  All of which I tried when I was there
> on Friday.> > So, I am off to the customer site to repeat the things I did
> on Friday, > and then call them back and say , "ok I tried them again."> >
> When I get back I plan to start shopping.  Any suggestions?>
> Gee Whiz Bob, not a happy camper??
>
> I think they all have their issues. I have been using Everfocus for a
> number of years. Just recently (over past 2 years) I have tried FLIR,
> Hikvision, and may try a Nuvico in the future.
>
> The FLIR was with IP cameras. It worked ok. Had some issue at the start
> due to the learning curve thingie. The biggest challenge was with the
> original spec'd outside dome camera that when mounted would not allow the
> lens to tilt up to 90 degrees. Could not get the desired view. Had to swap
> out for a bullet cameras.
>
> The latest with the Hikvision was nice with the built in 16 channel PoE
> for each IP camera. All came up with little difficulty. Then the customer
> called after about 3 weeks with a report that the monitor showed "No Link"
> on all cameras for about 2 hours. Talked him through a power cycle and all
> came back. Checked the playback remotely and all cameras were actually
> recording when the VGA was not displaying cameras. Called tech support and
> "she" said that is was not normal and asked if there was a power issue at
> the time. I told her that the cameras were recording and that a power
> issue should not be the issue. She kept discussing how am I powering if I
> am not using the on board PoE. But, I am using the on board PoE and the
> cameras were recording at the time since I watched the customer on the
> phone talking to me before he did the power cycle to bring all the cameras
> back on line. After allowing "her" to connect remotely and making a big
> issue out of the slow connection speed and maybe it contributed to the
> issue and I again had to say but the cameras were
> recording...................... After about 35 minutes of this abuse I
> left at, when or if it happens again I will attempt to get more detailed
> information and hung up. That was last Monday and have not heard of a
> problem since.
>
> I am trying to move towards more IP cameras with the 3MP or higher. I am
> now officially a Mobotix Dealer. Really cool stuff, and no NVR/DVR to deal
> with. Just camera and software. Thought I was going to get a project about
> 6 months ago but they decided that they needed to spend their money on
> other projects first. Tire kickers!!!
>
> Then there is the new HD stuff on coax that is/has hit the market. Nuvico
> makes a HDoCS product that will produce 1080P on coax. As I understand it
> you can mix and match analog and HD on the same DVR.
> Check it out.
> http://www.nuvico.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=92_159
>
> It will be a easy decision if I have a customer on COAX with a dead DVR.
>
> Not sure if any of the above is a help to you or not.
> I never used a DM unit.

Some of the HIK Vision stuff looks promising.  I may buy a couple IP cameras
and one of their NVRs to play with in the shop to see how  I like them.
Price seems to good though on some of it.  Always makes me nervous.