Testing $50 Mini NVR

Avatar
Ethan Ace
•Published Jan 14, 2015 05:00 AM

** ** ***, **** ********* **** really *****.

***, ** * ****** ********* ** us, ***** * $** **** *** be **** ** ** ** / HD **** *******?

****** * **** ******* ******** **** ********* ** ** ************ ****** ***** means ****** * ********* ****** ** or ********, ****** ******** ** ******* ** cost ** *** ******.

******, ** **** ** ***** *** questions:

  • *** ********** ** **** *** **** ***** manufacturer ** *******?
  • *** **** ** ** ** ******* cameras?
  • *** **** ******* *** * ******** display ** ****?

    • **** *** *** *** ******** **** this ****:

    • ****** ********** *** ***** ** ***** 50% ** ******* ****** (* ** 15).
    • **** ******* ****** ** *** *******, while ****** ******* **** *** **** stream ** *** *** ******, *** not ****.
    • ** ********** ** ***** ** ** why ***** ******* **** ** *******.
    • **** ******* ** ** ***** ******* without *****.
    • ***** ******* ** **** **** *-* HD ******* ******* ** ******* ******** or ********.
    • ***** ******* ** ******** ** ******* works ******* *****.
    • *** *** ** ******* ** ******* USB **** ** *********, ******** ***** connections ******.

    *******

    *** **** *** **** ** **** test *** ********* ** ******.****** ~$** ***.

    ***************

    *** *********** ***** ******* ** **** with *** ***** ****** *** ****** cameras *** ****, *** **** *** may ** * ****** ****** *** a ****** **** ******* ** **** mounted *******, *** **** ********* **** other ********** ******* *****.

    *******, ***** ****** ****** ** **** a ****** ** ****** ** ******** SD *******, *** ******** **** ********** streams, ** *** ****'* **** ** processing ***** **** ***** ******* ** freeze ** ****.

    ***********, ******** ** ******* **** ******* ****** *** ********* **, ** * **** *******, ** is ******* *** **** **** *** a ***** **** ******* *****.

    Physical ********

    *** **** *** ** *****, ***** 3.5" ******, *** **** **** *" thick. ** ******** ** ******** ***** (Ethernet, ***, *****, ***.), ** **** a ******** ***** *** ********* *** power. **** ****** ***** ** ***** it *** * *******'* *** ****, **** commonly **** ** **** ******/******, *********** the **** ** *** ** ********** power *****.

    **** ***** ******* *** ******** ***** of *** ***:

    Adding *******

    **** ***** ***** **** ** **** tested, *** **** *** ************* ******** for ***** ******* ** *** ***** subnet. ***** *** ****** ***** ** add **** ** *** ****. *******, we ***** **** ~**% ** ******* *** not ******* ******** ** ** ***, with **** **** ********** *** **** stream, **** *** *** ******, *** some *******.

    ********** *** **** ****** ** *** cases. *** *** ****** ** **** sub ****** ** ** *** ** addition ** * **** ********** ******, and ******** ************* ******* *** *** when ********* **** ***** ****** ** full ******. **** ******* ** *** found ** **** **** ** *****.

    **** ***** ******* ******* ****** ******* to *** ***:

     

    *********** 

    ***** *** *** ****** *** ** to * ** ******* ** ** added, ** ***** **** ********** **** than *** ** ******* *** ***** monitor *** ****** **********. ** **** cases, ** ****** *** *** ****. In ******, ******* ***** ** *********.

    ** ***** ********** (**) ********* ******* are *********, ** ** **** *** be ********* ******** ** * ***** screen. However, *** *** ******* ******* * secondary ****** *** ****, *** ***** the ********** ****** ** *** ***'* ONVIF *************, **** *** *** ** an ******.

    **** ***** ***** ***** ********* ******:

    ****: ******** ******* *.* *** **** for *******.

    Other *** ******

    **** *** ***** *** *** ********* of *** **** *** *** *******, with ******* ******:

    • ******* ***** *** ****** ********** *** unclear.
    • **** ******* *** *** ******* ******* or ******* ** ***.
    • ******* **** ** *** *** ** often ** *** ****, ******* ********* "**** successful" ************.

    **** **** ** **** *** ****** playback *********** ** **** *** ** this **** ******* ** *** *** for **** ********** ****. 

     

Comments (20)
JA
Jorge Arriaga
•Jan 14, 2015

Hi Glad you have made this review. I have used this mini nvr personally over a year now. It works good but not right out of the box. You need to load the latest firmware; also for the frozen cameras you have to reduce the FPS first on the IP camera, also the streaming needs to be modified on the cameras first. Realizing about all this things took me a while so it can be a pain at the beginning trying to make it work. Also, I have bought from 3 diferrent suppliers and only one has proven to work "reliable".

I have installed for some houses without any issues after making all these adjustments. I am not using any known brand name cameras as well

(7)
Avatar
Derek Ward
•Jan 14, 2015
Hanwha
In reply to Jorge Arriaga

Thanks for the feedback Jorge.

Quick question, when you are adding cameras to the NVR, are you adding them via ONVIF or through RTSP? I'm curious to know since you are connecting no-name branded cameras.

Also, to what frame rate are you lowering the cameras to make them stream properly?

JA
Jorge Arriaga
•Jan 14, 2015
In reply to Derek Ward

I do it onvif. I noticed with some cameras the streamin was very blur until I went into the cameras and lower the resolution to be 720p. some cameras work at 1080p in my experience but some do not

JH
John Honovich
•Jan 14, 2015
IPVM
In reply to Jorge Arriaga

That is some high quality software ;)

Thanks for the feedback, it is helpful to see how you've worked around issues!

JA
Jorge Arriaga
•Jan 14, 2015
In reply to John Honovich

sure, I would recommend also to look at VstarCam C7838 model; is a cheap camera with a great resolution for the price. I know cannon has bought housands of this and selling online now. Better than foscams for sure.

U
Undisclosed #1
•Jan 14, 2015
IPVMU Certified
In reply to John Honovich

Clearly failing to live up to its 'exquisite' rating.

(1)
Avatar
Tony Darland
•Feb 19, 2015
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Jorge Arriaga

Where did you find the firmware?

JA
Jorge Arriaga
•Feb 19, 2015
In reply to Tony Darland

I have the firmware but supplier told me strictly not to share, I dont know if that is because they are using their own frimware or not. I know many chinesse vendors are using this nvr but from my experience the software being used is making a difference on performance. let me check back with him if he does not mind I share this. Have you asked your supplier to share firmware?

Avatar
Tony Darland
•Feb 20, 2015
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Jorge Arriaga

Jorge

We got it off Amazon. We knew tech support would be limited, but felt the risk was worth the cost if the solution actually worked. So, any help in finding firmware would be appreciated.

AA
Andres Agredo
•Jun 04, 2015
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Jorge Arriaga

Jorge could you send the firmware this closed group of friends ;) ?

(1)
TC
Trisha (Chris' wife) Dearing
•Jun 04, 2015
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Andres Agredo

It's here.

Avatar
Tony Darland
•Feb 19, 2015
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Jorge Arriaga

Where did you find the firmware?

AA
Andres Agredo
•Jan 26, 2015
IPVMU Certified

I want to thanks and say that John really listen his IPVM's Members.

I made the recomendation for testing this product when I was participating on the -Fall 2014 IP Camera Training-, that by the way I highly recomend. (not only fo the theoric information but also for the specific and practical information based on their experience on particular brand/models.)

I work in a industrial enviroment, where I need to install many monitors/TV to display the cameras and I am always looking for a solution that is efective, efficient, pracitcal and that use less resources.

I tried many devices like: Axis Video Decoder (P7001), NLSS HD Decoder (DC-400-2), Advantech Fanless PC, even a Apple MacMini runing Windows 7 (the best so far). Now I am triyng this little devices, understanding its limitations but considering its very low cost and size.

PD: I wonder if Jhon gave it as Christmas gift to Derek as he mentioned on the training....

Regards,

Andres AGREDO

Automation Engineer.

JH
John Honovich
•Jan 26, 2015
IPVM
In reply to Andres Agredo

Andrew, lol @Derek, I think he got one of the HD TVs we tested last year...

Avatar
Tony Darland
•Feb 18, 2015
IPVMU Certified

I couldn't get any Axis or Panasonic cameras to connect. I tried cameras athat were in the same switch as the NVR, as well as cameras in other building but on our network. Very frustrating. I've messed with it so much that I'd like to factory reset it to start with a clean slate. Does anyone know if this is posible to do with this unit?

Avatar
Tony Darland
•Feb 18, 2015
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Tony Darland

Also, I'm just interested in using it for a spot minitor.

JA
Jorge Arriaga
•Feb 19, 2015
In reply to Tony Darland

On the settngs section there is an option to restore to default. regards,

Avatar
Blaine D'Amico
•Mar 19, 2021

889 covered? Mfr?

Avatar
Ethan Ace
•Mar 19, 2021
In reply to Blaine D'Amico

This is a pretty old test and we did not tear the NVR down at the time, but I would not trust that it's compliant with Section 889. Also, that specific model is no longer available and there are surprisingly few alternatives on Amazon, now.

Avatar
Blaine D'Amico
•Mar 19, 2021

Yeah as expected. The good news is I now have an Occam's razor for all our purchases. Sec 889 covered? If yes or do not know, rejected and moving on.

Really lightens the decision making burden since so much is not NDAAsec889 compliant.