Exacq M Series Low Cost NVR Tested

By: Ethan Ace, Published on Oct 12, 2017

With recent cyber security issues hitting NVRs and cameras from low cost leaders Dahua and Hikvision, users are increasingly seeking alternatives to this low priced gear.

Exacq's M series NVRs aim to challenge low cost models from Dahua and Hikvision, building Exacq's VMS into a compact recorder with built in PoE, at a price point much closer than traditional PC/VMS offerings.

We bought and tested the M series NVR, examining the following features and how they compare to low cost models from Dahua and Hikvision:

Physical features
VMS features
Adding cameras
Camera compatibility
PoE budget
PoE monitoring and control
Throughput handling

**** ****** ***** ******** issues ******* **** *** cameras **** *** **** leaders*****************, ***** *** ************ seeking ************ ** **** low ****** ****.

*****'* * ****** ******* ** ********* *** cost ****** **** ***** *** *********, building *****'* *** **** a ******* ******** **** built ** ***, ** a ***** ***** **** closer **** *********** **/*** offerings.

** ****** *** ****** *** M ****** ***, ********* the ********* ******** *** how **** ******* ** low **** ****** **** Dahua *** *********:

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

[***************]

*******

** *** *****, *** Exacq * ****** *** *** several *********, *********:

***** ********** ********:** **** **** ** record *** ********* ** Mb/s ********** ***** ************** local ******* *** ******** searching *** ******** ** video, **** ** **** in ********* ** ******* frames. **** ********** *** far **** **** ****** for * ******** ** our *****, ***** ******** below ** **/*.
*** ********** *** ******:*** * ****** ****** easy ********* ** ******* via *** ***** ******, as **** ** ********** of *** ****, ******** not ***** ** ******* low **** *********.
****-******** ******** *************:******** *************' ******* **** automatically ********** *** ***** to *** * ****** NVR ******* *** *************, including ****, ******, *********, and ****. ******* *** cost ********* **** ************* add *** **** ***** of ******.

*******, ***** *** ******* key *********** ******** ** low **** ****** **** as ***** *** *********, as ****:

****** ******** *******:**** *** * ****** NVR *** ** ****** at * **** ** default, * ********** ** ExacqVision ***** ***** ***** loaded ** *** ***. By ********, *** **** NVRs ********* ***** ******** devices ** ** ****** simultaneously, **** ****** ********* in *** ******** ** recorders. ***** *** **** multiple * ****** **** by ********* ** ***** Pro, *** **** ******* costs ****** ** **** as *** ******** ******.
******* ******* *******:**** * *** * port * ****** ********* ship **** * ** max, ***** ***** *** Hikvision ********* ********* ******* options up ** * **, with **** ****** ********** a ****** *****, *** an ****** ** *** M ******. ***** **** they **** ***** ** introduce ********* ******* ******* before *** *** ** 2017.
****** *** ******:******* ** *** *** PoE ******, ***** *** find ****** ********** ****** power ******* ** *** M ******, **** ** outdoor ** *****, ********** those **** ***** ** heaters. **** *** **** models **** ***** *** Hikvision ******* ****** ***-**** PoE ******** *** ******* for ***.***.
***** ***** ***** ******** features:*** ***** ******* ******** on *** * ****** lacks ******* ******** ******** found ** ***** ***/** Hikvision's ********* **** **** with ***** *** ********, such ** **************,****** ***********, ****, ***-*** *****, and ****. ***** ******** may ** ***** ** upgrading ** ***** ************, though **** ************* ********* cost.

****: *** * ****** runs * **** ******* of*********** *****, *********** ********* ******** to ******** **** ******** of *** ***. ********** readers ****** *** ******* **** ****** ** Exacq*** **** ***********.

User ********* **********

**** **** ** **** report ** **** *** reviewed *** **** ********** of *****, *****, *********, or ******. ***** **** features *** *******, **** preference *** ********** ************ ******* impact ***** ** ** "better" ** * ***** install.

Exacq ****** ***** ******** ******

***** *** *** ***, if *** ******* ** cyber ***********************/********, * ******* ********* compared ** ********* *** Dahua, *** **** **** had ******** *************** ********* in *** **** *** years (*** ********* ******** *******, ******* ******** ********* ***** Recorders, *** ******** ** recent ******).

Potential **. *********/*****

*** ***** ******* *** a *** **** *** to ******* **** ********* or *****, *** * series ****** ***** ******** at * ******** ***** premium, ** **** ** broad ****** ***** *******, automated ***** *** **** manufacturers, *** *** *******, not ***** ** *** cost ******.

*******, *** ***********, ********** in *****-**** ******* *** storage *******, ** **** as *** **** ** advanced ******** ***** ** Dahua/Hikvision ********* *** ***, *** likely ** ** ************ for **** *****.

*******

*** * **** * series *** ***** *** about $*** *** ******, moderately **** ********* **** 8 **** ********* ******, ~$400-500 **** *** **** drives (**-******-**/**-********-******-**/**-***). *******, **** **** comparable ********* *** ***** NVRs ***** ******* ** multiple ********* ************** ***** the * ****** ******** an ******* ** *** for **** *******, *** typically ******* ****** *** budgets, ****** ********* *****.

* ****** ******* ** about $*,*** **** **** the **** ****** **** Exacq ******, *** **, which ****** ****** $*,***. The ****** ****** *** ********** ******** *** ***** sells *** ***** $*,***.

Physical ********

*** * ****** *** two ******* ******** *********** from ******* *** ****:

***, ***, *** *** ports: ** ******** ** *** PoE *****, *** * series ******** *** ***-*** ports, *** **** ** connect ** ****** ******* (connected to ******** ******* ** its ** ***** *****) and *** **** *** uplink ** ******* *** (labeled ***) *** ******* clients, ***** ****** ****** and **********/******* ******* ** be *********. ******* **** have * ****** *** port ** ******** ** on ***** *** ***** and ** *** ******** this *******.

****/****** **** ******:*** * ****** *** is ****** **** ** is ****, ******** ** the **** ****** ** typical ****, ***** *** typically ****** ** **** mount ***** (**"). **** form ****** ***** ** moderately ****** ** ***** the **** ** *** unit **** **** *******, as **** ***** *** closer ** *** **** of *** ****, *** may **** *** ** many *****.

** ****** ***** ******** features ** **** *****:

Wistia video player

Major **********: ****** ******** *******

*** ** *** ***, users *** **** ***** from **** *** * series *** ** * time, * ********** ** ExacqVision *****. ** ********, Hikvision *** ***** ********/****** apps ******** ******* ** multiple ******* ************** **** no **** *********, **** limits ** ***, ***, 500 ******* ** ******* depending ** ***** ****** or ****** *** ** used.

***** *** **** ***** from **** **** *** recorder ** ********* * series ******** ** ************, a ~$*** ******* **** (********* street *****), ******** *** cost ** *** ****.

Other ******** ******** *******

** ******** ** *****-**** viewing, *** *** * series/Exacq ***** **** ******* other ******** ***** ** typical *****, *********, *** other *********, *********:

** ***** ******:***** ***** *** ********* include **** ***** ****** via ***** ***-******* *** Easy4IP *********, ***** ***** must ******** **** ******* (port *****) ** *** VPNs *** ****** ******.
** ****** ******* ***********:************ ********* **** ******** access ******* ******* ***** integrates **** ***** *** their ******** *** **** software **** ** ******* fees. ****** *********** ** available ** *****, *** requires *** * ****** be ******** ** ************.
** **************:* ****** **** ** not ***** *** *****-********* out ** *** *** (requires ******* ** ************), while **** ***** *** Hikvision's *** ********* ***** switching ******* **** ********** and *** ********** ******* (manual ****, *** *********).
** ****:******* ** *** ******** in *********** ***** (******* Professional *******), *** ******** in ********* ****-**** *** Dahua ********.

PoE ******/******

* ****** **** **** a *** *** ****** of ***, ****** ** supply *.** (***** *) PoE ** *** *****. This ** ***** **** many *** ****, **** as*********'* ****** *** ***** ****** [link ** ****** *********], which **** ***/**** *** specs.

** *** ** ****** powering ******* ****** ** compact ******* ****** (***** bullets/domes) ** *** *****. However, **** ****** **** models **** ******* ****** to ***** ** *** to ****** ***** ************. Users ****** ** ***** of **** ********** *** plan ** *** ******** PoE ******** ** ********* for ***** ******.

PoE *******/**********

*** ***** ****** ******** an ********** **** **** connected ** * ****** NVRs *** *** ********** and *******. ***** *** see ****** ** ***** displayed ** ***** *** reboot ******* **** *** click (***** *****).

************, *** ****** *** current **** *** ***** below, ***** **** **** status:

Some ******* ***** *************

*** ********* ******* (*******, Axis, ********, *********, ******), users ****** **** ** plug *** ****** **** the *** **** *** the ******** ************* ******* it ** ******* *** adds ** ** *** VMS:

Most ******* ******** *************

*******, ***** *************' ******* must ********* ** ******** configured *** **** ********* to *** *** ****. The ******* ***** ** shown ** *** ***** interface ** *** *** when *********** ******* *** connected, ****** ***** ************ on *** ** *******. In *** *****, ******* **** Bosch, *****, *********, *** some ****** ****** ******** this *******.

Driver ********* *** ** *********

** **** *****, ********** cameras **** ***** ***** the ***** ******. *** instance, ***** ******** ********** Hikvision ******* ** ******** (above), *** *** ***** them ** ***** *** ONVIF, ******* ***** ***** a ****** ********* ****** available. ** ***** *****, the ****** *** ** manually ******* *** **-***** as *** ****** ******, but ***** ** ** way ** ****** ****** driver ******* ***** **.

Local ********* *** *******/*************

*** * ****** *** has * ***** ********* which *** ** **** for ******* *** *************, but ** *** ***** it *** **** ****** to *** **** *** Exacq *******/*** ****** ******* on ****** **** ********. For *******, ****** ******* the ***** ****** **** 20 ******* ** *** local ********* **** ***** normal **** (compared ** *-* ******* on ******** ******* *** *** machines ******. ****** ******* and ******** **** **** to ************* ** ******** are ********* ********.

Wistia video player

**** **** ***** ** a *** ******* ******** in *** * ******, but ** ** *** openly ***** ** ********* as * *******. ***** may ***** *** ********* command ** * ******** (available ** *** **** bar) ** **** ********, including *** ********* *******, in *** ******* *******:

***-**** ****://

**** **** **** ******* runs ** *******, ** live ***** ***** **** MJPEG ** *********** *** configuration *** ** ******* for **** ******** ***** require *******, *****, ** other *******.

40 **/* ********* ***** ********

** *** *****, ** were **** ** ************ record **** ** **/*, the ***'* ********* ********* spec, **** ** **** while **** ***** *** local ********* *** ******* and ******** ********* *** 8 ******** ** *****. Note **** ***** **** such ** ***** ** Hikvision **** ****** **********, but **** ** ********* aggregate, ********* ********* ** well ** ****** ******* streams.

******* **** *** ******* included *****, ***, *** and **. ******* *** ********* with ***** ****** ******* was ~** **/*. ******* were ****** ***** *********** ***** ** **** maximum ********** (** **/*+).

Fan *****

*** ***** ** *** Exacq * ****** *** noticeably ****** **** ******* PoE ****. ** ****** the * ****** **** * cameras ********* ** *** rear *** ***** *** live **** ******* ******* the ***** *********.

**** *** ******* ***** ~1' **** **** *** NVR, *** ***** * series **** ~****, ~**** above *** ******* **** noise ** ~****, ***** in *** ***** *****:

Wistia video player

*** ********* ******-**/** *** noticeably ******* ** ~****, only *** **** *******, shown *****:

Wistia video player

Comments (21)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

10/12/17 05:37pm

Did Razberi not have a patent on server/switch combos? It seems like everyone has one now.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 10/12/17 06:05pm

If yes, it does not mean that you are able to use it, you just need to pay a fee to them.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 10/12/17 06:13pm

Razberi has several patents, but without reading them I'm not sure which would specifically refer to the server/switch device. Just skimming them, also, it seems they're fairly generic.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

10/12/17 08:16pm

What OS is it running? Windows or Linux?

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 10/12/17 08:18pm

Debian Linux 8

John Honovich

IPVM | 10/12/17 08:40pm

The positive side is that the hardware tested fine (which was a question originally given the reduced specs (and the upcoming storage increase should resolve that limitation).

I do think Exacq and other VMS software providers need to re-examine what features they charge premiums for. Over time, 'premium' features become commoditized. There was a point years ago where forcing people to pay a premium to view multiple recorders at the same time made sense. It does not know. For example, if you had 20 cameras on multiple Exacq servers, it would cost more than $1,000 just for the software upgrade to see cameras across those servers at the same time. That's very difficult to justify when it is so commonly available free and is a simple thing to do.

Jeff Grunbaum

10/12/17 08:45pm

How is the units noise? Are the fans constantly running? I’m interested as this unit as a more residential/end user unit, not a unit that would be installed in typical Comms room.

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | 10/12/17 09:48pm

How is the units noise? Are the fans constantly running? I’m interested as this unit as a more residential/end user unit, not a unit that would be installed in typical Comms room.

Jeff, The fans are constantly running. I set up a decibel meter ~1' away from the fan and it consistently read ~57 dB, here is a short video:

Note: The NVR had 4 cameras connected to the POE ports and I was viewing live feed in the interface.

geert Huisman

In reply to Rob Kilpatrick | 10/15/17 12:32pm

I have installed one, but the noise is higher compared too hikvision and or Dahua. making it difficult too install in a residential environment.

in an office as well it starts irritating

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to geert Huisman | 10/16/17 03:37pm

I have installed one, but the noise is higher compared too hikvision and or Dahua. making it difficult too install in a residential environment.

Geert, I did the same thing with the Hikvision 7608 NVR (4 cameras connected while viewing live feed with dB meter ~1' away), it consistently read ~48 dB.

Short video here:

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

10/13/17 02:39pm

What is the Country of Origin?

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #4 | 10/13/17 03:22pm

It's assembled in Canada:

The processor is HiSilicon, which is Chinese, as with most electronic components.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 10/13/17 05:08pm

Here's a photo of the inside of the NVR (click for full size version):

One notable thing: the NVR includes a second HDD connection on the motherboard, and mounting posts for it. So it's technically possible to add another hard drive, but Exacq doesn't offer it as an option.

Thermal management was also a clear consideration, as the path of airflow is essentially straight across the hottest components, the processor and PoE ports.

geert Huisman

10/15/17 12:30pm

I find the Noise of thee unit high compared too others.

Charles Baker

10/16/17 03:47pm

It appears that one of the continuing challenges at TYCO is a disconnect between features, value and price. We saw this with the over-priced and poorly performing American Dynamics/Illustra line of hardware, and I think we are seeing it here, too, with Exacq.

Not sure how they believe they can release an entry-level NVR that cannot connect to multiple units simultaneously, when that is an entry level standard at this point.

Undisclosed Integrator #5

10/16/17 06:13pm

We have looked into these units before, but typically find better bang for the buck with low cost server grade hardware.

Of course the updgrade to Pro really hurts too. Start is fairly useless in many applications.

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | 10/16/17 10:13pm

Update -

Added a section comparing fan noise between Exacq M series and Hikvision 7608.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 12/13/17 06:55pm

Update: Exacq has increased the drive size options in the M Series, with up to 4TB now available in the 4 channel model and up to 6TB in the 8 channel NVR. Previously, 2TB was the max for both channel counts.

Brad Peterson

08/02/19 07:18pm

Ethan,

Is there a report on the LC series?

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Brad Peterson | 08/05/19 02:58pm

We do not have a report on the LC-series, is there a feature/capability of the LC you are interested in?

As Ethan noted in the report, the LC-series are generally more expensive than the M-series, while offering more storage, higher PoE output, and direct analog camera connections in some models.

Brad Peterson

In reply to Sean Patton | 08/05/19 07:40pm

Sean,

No special feature on the LC series. However I thought I read that it doesnt have POE, maybe I am incorrect.

Login to read this IPVM report.

Why do I need to log in?

IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Verkada Cloud VMS/Cameras Tested on May 02, 2019

Verkada is arguably the most ambitious video surveillance startup in many years. The company is developing their own cameras, their own VMS, their...

Mobotix Move OEM Camera Line Tested on Feb 25, 2019

Mobotix has long been criticized for not offering integrated IR, mechanical cut filters, varifocal lenses, optical zoom and other features that...

Genetec Security Center 5.8 Tested on Mar 19, 2019

Genetec has released Version 5.8. This comes after a wait of more than a year that caused frustrations for many Genetec partners. Our previous...

Camera Configuration Manager Shootout - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision on May 01, 2019

Which camera manufacturer has the best management tool? We tested 6 manufacturers - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision to find...

Exacq Remote Cloud Access Tested on Jun 20, 2019

Remote cloud access has been missing from most VMSes (including Exacq and Milestone). Now, Exacq, after releasing Cloud Drive Storage earlier in...

Network Optix / Hanwha Cloud Access Tested on Jul 02, 2019

Remote cloud access is becoming a bigger differentiator, as cybersecurity issues underscore the problems of port forwarding and many integrators...

CheckMySystems Company Profile on Aug 14, 2019

CheckMySystems says that too many users respond, "I get an email when something is wrong" when talking about their video system maintenance plan,...

Genetec Stratocast VSaaS Tested on Sep 05, 2019

The VSaaS market is rapidly expanding in 2019, with Verkada, Meraki, Eagle Eye, Avigilon and numerous startups growing their market share. When we...

Network Optix NxWitness 4.0 Tested on Oct 10, 2019

Network Optix released Nx Witness 4.0, proclaiming new features like a deep learning analytics metadata SDK, increased H.265 support, and UX...

IP Camera Browser Support: Who's Broken / Who Works on Dec 10, 2019

For many years, IP cameras depended on ActiveX control, whose security flaws have been known for more than a decade. The good news is that this is...

Most Recent Industry Reports

IronYun AI Analytics Tested on Feb 17, 2020

Taiwan startup IronYun has raised tens of millions for its "mission to be the leading Artificial Intelligence, big data video software as a service...