Choosing CCTV Video Recorders
CCTV Solutions Powered by WD Purple™
The video recorder is where the video from your camera gets processed for storing & viewing.
Types of video recorders
DVR (Digital Video Recorder)
- DVRs work well with traditional analog cameras.
- The DVR processes analog videos into digital formats for recording and viewing.
NVR (Network Video Recorder)
- NVRs are best for using with modern IP (Internet Protocol) cameras.
- NVRs obtain video via digital signals from the cameras via a shared network.
Comparing DVR and NVR
| Comparison | DVR | NVR |
|---|---|---|
| Cameras | Analog or coaxial cable based cameras | IP camera |
| Image Quality | Usually Lower - Available in 720p, 2MP (1080p) | Usually Higher - Available in 2MP, 4MP, 5MP and 12MP (4K) |
| Wiring | • Needs power cable as well as audio/video cable (Coaxial or Siamese cable) • Each camera needs to be wired to the DVR • Signal range limited to about 1000 ft. |
• Wireless or via Ethernet Cable • Same wire for audio, video and power • Signal over network, not limited by wiring |
| Installation | Relatively complex | Relatively easy |
| Cost | Lower for DVR, high for wiring | Higher for NVR, low for wiring |
| Channels | Usually comes with 8, 16 or 36 channels | • Usually comes with 4, 8 or 16 channels • Number of cameras supported may be more than channels, depending on network bandwidth and video specifications |
| Scalability | Number of cameras is limited to available ports | • Easy to add more cameras • More than one camera can be added to a single port using a POE (Power over Ethernet) switch |