Dahua HDCVI

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mdf

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# 212767 11-Apr-2017 22:45

I'm looking at CCTV cameras. Doing my research on the forums, Dahua seems a pretty popular/respected brand. Can anyone tell me what HD-CVI is and what it means in practice? From what I gather, I think the cameras aren't IP cameras.

Is this a downside? Best practice seems to be well and truly keeping any and all IP cameras well away from the internet anyway, so I'm not sure there's any harm in using non-IP cameras.

Basic requirements: 4 cameras, dedicated NVR (or equivalent), single run of cable to each camera (i.e. POE if IP cameras), decent resolution cameras, don't need remote monitoring/live alets/phone app, must be simple to use. Budget is approx $1500, but I'm not paying for it so am really aiming for simple and straightforward, not cobbling together something from 3 different suppliers and compiling my own kernel.

Bad experiences have completely turned me off Aliexpress and its equivalents, so really looking for a local supplier.

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# 1761945 12-Apr-2017 07:02

HD-CVI = High Definition Composite Video Interface, it uses coax for its video signal and i believe it can use the same cable for power as well.

The thing is its analogue though. so not IP cameras.

Personally i would be using PoE cameras

Here is their marketing Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z_Vm_qhf6Q

sbiddle

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# 1761946 12-Apr-2017 07:07

HDCVI is a drop in replacement for existing analogue camera systems with coax already in place. HDCVI gives you MP cameras witthout needing to replace coax cabling with cat5.

There is no logical reason why you'd deploy HDCVI vs IP in a new build. Running camera cable (coax+power) will cost around 3x the price of running cat5/6 and you'll also need an additional power supply.

Ignore Aliexpress at your own will as there are some very respectable and knowledgeable Dahua resellers on there (along the wannabes) but as a benchmark a 4CH POE NVR with 4 x 4MP IP cameras could be landed in NZ for well under NZ$600. 2MP HDCVI cameras are under 1/2 the price of 4MP IP but you'll pay more for a DVR/NVR.

As for keeping cameras off the internet the issue isn't so much allowing outbound traffic (you'll need some for things such as NTP to work), it's when people configure port forwards to CCTV gear. This should vever ever be done under any circumstances.

chevrolux

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# 1761948 12-Apr-2017 07:08

The only reason to use HDCVI is if you have an existing installation and re-cabling with Ethernet is too hard.

For new installations you should go fully IP. For ultimate simplicity I think Hikvision wins over Dahua. If you get their 4-channel NVR with built in PoE. The cameras are literally plug and play. Then there is just tinkering to get the image just right and to set up passwords, recording schedules etc.

Sidestep

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# 1761952 12-Apr-2017 07:20

Sorry to hear you had Aliexpress issues.
A few years ago we bought a Dahua 4104-P NVR (the 4-P just means 4 PoE cameras) with 4 HFW4300S cameras - all from Aliexpress tho..

The NVR was a couple hundy, cameras were around $100ea (the equivalent now is 1320S at $US80 or so)

Got a WD purple HDD on sale, plugged it all together with Cat5 and it's been running ever since.
Biggest problem is spiders building webs across the bullet cams, don't notice so much in daylight but as soon as it gets dark IR lights them up like Christmas trees.

Liked it so much we bought an 8 cam Dahua setup from the same place (which also works well).

Edit-clarity

Taho

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# 1762329 12-Apr-2017 17:18

sbiddle:

HDCVI is a drop in replacement for existing analogue camera systems with coax already in place. HDCVI gives you MP cameras witthout needing to replace coax cabling with cat5.

There is no logical reason why you'd deploy HDCVI vs IP in a new build. Running camera cable (coax+power) will cost around 3x the price of running cat5/6 and you'll also need an additional power supply.

Ignore Aliexpress at your own will as there are some very respectable and knowledgeable Dahua resellers on there (along the wannabes) but as a benchmark a 4CH POE NVR with 4 x 4MP IP cameras could be landed in NZ for well under NZ$600. 2MP HDCVI cameras are under 1/2 the price of 4MP IP but you'll pay more for a DVR/NVR.

As for keeping cameras off the internet the issue isn't so much allowing outbound traffic (you'll need some for things such as NTP to work), it's when people configure port forwards to CCTV gear. This should vever ever be done under any circumstances.

Are there a couple of sellers you can recommend for the Dahua gear on Aliexpress?

sbiddle

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# 1762371 12-Apr-2017 18:12

Taho:

Are there a couple of sellers you can recommend for the Dahua gear on Aliexpress?

It's been a long time since I've purchased anything from there as I source it elsewhere.

Empire Technology https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1200032 is highly regarded on one of the big CCTV forum sites.

sparkz25

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# 1763343 12-Apr-2017 18:49

i use unifi nvr and unifi cameras at home and they are actually pretty good, i have 4 domws and 2 uvc's, the nvr software is free and you can load that on to any old pc with decent hard drive space on windows mac or even ubuntu server, i run myne on a ubuntu server 16.04 vm and it works flawlessly, i even have remote access setup on an obscure port, the cameras are 720p, im currentely looking in to the 1080p g3 cameras that have as the quality on those are awesome (a friend has mutiple of the g3 deployed) the setup of everything is easy as and you can power them using the poe adapters or use a ERX-SFP and use that as a switch if need be for around $160 for the router, 90% of the time the nvr is using 2% cpu of the 1 core that has been assigned to it and 1gb of ram out of the 2gb that i have assigned it

have a look at their gear https://www.ubnt.com/products/

Handle9

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# 1763347 12-Apr-2017 19:02

sparkz25:

i use unifi nvr and unifi cameras at home and they are actually pretty good, i have 4 domws and 2 uvc's, the nvr software is free and you can load that on to any old pc with decent hard drive space on windows mac or even ubuntu server, i run myne on a ubuntu server 16.04 vm and it works flawlessly, i even have remote access setup on an obscure port, the cameras are 720p, im currentely looking in to the 1080p g3 cameras that have as the quality on those are awesome (a friend has mutiple of the g3 deployed) the setup of everything is easy as and you can power them using the poe adapters or use a ERX-SFP and use that as a switch if need be for around $160 for the router, 90% of the time the nvr is using 2% cpu of the 1 core that has been assigned to it and 1gb of ram out of the 2gb that i have assigned it

have a look at their gear https://www.ubnt.com/products/

Umm an obscure port makes no difference if you get port scanned. Not trying to be preachy but get a VPN or your network is really insecure.

chevrolux

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# 1763370 12-Apr-2017 19:36

Handle9:

sparkz25:

i use unifi nvr and unifi cameras at home and they are actually pretty good, i have 4 domws and 2 uvc's, the nvr software is free and you can load that on to any old pc with decent hard drive space on windows mac or even ubuntu server, i run myne on a ubuntu server 16.04 vm and it works flawlessly, i even have remote access setup on an obscure port, the cameras are 720p, im currentely looking in to the 1080p g3 cameras that have as the quality on those are awesome (a friend has mutiple of the g3 deployed) the setup of everything is easy as and you can power them using the poe adapters or use a ERX-SFP and use that as a switch if need be for around $160 for the router, 90% of the time the nvr is using 2% cpu of the 1 core that has been assigned to it and 1gb of ram out of the 2gb that i have assigned it

have a look at their gear https://www.ubnt.com/products/

Umm an obscure port makes no difference if you get port scanned. Not trying to be preachy but get a VPN or your network is really insecure.

I got all excited by about Unifi Video when it came out and installed it at a few sites - almost instant regret.

Software was classic UBNT and buggy as hell. Camera quality was decidedly average - not to mention you basically had to have server-quality hardware to run the NVR software with the cams on anything more than 15fps. And it took just a fair bit of mucking around getting it all configured and working properly. I fully realise there have been massive software improvements since then but when it comes to security you just can't have a product like that.

pchs

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# 1763377 12-Apr-2017 19:42

chevrolux:

I got all excited by about Unifi Video when it came out and installed it at a few sites - almost instant regret.

Software was classic UBNT and buggy as hell. Camera quality was decidedly average - not to mention you basically had to have server-quality hardware to run the NVR software with the cams on anything more than 15fps. And it took just a fair bit of mucking around getting it all configured and working properly. I fully realise there have been massive software improvements since then but when it comes to security you just can't have a product like that.

I kind of had the opposite experience, I bought a Dahua DVR and around 2k of cameras - installed them at a remote site and just never really got anywhere with the interface on the Dahua DVR and the app was just nasty, I probably could have spent more time on it, but ripped them out and installed Ubiquit UVC's and the DVR and have never looked back, quality and night vision is Ok, but the DVR and App works nicely. Dahua stuff is now sitting in a cupboard :(

mdf

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# 1763382 12-Apr-2017 19:51

I'm most likely going to get a Dahua setup from PBTech over the weekend (they're having an Easter Sale! Who'd have thunk it!?). Unfortunately, they seem to be out of kits, and so I will need to buy the parts separately. I was having a look at other brands that do have single box kits available (which does have some advantages). Anyone with any thoughts/experience on Uniden as a CCTV brand? I'm looking at this kit.

sparkz25

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# 1763406 12-Apr-2017 20:41

pchs:

chevrolux:

I got all excited by about Unifi Video when it came out and installed it at a few sites - almost instant regret.

Software was classic UBNT and buggy as hell. Camera quality was decidedly average - not to mention you basically had to have server-quality hardware to run the NVR software with the cams on anything more than 15fps. And it took just a fair bit of mucking around getting it all configured and working properly. I fully realise there have been massive software improvements since then but when it comes to security you just can't have a product like that.

I kind of had the opposite experience, I bought a Dahua DVR and around 2k of cameras - installed them at a remote site and just never really got anywhere with the interface on the Dahua DVR and the app was just nasty, I probably could have spent more time on it, but ripped them out and installed Ubiquit UVC's and the DVR and have never looked back, quality and night vision is Ok, but the DVR and App works nicely. Dahua stuff is now sitting in a cupboard :(

have you seen the night vision on the new g3 cameras, its amazing! i was actually quite surprised at how well it works.

pchs

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# 1763416 12-Apr-2017 21:02

sparkz25:

pchs:

chevrolux:

I got all excited by about Unifi Video when it came out and installed it at a few sites - almost instant regret.

Software was classic UBNT and buggy as hell. Camera quality was decidedly average - not to mention you basically had to have server-quality hardware to run the NVR software with the cams on anything more than 15fps. And it took just a fair bit of mucking around getting it all configured and working properly. I fully realise there have been massive software improvements since then but when it comes to security you just can't have a product like that.

I kind of had the opposite experience, I bought a Dahua DVR and around 2k of cameras - installed them at a remote site and just never really got anywhere with the interface on the Dahua DVR and the app was just nasty, I probably could have spent more time on it, but ripped them out and installed Ubiquit UVC's and the DVR and have never looked back, quality and night vision is Ok, but the DVR and App works nicely. Dahua stuff is now sitting in a cupboard :(

have you seen the night vision on the new g3 cameras, its amazing! i was actually quite surprised at how well it works.

Yes i have been very impressed, I have a couple of the bullet with the extended IR kits and they work well, prefer the dome's though as the angle is often too narrow on the bullets. Hoping they bring out some more models soon.

mdubsnz

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# 1763478 12-Apr-2017 22:02

I recently purchased a few of the Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z) cams after following this thread for some time. From what I could find, they appear to be best bang for buck if you're after good low light images.

richms

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# 1763488 12-Apr-2017 22:24

I am putting in some AHD - which is basically a different version of the same thing as HDCVI - HD over a crappy analog video cable.

Reason being there is absolutely no way to cost effectivly secure the cable against someone messing with it and it is easier and cheaper than messing about trying to get a NVR operating across VLANs (they only have one ethernet port unless you get the ones that make power, and no ability to have tagged vlans go into them.)

They are pretty poor compared to even a 720 IP camera. But they are cheap, the DVR which supports them is cheap and they work fine for the price.

Richard rich.ms

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