My previous experience with security system setup involved a wireless system that was very simple to set up and easy to maintain.This system is NOT for beginners.
MUST be connected to a TV/Monitor for setup.
Pros:
Defender has online videos that help with setup and provide tips. This is useful.
four bullet and four dome cameras more than you will likely need.
Watertight cameras nice for outdoor mounting.
Tamper proof installation of cameras another nice feature (as long as you drill a hole in the wall....)
500GB DVR provides plenty of recording space.
multiple resolution settings
more options than I require as a homeowner for settings times to record, days to record can be done separately for each camera you can even have block zones for sensitive areas (like your safe or other area that you don't want recorded.
Camera connection cables are plenty long for running from the DVR to the cameras and you can connect them together if you don't need all the cameras for extra long runs.
Menu options are ok you really need to take the time to watch the videos and potentially call the company to ensure you have it all down.
Network viewing option great!
Cons:
One of my cameras was DOA I have emailed support for resolution we'll see what happens.
Again setup is NOT for the faint of heart there is a great deal involved from running the wires, to determining where to set up the DVR and even setting up remote viewing from your outside computer or smart device.
Uses RCA video from DVR to monitor what is this, 1985?! What about HDMI like the rest of the world? It would be nice to pull in audio alongside the video with ONE cable.
I just set the system up so I will see what sort of recordings I get tonight (I typically only record at night to see what's going on out there) and I will add night vision capabilities to the review.
Overall this is a VERY complete system. You need to plan out your camera locations and be able to run the cables and mount the system properly. This means being able to drill through walls and run cables potentially through conduit or through the attic or crawlspace. Again not for the amateur. Wireless is the wave of the future I would think that would be a far better option given the state of the technology.
As for setting up the cameras (four dome cameras for the inside and four bullet cameras for outside (they are water-resistant but not waterproof, so you need to mount them where they'll have some protection as in under the eaves), I have only set the outside cameras in place to set up the system. We will install later next month when our painter finishes the exterior. For the purpose of this review, all cameras are working and the clarity is good, both during the day and at night. I will further tweak the system once the outdoor cameras are permanently in place. But here's what I learned: visibility is very good and under most conditions, a trespasser's face could be identified. Since we live in a remote mountainous area on acreage, we were anxious to have some type of monitoring/recording device in place.
Defender has several videos to show best areas for camera installation, a five-step hookup guide (that didn't work for me but might for others), and a couple of guides to set up internal and external networks.
In all, I spent about four hours watching the tutorials, talking to a Defender technician and my local electronics supplier to make sure I covered all my options. The actual camera hookup took only minutes; running lines through the house's crawl space will be a bit more time-consuming, but overall, this system was easy enough to figure out for a newbie and should be simple for anyone with a better knowledge of electronics and security systems. One negative was figuring out where the User's Manual was located. Go to the www.defender-usa.com site and click on Support, then Download Center. Click on DIY Security Systems and finally click on the 8CH Smart Security DVR with 8 Ultra Hi-Res Security Cameras & 500GB HDD (Model No. 21031)--sixth from the top. The User's Manual is a pdf file available in English or French. Despite the difficulty of finding the manual, I give the system two thumbs up. While remote access is an added feature of this system, since I don't have a Smartphone, it's not something I can comment on in my review. I like that the 500GB hard drive can hold over two year's of recorded data and that the DVR functions just like a computer with a USB mouse and/or the remote. The One Step Remote Viewing software auto-networks your DVR and is a free download for PC or Mac.
The night vision camera feature is accurate for 100 feet. This Defender Sentinel package includes the following:
* DVR with 500GB HDD
* 2 x BNC to RCA Connectors
* 10ft RJ-45 Ethernet Cable
* 6ft Power Adapter (cUL certified)
* 6ft RCA video cable
* Instruction Manual & Software CD
* USB Mouse
* IR Remote Controller with batteries
* Window Warning Stickers
* DVR Quick Start Guide
* 4 x Indoor/Outdoor Dome Security Cameras
* 4 x Outdoor Security Cameras
* 8 x 65ft Extension Cables
* Power Adapter
* 2 x Four-to-One Power Splitter
* Mounting Hardware
* Camera Quick Start Guide
The DVR is their model #21013, the bullet cameras are their model #21006 and the dome cameras are their model #21060.
Installation was fairly easy... it only took me about 7 1/2 hours to install the 4 dome speakers inside the house, the four bullet speakers outside, run all the cables and set the DVR up. The instruction manual was well-organized and comprehensive. We elected the 24/7 "always on" option instead of only using the motion-detecting option (you can choose either).
Observations: The bullet (outdoor) cameras deliver a great picture both in daylight and nighttime. The cameras have an IR cut filter that delivers more life-like nighttime colors. Living in Florida, there are a lot of outdoor cats and I could easily see the black-striped one two doors down across the street. I saw a fledgling Blue Jay hopping around yesterday under the guidance of its parents, tand went out this morning and saw a few feathers in the corner of the backyard. I was worried so I viewed last night's footage and the camera picked out a raccoon attacking the little bird in the middle of the night. It was very sad. The only good news is that the camera image was excellent in viewing small dark animals.
My wife checked on our baby sitter remotely (via smart phone) two nights ago and saw a good clear picture feed from the dome cameras inside the house.
Recommendation: Highly recommended. The DVR playback is easy, the bullet cameras have excellent night vision, and the images provided to a remote device are clear and distinct. This came at the opportune time for me, because my husband and I have invested in small wine bar (we own a third and we're both work there part time). Actually it's a coffee wine bar, but we call it a wine bar, even though we serve coffee ala Starbuck's. Needless to say, this Defender Sentinel security system is going to come in real handy.
Until we got this, we had no cameras installed. It arrived yesterday afternoon and the three guys got it hooked up in a little over an hour. We have the domes set up inside, where they can watch over the restaurant and the cash register and the bullet cameras set up outside, hopefully to discourage and prevent anyone from breaking in when we're not there, though we do have an alarm system. Still, that won't stop someone who wants to smash and grab and be on his way before the police come. But if that does happen, now we'll be able to see who it was.
The images from the cameras are surprisingly clear. The dome cameras are unobtrusive and the bullet cameras are not, which is what we want. Though we've only had this set up for a day, it's looking like just what the doctor ordered for us. I had to get some help hooking up the outside cameras but it went very fast. Only took about 90 minutes to hook up the entire set, inside and out. I waited until dark to see what it would show and how clear it would be and was surprised to see how clear it was, even 30 feet away, someone was out walking their dogs and I could see them as if I was standing next to them, it was that clear. It also clearly showed the neighbors in their driveway 80 feet away that I could definitely see it was them and could even tell you what they were wearing, of course that was in the daylight but after seeing the people walking their dogs so clearly in the dark I have no doubt it would be just as clear that 80 feet away as it was in the daylight. We have a few thieves in town (mostly stealing gas from cars) and it's nice to know that even though this won't stop them from coming into your yard and stealing items you have out for display, it will catch them doing it and you will be able to use it to prosecute them without having to worry if the picture is clear enough to identify them. I also got a kick out of watching what it had on video of my cats after I go to bed. I knew they got into just about everything but was surprised at a few things and it was funny to watch them play in the dark as if it were daylight from what I was watching... I can see where if you have a baby sitter this will tell you everything you want and need to know. I really feel, with more cameras, that this set would be perfect for any business to use. The material the cameras are made of is very sturdy, even the outside ones, and I expect them to work for many years to come. The directions are very clear and easy to follow and the dvr was quick to set up, just took a few minutes. The price seems high to me but I've never looked at these before so maybe it's just right and for what it does, it will be worth it.
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