CIB K404AV500G H.264 4 CH Network Security Surveillance DVR Recording System ...

Unlike many other security DVR's, this model can record both audio and video a must-have feature to me.

Pros:

1. Very inexpensive 4-CH A/V model including a built-in 500GB hard disk.

2. Sound recording quality is quite good. Better than many other more expensive models on the market.

Cons:

1. The spec listed the Highest display setting as:

* High Resolution VGA output in 1600x1200 Resolution

Actual highest setting allowed is 1280x1024. Poor preview if you put four channels on one screen.

2. Mediocre video image quality even at D1 resolution:

I tried two CCTV cameras and can not even get the image sync up. Finally, I got it work with my Panasonic camcorder. This model seems require 1.2V P-P/75ohm signal instead of the standard CCTV 1.0V P-P/75ohm video out. All image appears wash out. The image quality seems closely related to the signal level.

3. Loud system noise level:

The unit ran very quiet when first power up. After the unit warm up, it started emitting loud noise. The sound appear to coming out of the hard disk but I can't be sure.

4. Poor manual documentation & support(no support phone#):

a. No instruction on email setup

b. IE setup instruction does not work. I can only get Firefox to work.

c. Poor network setup instruction. I managed to get it work within local network. But can not get portforward to work. A local net DVR is useless to me. Never got far enough to try iPhone app.

d. Alarm-in/out stated as unsupported feature. Don't they know this is a security product? You can't connect to your home alarm if someone cut your video camera wire???

5. Sound playback over network breaks up:

I played back the same .avi file locally and found no problem. The problem appears to related Ethernet loss of packets (slow network hardware.)

In conclusion, this model could be a good choice to someone only do local DVR. Recommend buying unit bundled with cameras since this model seems only work with certain cameras. Loud system noise level is a deal breaker. Not sure this problem is just specific to my unit only.

This DVR is relatively easy to set up. The internet part is mind boggling though. I even loaded the software on my Blackberry and I can only view my cameras on my phone if I use my wi-fi, regardless of how I set it up. A little pointless. Customer service is moderately helpful, but there is a serious communication/language gap which makes the help they are trying to give hard to use. Aside from the internet issues, the DVR is great.

Buy CIB K404AV500G H.264 4 CH Network Security Surveillance DVR Recording System ... Now

I was concerned after reading a few of the reviews, however, I received the DVR last week and everything works as expected. I've worked to set the motion sensor so it doesn't record leaves moving. I also setup the machine through the home router so I can view the videos and live shots through a laptop. That feature is a must and makes it very convenient. Just plug it into the router and access the IP address of the DVR device.

I'm semi computer savy but the machine was very easy to hook up. The display when viewing from the DVR is primitive but when you use Chrome/IE/etc it's very user friendly and visually appealing.

This is my first surveillance DVR so I don't have anything to compare it to, but, for the price, I'm happy. In this age of buying so much online, unfortunately, it may come in handy some time if someone decides to steal stuff off the patio...

Update: Hooked up the email alerts and was pleasantly surprised. It sends a photo of the movement (if you have it setup for motion sense). Pretty cool. The instructions are less than helpful but for gmail the settings would be (after googling it):

Status ON

SSL ON

SMTP PORT 465

SMTP SERVER

SEND EMAIL YourAddress @gmail.com

SEND PASSWORD YourPassword

RECV EMAIL YourAddress @gmail.com (unless you want it sent to another email address)

Read Best Reviews of CIB K404AV500G H.264 4 CH Network Security Surveillance DVR Recording System ... Here

DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM CIB!!!!! THEY HAVE THE MOST UNRELIABLE SERVER! I HAVE USED OTHER BRANDS DVRS AND THE REMOTE VIEWING WORKS FLAWLESSLY. CIB IS ANOTHER STORY! SOMETIMES THE REMOTE VIEWING FROM A PC WORKS, BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT DOES NOT WORK! I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH DVRS AND I KNOW HOW TO SET THEM UP AND IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE HOW THE REMOTE VIEWING WORKS AT TIMES AND THEN DOES NOT WORK AFTER I DID NOT EVEN TOUCH THE SYSTEM. HOWEVER, REMOTE VIEWING FROM A MOBILE PHONE WORKS EVERY TIME, BUT JUST REOTE VIEWING FROM A PC DOES NOT WORK! THIS DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE! when i try to view on pc it just says "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage." THEIR SERVER IS NOT AT ALL RELIABLE! DO NOT BUY!!!!!!! I do recommend swann brand dvrs though, but definitely not cib!

Want CIB K404AV500G H.264 4 CH Network Security Surveillance DVR Recording System ... Discount?

Its a budget unit with a decent feature set, so I wasn't expecting much. I was, however, expecting it to last longer than 42 days. 12 days past Amazon's return date, and to date warranty inquiries have been ignored by the seller and manufacturer.

Unit boots up and displays the video feeds, but will not record or connect to the network. All inquiries to the menu get error message "no root".

This is the second CIB unit. The first a different model failed outright in six months.

Save 16% Off