DVR (Digital Video Recorder) is a PC device which acts like a VCR in that it has the ability to record and playback video image. DVR takes the feed from a camera and records it into a digital format on a storage device which is most commonly the hard drive.

It is important to have the complete package of the latest components in order to receive optimum performance. The absence of one aspect of a current generation solution may "bottleneck" the system and in some cases even hinder the performance instead of enhancing. Additionally, the right combination of products needs to be tweaked for optimal performance.

While knowledge of using a mouse and keyboard is helpful, it is not required. Anyone can learn to operate and program any of the DVR functions, as the software was designed with user-friendly Graphic User Interface for ease of use.

Basically, we release newer version software periodically, based on the changes on platforms and additional features. We develop and test our software on up-to-date environment, and there may be major revision that would prevent backward compatibility if necessary.
Therefore, it is recommended to keep the original version that  was purchased with.
If the update is unavoidable, please check with your vendor to ensure your system meets requirements.

Definitely. Software is just as important as the hardware. Software that runs the principal functions of the DVR is driven by database. The architecture and design of the database are crucial to systems stability and speed of which it processes the data. Quite often poor database structure will slow down even the best hardware and, in many cases, cause systems crash.

- Real-time, full frame display - same as the Live board
- Real-time, up to 960 frame recording (NTSC) for 32 channels
- Healthy PC - minimal use of CPU even while Real-time recording
- Up to 32 channel audio synchronized with video
- Higher speed transmissions
- High quality, detailed image by using advanced imaging technology

Some video capture boards are also used for displaying the video as well as capture. Sharing the resources of the capture boards may be disadvantageous since it is using valuable processing power and inherently causes slower transmission for a variety of technical reasons, especially when trying to simultaneously capture image from multiple cameras.
Video capture boards are usually described in terms of how many camera input it will support and how many image per second (ips) or frames per second (fps) it is capable of recording. IPS and FPS are used synonymously.
Beyond these two basic reference points, there are significant differences that are usually not described by most manufacturers. Just like PCs, there are several subcomponents that go into making the product fast, stable and efficient and can cause the price as well as the performance of the products to vary radically.

30fps DVR board means 30 shared frame rate. What that means is a 30fps DVR board is 30 frames per second over the entire number of cameras being displayed. Therefore, a 4-channel DVR board sharing 30 frames may yield approximately 7.5 image per second per camera.

The frame rate is a number of image that are being displayed or recorded over a specific period of time. Typically, frames per second or "fps" is the specification most often used. Keep in mind that frame rate record and frame rate display are two different items.

The architecture of most DVR boards is such that, regardless of the total frame rate of the entire DVR board, you typically do not exceed 30fps per individual channel since there is usually only one chipset dedicated to that channel. The purpose of higher frame rate DVR boards is the ability to view at higher frame rates over multiple channels. For example, on a 240fps DVR board, you would view 8 cameras at an average rate of 30fps, whereas on a 30fps DVR board the same would be less than 4fps over each of the 8 channels.

When the internet was first conceived, the architects didn't foresee the need for an unlimited number of IP addresses. Consequently, there are not enough IP numbers to go around. To get around that problem, many internet service providers use dynamic IP addresses. Dynamic IP addresses are addresses that are temporarily assigned to your computer from a pool for an internet session or some other specified time. As soon as the session or period is complete the number is returned to the pool for use by another customer. Even if the user reconnects immediately, the odds are they will not be assigned the same IP address from the pool. You can locate your IP address by typing in checkip.dyndns.org in your browser.

A static IP is a number that is assigned to a computer by an Internet Service Provider (such as SBC, Verizon, Comcast, etc.) to be its permanent address on the internet. Computers use IP addresses to locate and talk to each other on the internet, much the same way people use phone numbers to locate and talk to one another on the telephone. Every machine on the internet has a unique identifying number which consists of four groups of number with no more than 3 digits in a group. A typical static IP address would look like 24.125.30.51

Typically, you can plug anywhere from 1 to 32 cameras. The cameras normally plug into BNC or RCA input on the DVR boards. Some boards come with a single video adapter and uses a pigtail cable which has multiple adapters on one end and a single connection on the other end.

Generally yes. Your existing cameras will work by plugging into the back of the DVR which replaces the VCR. Some old CCTV cameras may require to have proper connector depending on the connection type.  If your cameras are not so current, then you may want to investigate some of the newer cameras which are higher in resolution and may have more features. Typically, higher resolution cameras mean higher quality image.

Standard coaxial cable such as the one which runs in your home to connect with the cable company is highly recommended (RG59U). You need to connect BNC connectors on the DVR end and BNC or RCA connectors on the camera end depending on the camera type. Try to keep cable length under 300ft and avoid close proximity to fluorescent fixtures or other electrical devices that may cause interference. For longer distances, there are a variety of other solutions from RG56U to fiber.

Data backup devices include CD-RWs, DVD-RAMs, DVD-RWs, DATs, etc., any device that Windows recognizes as a drive, and you can also backup on a network drive.
The unit of the data is 1 minute, and can only be viewed through the supplied Backupviewer. Data backup is also possible on the Search program, where it can be saved in AVI format, making it conveniently viewable through the Windows Media Player (by enabling "View-Caption" from the menu, you can also conform information data).