Amcrest NVR
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scoutermac
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2018 9:18 am
Amcrest NVR
I am considering the purchase of an Amcrest NVR. Before I purchase an Amcrest NVR I would like feedback on those that have or currently are using an Amcrest NVR. Good, Bad? Are you happy or frustrated with it? Currently I am using the Amcrest Cloud service for one camera, I am mostly happy with the App itself but unhappy with the service. The Amcrest Cloud service often goes down during the weekends and keeps resetting my camera. Is anyone having any sucess with their Amcrest Camera(s) with the Amcrest NVR?
Re: Amcrest NVR
I have the Amcrest NV4108E-HS. I have no issues with it. In fact, I have all 8 channels filled. It records my cameras at 1080p or above with no issues. The interface takes a little getting used to. At least it was for me since it was my first time owning a video surveillance system.
I ended up disconnecting the fan since it was too loud for my liking. It's working fine. I thought it would get hot--it hasn't. I made sure it's in a well ventilated area and also there's plenty of room under, above, and to the sides of it.
I love it. I have it recording 24-7-365.
I ended up disconnecting the fan since it was too loud for my liking. It's working fine. I thought it would get hot--it hasn't. I made sure it's in a well ventilated area and also there's plenty of room under, above, and to the sides of it.
I love it. I have it recording 24-7-365.
Re: Amcrest NVR
I would tend to agree with Z-Man. I've had the NV4116-HS (the version with no Ethernet ports, I use POE switches instead) since the first of the year and it's been a very reliable system. I have nine cameras, seven 4MP and two 3MP, recording 24/7 at max resolution. Having dedicated hardware (the NVR) instead of the cloud or even a PC-NVR eliminates those weak points in the system. The internet can be down and your local PC can be down and the system will continue to record, as long as the cameras, switches, router, and NVR have power.
I also have all of my cameras hardwired with Ethernet cables. Several of my cameras are Wifi, but they did not work well at all using Wifi. Lots of lag and loss of signal issues. As soon as I ran cables to them, those problems disappeared.
I mostly interact with the NVR via Surveillance Pro, and some via the browser interface. I have a monitor connected directly to the NVR, but rarely need it. As I assume you have experienced, the Amcrest software leaves a lot to be desired, but it mostly works once you get it set up.
Mike
I also have all of my cameras hardwired with Ethernet cables. Several of my cameras are Wifi, but they did not work well at all using Wifi. Lots of lag and loss of signal issues. As soon as I ran cables to them, those problems disappeared.
I mostly interact with the NVR via Surveillance Pro, and some via the browser interface. I have a monitor connected directly to the NVR, but rarely need it. As I assume you have experienced, the Amcrest software leaves a lot to be desired, but it mostly works once you get it set up.
Mike
Re: Amcrest NVR
I just got the NV2108E and hooked up the second camera and I am getting a "Invalid password" on it. Nothing works. No response from support...../
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scoutermac
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2018 9:18 am
Re: Amcrest NVR
Thank you for the feedback. Can you tell me which cameras you are using? Currently I have a ip4m-1026w that is connected with wifi. I am considering a dome camera. Have any of you compared the bullet cameras to the dome cameras?
Re: Amcrest NVR
I have both dome and bullet cameras. I feel they are very much the same as far as image quality and functionality. I use the dome cameras on my porches, where they are more easily reached. I feel they are a little more durable should someone try to smash them. The bullets are a little more vulnerable, so I have them mounted in higher locations.
The bullets are probably a little easier to aim, because the adjustment screws are all exposed. To mount and adjust the domes, you have to take the dome off. The camera is fully adjustable, but it took me a little while to figure out that the lens case rotates. Once I figured that out, I could aim the camera and level the image as needed in just about any mounting position. One small advantage of the dome, if it's important to you, is that it is a little more difficult to see which way the camera is pointed, so an intruder won't know as easily where to hide to try and avoid detection.
As I mentioned earlier, Wifi didn't work well for me. I started with two IP4M-1026W and two IP3M-956W cameras. Even with them relatively close to my router, there was a lot of delay and skipping, sometimes several seconds of video at a time. It was made worse when there was motion present, exactly when you don't want it to miss anything. So I gave up quickly and ran Ethernet cables to all four of them. Problem solved.
And, you didn't ask, but I'll say that I feel the image quality is definitely better with the 4MP cameras over the 3MP, especially at night. My 3MPs are on the porch, so fairly close range, so they are acceptable. But, if I had it to do over, I would just get the 4MP versions.
So, my current laundry list of cameras is as follows:
(2) IP3M-956W (dome, wireless, but connected with Ethernet)
(1) IP4M-1028E (dome, Ethernet)
(2) IP4M-1026W (bullet, wireless, but connected with Ethernet)
(4) IP4M-1026E (bullet, Ethernet)
I hope this helps.
Mike
The bullets are probably a little easier to aim, because the adjustment screws are all exposed. To mount and adjust the domes, you have to take the dome off. The camera is fully adjustable, but it took me a little while to figure out that the lens case rotates. Once I figured that out, I could aim the camera and level the image as needed in just about any mounting position. One small advantage of the dome, if it's important to you, is that it is a little more difficult to see which way the camera is pointed, so an intruder won't know as easily where to hide to try and avoid detection.
As I mentioned earlier, Wifi didn't work well for me. I started with two IP4M-1026W and two IP3M-956W cameras. Even with them relatively close to my router, there was a lot of delay and skipping, sometimes several seconds of video at a time. It was made worse when there was motion present, exactly when you don't want it to miss anything. So I gave up quickly and ran Ethernet cables to all four of them. Problem solved.
And, you didn't ask, but I'll say that I feel the image quality is definitely better with the 4MP cameras over the 3MP, especially at night. My 3MPs are on the porch, so fairly close range, so they are acceptable. But, if I had it to do over, I would just get the 4MP versions.
So, my current laundry list of cameras is as follows:
(2) IP3M-956W (dome, wireless, but connected with Ethernet)
(1) IP4M-1028E (dome, Ethernet)
(2) IP4M-1026W (bullet, wireless, but connected with Ethernet)
(4) IP4M-1026E (bullet, Ethernet)
I hope this helps.
Mike
Re: Amcrest NVR
I've got a 4108E-HS as well, works pretty well, and it's nice being able to manage multiple cameras from a central location rather than having to configure and deal with each camera independently.
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scoutermac
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2018 9:18 am
Re: Amcrest NVR
Have you had any issues with the 4108E-HS in regards to bandwidth with the 4MP cameras? I have read reviews where people say they cannot use four of the 4MP cameras with this NVR at the same time with the resolution all the way up.
Re: Amcrest NVR
Others will have to chime in specifically regarding the 4108, but my 4116, which I believe to be much the same as the 4108 except with more channels, seems to work fine. As I mentioned before, mine is not the "E" version, so there are no Ethernet ports. I use external POE switches. I don't know if that has any effect or not.
Another issue that can be experienced has to do with graphics capability, not bandwidth. The NVR does not have a very powerful graphics card. So, if you are using a monitor connected directly to the NVR, you can run into a situation where the onboard graphics can't handle many cameras. You will get an "Over Decode Ability" error for one or more cameras. I have had this occur, but I don't view the NVR directly most of the time, so it has not been an issue for me. And it doesn't happen all of the time.
I use Surveillance Pro on my PC, which has much better graphics capability. I view the camera's main streams in Surveillance Pro, which taxes the system, but seems to only be a real problem if I try to run other graphics software at the same time (like Photoshop or Lightroom). I think there might be a memory leak or something in the Surveillance Pro software, which, after a while of running multiple software programs, causes the graphics card to crash. This is one of the reasons I say their software leaves a little to be desired.
Mike
Another issue that can be experienced has to do with graphics capability, not bandwidth. The NVR does not have a very powerful graphics card. So, if you are using a monitor connected directly to the NVR, you can run into a situation where the onboard graphics can't handle many cameras. You will get an "Over Decode Ability" error for one or more cameras. I have had this occur, but I don't view the NVR directly most of the time, so it has not been an issue for me. And it doesn't happen all of the time.
I use Surveillance Pro on my PC, which has much better graphics capability. I view the camera's main streams in Surveillance Pro, which taxes the system, but seems to only be a real problem if I try to run other graphics software at the same time (like Photoshop or Lightroom). I think there might be a memory leak or something in the Surveillance Pro software, which, after a while of running multiple software programs, causes the graphics card to crash. This is one of the reasons I say their software leaves a little to be desired.
Mike
Re: Amcrest NVR
I never hooked the NVR up to anything directly, I just access it over the network. Not sure if that has the same issues, since I don't have enough cameras to load it fully.