720P Camera Options?

[Amuser]

Hello -

I have an older Amcrest DVR, model AMDV72116-8B-B.

I’m trying to add 4 more cameras to it, but compatible Amcrest cameras have been out of stock for months!

Amcrest support recommended this camera -

https://amcrest.com/720p-hd-quadbrid-hd ... c36-b.html

Does anyone know of cameras from another brand that would work? This camera from Zosi looks equivalent but before I order 4 of them I’d like to see what others know!

[Revo2Maxx]

Sadly from what I can tell with my CVI DVR and from what Support told me is that they are only supported by Amcrest Cameras... This came about because one of my Cameras got damaged from a falling tree and sadly I can't replace just the front Glass as they don't offer Replacement parts.. So I thought Ok great time to add a CVI PTZ.. So I bought a 12x PTZ and connected it to the DVR to find out that it didn't work.. However Connecting it to my GenIV CVI unit it did work but the GenIV isn't a product I had installed where I needed the camera installed so I contacted support they told me that Amcrest cameras and IP cameras would only work however I even have a 960h and is said to work with 960h Amcrest cameras however mine don't so it could be a FLUKE on my DVR and it was to old because I bought it installed and setup to record never to look at it again for 2 or maybe even 3 years until after the damage to the camera.. Tree still there larger limbs keep falling but is on County property not mine so I can't cut down..

Anyway I would check your FW and see if you can add the IP cameras like I can with mine.. If you can I would look at that route before trying to source a different brand CVI camera By the way the CVI PTZ is a Dahua OEM that didn't work.

On a Side note.. I was also told my unit was only 720p however my IP cameras that connect to ch 3 and 4 are 1080p and I can and have connected a 1080p Dahua CVI OEM camera and it does change to 1080 encoding and does work without an issue found this out oddly the other day while I was cleaning one of my CVI cameras that is 1080p with a cable to short out for running in cvbs wanted to test out the cvbs part that didn't work however after removing the short the camera came online my DVR said that the Encoding had changed and a Nice 1080p picture was working on my unit..

Lastly mine is not an S3 unit and anyone with the s3 may not have the same results.. FW is very old from 2017 or might have been 2-17-15 can't remember right now and it isn't on a screen infront of me atm to know for sure... I just know it was last one made for my Model dVR before they discontinued it.

[Revo2Maxx]

So looking at my CVI unit... It is on System Version 3.200.AC04.5 Soft 10003 and build date is 12-17-2015 and I can tell you that before I did the FW update there was no IP channels in my unit.. For mine I have to turn off a CVI ch to gain 1 Ip ch.. If yours is the same and you have a 16ch from what I remember I think yours could go upto 4ip channels where mine being only a 4ch DVR could only go up to 2 Remove a CVI ch it adds a IP ch that you can add a 1080p camera either over Wifi or wired to your router that your DVR is connected...

[Revo2Maxx]

Looking over at the FW page it would seem that your DVR is of the Same Generation as mine and also isn't the S3 model and to be honest I would really look at installing Ip cameras.. Because they don't have to be Amcrest IP Cameras. Just have to be 2mp or less like a 1.3 or 720p.. However I would to be honest use Wired Ip cameras over Wifi ones you will just be much happier unless you live in the country without loads of others with wifi in your area...

I didn't look up your model to find out if you can have 2 or 4 IP ch I know my 4 Ch CVI has ability for 2 IP after removing 1 at a time CVI ch.. Kind of a PITA but it is cool anyway...

I do have 2 Eyeball cameras I could box back up that are Amcrest 720p toss them your way if need be..

[Amuser]

Thanks for the advice on IP channels, I’ll look into it to see if it’s an option. I’d love to upgrade everything to wired IP cameras but just not in the budget at the moment I completely agree on the wireless cameras, no interest in them at all!

[Revo2Maxx]

Yeah I even looked on Ebay while there was some not to long ago sold there just isn't much in 720p cameras from Amcrest....

So like I said I went and looked at the FW page and it looks like my 7204 had the same last FW update # and day released for our units.. Mine is just the 4ch as I had other units at the time only needed the 4ch for my Garage... I have since bought 8ch NVR and 16ch Amcrest NVR's..

Anyway Before the update in FW this is what my Camera Type looked like (Picture Below) Edit adding what it looks like today sorry about the light in the reflection

So after the Update of FW now I have a 3rd option in there that lets me change Ch4 and ch3 to IP channels.. Your model being the same as mine just with MORE Channels should have the same option beside might offer 4 rather then 2 ch... Either way it don't hurt to look in your current setup and see if you have the option for IP cameras...

If oddly your on same FW and don't have option I would still think about using Cat5e or 6a for your new camera wiring and using Passive Power and Video Balun to work with the Cameras.. This way if in the future you were to upgrade to NVR you already have the last 4ch installed ready to install your new IP cameras and only the older RG59 that was run to the CVI cameras will need to be replaced with Cat5e or 6a in the future.. Just an idea for me it is better then having to run wire more then once with idea of maybe installing IP cameras later...

Screenshot (2484).jpg (28.78 KiB) Viewed 1112 times

Here is what it looks like after the Update in FW to the 12-15 version

20200722_213713_resized.jpg (1.09 MiB) Viewed 1112 times

[Amuser]

I picked up one of these to test out -

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MXILR ... JHS1&psc=1

It works perfectly. It’s got a little 4 way control stick built into it’s cable and it brings up an on screen menu to choose what video signal and picture options you want. The Amcrest DVR was able to handle all of the video formats the camera put out, I got the camera set to a 720p signal like the rest of them. I’m going to order 3 more right away.

[Revo2Maxx]

Well glad you found some cameras that will work... Strange thing is I tried my PTZ on my Amcrest DVR and it worked without an issue.. After asking my son seeing I can't remember to tell these days he said where it was connected the first time was trying to use my Baluns so I tried it again and sure enough the issue was not over normal BNC cable but over UTP So I tried my 1080P Dahua camera and it even works on my 7204 as long as I use BNC and not a balans However I tried another type of Balun I have been using for a little while that lets me power over cat5e or 6 to my normal cameras and they worked as well.. However tried my Amcrest 960h camera it still didn't work lol.. It is ok it has it's own recorder lol...

One thing I would test before running out and buying more is I would double check that the Motion events are working to your liking... I have some cameras that I have to run Full time Record because the motion doesn't work...

Also 1 last thing.. While I have come to understand and accept that my CVI unit I can't turn off the IR for my cameras on any of my cameras if that is something you want you might want to look at upgrading your DVR to an NVR or one with Smart IR ability before investing in a load of cameras that will have to be used in IR mode every night... Just something to keep in mind..