Five of the best 4-camera analogue video surveillance kits

Why analogue video surveillance is good

Firstly, all analogue cameras, including high-definition, work great on the already deployed cable infrastructure of older video surveillance systems that use coaxial cable. I connected new equipment instead of old equipment — and everything works right away, without any “dancing with a tambourine”. Digital IP cameras based on coaxial type wires cannot work. Thus, upgrading an old video surveillance system to a modern level, in case of switching to an analogue system, will not require huge costs for replacing connecting cables — and this is an economically justified solution.

Secondly, analogue systems are not too demanding on the quality of manufacture and installation of connectors and the characteristics of the transmission cable. Of course, provided there are no sources of very strong electromagnetic interference nearby. Due to the low sensitivity to interference, as well as signal compensation / amplification algorithms, the maximum range of analogue cameras on a good quality coaxial cable can reach 500 – 800 metres for HD and up to 300 metres for Full HD models. Whereas IP cameras, regardless of the quality of the twisted pair cable, are limited to a connection distance of 100 metres. Obviously, other things being equal, analogue video surveillance allows you to cover much larger areas without using additional equipment, which significantly increases the cost of the solution.

Thirdly, analogue cameras can work on twisted pair as well as on coaxial cable! That is, even with the gradual replacement of the network infrastructure with advanced IP cameras, the analogue video surveillance system can continue to be used. However the distance of guaranteed high-quality operation of cameras is reduced to 100-125 metres, as with IP cameras.

Fourthly, modern analogue video surveillance systems are in fact overwhelmingly hybrid. That is, analogue DVRs can work without problems with digital IP cameras. And also with old analogue cameras D1 and of course 960H.

Fifthly, modern analogue video surveillance has learned to use such digital features as remote viewing via the Internet and working with cloud services. That is, in terms of functionality, analogue video surveillance is not inferior to IP solutions, and it is possible to remotely control an analogue video surveillance system from anywhere in the world where there is Internet, including using mobile gadgets.

Sixth, modern kits analogue video surveillance functions of security analytics are easily implemented: automatic motion detection works, attempts to close or break the camera are tracked, with video monitoring it is possible to add private zones protected from viewing, etc.

Seventh, the current analogue video surveillance formats high-definition monitors finally feature a 16:9 aspect ratio, making them suitable for viewing on today's ubiquitous widescreen displays and televisions. Well, the image quality has improved a lot! Thus, in terms of resolution, the HD format exceeds the traditional analogue D1 format by 2.3 times, and Full HD exceeds it by more than 5 times. Obviously, with such a difference in resolutions, the new standards make it possible to see much more small details and nuances on the video than the old video monitoring systems allowed. The facial features and details of people's clothing, car numbers and other important details are much better visible!

the best 4-camera analogue video surveillance kits. 4 stationary cameras make it possible to organize a “circular” view of the local area, plus the selected sets are equipped with outdoor cameras that can be installed both outdoors and successfully used indoors.

Support for 3G modems, Russified interface, convenient recorder menu, adjustable camera visor, recording 4 audio channels

Low resolution D1, high price for such functionality

Atis KIT-DVR-0x4 STANDART

This kit is perfect for those who need sound recording on all 4 surveillance channels to be more important than high image quality.

The kit is equipped with Atis AW-H700IR-20G/3.6 outdoor cameras with D1 (704x576) resolution. The cameras justify the status of street cameras — they are in durable metal cases, the length of the visor over the lens is adjustable in order to protect the optics from sunlight as much as possible. Each camera is equipped with a night infrared LED illumination, which is effective at a distance of up to 20 m.

The kit contains everything necessary for the full operation of the surveillance system: a power splitter for the cameras and a combined signal and power cable 20 m long for each camera. The cables are pre-crimped, so connecting the cameras to BNC connectors and power takes just a few seconds.

The Atis DVR-8804KM video recorder is capable of recording to an internal HDD (you need to purchase and install it yourself) from 4 cameras simultaneously. To save disk space, video recording can be done not continuously, but according to a schedule or when motion is detected in the frame. To view "live" video or video archives, a monitor or TV is connected to the recorder via a VGA or HDMI interface. Interaction with the user occurs through a convenient Russified graphical interface with easy and convenient control using a connected USB mouse. The set also includes a remote control for the recorder.

The recorder is connected to an Ethernet computer network and allows remote viewing of video from a computer or smartphone.

Affordable price, compatible with all AHD cameras, compact dimensions of the recorder, support for network IP cameras in hybrid mode, 2 year warranty

Low-cost 1/4" camera matrices

Tecsar AHD 4OUT

balance between price and features/capabilities.

The Tecsar HDVR Neo-Futurist half-FHD video recorder included in the kit has a very convenient Russified user interface, which facilitates interaction with the video monitoring system. and its versatility: it is able to automatically recognize and work with both old analogue and AHD-M (1280x720) or AHD-H (1920x1080) video cameras. This completely saves the user from the hassle of finding and selecting compatible AHD equipment. However since the recorder is still a megapixel, 2-megapixel AHD-H cameras work with it in 1080N (960x1080) compatibility mode, that is, in fact, with a “half” of Full HD resolution. On the other hand, up to 8 IP cameras with real Full HD resolution can be additionally connected to this recorder — a rare opportunity for a low-cost device.

The set is completed with 4 Tecsar AHDW-1M-20F-eco outdoor dust-proof cameras with resolution HD (1280x720). To improve affordability, these cameras are equipped with low-cost 1/4" OmniVision OV9712 matrices, however, in real work, the user is unlikely to notice a difference in the image compared to more expensive Sony matrices.

Using the free cloud service site, this the kit offers the ability to access surveillance cameras or video archives from anywhere in the world where there is Internet.The recorded video archive is stored on the internal hard drive of the recorder, the device supports standard SATA drives with a capacity of up to 6 TB. It is important to note that the "cloud" service is not only provided free of charge, but it also has very extensive capabilities, including setting up the recorder and recording video to the local disk of a computer or to the memory of a smartphone, from which a remote connection is made.Note that even on a mobile device, you can simultaneously watch the image from all 4 cameras connected to the recorder, if communication channels are allow. Video control options are also configured in case the cameras record an alarm event. When motion is detected, when you try to close the lens, or when the signal from the camera is lost, the system can automatically record video locally or to an FTP server, send an email message, etc.

Affordable price, attractive design

Incompatible with all HDTVI cameras, questionable sound system< /div>

Hikvision DS-J145I 4OUT

The Hikvision Surveillance Kit is extremely easy to use: connected HDTVI cameras DS-2CE16C0T-IR are immediately ready to use and do not require any additional settings.

The cameras themselves are made in durable dust- and moisture-proof cases with protection class IP 66. The visor is not adjustable, but the black plastic nozzle on the visor reduces the risk of reflections and glare from the bright sun on the lens optics. The cameras are designed for rather harsh operating conditions: the manufacturer guarantees that they will withstand frost down to -40 degrees Celsius. A 1/3" matrix and a maximum frame resolution of HD (1280x720) allow you to get a fairly clear picture. The cameras are able to "see" even in complete darkness thanks to the integrated LED infrared illumination with a range of up to 20 m.

Hikvision DVR DS-7104HGHI-E1 is made in a stylish white case, this device can be placed in a conspicuous place in a house or office — it will definitely not spoil the interior.Information LEDs are provided on the case to indicate work.But the system of sound signals here is not very well thought out.So, when turned on, the device may emit an excessively loud squeak when it detects, for example, the absence of a hard disk.This squeak not only informs the user about the problem, but annoys.In addition to standard video and audio outputs / inputs, an industrial RS 485 interface is provided here — it can be used to control rotary cameras, if any will be connected to the recorder in the future. Unfortunately, this recorder is absolutely not compatible with Hikvision full HD HDTVI cameras.

The recorder control menu is quite logical and intuitive. The registrar is equipped with an Ethernet port, and being connected to a local network with Internet access provides the ability to remotely view live video from cameras or video recordings stored by the registrar. Moreover, you can do this both from computers and mobile gadgets.

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Compatible with any HDTVI cameras, support for Full HD resolution, wide operating temperature range of cameras

Record 12 frames total /s in 1920x1080 mode

Hikvision Turbo HD DS-J150i 4OUT

This is one of Hikvision's most advanced analogue video surveillance kits, supporting cameras with Full HD image quality. The kit includes a DS-7104HGHI-SH recorder and four Hikvision DS-2CE16D1T-IR outdoor video surveillance cameras.

Hikvision outdoor video cameras are traditionally designed for very harsh operating conditions: they remain operational at ambient temperatures from -40 to + 60 degrees Celsius, that is, they can be used both on the winter street and somewhere in the “hot” workshop of the enterprise. The body of the cameras guarantees reliable protection against ingress of dust and moisture — even in heavy rain, the electronics inside the case will not be damaged. The visor of the cameras has a special black attachment to eliminate glare that can be reflected into the lens from the surface of the visor. The camcorders are equipped with a 1/3" light-sensitive CMOS sensor with a resolution of 2 megapixels, which allows you to record video in Full HD (1920x1080) resolution. Thanks to LED infrared illumination with a range of 20 m, the cameras are able to shoot high-quality video in poor lighting conditions or even in complete darkness.

Although the kit cameras themselves can produce smooth Full HD video with a quality of 25 frames / s, the slightly limited capabilities of the DS-7104HGHI-SH recorder electronics make it possible to record video in maximum resolution (1920x1080) only at a frequency of 12 frames per second. Visually, this leads to some discreteness in the video sequence, especially when it comes to dynamic objects. If you use HD resolution (1280x720), then the frame rate will rise to a full 25 frames / s.

The recorder has excellent design, the white plastic case looks modern and impressive.There are LED indicators on the case, so a system of sound warning signals is also provided. There are HDMI and VGA outputs for connecting monitors or TVs; for local video recording, a hard drive with a capacity of up to 6 TB should be installed in the recorder. There are 2 USB ports for connecting a mouse and a backup device, an additional industrial RS 485 interface for controlling PTZ cameras — if desired, they can be connected to the DVR instead of the cameras from the kit.

The user interface of the recorder is friendly, although for home users will still need to understand the specific terminology to understand the purpose of some of the options. The registrar easily connects to a computer network and provides the ability to remotely view video from cameras or archived video recordings via the Internet.

Full HD (1920x1080) video recording at 25 fps, image quality thanks to Sony sensors IMX322, hybrid mode with IP camera support, 4 audio inputs, free cloud service

None

Tecsar AHD 4OUT Lux

This kit includes four Tecsar AHDW-2M-20F outdoor AHD-H cameras with Full HD image quality and a Tecsar B44 DVR -2FHD2P-H, capable of saving full-fledged four-channel Full HD (1920x1080) video without lowering the frame rate.

Structurally, the cameras are made in sealed metal cylindrical cases with IP 66 protection class. This guarantees reliable protection of the camera electronics from street dust and moisture. To protect against sunlight entering the optical system, the cameras are equipped with a lens visor adjustable in length. The built-in infrared LED illumination with a range of 20 metres allows the cameras to capture events at night and in complete darkness, if the camera is installed in a room without windows and with the lights turned off. These cameras are equipped with high-quality light-sensitive 1/2.9-inch Sony IMX322 matrices, so they demonstrate excellent image quality.

The hybrid type DVR is capable of working with both analogue and digital IP cameras. There is a potential opportunity to connect to the recorder in addition to the existing analogue 4 more IP cameras, if there is a need to expand the video surveillance system in the future. If some models of recorders use weak electronics in order to reduce the cost and allow you to record Full HD video only with a lower frame rate, then the B44-2FHD2P-H recorder writes “live” video with a full frequency of 25 frames per second, as it should be for comfortable viewing on PAL standard. Moreover, the registrar provides flexible options for setting the speed and quality of video recording for each channel. Also, to significantly save space on the hard drive, you can set up recording only by detecting motion in the frame: if nothing happens in the frame, the video will not be saved, significantly saving space on the media. When playing video archives, 2x / 4x / 8x is available — fold acceleration / deceleration of video recording, which makes searching and viewing the necessary video fragments much more comfortable.

Unlike low-cost models, this recorder has 4 audio inputs for sound recording. That is, you can literally connect a microphone to each camera in parallel, if there is a need not only to see, but also to hear what is happening. There is also an audio output for sound playback, 2 USB ports for connecting a computer mouse and a USB backup drive. The Ethernet adapter makes it easy and simple to add the recorder to a computer network and enjoy a free cloud service with remote viewing functions using computers or smartphones based on Android and iOS. It is even possible to remotely set up the operation of the video surveillance system, for example, according to a schedule, etc.

The registrar has a Russified and logically structured graphical user interface, which makes it easy to master the operation of the video surveillance system even for beginners. The settings menu allows you to adjust the security functions of the video surveillance system. Plus, the DVR can detect an attempt to close or disable the camera and send alarm messages about it.

Although this kit is far from the cheapest, it is certainly one of the best analogue kits that you can buy today to create a relatively affordable system video surveillance.