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The Functions of an 8 Channel DVR 

The 8 channel DVR provides greater flexibility to expand than a 4 channel DVR. Thus saving hard earned money down the road when you would like to expand the system. To often customers buy a 4 channel DVR. Then after a year or so return to purchase an 8 channel system. 

Camera Placement 

With 8 channels there is plenty of opportunity to monitor both the interior and the exterior of most homes.  Normal exterior placement of cameras are on the corners of the home at a cross angel to the front and backyard.  Many home owners like to place an additional camera at the front door to see who is there before they answer the door. The visitor may be an unwanted sales man or your best friend. 

DVR Placement 

The DVR is usually located in the same room of the home as the router, making it easy to connect an ethernet cable from the DVR to the router for internet viewing of the cameras. When this is not feasible the DVR can be located to any room of your home by connecting an ethernet cable from the  router to the DVR.  

Camera Types 

Outdoor bullet and dome cameras are the cameras of choice for exterior monitoring when connected to an 8 channel DVR system. Dome cameras are tamper proof cameras making it impossible to move them or cut the power supply to the camera. All exterior cameras are weather proof with infrared LEDs providing night time recording capabilities. The best picture is achieved with the highest possible TVL (TVLines) and the highest number of pixels as possible. These factors are determined by your selection of the cameras, DVR and the monitor they are viewed on. 

When it comes to the inside of a home there are many camera options from cameras hidden in pictures, alarm motion detectors, smoke detectors and other devices disguising the cameras.  Dome and bullet cameras are also used to monitor indoor areas. 

Network Video Recorders 

Technology has grown so quickly that often times the words used to describe a certain product will have a dual meaning.  One of these word phrases is network video recorders or NVR’s.  One meaning for a NVR with a DVR is the DVR recorder for the Network. An NVR are could also mean a standalone recorder capable of recording from different types of cameras with in the network. NVRs are used in hybrid recording systems incorporating functions to record analog signals, digital signals, from wired or wireless IP cameras. They are more costly than a wired security DVR’s.

All DVRs when connected to a camera and then to a monitor become part of the LAN or local are network. When connected to the internet they become part of a WAN or wide area network. 

A network video recorder (NVR) is also a device designed to record video from different types of cameras. NVR’s are designed to record wireless video as well as wired video connected by a RG59U18/2 cable from the cameras to the recorder. An ethernet cable (POE) is also used to transmit power and signal from an IP cameras to a NVR as well as receiving a wireless signal from a wireless or wireless IP camera.

There are many manufacturers of 8 channel DVR’s many are generic brands with Sony and other well known names making the components. Swann, Lorex and Samsung are common name brands of DVR systems. We also articles on each of these manufacturers and their products.