When I first had my CCTV installed in 2016 I didn’t really ask any of the right questions nor did I really know what brands to consider, I simply took the installers advice and went with their suggestions… twice. Needless to say, the two DVR’s I have had didn’t even last one year each. They were total no-name brands, literally.
After the second one left this world I did some research and went with the Hikvision Turbo HD DVR – WOW, what a difference. I can’t tell you how much better it is than the cheap knock-offs you get.
Immediate things I noticed:
– The overall speed of the unit.
– The easy to use navigation menus.
– Easier on-device viewing / exporting.
– Better remote viewing.
Considering the price was only around R500 more it really is worth it. The unit is well designed and looks aesthetically pleasing
One particular feature I enjoy is the redundant backup to my NAS, it copies the content so I now have a backup in case the installed HDD fails.
As for negatives, I can’t really think of any. One thing I always find with these DVR’s, in general, is the close proximity of the camera cables. why, oh why does everything have to be so tight. Look, this is a common thing to be fair and not unique to Hikvision.
All in all, I have been thrilled with my device and have even started changing out my no-name cameras for Hikvision ones 🙂
If you are looking for a good online retailer for CCTV and general Security equipment that is super quick and super helpful, feel free to check out CCTV Direct. I get all my stuff from them. (Please Note I have no affiliation to this company nor have I been paid for this)