Which DVR to Buy?

1) The # of cameras that you will need.

2) The Frames Per Second (FPS) and recording Resolution that you will need.

The Number Of Cameras That You Will Need

It is important to purchase a DVR system that will support the number of cameras that you will need now and in the near future.

 

For TV Television broadcast specifications (which CCTV uses) the maximum resolution that can be recored and stored on your hard drive is 704 x 480 (NTSC for the United States) and 720 x 576 (PAL for Europe). This resolution is known as D1 resolution (704 x 480). A high end Commercial grade DVR recorder is capable of recording up to D1 resolution on all channels (Gold or Platinum DVRs). The Highest resolution available to record on CCTV DVR systems is D1 resolution (704 x 480). Many standalone dvr recorders are advertised that they can support real time recording which is 30 frames per second, but if you read the specification of the DVR, they are recording at CIF resolution which is 352 x 240. ONLY our Platinum DVR can record every single channel at full D1 704 x 480 @ 30fps on each channel...for example, our 16ch Platinum DVR has a total record rate of 480fps giving you 30fps per channel. 480 divided by 16 gives you 30fps total per channel.

D1 Resolution - 704 x 480
CIF Resolution - 352 x 240
QCIF Resolution - 176 x 120

The Frames Per Second (FPS)

As a benchmark, a television show is broadcasted at 30 FPS which provides crisp clean motion.
In security systems a full 30 FPS is only necessary when you need to monitor close activity like a cash register where cash will be counted or in casinos where fast action is taking place. For example, a 4 camera GOLD system
with 30 fps would give you about 7 fps per camera which is more then adequate for most security needs.
With all of our units, you will be able to set the frame rate per camera.

Standalone Linux Based Rock Stable DVR Systems

16 CHANNEL DVR CAMERA SYSTEM (perfect for large home use or demanding business use.)
8 CHANNEL DVR CAMERA SYSTEM (perfect for home or business use.)
4 CHANNEL DVR CAMERA SYSTEM (perfect for home or light business use.)

 

DVR Cards vs. Complete DVR unit

DVR cards are great if you have a spare computer that meets our System Specs and if you are capable of installing the unit and software on your own. It can save you money but will require time on your part to install and troubleshoot if needed.

The DVR complete factory built unit is simply a matter of plugging in the cameras and turning the unit on. If you are short on time and computer technical skills then the complete system is right for you.

Remote Viewing

You can view your cameras remotely either by connecting directly to the system using a mobile phone or network device (IPad/IPod/Android Tablet), or through the internet through your network via laptop PC/Mac Computer.

Turn your PC into a Professional-Grade Security DVR with this amazing DVR Card and Software

DVR Cards turn your PC into a Pro-Grade Security DVR with the amazing DVR Card and Software from Geovision.

Your purchase includes the latest Geovision Surveillance Software! All Geovision Cards are current, brand new, includes Software DVD, Remote Viewing Software, camera connections, user manual, and everything you need for smooth installation.

DVR card installation is a snap. Simply plug the DVR card into any available PCI based slot on your motherboard. Insert the disc that accompanies your DVR card, follow a few easy steps and you'll be up and running in no time. After you get your card installed you will soon see how easy it is to setup very in depth features and remote access capabilities. You can setup certain users to have different access than others, such as a manager being able to access all the cameras and an employee be able to access only a drive threw camera. The possibilities are endless! With nothing else to buy no matter how many users you decide you need to have accessing the system!

When you purchase your DVR cards from us you not only get a great product at an incredible price. You get great service and technical support that is 2nd to NONE!!

How do I chose the right card for a particular system?

Geovision breaks their product line down by two things.

Channels: This is how many cameras can be captured and recorded by the DVR card. Total frames per card divided by the number of channels/cameras that are installed.

Frames Per Second: This is the total number of frames per second that the card can capture.

Slow: 1-4 fps - Slower than Time Lapse Video
OK: 5-9 fps - Time Lapse Video
Good: 10-15 fps - Good Motion Video - Perfect for Business or Home
Better: 16-29 fps - Near Full Motion Video
Best: 30 fps - Full Motion Video - Casino/Government Grade

Choose a card that has enough video inputs to cover the maximum number of cameras you need to use. Computer/Cameras not included.
 

Example: The GV-1240 card can record a total of 240 fps. That means that if you are use up to 8 cameras, then you will record 30 images per second per camera. If you use 16 cameras, then you record at 15 fps each (240 divided by 16).