DVR and NVR setup
The recorder decides how long your footage is kept, how easily you can find a clip, and whether recording survives a power cut. It deserves more thought than it usually gets.
We install and configure DVRs and NVRs for CCTV systems in Chandkheda, Tragad, Motera, Jagatpur, Gota, Zundal and the Nirma University area, and re-set up recorders that were installed badly.
How much hard disk do you need?
A rough guide for continuous recording at normal quality with H.265 compression. Motion-only recording can stretch these numbers considerably.
| Cameras | 1 TB | 2 TB | 4 TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 2 MP | about 2 weeks | about 4 weeks | about 2 months |
| 8 × 2 MP | about 1 week | about 2 weeks | about 4 weeks |
| 8 × 4 MP | 4–5 days | about 10 days | about 3 weeks |
Actual days depend on scene activity, night noise, bitrate settings and the camera model. We set the bitrate so you get the number of days you ask for.
Settings we always change
- Date and time synced automatically. Footage with the wrong time is nearly useless for a police complaint.
- Overwrite on, so the oldest footage is replaced instead of recording stopping when the disk fills.
- Camera names that mean something ("Gate", "Cash counter"), not "CH1".
- Separate logins: an admin password for you, a view-only one for staff or guards.
- Disk health alerts to your phone, where the recorder supports it.
Where to keep the recorder
Out of sight, ventilated, and on a UPS. A recorder on top of a cupboard next to the gate is the first thing a thief unplugs. A locked rack or a hidden spot inside, with the UPS next to it, keeps footage safe when you need it most.
Common questions
What's the difference between a DVR and an NVR?
A DVR records HD analog cameras connected by coaxial cable. An NVR records IP cameras over a network. Some recorders, called hybrid or XVR, accept both.
Can I use an ordinary computer hard disk in a DVR?
It will work for a while, but surveillance-grade disks (such as WD Purple or Seagate SkyHawk) are made to write video 24 hours a day and last much longer in a recorder.
My DVR shows 'HDD error' or 'no disk'. Is the footage gone?
The disk has failed or disconnected. Footage on a failed disk is sometimes recoverable. Replace the disk soon, because the system isn't recording at all until you do.
Something not working? Call before you come.
We can often tell over the phone whether it's a quick fix or a day's job.