Why use an NVR

With Hybrid DVRs now available often we get asked “why use an NVR”. SCK carries the best NVRs, let’s talk about what they can do! We’re going to first explain what an NVR is, which will better help us to answer the question “why use an NVR?”

Well firstly know that NVR is an acronym for ‘network video recorder’. NVRs are relatively ‘new’ in comparison to their counterparts in the industry- which is called a DVR.’DVR’ is also an acronym and it stands for Digital Video Recorder. Now, we can tell one thing for sure so for with the information that’s been given, and that is that both of these machines are designed to record video, as is implied by their names. Clearly, they must be different in some meaningful way if they are sharing a function but have different names.

DVRs are older and record video by connecting to CCTV, or closed-circuit-television cameras by coaxial cable. This cable can send an analog, or more recently, a digital video signal to a DVR to record that video data, digitally, to a hard disk or disks. All of the processing is done on the DVR.

With an NVR, the goal is ultimately the same, capture video from cameras around the premises and record it digitally. However, the way this is accomplished is very different. With an NVR, this device connects to a computer network on-site, or its own private network. On this network, there would be network cameras- also known as IP cameras- sharing the network. Over this digital network, the NVR can connect to the IP cameras and record their video data. Unlike with DVRs, NVRs let their IP cameras do all the coding and processing of the video data, to be handed off to the NVR for recording. 

So are NVRs ‘better’ than DVRs? Even the best NVRs still might not be useful to you if you have an existing system that uses COAX cameras installed on site. NVRs, while offering many features that DVRs do not, can not work with COAX cameras at all. Most DVRs can, however, add IP cameras to themselves- though their feature compatibility might be limited. What this means is that you need to assess your circumstances and deduce what works for you.

On a brand new, totally fresh installation of new security camera equipment, I can safely say I would absolutely recommend going with an NVR and IP camera. The highest resolution standards available today are achieved almost exclusively via IP. Furthermore, the best NVRs will be able to use features found in IP cameras that are not at all found in their COAX counterparts.

For example, one of the most highly requested features in-camera tech today is the ability to access a camera’s internal settings easily and effectively. Until IP, the only way to do this was by using a PTZ controller- which often had poor interactivity or response. You’d have to use this PTz controller to access the camera’s OSD- or on-screen-display and navigate through a list of text-based menus, hoping to find what you need. Image setting, day/night settings might be there, might be hard to find, and the OSD also often has finicky behavior that sometimes isn’t clear how to operate, or if a setting took effect.

With IP cameras on a network, you can access their settings directly from the NVRs interface. Additionally, you can use a PC to connect to these cameras over their IP address and bring up a direct web interface exclusively for the camera you’re working with! This means the deepest most specific settings in the camera are far more easily accessible and easier to manipulate. There is also a much clearer indication of whether or not your settings to affect. 

Additionally, resolutions such as 4k are doable using h264 video compression on the best NVRs we carry today. These units are able to save you tons of space by squeezing that super high-quality resolution into file seizes up to 65% smaller than h642 compression at 4k! That’s alot more recording time!

On top of that, the newest high-tech features are if not exclusive to NVR and IP Cameras, but more fleshed out, usable, and accessible with NVR and IP cameras. The best NVRS today features some of the most cutting edges AI analytics This including:

  • Facial Capture
  • Facial Recognition
  • People counting
  • Human Body Detection
  • Vehicle detection
  • AI IVS
  • Thermal Technology
  • Human Feature logging
  • Person vs Vehicle elimination

If you’re convinced NVR is the way to go, you’re going to want to pick from a List of the Best NVRS out there, click the link below to see what we have to offer.

We highly recommend that you reach out to one of our sales Pros to learn even more about compatibility, and set expectations for the equipment capabilities! There’s still no way to “enhance” blade runner style using any CCTV system, even with the best AI. outside of that, our NVRs are some of the most advanced on the market today, and all at a price that makes the equipment work for you!