Security Camera compatibility question

[greens]

Hey guys
I got a camera set up from Zmodo. The NVR was garbage and never recognized any hard drives. But because I tested it and it worked for viewing and everything - i assumed all was well.

So i have all the cameras set up - but am unable to record with the NVR.

They want me to return the whole freaking thing, and it would take me longer to pull the cameras than the return would be worth.

The cameras have a micro USB connection on the camera end, and where you plug into the NVR/DVR is an ethernet plug.

Can i use these cameras with other NVRs? Or are they pretty proprietary? Like i said each camera cable has a microUSB on the camera side and an ethernet on the other side. I can't imagine the cameras have any kind of firmware that would allow them to work as IP cameras without the NVR... do they?

I am more familiar with the older style BNC, which is of course analog and compatible across numerous devices.

 

[boosted1g]

Can you get us model number of the kit or even better of the camera.

Interested if it is an IP camera and just using a micro usb for smaller factor, if it is doing something similar to video balunn over that weird cable, or if it actaull a USB camera using ethernet to overcome distance issue.

Never heard of USB security cameras before. Usually BNC connection or IP.

If it is that proprietery and using USB then I would pull twine through to make reinstalling new cameras easier, return that garbage and get something else.
Hikvission stuff should be better then whatever Zmodo sold you. You can either get a Hikvision NVR or run Blue Iris on a semi-powerfull desktop.

 

[boosted1g]

Ok did some digging.
These are POE type IP cameras with a completley proprietary protocol.
My advice is to ditch that garbage

http://kb.zmodo.com/index.php?solution_id=1333

 

[greens]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KZT6MHU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here is a direct link to the amazon page.

You can see if you zoom in, that the wire spools have a female micro USB on one end and an Ethernet on the other! kind of weird. But since they terminate in Ethernet maybe they are standard IP cameras?

I should return a box full of dog crap with the treatment i got from Zmodo. My cheapo chinese DVR on the back half of my security system worked like a charm so i figured there was no harm in going cheap chinese - the problem is always in customer service

 

[boosted1g]

8 cameras for $150, that would be my first red flag, got what you paid for there.

Security is all about analyzing your goals.
Do you want a visual deterent, do you you want to know someone is on your property, or do you want a good enough picture the police can use it for evidence.
If you want the last one then you need at minumum to be dropping $100 per camera for a standard home setup.

 

[greens]

8 cameras for $150, that would be my first red flag, got what you paid for there.

Security is all about analyzing your goals.
Do you want a visual deterent, do you you want to know someone is on your property, or do you want a good enough picture the police can use it for evidence.
If you want the last one then you need at minumum to be dropping $100 per camera for a standard home setup.

My other set up was the same price for 4 720p BNC cameras with NVR. So yeah I had expected about as much.

More on the deterrent side. Even the best cameras out there mean nothing when it's a passing crackhead that steals your package. But my neighbor's might think twice.

Also for insurance, just proof that there was a break-in should be enough to solidify a claim.

 

[boosted1g]

The passing crackhead wont care about your security camera, but with a half decent camera there is a good chance that crackhead has been through the police station so many times the cops recognize him on sight.

Well it is up to you, if you want to return it I would just pull some twine back through so it will be easy to re-fish the wiring.
Considering the closed proprietary protocal though, I would never recommend that system

 

[greens]

The passing crackhead wont care about your security camera, but with a half decent camera there is a good chance that crackhead has been through the police station so many times the cops recognize him on sight.

Well it is up to you, if you want to return it I would just pull some twine back through so it will be easy to re-fish the wiring.
Considering the closed proprietary protocal though, I would never recommend that system

Yeah I'm gonna return it. Screw Zmodo, I'll fight them on it hard if I have to.

You seem knowledgeable, apart from the ones you mentioned earlier, do you know of any half decent inexpensive sets? 4 exterior is enough.

 

[boosted1g]

I run blue iris and a mix of hikvision and huacam.

Any IP cameras I have seen that is noticably cheaper then those is unrelaible garbage or has very large network security issues (like foscam's cheaper products).

If you are trying to do this on the super cheap side as more of a visual deterant/yep here is a recording of some person shaped blur breaking into my house then you should jsut stick with the old analog BNC stuff. For that puprose you much better off with a reliable low quality image then a unreliable medium quality image.