Beginners Guide to Security DVRs and How to Install Them
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William Ward
May 27, 2013, 4:24:43 PM5/27/13
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Article Title: Beginners Guide to Security DVRs and How to Install Them
Author: William Ward
Word Count: 891
Article URL: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=1842995&ca=Shopping
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A Security Digital Video Recorder (Security DVR) system records high resolution digital images to a hard disk drive (HDD), the same type of hard drive used in PCs. However there is no operating system stored on the hard drive, it is simply a storage medium so if it should ever fail you simply replace it. Installing a hard drive is quite simple which is why some websites give you the option to save some money by buying it without the hard drive and you install your own. Most security DVRs use a Linux operating system that is stored on internal flash memory and are quite robust and reliable. Since the video images are stored digitally, the image quality will not degrade overtime, as would a VHS tape when recorded over multiple times.
These types of standalone security DVRs generally come in 4, 8, and 16 channels, some are offered in 24 and 32 channels but are less common. The number of channels means how many cameras can be plugged into them. 4 channel recorders are pretty common among most homeowners but if you feel you may want to add more cameras later then choose an 8 or 16 channel. Most manufacturers also offer software that can connect multiple DVRs together so the number of cameras you can use is quite large if needed.
Think of the security DVR as the brain of your security system. Just as you need eyes to see what is going on around your DVR will need cameras plugged into it to see. You can use most any standard security camera with most any DVR, the exception are the newer High Definition security cameras referred to as HD-SDI cameras or HD cameras. They use the same connector but the DVR must have the circuitry built-in to use HD cameras. HD-SDI cameras and security DVRs will be covered in a separate article, here we will be talking about standard analog security cameras and DVRs.
The security cameras will usually be mounted to a wall or ceiling in the area you want to monitor. All cameras need power to operate but it is not necessary to have a power outlet where the camera is mounted since it can receive its power through the power and video cables that will need to be connected. Most cameras only come with a 2ft or 3ft starter cable so you will need to buy extension cables. The easiest way is to purchase pre-made cables in the length you need since they will have the correct connections for the camera and DVR already installed. Most websites that sell cameras will also offer cables with power and video and cables with power, video and audio if needed.
This extension cable will have power and video connections on both ends, so one end of this cable is connected to the camera's power and video leads. The other end of the cable is run back to the DVR which is usually located inside your home or business where access and power outlets are most convenient. Of course most people do not want to see exposed wires so you may need to run the cables through walls and attic or crawl spaces if you want to hide the wires or along baseboards. If running the wires through walls or attics is something you are not comfortable doing most any electrician or handyman could be hired for that aspect of the installation.
Then back by the DVR you will attach the video lead from the extension cable into one of the video inputs on the DVR which provides the video image from the camera, then the power lead of the extension cable plugs into the camera's power supply which is how you get the power out to the camera. You will need to do this for each camera so you will probably want to use a power strip with multiple outlets or a 12 volt DC power box if you have a lot of cameras installed. The DVR also has its own power supply that will need to be plugged into an outlet.
Now that you have a security DVR and cameras hooked up how do you see the images? Since the DVR is just a recorder like a VCR it will need to be plugged into some type of monitor to setup its features or see the video. Most security DVRs have a standard composite video out that can be plugged into any TV or monitor that has a video input, they also have a VGA output that can be used with a computer VGA monitor and some now have HDMI output for plugging into HD TVs or monitors. Whichever output you choose when you first turn on the DVR you will probably need to input the default username and password see a menu of options. These icons will direct you to the different functions but usually the first thing you should do is set your time and date so any video recorded will have the correct time and date the event happened. The operation of most security DVRs is quite simple but that doesn't mean they lack features such as motion recording, remote viewing, email notification and video backup. However to understand all their features will probably require some reading of the user manual.
About The Author: About the Author: William M Ward is an author and technical adviser for Protection Depot,, a leading online supplier of security cameras and security DVR systems. For more information about security cameras and related equipment, please visit http://www.protectiondepot.com/.
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Please consider this free-reprint article written by:
William Ward
*****************************
IMPORTANT - Publication/Reprint Terms
- You have permission to publish this article electronically in free-only publications such as a website or an ezine as long as the bylines are included.
- You are not allowed to use this article for commercial purposes. The article should only be reprinted in a publicly accessible website and not in a members-only commercial site.
- You are not allowed to post/reprint this article in any sites/publications that contains or supports hate, violence, porn and warez or any indecent and illegal sites/publications.
- You are not allowed to use this article in UCE (Unsolicited Commercial Email) or SPAM. This article MUST be distributed in an opt-in email list only.
- If you distribute this article in an ezine or newsletter, we ask that you send a copy of the newsletter or ezine that contains the article to http://www.isnare.com/eta.php?aid=1842995
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- We request that you ask permission from the author if you want to publish this article in print.
The role of iSnare.com is only to distribute this article as part of its Article Distribution feature ( http://www.isnare.com/distribution.php ). iSnare.com does NOT own this article, please respect the author's copyright and this publication/reprint terms. If you do not agree to any of these terms, please do not reprint or publish this article.
*****************************
Article Title: Beginners Guide to Security DVRs and How to Install Them
Author: William Ward
Word Count: 891
Article URL: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=1842995&ca=Shopping
Format: 64cpl
Contact The Author: http://www.isnare.com/eta.php?aid=1842995
Easy Publish Tool: http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid=1842995
*********************** ARTICLE START ***********************
A Security Digital Video Recorder (Security DVR) system records high resolution digital images to a hard disk drive (HDD), the same type of hard drive used in PCs. However there is no operating system stored on the hard drive, it is simply a storage medium so if it should ever fail you simply replace it. Installing a hard drive is quite simple which is why some websites give you the option to save some money by buying it without the hard drive and you install your own. Most security DVRs use a Linux operating system that is stored on internal flash memory and are quite robust and reliable. Since the video images are stored digitally, the image quality will not degrade overtime, as would a VHS tape when recorded over multiple times.
These types of standalone security DVRs generally come in 4, 8, and 16 channels, some are offered in 24 and 32 channels but are less common. The number of channels means how many cameras can be plugged into them. 4 channel recorders are pretty common among most homeowners but if you feel you may want to add more cameras later then choose an 8 or 16 channel. Most manufacturers also offer software that can connect multiple DVRs together so the number of cameras you can use is quite large if needed.
Think of the security DVR as the brain of your security system. Just as you need eyes to see what is going on around your DVR will need cameras plugged into it to see. You can use most any standard security camera with most any DVR, the exception are the newer High Definition security cameras referred to as HD-SDI cameras or HD cameras. They use the same connector but the DVR must have the circuitry built-in to use HD cameras. HD-SDI cameras and security DVRs will be covered in a separate article, here we will be talking about standard analog security cameras and DVRs.
The security cameras will usually be mounted to a wall or ceiling in the area you want to monitor. All cameras need power to operate but it is not necessary to have a power outlet where the camera is mounted since it can receive its power through the power and video cables that will need to be connected. Most cameras only come with a 2ft or 3ft starter cable so you will need to buy extension cables. The easiest way is to purchase pre-made cables in the length you need since they will have the correct connections for the camera and DVR already installed. Most websites that sell cameras will also offer cables with power and video and cables with power, video and audio if needed.
This extension cable will have power and video connections on both ends, so one end of this cable is connected to the camera's power and video leads. The other end of the cable is run back to the DVR which is usually located inside your home or business where access and power outlets are most convenient. Of course most people do not want to see exposed wires so you may need to run the cables through walls and attic or crawl spaces if you want to hide the wires or along baseboards. If running the wires through walls or attics is something you are not comfortable doing most any electrician or handyman could be hired for that aspect of the installation.
Then back by the DVR you will attach the video lead from the extension cable into one of the video inputs on the DVR which provides the video image from the camera, then the power lead of the extension cable plugs into the camera's power supply which is how you get the power out to the camera. You will need to do this for each camera so you will probably want to use a power strip with multiple outlets or a 12 volt DC power box if you have a lot of cameras installed. The DVR also has its own power supply that will need to be plugged into an outlet.
Now that you have a security DVR and cameras hooked up how do you see the images? Since the DVR is just a recorder like a VCR it will need to be plugged into some type of monitor to setup its features or see the video. Most security DVRs have a standard composite video out that can be plugged into any TV or monitor that has a video input, they also have a VGA output that can be used with a computer VGA monitor and some now have HDMI output for plugging into HD TVs or monitors. Whichever output you choose when you first turn on the DVR you will probably need to input the default username and password see a menu of options. These icons will direct you to the different functions but usually the first thing you should do is set your time and date so any video recorded will have the correct time and date the event happened. The operation of most security DVRs is quite simple but that doesn't mean they lack features such as motion recording, remote viewing, email notification and video backup. However to understand all their features will probably require some reading of the user manual.
About The Author: About the Author: William M Ward is an author and technical adviser for Protection Depot,, a leading online supplier of security cameras and security DVR systems. For more information about security cameras and related equipment, please visit http://www.protectiondepot.com/.
Please use the HTML version of this article at:
http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid=1842995
*********************** ARTICLE END ***********************
- To distribute your articles go to http://www.isnare.com/distribution.php
- For more free-reprint articles go to http://www.isnare.com
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