ANNKE Wired CCTV Security Camera System Outdoor with Audio, 8 Channel 5MP DVR with 4x Audio Camera, Color Night Vision, 1TB Hard Drive for 24/7 Recording Home Security Systems, Human/Vehicle Detection

Well, I did write a fairly detailed review but either Amazon or Chrome threw a "wobbly" just as I posted it and it was all gone! So here is a brief review. My main requirement was to have PIR motion detection and 1080p - this kit seemed to be the most reasonably priced and, as it turns out, very good quality. That's not to say you won't get any spurious false alerts, you still do, BUT over the course of 24 hrs this might average out at about 10 instead of the hundreds I could get on my old system with conventional motion detection. Of course even the PIR false alerts MIGHT me something the heat detector has seen which is actually outside of the cameras view as it is a separate sensor and not looking through the lens. In any event it generally works very well and if, like me, you like to review some of the alerts regularly then it generally means that most clips have some useful content rather than just some rustling leaves! I just wish that the manufacturers (most of them not just Annke) would devise suitable firmware/OS/web server for their devices that allowed you to view video in any of the common modern browsers as this currently requires a "plug in" which will not run due to security considerations. Yes, I have read all the help files and tried ALL the "fixes" and browsers. You can download a program called "Guarding Vision" from Annke which WILL run on the PC AND allow you to do most of the settings and view the video etc. remotely on your PC. The downside is it seems to run in some sort of "virtual box" and therefore is very slow to load and exit. It is also a totally different GUI to the devices web server or direct on monitor layout so it is yet another fairly steep learning curve. As my DVR is in an outbuilding I decided it was easier to just purchase a dedicated monitor (HP 21.5") to connect directly to the DVR to allow direct access to any of the settings or tweaks necessary from time to time and I use the Annke Vision app on my phone and tablet for live view or to review any alerts etc. which works well. The build quality is very good, especially the cameras which are easy to adjust. Installation was straight forward as the cables for the cameras are a single 5mm diameter approx run which splits into two, power and video, just at each end. Maybe the DVR case is a little on the flimsy side. I did have a problem with 2 of the cameras (at separate times) and Customer Support/Technical Support has been excellent with both problems resolved promptly. It would be nice if it had Google integration (or even IFTTT) so I could view a camera live on the domestic TV by voice command but even much more expensive systems that do seem to be unreliable using this function. As it is I have a 4 camera system, with PIR detection, 1Tb hard disk, 1080p recordings view-able from anywhere and even with the addition of a nice dedicated monitor the cost was less that £260. Even better it all works without the need to subscribe to any "cloud" storage or repeated prompts to do so! Recommended - and I certainly would never go back to a normal motion detect system.

I had an older CCTV system from this manufacturer and decided to renew it with this system, I wanted 8 cameras in total so bought an extra 4 pack of bullet cameras of the same spec for it. Firstly let me say what a difference these are to my old ones , the image quality is far superior both day and night and the quality of the cameras themselves feel heavy and well built with a nice white finish. The one thing I didn't like at first after installation was the flashing white light when motion is detected and after contacting the seller they have sent me a link on how to turn this feature off, however . . . . after living with it for a week or so I've come to like it as it is VERY noticeable at night time and whilst there is a single red led that is permanently on it is subtle but when the white light flashes upon motion detection it would certainly make would be thieves realise that their presence had been noticed !. The DVR itself is very quiet and the menu function is easy to navigate for settings etc, I have mine set to 1 + 7 which shows one larger picture and 7 smaller, the one thing I'm still trying to set is that during the day it stays on this setting but at night seems to change to a single image of another camera so I have to click 1+7 again slightly annoying but hopefully will figure that out or if anyone else has could they let me know how to stop it ? My overall opinion for the performance , quality and price of this system is excellent so much so that I ordered another for my Mum and can highly recommend it.

As a CCTV unit, it is very good, picture quality is reasonable although it doesn't seem that you can buy additional cameras as the same type as the kit. What really lets this unit down is the software, app is reasonable but don't expect it to be easy to set up email notifications or access the init via a PC unless you know how to configure IP addresses, and all the other coding etc that goes with emails, networking and all that other stuff. The software with the unit is basically horrific, very cheap, clunky and extremely un user friendly. If you just wan a basic CCTV system then this is fine, if you want remote access etc then forget it.