, 4 min read
DVR vs NVR: which CCTV recorder should you buy?
Both record your cameras. The difference is the kind of camera and cable they work with, and that decides which suits your site.
The short answer
A DVR records cameras connected with coaxial cable. An NVR records IP cameras connected with network cable. For most shops and homes with up to eight cameras, a DVR system is the practical choice. For larger, multi-building or high-resolution sites, an NVR system usually is.
DVR systems
- Work with HD analogue cameras over coaxial cable
- Usually the lowest cost for 4 to 16 cameras
- Simple to install and service
- What our 4- and 8-camera kits use
NVR systems
- Work with IP cameras over network cable
- Higher resolutions, useful for faces and number plates
- Easier to span long distances and several buildings using network switches
- Better suited to video walls and many viewers
How to decide
Count your cameras, look at the longest cable run, and decide what detail you need to see. If the answers are "under 16", "under 100 metres" and "people and events", a DVR system fits. If not, ask us to price an NVR system as well, and compare.
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