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Network Video Recorders (NVRs)

A network video recorder (NVR) records and plays back footage from IP cameras over the network, and many have built-in PoE ports that power the cameras through the same cable. The range includes Hikvision, Dahua, Ajax, ESP HDview, Comelit PAC, Hanwha Vision, Axis, TP-Link VIGI and i-PRO recorders, with 4-channel desktop units at one end and rack-mounted enterprise NVRs and recording servers at the other.

Choosing Network Video Recorders (NVRs)

Size the NVR by the cameras it must record now and later, how they are powered, and how long footage has to be kept.

Channels

Channel counts here run from 4 to 256 channels. Models such as the HiLook NVR-104MH-K/4P and Hikvision DS-7608NXI-K1/8P suit a home or small shop, the Hikvision DS-7732NI-M4/24P handles 32 channels, and rack units such as the Hikvision DS-96256NI-I16 record 256 for a large site. Leave spare channels for cameras added later.

PoE ports

A PoE NVR powers its cameras through their network cables, so no separate camera supplies are needed. The HiLook NVR-104MH-K/4P has four PoE ports, the Hikvision DS-7616NXI-I2/16P/S(E) sixteen with a 200 W budget, and the DS-7732NI-M4/24P 24. A non-PoE NVR, such as the Hikvision DS-7732NI-M4, connects to its cameras through a separate PoE switch.

Storage

Recording time depends on the drive capacity, the camera resolution and the compression. H.265 and H.265+ cut the space a camera needs, and the drive bays set the ceiling: the Hikvision DS-7716NI-M4/16P takes four SATA drives up to 64 TB, the DS-9632NI-M8 has eight bays with RAID, and ESP HDview NVRs are sold in storage versions such as the HC816R8TB with 8TB.

SiteExampleChannels and ports
Home or small shopHiLook NVR-104MH-K/4P4 channels, 4 PoE
Small businessTP-Link VIGI NVR1008H-8MP8 channels, PoE+
Mid-size siteHikvision DS-7716NI-M4/16P16 channels, 16 PoE, 4 SATA
Large siteHikvision DS-7732NI-M4/24P32 channels, 24 PoE
EnterpriseHikvision DS-96256NI-I24256 channels, 24-bay RAID
VehicleHikvision AE-MN70838 channels, 1TB SSD

Analytics and viewing

AcuSense NVRs such as the Hikvision DS-7732NXI-I4/S(E) add deep-learning human and vehicle perimeter protection, DeepinMind models such as the iDS-7716NXI-M4/X add facial recognition, and ESP HDview NVRs such as the HC84R offer line cross and perimeter intrusion detection. For local viewing, the HiLook NVR-216MH-K/16P has a 4K HDMI output and the Hikvision DS-7616NI-M2/16P an 8K one.

Brands we stock in Network Video Recorders (NVRs)

Ajax, Aritech, Avigilon Unity, Axis Communications, Comelit PAC, Dahua Technology, ESP, Genie, Hanwha Vision, Hikvision, HiLook, Honeywell Commercial Security, i-PRO, Milestone Systems, OpenEye, Teledyne FLIR, TP-Link and Verint.

Ajax, Dahua Technology and Hikvision make most of the recorders here.

Related categories

Pair the recorder with cameras from wired CCTV cameras, add cable, brackets and power from CCTV installation accessories, and see the full CCTV and surveillance range. For coax cameras, see digital video recorders.

Frequently asked questions

How does network video recording work?

Network video recording stores IP camera footage on a recorder linked over the same network, with the cameras encoding video before sending it as a data stream. The recorder writes the streams to its hard drive storage and serves live and recorded views to monitors, phones and software. The range here includes PoE NVRs that power cameras through built-in ports.

What is an NVR?

An NVR is a network video recorder, a dedicated unit that records, stores and plays back IP security camera footage. It connects to cameras over a network or built-in PoE ports, and footage can usually be viewed on a monitor or remotely through an app. The range here includes compact PoE recorders and rackmount NVRs for large sites.

What does NVR stand for?

NVR stands for network video recorder, a recorder for IP CCTV cameras. The name sets it apart from a DVR, or digital video recorder, which usually takes analogue cameras over coaxial cable, while an NVR receives digital video streams over a data network. Some hybrid recorders can record analogue and IP cameras on one unit.

  • Established 1975
  • Birmingham trade counter
  • UK-only supply

Written by the West Midlands Electrics technical team

Updated

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