Are All Security Cameras Compatible With All Dvrs

Many people want to know how to find out which security cameras are compatible with their DVRs. Let's say i of your cameras is broken and doesn't work anymore. Which camera do you demand to society and have it replaced?

With so many Hard disk drive video standards and resolutions available, it definitely tin can be confusing. All the cameras announced to be the same, but actually, the technology and the indicate they transmit depend on the manufacturer/brand, and not every camera works with any DVR. You need to go a camera that can send out the feed to your current DVR.

In this guide, we volition briefly describe the primary camera types and the DVRs on the marketplace and how you tin easily find out which camera is compatible with your system. Then all you have to practise is simply order information technology online and have it replaced when information technology's delivered.

Notation: This commodity will not cover network IP cameras. It covers just the HD analog cameras that utilize the coaxial camera. If your camera uses a network cable (Ethernet cablevision) then information technology'southward an IP camera. If your camera uses the thick Siamese cables (the former-style TV cable), then it'south a coaxial camera.

Which Security Camera Works with my DVR?

Let's offset by explaining quickly what a DVR is and how to tell if you have 1. A Digital Video Recorder (short DVR) is a device that processes and records the video feed coming from the cameras. The cameras are wired straight to the DVR, they send out the video feed which is further candy by the recorder.

Usually, the DVR has a few internal hard drives that store the footage for up to a few months. This footage can exist reviewed via a monitor/Idiot box, through the phone, via a computer, etc. As well, the DVR provides live view and other settings that can be adjusted to get the all-time out of your security camera system.

At the back of the DVR, you lot should see the photographic camera inputs (BNC) which are properly labeled such equally "Inputs", "Photographic camera In", "Video In", etc. If yous see these kinds of connectors (as shown beneath) then you've got a DVR. A DVR is for coaxial cameras, an NVR works with IP cameras.

When finding out which cameras are uniform with your security system, you need to go on in listen two basic components: the indicate type and the resolution. The DVR needs to be able to read the camera's video indicate and support its resolution.

The signal type: HD Security Cameras

All of the well-known security equipment manufacturers (Swann, Samsung, Night Owl, Lorex, Hikvision, Dahua, LTS, Zosi, Amcrest, etc) sell HD over coax security cameras systems. The problem is that many times these manufacturers exercise non disclose the signal type (Hard disk drive technology) that their cameras and DVR use.

The reason why they proceed the specs hidden is that they exercise non desire their customers to have choices of where to buy replacement cameras and other uniform equipment. They desire users to go back to them.

These are 5 major Hard disk video formats used today (here's a detailed article about these technologies).

HD-TVI cameras – Loftier Definition Send Video Interface. Also chosen "TVI" cameras. Bachelor in 720p (1MP), 1080p (2MP), three megapixel, 5 megapixel, and 8 megapixel, 4K resolutions.
Hard disk-CVI cameras – High Definition Composite Video Interface. Also called "CVI" cameras. Bachelor in 720p (1MP), 1080p (2MP), three megapixel, 5 megapixel, and 8 megapixel, 4K resolutions.
AHD cameras – Analog High Definition. Bachelor in 720p (1MP), 1080p (2MP), iii megapixel, 5 megapixel and 8 megapixel.
CVBS – Traditional analog cameras. These are the sometime school cameras, the blurry ones and their resolution is measured in TV lines. This is a legacy type and you should non utilise these cameras due to their extremely low resolution.
HD-SDI cameras – Loftier Definition Series Digital Interface. Obsolete and discontinued, no 1 manufactures this type of photographic camera anymore.

Nowadays at that place are cameras called four-in-one (four-in-one) that back up all these types of signals. These cameras have a switch on the pigtail and you can adapt it to match your DVR'south signal type. If your DVR is CVI, and then you lot tin gear up the camera a CVI indicate and y'all'll see the moving-picture show showing up on the screen.

Resolution

This is an of import factor, DVRs don't support all resolutions. For case, a 2MP DVR supports any resolution that is 2MP (1080P) and lower, merely no higher. Allow's say, the DVR can support 1MP (720p) and 2MP (1080p) cameras, but it won't back up 3MP cameras.

As a rule, DVR tin can decode any camera resolution that is lower than it's specified past the manufacturer. And then a 5MP DVR tin can support all the cameras that deliver a resolution of 5MP and lower (evidently, not higher).

DVR Compatibility and the Cameras

If you need to go a photographic camera for your DVR, you demand one that is compatible with DVR'south signal type and within the supported resolution. Let'southward go through some examples:

Your DVR is a 1080p CVI recorder. You need: CVI cameras with 1MP (720p) or 2MP (1080p) resolution.
Your DVR is a 5MP TVI recorder. You need: TVI cameras with 1MP to 5MP resolution.
Your DVR is a 5MP AHD recorder. Y'all demand: AHD cameras with 1MP to 5MP resolution.

There are also DVRs that support multiple signals, some of them support all types of camera signals. Hybrid DVRs support 2 types of signals, Tribrid DVRs support three types of signals (CVS, CVI, or TVI), pentabrids support all types of signals on the markets (CVBS, CVI, TVI, AHD, and even IP cameras through the network).

Which HD Security Cameras are Compatible with My DVR System — The menu of a pentabrid DVR. As y'all can run across it supports all types of camera signals.

For example: a 5MP pentaprid DVRs will support any photographic camera type (CVI, TVI, AHD) with a resolution of 5MP or lower. In this kind of DVRs, whatever camera you accept, it will be shown on the screen as long as the resolution is supported.

I don't know the type of DVR and cameras that I have?

In that location are a few means to find out which type of DVR you own and what camera you need. Beneath nosotros've listed a few methods.

Bank check the camera'south sticker

If the camera is cleaved and you lot need to replace it with a new i, inspect the sticker or the label on information technology and find out the model number. Most of the cameras have a sticker on them that provides the photographic camera'southward model, series number, and in some cases even the type such as "TVI", "CVI" etc.

If it's just that model, then yous can google the exact model and find out the specs or other data. In the spec sheet, it's specified what type of photographic camera it is including the resolution. You lot can buy the same model, or you tin buy another one with the same specs.

Cheque the DVR model

If you have no data about the broken camera, y'all can deduct the compatibility by checking the DVR'south model number. If you know the DVR model, you tin cheque the supported resolution and bespeak blazon.

So, inspect whatever characterization or sticker on the side or underneath the DVR and locate the model. You can google the model number and find the exact specs of the unit that will inform yous about the supported signal type (TVI, CVI, AHD, etc) and the max resolution.

Some DVRs have their model listed in the settings section. You can admission the Card using the mouse and via the monitor navigate to the Device Information section and there y'all should find information such equally series number, model, manufacturer, etc.

On some occasions, if y'all go to the camera settings of the DVR, yous should encounter the type of signal listed there or somewhere on the menu. You may run across info such as "CVBS" or "TVI", etc.

Contact the seller/installer

Another style is to contact the seller or the installer and get the data from them. Although, sometimes they don't desire to disclose the specs because they want customers to buy from them only. Y'all nevertheless call them up and maybe they'll be reasonable.

Additionally, you may check whatsoever manuals or user guides of the system, check out if there's whatsoever model there or type. Virtually of the time, the manuals have a spec sail that can help you place the camera types that work with your system,

My DVR is generic and has no brand name?

What if the DVR has no brand name at all simply but a generic "DVR" or "Recorder" on the front? These types of DVRs are called OEM and are unremarkably manufactured by large manufacturers who sell them in bulk to smaller companies. Sometimes these companies label them with their own (unknown) brands.

If you lot're in this situation (where yous can become any model at all), then you can open upwards the DVR and audit the motherboard. There may be a sticker there with the model or you closely cheque the inscriptions on the motherboard. Try them on google and see if you tin get more data.

Another way to come around this upshot is past checking the interface style and layout. Normally, there are only a handful of companies that manufacture OEM DVRs for worldwide distribution. While the reseller may modify the carte du jour a little bit (such equally colors), the general layout and scheme remain the same.

Ii of the largest manufacturers in the world are Hikvison and Dahua and their DVRs and cameras are sold nether hundreds and hundreds of brand names or 3rd-party sellers.

Hikvision DVRs use TVI cameras, Dahua DVRs use CVI cameras. Both support CVBS cameras equally well (the traditional cameras). If the carte du jour of your DVR is similar to the ones shown below then you either take Hikvision or Dahua.

The Hikvision OEM devices have this mode of the menu:

The Dahua OEM devices take this style of the menu:

Additionally, these manufacturers produce tribrid and pentabrid DVRs that support all types of camera signals. In this case, you need to worry just nigh the resolution. Your best bet is to go with a 1080 (2MP) camera since information technology'southward the nigh mutual ane.

I tin't discover the DVR model and I take no idea what photographic camera I should utilize?

If yous tried everything and you still don't know what type of DVR or photographic camera you demand, then there'due south a solution for that. You can get for the jack of all trades: the Four in I camera .

Equally nosotros said earlier, this blazon of camera has a dip switch and you set whatsoever signal you want on the output. These cameras support Hd-CVI, Hard disk drive-TVI, AHD, and CVBS (traditional analog). Any DVR y'all own, it will support ane of these signals.

Another thing to consider: resolution. DVRs back up certain resolutions, a 5MP camera won't work on a 2MP DVR. To exist safe, buy a 1080p (2MP) four-in-one camera since that'south the almost popular resolution and most of the DVRs will support it.

And then, if you lot don't know anything near this, merely buy a iv-in-one security camera, power information technology up and then hook information technology upwardly at the back of the DVR. Then you get through the switch on the pigtail and attempt each signal ane by ane until you lot become a colored prototype on the screen.

If it's the wrong signal, it will not show anything on the screen, or, in the same cases, it will show a blackness-and-white image with horizontal lines rolling upwardly and downwardly. Try all of the signals until you get the right ane.

Determination

If y'all got a cleaved camera (or DVR) and you need to replace it, there are a few ways to tell which photographic camera you need and which one will work with your DVR. If you see a model on the camera, order the same model online.

If you don't have a camera model, attempt to locate the DVR'south model and check the spec sheet to see which security cameras work with it. Or y'all may even telephone call the seller or the installer.

Lastly, if yous tin't go through, just purchase a 1080p four-in-one security photographic camera, and virtually probable volition piece of work with your DVR. These types of cameras support all types of signals and the 2MP resolution is the most common ane. So, the chances non to piece of work with your DVR are super slim. Additionally, maybe it'southward fourth dimension to shop for a new Hard disk drive camera system that uses the existing wiring.