Swann PC DVR 4 Net
by Swann
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Our Price: $249.85 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $90.00 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Swann PC DVR 4 Net
Customer Review: Don't buy this...
Summary: 1 Stars
Don't buy this. It would be way cheaper and much more flexible to just buy 4 USB capture devices. Then you could use any software package you like. I'm getting ready to toss this card and use Zone Minder with a mix of USB and IP cameras I collected. With my Belkin USB capture I can also use the camera I bought to go with the Swann. But I'm done with their software so I'm done with this card that is not usable with any other software.
I use this, I get recordings, so it does the basic thing it says it will do, but that's it.
The software is really bad and there is no hope in it getting any better. Swann has heard about the bugs long enough and is not doing anything.
I don't want to set my computer to 1024x768 to view your program. I don't want your program anchored to the top left all day. I can't see some of the fields in configuration because you wrote it wrong. Does Swann not see these problems on their computers?
At least make a driver that will allow me to use other software, you know Swann, TWAIN compliant I think it's called?
I'm sorry I bought this.
Customer Review: Not as good as their cameras, but it works.
Summary: 4 Stars
The Swann PCI DVR Card is an affordable card & Software package. The Software is certainly not pretty, or flawless, however once it is set up, it does what it is supposed to, and does it well. It's easy to use and refine to your needs.
I have had trouble getting the software to install after a clean install of windows. FYI: when re-installing windows. Remove the DVR PCI card. Install Windows. Shut down, install card, boot, install software. The software will not install if you re-install windows with the card in the machine.
I also was disappointed to learn that my Mac Laptop, and Linux-based Nokia n800 Tablet are not be able to view the video stream remotely, because they do not support Internet Explorer. I also have had friends with PC and IE 6-7 try with no success. Setting up windows firewall and my router to let the host stream was not well documented. I looked into using a Linux based program but the hardware was not supported. tough luck.
If you solely dwell in the realm of windows you should be fine. I'm still trying to find a universal remote viewing option that works.
Customer Review: Ok, but fickle
Summary: 3 Stars
This card is pretty straightforward. Plug it in and hook it up.
My only problem was that it needed re-seating the first time I hooked it up. (pull it out and re-set it into the PCI slot).
It cleared up after that. The software it comes with is great and includes motion detection to turn your cameras on so you don't record every little thing, though IR cameras attract bugs so you may see more than you want to.
The software could be better, but be sure to download the updated version from the website. It supports all desktop resolutions, sort of. It doesn't change the software but it will run at (my experience) up to 1280x1024. You can full-screen your camera by simply right clicking on the image.
The manual? It's just a joke. Playing with the features will teach you more than the manual, and you can't ruin anything aside from recording to the wrong place, but that's set up when you install the program so you'll be fine there.
The card does come with lots of converters from RCA so if you bought the Swann RCA with power cord you'll be OK plugging it in.
Customer Review: Software is impressive.. Glitches with Vista
Summary: 3 Stars
I've installed two of these cards in two of the exact same machines. I contacted Swann and asked which of the three support drivers would work best for a Vista 32bit application. In both cases I was referred to the latest 5.4 (I beleive) driver update. Upon trying this, I received misc errors. I then tried the oldest driver, and presto. These things have worked like a charm.
I'm still working on figuring out the remote viewing and local viewing portion of the device, but so far it has lived up to what it says.
Once I get these port forwarding glitches and the firmware correct, I should be good to go. Also this card allows you to recycle the destination folder for your motion recordings, and keeps your hard drive from filling up with squirrels running through your yard, or leaves blowing in the wind.
Overall with a little work, I give it three stars. If their Australian support team was a little more helpful, I probably would have gave it four.
Customer Review: PC DVR Net
Summary: 4 Stars
This PCI card is installed inside your computer. Your computer must have Windows XP or 2000, but the system requirements on RAM and processor speed are overly strict. I am running this card on a 650 MGHZ HP with a mere 56 MB of RAM. It's obviously sluggish if I play back multiple cameras, but it records just fine. I also bought a pair of SWANN Bulldog cameras for outside, and 2 of the SWANN wide angle cameras for my garage and tool shed. This combo works great for me.
Otherwise, I agree with everything RY said in his review, especially about the need for a 10X fast-forward on playback. Regardless, the card works like it's supposed to, and the price is hard to beat.