Apparently Swann makes some NVRs just for Costco, possibly for Sam's Club. I finally got my unit as provided in the first post. Swann has said a couple times it's basically the 7090, but different, built for Costco. The link again, the one from Costco:
http://www.costco.com/Swann-16-Chan...with-115'-Night-Vision.product.100144944.html
The NVR is about 17.5" wide, and didn't fit in the desired spot, so I had to create some passageway holes between the entertainment center cabinets. I also found a place for both switches, so I was able to avoid the attic...
I found the those Swann bullet cams in a 4-pack on eBay for $420. They look to be the same ones (NHD-835 3MP), so a $40 savings. I haven't tried them yet, but maybe later today...
The included Ethernet cables are supposedly 100' in the kit, and 60' in the "add-on" cameras purchases. I have one camera just a few feet away, inside the house, so I'll use like a 6' cable for that one... Since I have like two or three other cameras about 20' away from the NVR / switches, I'm going to buy some 25' Cat 5e today. Doesn't seem all that desirable to have more than half unused, from a loss or attenuation perspective...
Wow, Swann support is 24/7?! Attempting to set-up email alerts last night, as per the quick start guide, the test emails failed, and I got an email from Google that it was blocked, for security reasons. Swann support, while a 30 minute wait, was awesome. She walked me through a change I needed to make in my Google account settings...
From Costco, I ordered two add-on dome cameras. I temporarily hooked-up one of those in the house, and maybe it was due to somewhat low light, but the image quality is not all that great...
http://www.costco.com/Swann-3MP-HD-IP-Add-on-Dome-Camera-2-pack.product.100238794.html
I'll bring it outdoors later today to see how that might change things...
Going through my hole saws a bit later to find the smallest one that will allow the camera connectors to pass through. My plan is to make holes in desired spots around the perimeter of the house and feed the Ethernet cables up into the attic, probably using an opened coat hanger wire taped to the NVR / switch end of the Ethernet cable. Once in the attic, I'm hoping these coat hanger wires will reach far enough inward to make reaching them not so difficult. If there is a better method or something longer that might be advisable, I'm all ears...
I was in the attic yesterday as I "installed" a dedicated 2" ABS pipe that will direct these Ethernet cables to the NVR and swtich POE ports. Very clean install, I'm happy to say...
I currently have the NVR's HDMI output going to our big screen. I added an "Activity" to our Logitech H1 remote called "Cameras", that simply just puts the TV on the desired input. It was then that I realized that this NVR doesn't have a remote control. We have an older Lorex DVR (LH310) at our other home, which has a remote control. I was able to have our H1 not just view all channels on the big screen, but navigate to a desired one and select a camera image to enlarge. I / we will miss that here. All of Swann's NVR do not have a remote control. Seeing all the cameras in Live View is generally fine though... Between computers and other connected devices, there will be more options...