Menu
What's new

Why Buy Dahua?

mat200

mat200

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Jan 17, 2017
Messages
13,894
Reaction score
23,183
MrN1ce9uy said:
Cheap DVR/NVR 4x camera kits are as cheap as $149.99 when on sale/clearance. It's not that Dahua's are too expensive. But if someone doesn't have anything to compare too as far as quality and only price, and I only have Dahua's, they would seem to be expensive.

Thanks for the replies.
Click to expand...
MrN1ce9uy said:
Why are the Dahua Starlight IP cameras so recommended when a single camera costs almost as much as a cheap all-in-one DVR setup? I'd like to hear every reason there is. I've already bought some myself, I have 2x 2231 and 1x 5231. They're great quality cameras, and I come from a custom PC building hobby where I value quality stuff. But if I had to convince someone else to buy these cameras, or at least defend my purchases, and particularly from some guy named Andy in Hong Kong, what would I tell them?
Click to expand...
Hi @MrN1ce9uy

It is a fair question to ask, and as bigredfish points out - hard to realize until you really look at image captures.

I normally try to equate the question with something many here and on other forums may understand better - vehicles.

You can buy a new vehicle for cheap - however do expect there to be a minimal price point for a decent quality freeway rated vehicle which can carry 4 passengers. Yes, it will be significantly more than the cheapest moped, or e-scooter.

For those in the computer industry - yes, you can buy a new computer from Walmart for cheap, and often find clearance computers for even cheaper.

Now, try to give that as a gift to your close friend / son / daughter who is a serious gamer.

Yup, a $99 on clearance computer just will not perform as well as a better system for that purpose.
 
Last edited:
tangent

tangent

IPCT Contributor
Joined
May 12, 2016
Messages
4,421
Reaction score
3,654
For a close friend or relative, you could make the purchase from Andy yourself and resell the cameras. They down side is they're more likely to expect support :facepalm:
 
TonyR

TonyR

IPCT Contributor
IPCT+ Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
16,701
Reaction score
38,865
Location
Alabama
mat200 said:
Yup, at $99 on clearance computer just will not perform as well as a better system for that purpose.
Click to expand...
I'd like to have a buck every time a parent has asked me advice on which laptop to buy for their soon-to-be-off-to-college son or daughter.
I quote them around $600 + or - for one that I could live with and they call me a few months later with the one they got for $300, saying the young student is complaining "....it's soooo s-l-o-w." Turns out, it's a 1.6GHz Celeron with 2GB of RAM.......duh.

More often than not, that old adage "You get what you pay for" is very true when it comes to IP cams, PC's, laptops, etc.....most tech devices.
 
tangent

tangent

IPCT Contributor
Joined
May 12, 2016
Messages
4,421
Reaction score
3,654
TonyR said:
More often than not, that old adage "You get what you pay for" is very true when it comes to IP cams, PC's, laptops, etc.....most tech devices.
...
Turns out, it's a 1.6GHz Celeron with 2GB of RAM.......duh.
Click to expand...
There are plenty situations where you're better off spending your money smarter not just spending more of it.
The adage, if it seems to good to be true it probably is seems more appropriate.

Selling new computers like that is practically criminal.

A good $600-800 computer makes so much more sense for a college kid than a $1800 MacBook Pro or $1500 surface pro (both of which are awful in terms of repairability). Your typical computer may not survive 4-5 years of college abuse.

Does grandma really need an iPhone Xs or would the $200 Moto G6 exceed all of her needs. Even if she can't "FaceTime"... cry me a river, you can handle installing Duo on you iPhone if she can handle using it.

Do you get anything meaningful as a home user by buying "north american" dahua products from B&H compared to buying from Andy?
 
Last edited:
M

Mr_D

Getting comfortable
Joined
Nov 17, 2017
Messages
596
Reaction score
527
Location
Southern California
TonyR said:
I'd like to have a buck every time a parent has asked me advice on which laptop to buy for their soon-to-be-off-to-college son or daughter.
I quote them around $600 + or - for one that I could live with and they call me a few months later with the one they got for $300, saying the young student is complaining "....it's soooo s-l-o-w." Turns out, it's a 1.6GHz Celeron with 2GB of RAM.......duh.

More often than not, that old adage "You get what you pay for" is very true when it comes to IP cams, PC's, laptops, etc.....most tech devices.
Click to expand...
I've never regretted spending too much on a computer. But I've definitely regretted spending too little. Example: I wanted a cheap PC to connect to the TV for certain situations. I got a $200 Nuc/Brix style unit. Sure, the Intel GPU can handle video decoding, but the "SSD" is 32 GB of soldered-down eMMC so its so slow that something as simple as installing Windows updates takes forever. Now a couple of years later, the Win10 build is unsupported and there's insufficient free space to upgrade, so every time I use it, I have to click through a few screens begging me to update Windows. I would have been far better off getting an Optiplex like I did for Blue Iris for maybe $100 more.
 
Last edited:
J Sigmo

J Sigmo

Known around here
Joined
Feb 5, 2018
Messages
997
Reaction score
1,335
fenderman said:
When I drink alone I prefer to be by myself. No wifi. Nothing. Just me and the toilet.
Click to expand...
George Thorogood, perfect. And that first scene taken from Bad Santa. A classic. Billy Bob Thornton was spectacular in those movies... and in the first season of "Fargo".

But I digress!

Why do I suddenly want a drink?

All of our cats drink from the toilet. It must be classy!
 
J Sigmo

J Sigmo

Known around here
Joined
Feb 5, 2018
Messages
997
Reaction score
1,335
tangent said:
For a close friend or relative, you could make the purchase from Andy yourself and resell the cameras. They down side is they're more likely to expect support :facepalm:
Click to expand...
You definitely are getting yourself into an unpaid tech support commitment whenever you recommend or obtain gear for a friend or relative. Sometimes it's worth it. Sometimes not so much. ;)
 
tangent

tangent

IPCT Contributor
Joined
May 12, 2016
Messages
4,421
Reaction score
3,654
J Sigmo said:
You definitely are getting yourself into an unpaid tech support commitment whenever you recommend or obtain gear for a friend or relative. Sometimes it's worth it. Sometimes not so much. ;)
Click to expand...
Yeah, been there done that. You'd think that when a relative requires extensive tech support that they'd at least send you $20 at Christmas or on your birthday. Nope. Sometimes the best solution is just to send them a link to an article, tutorial, or manual and tell them you're too busy.

The worst are the people who really need some tech advice. Out of pity you offer unsolicited advice about how they should go about doing or upgrading something and that it can be relatively easy/inexpensive. You even point out the pitfalls and problems they should be careful of.
What do they do? Ignore all of your advice and then ask for help resolving the disaster they created. :smash:
 
TonyR

TonyR

IPCT Contributor
IPCT+ Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
16,701
Reaction score
38,865
Location
Alabama
tangent said:
..... You even point out the pitfalls and problems they should be careful of.
.....What do they do? Ignore all of your advice and then ask for help resolving the disaster they created. :smash:
Click to expand...
Boy, have I heard this song before.

I had to drop the hammer when I had my LLC from '06 to '14 and charge relatives for PC repair and home visits. It cut down on the torrent of phone calls but allowed me to charge them for genuine issues when they soon discovered they could pay me less than half of what it would cost them to drag their PC to some shop in Huntsville or Birmingham....and they'd get it in back in a few days vs. a few months. Plus I'd make house calls for software instruction or network/Internet issues.

Obviously I don't mind helping folks when I can as evidenced by my presence on this forum. But what annoys me is when someone (as you mentioned) asks for advice, you give it and explain very simply why it's important that they take it and what could happen if they don't and then they do something against your advice and they whine and moan about their decision.

I don't care what you're considering buying....a car, smartphone, TV, PC, tablet, pressure cooker, tractor, lawnmower and on and on ad infinitum...one must spend a little time on the Internet and read TRUSTED reviews at various vendors, sites and device-related forums....do a little research. It's time well spent.

There's always been those that want something for nothing, that want to reap the rewards without expending any energy and that want great results with little effort and that will never change, IMO. :cool:
 
looney2ns

looney2ns

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Sep 25, 2016
Messages
15,606
Reaction score
22,831
Location
Evansville, In. USA
tangent said:
Yeah, been there done that. You'd think that when a relative requires extensive tech support that they'd at least send you $20 at Christmas or on your birthday. Nope. Sometimes the best solution is just to send them a link to an article, tutorial, or manual and tell them you're too busy.

The worst are the people who really need some tech advice. Out of pity you offer unsolicited advice about how they should go about doing or upgrading something and that it can be relatively easy/inexpensive. You even point out the pitfalls and problems they should be careful of.
What do they do? Ignore all of your advice and then ask for help resolving the disaster they created. :smash:
Click to expand...
Ha, you've met my Brother and Sister in law! :)
If I can weezle out of it, without upsetting my wife, (her brother) I no longer help with their self designed disasters. And try to not offer any advice of any kind.
 
Last edited:
W

Whoaru99

Pulling my weight
Joined
Dec 22, 2018
Messages
422
Reaction score
159
Location
Here
tangent said:
What do they do? Ignore all of your advice and then ask for help resolving the disaster they created. :smash:
Click to expand...
I've all but stopped being friends and relatives computer support for this very reason. Used to spend hours cleaning out malware. Stopped doing that after the behavior didn't change with attempts at education, instead wiping and clean install with no attempt to recover/back up their files (usually wasn't anything more than web browser use anyway). That still didn't trigger the "maybe I should be more careful reaction" so I just stopped helping with that sort of thing.
 
W

WoodenTop

n3wb
Joined
Dec 14, 2018
Messages
13
Reaction score
11
Location
UK
Various people have been identified and arrested due to the footage from my CCTV cams. The latest was a horrible man who attacked elderly ladies in their homes before robbing them. Unfortunately for him he followed one of the victims right beside my house and walked past again after the crime. He was arrested the next day. For me, even this one incident was worth it having decent cameras installed. It was nice to see that when my footage was published in the local newspaper, many people commented on the excellent quality of it ;-)

I have been a Police Officer (UK) for many years and from a prosecution point of view, having great footage of the offender's face cannot be argued against. Nightime footage can be a potential struggle but at least give yourself the best chance of identification by using a decent low light cam such as a starlight.

My side interest is surveillance cams and many family members ask me to install cameras for them "like mine but cheaper". I always refuse as there is no point having rubbish quality footage with zero chance of identification.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top