BI vs NVR

[Ironheadchop]

So I am in the process of building my setup and am still trying to figure out the best way to get my video. Should I get a NVR and not use a switch and an additional PC, or go with a POE switch and buy the Blue Iris software? What do most people use? Would one be better over the other?

Looking at getting this switch to use with a spare PC and the BI software. -

https://a.co/d/013XiFy

Or this NVR -

https://a.co/d/g21ApN9

 

[Flintstone61]

Lots of opinions on that.....i think it comes down to personal experience using both.....I'm finding the tunability of BI far exceeds an NVR.....Not mention you can still surf the BI forums on the BI PC while your getting practice.....

 

[TonyR]

Me? I'm a Blue Iris guy for 9 years now and have set up BI systems for 3 other people/businesses and they are very happy.

But I suggest you find a comfy chair, grab a cup/glass of your favorite beverage and decide for yourself ==>> site:ipcamtalk.com NVR vs Blue Iris

 

[tigerwillow1]

A 3rd choice is what I run, NVR+external switch. Lots of pro-con debate about that, too. If you go with an NVR, consider a 5xxx series, and get twice as many channels as you think you need.

 

[wittaj]

+1 yep - lots of threads already asking the same thing LOL

Or save the reading and just go BI!

 

[samplenhold]

Looking at getting this switch to use with a spare PC and the BI software. - https://a.co/d/013XiFy

That POE switch is a 10/100mb switch, including the uplink. Stay clear of that. The uplink should be 1gb or you might have issues.

Make sure you know what the POE requirements are of each cam and buy a POE switch that can supply that much wattage.

 

[Ironheadchop]

That POE switch is a 10/100mb switch, including the uplink. Stay clear of that. The uplink should be 1gb or you might have issues.

Make sure you know what the POE requirements are of each cam and buy a POE switch that can supply that much wattage.

Do you have a suggestion on an 8port POE switch? I only plan on having 4 cameras 6 at the most so 8 would be plenty for later for me. Also i cant find the power consumption for the 5442 vari focals.

 

[Rob2020]

I came here a couple years ago planning on a NVR. After research here, went with BI, two years now and very happy, paid for the extended support at the end of year one, primarily because of the ongoing updates and tweaks, an excellent product just gets better at time goes by. It is a great piece of software, great results running with default settings, even better results when you take the time to learn the software and fine tune too your specific cameras and layout.

 

[Rob2020]

Do you have a suggestion on an 8port POE switch? I only plan on having 4 cameras 6 at the most so 8 would be plenty for later for me. Also i cant find the power consumption for the 5442 vari focals.

Basic power consumption: 1.9W (12V DC); 2.2W (PoE) Max. power consumption H.265 + max. stream + intelligent function + IR LED+focus: 6W (12V DC); 6.9W (PoE)

https://www.dahuasecurity.com/asset/upload/uploads/cpq/prm-os-srv-res/smart/datasheetzipfiles/IPC-HDW5442T-ZE_datasheet_20220715.pdf

I planned on 4 cams, 6 at most, outgrew my 8 port switch.

 

[samplenhold]

Do you have a suggestion on an 8port POE switch? I only plan on having 4 cameras 6 at the most so 8 would be plenty for later for me. Also i cant find the power consumption for the 5442 vari focals.

I am partial to the Netgear POE switches. That is all I have now. Had a couple of TDLink switches years ago that crapped out and ended up changing them for Netgear. But lots of folks have had on issues with the TDLinks ones.

I have a few and the one below is a good 8 port POE. Realisze that one port will have to be used as the uplink, so this will only supply seven cams with connectivity.

Amazon.com: NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged PoE+ Switch (GS308PP) - with 8 x PoE+ @ 83W, Desktop or Wall Mount : Industrial & Scientific

 

[sebastiantombs]

Three rules
Rule #1 - Cameras multiply like rabbits.
Rule #2 - Cameras are more addictive than drugs.
Rule #3 - You never have enough cameras.

 

[tigerwillow1]

Based on the reporting from my POE switch, the power consumption of the 5442 varifocal varies a lot, but a good average with its IR light off is 4 watts, and 7 watts with the IR light at full brightness.

 

[SpacemanSpiff]

Do you have a suggestion on an 8port POE switch? I only plan on having 4 cameras 6 at the most so 8 would be plenty for later for me. Also i cant find the power consumption for the 5442 vari focals.

PoE Switch Suggestion List

Update: 2/21/2018: I added images of all the switches: Update 2/15/2019: Prices & pics updated https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pwVaK4J83awpilnxOi7YTTB85OhPync8AMXoIDVnN-w/edit?usp=sharing I created a list of PoE switches from suggestions I came across on this site and from searching...

ipcamtalk.com

 

[Flintstone61]

Amazon.com: NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged PoE Switch (GS108PP) - with 8 x PoE+ @ 123W Upgradeable, Desktop, Wall Mount or Rackmount, and Limited Lifetime Protection: Computers & Accessories

Buy NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged PoE Switch (GS108PP) - with 8 x PoE+ @ 123W Upgradeable, Desktop, Wall Mount or Rackmount, and Limited Lifetime Protection: Electronics - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Gigabit.....you can run all your stuff off this without lag,,,,

 

[DanDenver]

You don’t mention what it is you are monitoring.
Its important to match the camera security solution to the concern at hand.

If it is pets, house-sitter, babysitter while you are away: NVR
If it is your car, garage, yard, something of financial value: BI

No matter what direction you take, make sure you have AI somewhere in your equipment chain!

 

[tech_junkie]

So I am in the process of building my setup and am still trying to figure out the best way to get my video. Should I get a NVR and not use a switch and an additional PC, or go with a POE switch and buy the Blue Iris software? What do most people use? Would one be better over the other?

Looking at getting this switch to use with a spare PC and the BI software. -

https://a.co/d/013XiFy

Or this NVR -

https://a.co/d/g21ApN9

If you are going with remote access with your phone, Its better to use an NVR for most since you don't have to set up a VPN infrastructure.
BI is good for local in house operations, and can be used to redundant record the cameras. Which the easiest way to add it on an NVR is to just plug it into a camera port and static configure it to the camera's network

 

[TonyR]

BI is good for local in house operations, and can be used to redundant record the cameras. Which the easiest way to add it on an NVR is to just plug it into a camera port and static configure it to the camera's network

Or....
stream from the NVR by connecting the NVR's LAN to the same LAN and subnet as the BI server, in BI create new camera, put in NVR's LAN IP and find/inspect, use drop-down for channel #1, repeat by creating NEW camera for the remaining cameras using same NVR LAN IP but each time change channel number in drop-down from 1 to 2, then 3, etc. until all cams are displayed.

 

[DanDenver]

Its better to use an NVR for most since you don't have to set up a VPN infrastructure.

You make a VPN sound daunting with words like ‘infrastructure’.
I think this characterization is a tad misleading as setting up a VPN is pretty straightforward.

 

[tech_junkie]

You make a VPN sound daunting with words like ‘infrastructure’.
I think this characterization is a tad misleading as setting up a VPN is pretty straightforward.

VPNs are easier to hack than cloud NVR access.
VPN you have to buy into infrastructure like replacing the router with a good $400 router because port forwarding a computer that is hosting a VPN server can be hacked. DDNS and Static IPs are extra costs. Free DDNS are prone to hackers.
Cloud VPNs are ok, but you have to buy a router and preferably one that uses a good encryption system instead of self signed certificates (that can be hacked)
Setting up a VPN securely is not always straight forward. Programmers made it easy to set up, but you can set up the VPN easily so its prone to being hacked so you have to watch what you doing and not use self-signed certificates.

 

[SpacemanSpiff]

If you are going with remote access with your phone, Its better to use an NVR for most since you don't have to set up a VPN infrastructure.

Whether you are going to choose an NVR or BI. Best practice is to utilize VPN connectivity for remote access, never use port forwarding.

How to Secure Your Network (Don't Get Hacked!)

Many camera networks are unsecure, even those installed by professionals. This guide gives basic instruction in how to secure a camera network from the most common types of attacks. Perhaps the most important rule of securing a computer network is to not forward ports to unsecure services...

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