Lorex Fusion VS Pro Series NVR Compatibility with Other Cameras

[annew]

New to this forum so please excuse the lack of technical knowledge.
We recently purchased a Lorex Fusion system for home to replace another brand we had installed about seven years ago. We have used Lorex before and if nothing else it is easy to set up and easy to use the remote access. The available cameras for the Fusion system though are limited, no varifocal cameras, the Pro Series does have some other options. It looks like Lorex will work with other brand cameras and we are just trying to confirm this while we still have an opportunity to return the Lorex system if we need to exchange or go a different direction.
Key issues for us, ease of set up and remote access and ideally some better quality cameras that could identify people and possible some degree of reading a license plate.

 

[wittaj]

You need to provide the model numbers of the cams and NVR.

Most of their systems are Dahua OEM and can work with other cameras, but some of them are not.

 

[mat200]

Welcome @annew

In general the recent Lorex products have been Dahua OEM ( Dahua bought out Lorex a number of years ago .. not certain if they still officially own them .. as USA was giving Hikvision and Dahua some headaches ).

So they should be able to use Dahua's APIs to communicate between the Dahua OEM cameras and Lorex Dahua OEM NVRs. ( NVRs .. DVR Dahua OEM should also work with Dahua OEM bnc coax cameras .. uses Dahua's analog "standard" .. )

I would expect to need to do:
1) sync ip address / configurations of cameras to the NVR as appropriate ( often plug and play .. but you want to be ready to do this if need be )
2) sync user / password
3) sync channel info .. iirc substream needs to be configured, may not automatically show up on NVR display ..

 

[annew]

You need to provide the model numbers of the cams and NVR.

Most of their systems are Dahua OEM and can work with other cameras, but some of them are not.

We purchased this system N4K4-168BB which is the Fusion Series. The other option was the Pro Nocturnal series NP4K4F-164BB which Lorex makes a varifocal camera for. Supposedly that camera though won't work with their Fusion NVR which seems strange. We're assuming that either way probably the Lorex cameras aren't that great so if we were trying to upgrade it would be better to go with a different brand

 

[annew]

Welcome @annew

In general the recent Lorex products have been Dahua OEM ( Dahua bought out Lorex a number of years ago .. not certain if they still officially own them .. as USA was giving Hikvision and Dahua some headaches ).

So they should be able to use Dahua's APIs to communicate between the Dahua OEM cameras and Lorex Dahua OEM NVRs. ( NVRs .. DVR Dahua OEM should also work with Dahua OEM bnc coax cameras .. uses Dahua's analog "standard" .. )

I would expect to need to do:
1) sync ip address / configurations of cameras to the NVR as appropriate ( often plug and play .. but you want to be ready to do this if need be )
2) sync user / password
3) sync channel info .. iirc substream needs to be configured, may not automatically show up on NVR display ..

I can understand steps 1 and 2 but could you give me more info on step 3 as that doesnt ring a bell with me.
Thanks!

 

[mat200]

I can understand steps 1 and 2 but could you give me more info on step 3 as that doesnt ring a bell with me.
Thanks!

iirc it was documented in one of the lorex threads .. as I do not have the instructions off the top of my head, you will want to search for a bit if you find a blank video stream from the camera on your NVR.

 

[annew]

iirc it was documented in one of the lorex threads .. as I do not have the instructions off the top of my head, you will want to search for a bit if you find a blank video stream from the camera on your NVR.

thank you!

 

[annew]

You need to provide the model numbers of the cams and NVR.

Most of their systems are Dahua OEM and can work with other cameras, but some of them are not.

The NVR we have is a N864A64B from their Fusion series.
Their other option is a N884A64B in their Pro series, $20 difference in price. We bought the Fusion in a kit with cameras and its decent but there's not much in higher quality camera direct through Lorex. We were thinking maybe it would be better to swap for the Pro recorder if we have more camera options. The only real positive for having Lorex at all was ease of connecting to remote view etc. Our previous system was Speco and we never had much luck with it.

 

[mat200]

The NVR we have is a N864A64B from their Fusion series.
Their other option is a N884A64B in their Pro series, $20 difference in price. We bought the Fusion in a kit with cameras and its decent but there's not much in higher quality camera direct through Lorex. We were thinking maybe it would be better to swap for the Pro recorder if we have more camera options. The only real positive for having Lorex at all was ease of connecting to remote view etc. Our previous system was Speco and we never had much luck with it.

note:
The Lorex N884A64B looks like Dahua OEM NVR .. adding the specs here for reference.

iirc Speco also sold Dahua OEM NVRs .. of course Dahua has various different NVRs and firmware .. so ymmv as always ..




Lorex 4K (16 Camera Capable) Pro Series 4TB NVR

 

[annew]

note:
The Lorex N884A64B looks like Dahua OEM NVR .. adding the specs here for reference.

iirc Speco also sold Dahua OEM NVRs .. of course Dahua has various different NVRs and firmware .. so ymmv as always ..




Lorex 4K (16 Camera Capable) Pro Series 4TB NVR


View attachment 168465
View attachment 168467

View attachment 168466

So it's likely that the Pro Series lorex is a rebranded Dahua which should mean it would allow connection to Dahua cameras? 'Should' being the key word here

 

[mat200]

So it's likely that the Pro Series lorex is a rebranded Dahua which should mean it would allow connection to Dahua cameras? 'Should' being the key word here

It will work .. perhaps even plug and play .. if not, just some configuration work .. ( at least will work with the core functionality )

note, NVRs and Cameras often come with different tier levels / features and getting all the "AI" / smart features .. or whatever they are calling them to match up .. can be a challenge.

 

[fenderman]

You may be looking for easy remote access but its not secure.

 

[annew]

You may be looking for easy remote access but its not secure.

I totally understand there can be security issues. For us we have to balance ease of set up and use against possible security issues. We had higher security with a previous system but found it buggy and hard to use so we're swinging the other way now.

 

[annew]

It will work .. perhaps even plug and play .. if not, just some configuration work .. ( at least will work with the core functionality )

note, NVRs and Cameras often come with different tier levels / features and getting all the "AI" / smart features .. or whatever they are calling them to match up .. can be a challenge.

Looking over the Dahua products it and the process of setting up mobile access etc they appear very similar to the Lorex if not nearly the same.
I'm finding the playback menu on the Lorex a bit frustrating and hard to use, there's limited fast forward/rewind for example. Any thoughts on if the Dahua software has more features for playback viewing? It looks like they may have a Pro DMSS version that might be better. Lorex also says something about a Pro version so again, seem like they are the same company still.

 

[fenderman]

I totally understand there can be security issues. For us we have to balance ease of set up and use against possible security issues. We had higher security with a previous system but found it buggy and hard to use so we're swinging the other way now.

Why do you think security and ease of use and mutually exclusive?
Certainly you would be concerned that a malicious actor has unfettered access to your entire network where presumably your personal computers, phones and storage reside?

 

[annew]

Why do you think security and ease of use and mutually exclusive?
Certainly you would be concerned that a malicious actor has unfettered access to your entire network where presumably your personal computers, phones and storage reside?

I'm not intending to assume they are mutually exclusive, we're just limited in our knowledge of what's available and how easy it is to use. The problem is not knowing how easy something is to use until we have our hands on it and depending on return policies it can be expensive to try things out. One person's easy to use is another person's pain in the butt. We also are looking for budget friendly. We spent a fortune on our Speco system and did not have good luck with it. We have a few weeks left to decide on the Lorex system before the return window closes and we need to decide in that time frame.
Do you have suggestions for a system that you would say is novice friendly and good tools for video playback?

 

[fenderman]

I'm not intending to assume they are mutually exclusive, we're just limited in our knowledge of what's available and how easy it is to use. The problem is not knowing how easy something is to use until we have our hands on it and depending on return policies it can be expensive to try things out. One person's easy to use is another person's pain in the butt. We also are looking for budget friendly. We spent a fortune on our Speco system and did not have good luck with it. We have a few weeks left to decide on the Lorex system before the return window closes and we need to decide in that time frame.
Do you have suggestions for a system that you would say is novice friendly and good tools for video playback?

You are stuck using the manufacture's tools for playback.
This is why many here don't use traditional NVR but instead use VMS software.
At the very least you should spring for a router that supports VLAN which can segregate the camera system completely from your primary network. It will also allow you to segregate other IOT devices like thermostats. These two routers can accomplish that task with an easy simple user interface. This way someone who gains access to your camera system will be limited to just that system.
Presumably you are buying a camera system to somehow protect your property. It would be silly to expose your network to millions of people who can cause financial or personal harm.

https://www.amazon.com/Synology-WRX560-Dual-Band-segmentation-Prevention/dp/B0BKRFKMM1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15LCTFN56ZZP8&keywords=synology+router+wrx&qid=1690318829&s=electronics&sprefix=synology+router+wr%2Celectronics%2C143&sr=1-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0

https://www.amazon.com/Synology-RT6600ax-Tri-Band-segmentation-Prevention/dp/B09ZQ5W4G7/ref=asc_df_B09ZQ5W4G7/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=598250021259&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3324235435637610793&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003516&hvtargid=pla-1677085089551&psc=1

 

[annew]

Thank you for the information, much appreciated

 

[Starglow]

Welcome @annew

In general the recent Lorex products have been Dahua OEM ( Dahua bought out Lorex a number of years ago .. not certain if they still officially own them .. as USA was giving Hikvision and Dahua some headaches ).

So they should be able to use Dahua's APIs to communicate between the Dahua OEM cameras and Lorex Dahua OEM NVRs. ( NVRs .. DVR Dahua OEM should also work with Dahua OEM bnc coax cameras .. uses Dahua's analog "standard" .. )

I would expect to need to do:
1) sync ip address / configurations of cameras to the NVR as appropriate ( often plug and play .. but you want to be ready to do this if need be )
2) sync user / password
3) sync channel info .. iirc substream needs to be configured, may not automatically show up on NVR display ..

Lorex is no longer owned by Dahua:

Dahua Sells Lorex For $US72 Million

Dahua Sells Lorex For $US72 Million | SEN.news - No. 1

Dahua Sells Lorex For $US72 Million – Dahua has sold its Canada-based cloud security services provider Lorex to Taiwanese cloud provider, Skywatch.

sen.news