- Includes compact DVR; playback footage directly on a 7-inch LCD screen
- Features 320GB Seagate hard drive; can store up to 80 days of footage
- Comes with four hi-res outdoor night-vision cameras
- View online with free dynamic DNS service
- Instant motion activated recording; Time, date, and event search
Product Description
Defender SENTINEL1 Ultra Compact Web Ready DVR Security System w/7-Inch LCD & 4 Indoor/Outdoor Night Vision Surveillance Cameras Technical Details * Includes compact DVR; playback footage directly on a 7-inch LCD screen * Features 320GB Seagate h… More >>
J. Brand
November 7, 2009 at 3:29 am
This is the 3rd “home” type camera system I’ve bought in several years. The first was the “ADT” 4 camera that was at home depot. It had a bad camera(all white picture) out of the box. I took it back, got another one. The 2nd one failed because a moving bush kept setting off the motion sensor. Now I installed this one, keeping in mind this is no easy install, holes drilled in the dirty attic, crawling in insulation, spider webs everywhere. Of course, one of the cameras is bad! You would think I would let the unit “burn in” to test it without running all the wires etc., but noooo, I was too exited at the thought of a new system that works! RIGHT! Geez, I may be sending this back for my money back. If I would have known this was a SVAT system, I may not have bought it.
Rating: 2 / 5
John Kelly
November 7, 2009 at 5:10 am
The DVR itself is a robust recorder that has run seemlessly for a year. However during all that time, after countless hours on my own and with SVAT, this device is VERY COMPLICATED when trying to set up to view over the internet. It’s so complicated that there is actually an 8 part online video to wade through. Support is questionable, with some of their techs giving me the impression that as I did not speak their technical lingo I was wasting their time. Though there was one who sounded as though he knew his job was to help, though I wasn’t able to find him again. To get support beyond the techs who reads the script, call back between 9 & 5 and ask for a tier two tech. For the money it’s slightly chearper than the Samsung but as networking does not work, its hard to say. I have first hand experience of that Samsung and it has run without problem for a year as well. My overall impression, it’s agreat product, nicely priced that promises lots but support was just not there.
Rating: 2 / 5
Justin Mitchell
November 7, 2009 at 7:11 am
I’ve had this system for about four months. It was very simple to install and set the recording options up. You have to play with the motion sensor sensitivity settings and the sensor range quite a bit to get it perfect, but once you get it right it will record well when a person trips the motion sensor. We have the main unit mounted on a beam by our skylights, and have an rca cable connecting it to our 52″ inch tv in our bedroom. The internet viewing works well. You register your unit with the company’s site, and then they give you a login for that site. When you want to view your cameras in a web browser, you just go to there site and login. If you are using the client software that comes with it to connect remotely, it gets a slightly better frame rate than the web browser. You cannot view the web based version through a proxy server, (at least not Squid or Freeproxy). I even set our proxy’s port to the same port that the website uses to connect you to your system and it didn’t work. So if you are planning on viewing your system through a proxy from your workplace, you might want to get your IT to open up the firewall for your computer and bypass the proxy, or find a system that works through proxies. Overall, I really like this system. I have used the archived video several times to find out who threw garbage in the back of my truck, who’s toilet papering the neighbors, and who the annoying person is that always leaves flyers at the door whenever I’m not home.
Rating: 5 / 5
J. Salvatore
November 7, 2009 at 8:14 am
I purchased this system mainly because of the integrated monitor and its small size. I absolutely love that it’s literally a plug-and-play system. Install the cameras, plug them into the main unit, plug it in and it’s working. The set-up instructions are good and easy to follow. I also like the being able to either use the included mouse or remote to control the various functions. I had a hard time when I tried to saving a specific event to the USB drive, but without reading the instructions (I’m a man for crying out loud) I figured it out in about 20 minutes. Fortunately, I have Windows dual-booted on my iMac so I can take advantage of the USB drive… otherwise, I would be stuck. Please make software for Mac OS X, it kills me to boot Windows! Anyway, this is a great product for the average person who wants a basic CCTV system. Two draw backs are the it isn’t expandable and it’s pretty loud. Other than that, no buyers remorse here.
Rating: 5 / 5
B Mosher
November 7, 2009 at 10:53 am
I installed the system myself on April 12 and it has been working great. The quality of the images is very good and it gives me peace of mind to know that everything that goes on around the house is being recorded. The DDNS is a plus!! I’m constantly monitoring the system over the internet.
We have an alarm system that calls my cell phone when it goes off and before purchasing this system I had no idea as to what set the alarm off. Now I simply write down the time of the call and when I get home I simply search the video for that time period.
I purchased and additional 60ft. cable in case I need to move one of the cameras further.
Thanks for bringing this great unit at such an affordable price. I did quite a bit of research and this system was above the rest.
Rating: 5 / 5