quote:

Originally posted by bigredfish:
Upgrading to HDCVI and/or IP cameras is going to be tough for that budget if you want reasonable quality by today's standards.

Amcrest is re-branded Dahua by the way. There are two big players who rebrand their gear for most box store names, Dahua and HIKVision, both out of China.

I have a Dahua system, a combination of 2MP HDCVI and IP cameras with a hybrid DVR that allows me to use either type along with old fashioned analog such as the link you posted.

CVI cams can be connected to the DVR with Cat5 cable so that I can if I choose, add IP cams wherever I want as technology races forward and the system needs updating, "future proofing" it so to speak. HDCVI does NOT require coax.

Think of CVI as the same as your old analog, but at the same quality of IP cameras without the need to be an IP network guru. They are generally a little less expensive than IP cameras of the same quality.

For inside the average home, you dont need some of the more sophisticated features as much such as longer range IR, or WDR. One thing that most out of the "box set" systems don't tell you is they typically come with fixed 2.8 wide-angle lens cameras. No adjustment. So with a wide lens, you get a lot of picture, but not enough detail to do you any good with recognition. Varible focus cameras, typically 2.7- 12mm lens, allow you to adjust the zoom to fit the scene.

2MP HDCVI cams will blow you away compared to your current analog system.

Amazon 'Dahua" HDCVI equipment