The Swann - Pro Enforcer™ 8-Channel, 4-Bullet Camera Indoor/Outdoor PoE Wired 4K UHD 2TB HDD NVR Security Surveillance System - White provides 4 bullet cameras that stream at 4k and all the required accessories required to set up a complete video security system. You can add 4 additional cameras for a total of eight. The Swann requires no monthly subscriptions, so once purchased, there are no additional costs. You can access the NVR (video recorder) video recordings by connecting the system to a TV or monitor, and/or via an app on your smartphone. Set up is easy as it's just a matter of connecting the cameras to the back of the NVR, which you connecting to your network.
The system provides a myriad of options which would require a completely separate review to cover, but you can also simply plug it in and they will start working -- they'll automatically detect movement and start recording. All you need to do is select the cameras from the admin interface and you're set to go. They'll even pick up movement from heat generating objects so someone lurking in the bushes or in shadowed areas will trigger a recording. The camera also supports colored night vision, though for practical use there does need to be external light sources from somewhere. Without external light sources the infrared mode works much better. The cameras also have sirens and lights that can be triggered by movement. They are quite loud and using them is completely optional. They can also be activated manually from your NVR or phone. If you are notified of a detection, look, and see a stranger in your yard, or perhaps a dangerous animal if you live in a rural area, you can set it manually to encourage them to leave. You can also set notifications to alert you via your phone when movement is triggered, so you can even be notified remotely and check in and view your cameras while away from your property.
The 4k video is stunning and allows for so much more detail than standard HD, which lacks detail and makes it difficult or impossible to identify a face or a license plate number. Overall, the functions and features make this system well worth the purchase and adding to that is there are no added subscription fees makes it an easy recommendation.
Despite the many positives, there are some minor annoyances which keeps me from giving a five-star review. The "Pro" designation that sets this system apart from the standard Enforcer series seems to only be that they use Ethernet cable rather than Coax cable for the wired connection. The bullet cameras are slightly different in shape; however, the specifications appear to be identical.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) makes running cables and connecting much easier and less messy -- you don't have to connect a separate power source as the prover is provided by the NVR via the single ethernet cable connected to the camera, however rather than the cable plugging straight into the camera, it attaches to a connector that is wired to the camera (see one of attached photos), preventing a clean wiring connection. It's a small annoyance in an otherwise great system, but it certainly could have been thought out better. The provided cables also feel rather cheap, but you can always buy your own cable in bulk, which will add cost, but will hold up better for outside use and allow for longer wiring runs than from those provided in the package.