Customer Ratings & Reviews

It works great an the app very happy with the camaras

Great product with easy step by step setup instructions. Perfect clarity day or night

Can't access to set up to change password or initial set up and poor quality

Easy installation! App is a plus! No extra monthly fees!

The Night Owl security system, they are not new when it comes to securing your home. This system is 2K HD with 8 cameras and a 1TB HDD DVR. All 8 cameras are wired with 2 way mic and they all support black and white night vision. In the box you get all necessary accessories to get you started. The cables are very long, approximately 60 feet. The built quality I was not impressed with. I think they could have done better. The cameras are very light giving the impression of low quality. However they can be used outdoors and they are rated IP65 water resistant. Setting it up seems to be easy if it works correctly. I tried the recommended setup which is connecting it via Bluetooth. That for me didn’t work so I had to do a manual setup, after that I was able to connect it Bluetooth. Once setup, navigating through the UI of the DRV is simple. At the main home screen you will have a view of all your cameras. To access the UI menu simply click on the right button of the included mouse. Be aware to access this system remotely you need to connect it hardwire via ethernet connection. It does not support wireless connection except the Bluetooth for setup. The Night Owl app is very simple, not hard to navigate and with this system you have basic options. Connecting the cameras are also super easy with the included power video cables. There’s a 4 way power splitter you have to use to connect 4 cameras to 1 power supply. When it comes to video quality they are ok. Images are really good in a very well lit environment. In limited brighter areas images are fine but the image colors are more in the cool temperature. The night vision is also average, the images are easily visible of course depending on the distance. The cameras are also equipped with spot light and two way mic. The lights are bright, not as bright as a spotlight but enough to be noticed. The speaker could be a little louder and the siren to be honest is a joke. This system does give you motion alerts. Alerts are pretty quick and that will also depend on your internet connection. There was an instance where it took approximately 5 seconds to get an alert. Overall this security system will get the job done and it comes with plenty of cameras to secure your home. It is easy to set up even in manual mode. It does come with all the necessary accessories to connect your system including mounting screws. It is 12 channels total meaning you can add 4 additional Wi-Fi IP cameras. The fact that you don’t have to pay for storage and you can view and download videos at any time and use a digital assistant is what makes this a lucrative security system. In the box you get 8 cameras, 1TB DVR, 3 power supply, mouse, 2 power splitters, 8 video power cables, RJ 45 cable (ethernet), mounting screws, HDMI cable, quick setup manual and security sticker.

The Night Owl 12 Channel 2K DVR System… TLDR: Great security system with eight 2K cameras. Onto the review, this system comes with: > DVR: This system’s DVR has a 1TB HDD. It appears to be upgradeable, however there is no documentation provided (at least easily searchable) with any recommended specs/requirements of drives. Would be nice if Night Owl would provide this information (if they do, it’s not easily accessible). Since the drive itself comes with a 1TB 7,200RPM drive, i’m assuming any 7,200RPM drive will work. To Night Owl’s credit, they do provide a support page illustrating how to upgrade the drive… There are a total of 12 channels, with 8 being wired and 4 being wireless. Since this comes with 8 wired cameras already, if you need to expand your coverage then that means you’ll need to buy compatible wireless cameras. > Cameras: This system comes with 8 cameras that are 2K resolution (e.g., 2560 x 1440). The cable length is 60ft, which may or may not work out for you depending on the size of your house; in my case, the placement of the DVR was not ideal but i wanted to place my cameras in certain positions so I would have better coverage of my property. The camera’s provide a decent field of view, however compared to my Nest outdoor cameras it’s more narrow (e.g., my Nest cameras have a 130° field of view, not sure what the field of view is for the Night Owls but they aren’t 130°). The video quality is pretty much on par with my Nest cameras; neither really do well in low light conditions but are pretty good in well lit environments. The cameras also provide 2-way audio which is pretty good compared to my Nest cameras; Nest camera speaker and mics were lacking and tiny sounding compared to the Night Owl cameras. Setting up the system is pretty simple, but can be time consuming. Installation of the cameras took me ~3 hours to ensure I had the cameras where I’d ideally want them for the best coverage. The setup process via the app was pretty straight forward and took less than 30 minutes. The alerts/notifications are pretty much on par with my Nest system and do not go beyond 3–4 seconds when motion is detected. Overall, I would recommend this system to anyone that is looking for security without any monthly costs (e.g, Nest Aware, Ring Protect, etc.). You can’t go wrong with this system!

I recently purchased the Night Owl 12 Channel 4 Camera Wired 2K 1TB DVR Security System, and I am thoroughly impressed with its performance and features. Here are some of the key highlights that make this system stand out: Exceptional Video Quality: The 2K resolution provides incredibly clear and detailed video footage, making it easy to identify faces and objects even from a distance. The high-quality imagery is a significant upgrade from my previous security system, ensuring I don’t miss any crucial details. Comprehensive Coverage: With 12 channels and 4 cameras included, this system offers extensive coverage of my property. The ability to add more cameras in the future is a great advantage, allowing for scalability as my security needs grow. Large Storage Capacity: The 1TB DVR storage is more than sufficient for storing weeks of footage. The system also offers efficient compression, which helps in maximizing storage without compromising video quality. Two-Way Audio: The two-way audio feature is a fantastic addition. It allows me to communicate directly with anyone on my property, whether it’s to greet a guest or warn off a potential intruder. This feature adds an extra layer of security and convenience. Wired Reliability: Being a wired system, it provides consistent and reliable performance without the worries of connectivity issues that sometimes plague wireless systems. The wired setup ensures that the video feed remains uninterrupted and secure. User-Friendly Interface: The setup process was straightforward, and the user interface is intuitive. The Night Owl app is easy to navigate, providing remote access to live and recorded footage, which is perfect for monitoring my home while I'm away. Night Vision: The night vision capability is outstanding, delivering clear video even in complete darkness. This is crucial for maintaining security around the clock, and I am very satisfied with its performance during nighttime hours. Customer Support: Night Owl’s customer support has been responsive and helpful. They assisted me with a couple of setup questions and ensured that I was fully satisfied with the system. Value for Money: Considering the features and performance, this security system offers excellent value for money. It’s a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to enhance their home or business security. Overall, I highly recommend the Night Owl 12 Channel 4 Camera Wired 2K 1TB DVR Security System with 2-way Audio. It delivers on all fronts—quality, reliability, and functionality—making it a top choice for comprehensive security coverage.

Overall Night Owl excels at simplicity. There's DVR systems out in the wild that make setup so complex your head might explode, then there's systems like this. Plug in, click a button or two and you're done, it takes care of everything else you might possibly need. But often times, simplicity sacrifices customizability or makes some other compromises. This isn't my first rodeo with Night Owl, but this is the first it's rubbed me the wrong way. Design These have a very simplistic design but at its core, cheap feeling cameras. The material, mount and base, reminds me of irrigation PVC. While the cameras shell is indeed plastic, it has a slight more dense feel, presumably a different material. The front dark panel that resembles glass, accidentally began peeling as I peeled off a plastic protector film with the words "remove". It revealed an inner plastic material with a ring forming the lens. I did attempt to to use 2" tape in an attempt to reproduce the cover being removed by the film, but that didn't yield the same reaults. The base has a double threading design. The first allows to rotate the camera into the desired position and the second locks the shaft of the base to prevent further rotating. A second, plastic wing nut, allows for angeling the camera which has an approximate 180⁰ range of motion. Compared with others, it lacks a rotating/pivoting motion usually found at the neck of the camera, the area just before the housing of the camera where the lens and speakers reside. Setup One of the standout features of this, and many other Night Owl surveillance systems. Since it is web based, you do need a Night Owl account for the simple setup. Although, there is a manual option, it isn't recommended by Night Owl and doesn't automatically register your product or makes you capable of receiving support for your product according to the documentation. It uses Bluetooth with your phone to pass along your Night Owl information to the DVR system and log you in automating the configuration and login process. Adding a camera took no effort, once connected to the BNC cable, it took about a minute to populate an image on the screen. Performance The 2K cameras look great on my panel. While most will be searching for 4K systems thinking they have superior images quality, these maintain a very clear image. Night looks very clear and is well illuminated with it's IR LEDs. Spotlight is bright, but only good for a few feet, just enough to see an object or person up close to the camera. Motion detection is quick and responsive, but might be a little too sensitive. I can't get a middle ground where it sees movement but doesn't see animals, clarified as human, and objects like trees triggering an event. There's a mode to change or add voice alerts from the camera, however, even though there's a slider for volume, it doesn't adjust the actual volume on the camera. The message it brings is "smile you're on camera". I am just a little saddened by the lack of a orientation function. I mean it is the but no matter the function changes or the menus you did through, it never comes up and remains greyed out. After several days, multiple attempts digging through the documentation, I find the lack of an orientation function disturbing. I've never seen this on any other camera system. The mobile app looks great, the fact I didn't have to make changes with my existing router is fantastic. But I've had the issue where audio is nowhere near good. Deleting, reinstalling, changing audio settings in the DVR doesn't do a thing. It's as if the camera were placed next to an aquarium many of the times I open the app. Conclusion While this looks amazing, feels mostly well built and offers powerful features, the lack of others and ultra simplistic hands off setup, make it a good option for those that may not be great with technology. The combination of wired and wireless cameras give this flexibility where you won't need another camera system with a different app if you wanted an area covered that isn't very accessible. This is worth 4-stars.

First Impressions - I opened the main box and dived into the internal packaging to check what exactly is included with this system. It offers a lot for the current price - Eight cameras and a recoding unit ! - It is comprised of the main "DVR" type box and eight wired cameras. It supports 2K recording and playback. This system includes eight wired cameras that support a 2K resolution and have a bright IR light set to support clear night time recording. I always bench test any electronic device prior to installing so I grabbed a camera, hooked the received up, plugged it into the LAN and turned it on. Notably I will be replacing a wired system that is about 4 1/2 years old that supports "HD" video - where the definition is a bit loose and really means "something higher than 480p". I did run new wiring for one camera location that will be new to this system. The manufacturer recommends running new wire for any installation however I chose to re-use my wiring for five of the cameras for six total installed. I will keep the last two cameras as spares. Usage over a one week span - I installed the received in place of my old unit and hooked up two cameras for an initial real world test. I checked my prior wiring and found it was compatible with this newer system. I was able to immediately see an incredible difference in the video quality - both "live" and in the recording. The cameras are sharp and clear and the night vision . . . let's just say there is no comparison with my old setup. I can clearly make out make and model of cars that pass the road side of my house, I can see tree branches and the leaves on those branches. . .the yard is obviously comprised of grass and not just a blurry dark area etc... you probably get the idea. Two way audio - It works ! My prior system did not even have audio at all. Now I can tease my dog when she is out in the yard with the built in speakerer. This will prove to be useful based on alerting when I have two cameras on and around the front porch. I was able to setup alerts for people and vehicles with only two cameras installed - i.e. when testing and that worked without significant delay most of the time. Setting realistic expectations on longevity - I have owned and installed multiple many-camera DVR systems in the past. While I cannot speak to the longevity of this system - I generally expect most of the cameras to last for five to seven years maximum. Ideally placing these under an overhang and out of direct sunlight will help extend that life. These appear to be well sealed and should last until it's time to replace them again ! What I love - No monthly fees and more cameras than I need - i.e. Spares ! 1TB recoding capacity ! Great image quality both in the day and at night. Room for improvement - The mobile app works but could use some refinements. I am able to view recorded video without issue and receive alerts. No integration for other home automation systems

The Night Owl 12 channel 4 camera wired 2K 1 TB DVR Security system is top of the line quality. It has clear pictures and videos. Audio is plain and easy to use on the APP. I love that It will eliminate the use of a subscription video doorbell from another company. Thus saving me even more money. I love that I can hear and talk to intruders or even the kids when in hearing distance of a camera. I used it to replace another system that did not have the ability to talk through camera. I have excellent internet and found the audio in this system to be crisp and clear. Even though it is wired It does seem to use more internet strength than previous system. It was so easy to install. It comes with all the wiring you need but we just used the wiring already installed from our previous system and it worked perfect even though Our replaced system was not this brand. This really cut down on our installation time. The camera has great swiveling ability so it was easier to set for our needs. The DVR that is included with this system is not as intrusive as our previous one. It is thinner but still takes up more room than I would like. We set up the system so we can view it on our TV or use the free APP. It has excellent clear visibility. I love that it is recorded locally so we don’t need to pay any fees at all. Setting up the APP was quick and easy. Perfecting the settings took a bit of time because even on medium sensitivity it picked up on the wind blowing shrubs and the shadows when the sun came up. My notifications were beeping too much for me. I ended up setting each camera on low sensitivity and it works perfectly. This is by far the best system we have ever owned.

I’ve been using these cameras for a little while now, and overall, I’m pretty satisfied with the performance—especially for the price. The picture quality is amazing, and the live feed is very clear, even during nighttime. I also found the sound quality to be quite good on my end. However, the voice projection feature is a little disappointing. While I can hear what’s happening near the camera just fine, when I try to speak through the app, the audio on the other end is so quiet that someone standing right on the porch can barely hear me. One of my few real frustrations has been with the notifications and motion detection. The face and human recognition needs improvement, as I’ve seen leaves blowing in the wind and even dust particles at night falsely flagged as people. This can result in a lot of unnecessary alerts. Also, it took me a bit of digging to figure out how to set the cameras to continuously record instead of just capturing motion events. It’s not super intuitive, but once you find the setting, it’s manageable. Bottom line: If you're looking for decent performance at a reasonable price, these cameras are a solid choice. Just be prepared for a few quirks and some trial and error during setup.

The Night Owl 12-Channel Security System delivers impressive 2K video clarity, especially for a wired setup at this price point. The 8 included cameras cover a wide area, and the 2-way audio is a great bonus feature — it really adds value when monitoring entry points or communicating remotely. The 1TB DVR provides ample storage, and the Night Owl app makes remote access fairly convenient once configured. However, setup took more time than expected. The instructions could be more detailed, and connecting the system to the app required a few retries and firmware updates. That said, once everything was up and running, the system has been reliable, clear, and secure. It’s a great fit for homeowners wanting an affordable yet powerful surveillance solution, just be prepared for a bit of technical patience during installation. However i didn't find an option to fast forward the recorded videos. that's little disappointing

All in all, it is a well built security system, I picked up Night Owl, 12 Channel with 4 Wired Cameras and used some of my existing coax wiring (big plus) to get the cameras working in no time. This set comes with a 1TB Digital Video Recording (DVR) and to highlight another plus - there are no mandatory post-purchase fees required! You have your own local storage to secure your recordings 24/7. Another positive in buying this particular model from Owl is all of your cameras are securely wired and with wired CCTV connection, so your cameras do not need to depend on a wireless network and Internet! Your video signal, power and audio are running on one cable for 24/7 local viewing and recording with no Internet required. Other features I like are: 1. You get 100 degree viewing angle with its 2K resolution (which is twice the 1080p) 2. There are detection alerts built in, so again no need to pay for this feature. You will receive accurate alerts in real time when it spots a vehicle arriving or a person approaching. 3. Night vision works great within 100 ft. 4. The set up was easy and with an app you will be able to configure your system even more. 5. Spotlights are also built in to the cameras and are bright enough to catch any motion. All in all, great security system from a well established company.

Now why would I think this thing is terrible - and why would I want to keep it, if I think that!? The answer is in what it gets so wrong - & what it does exceptionally well. ***2K? You Sure About That?*** I initially became interested in this camera set because I already have a 1080p set (4 cameras on a 4K TV) and would like improved fidelity. "2K" really just means 1440p, but that's a good jump in pixel count: IF you actually have a 1440p sensor. Unfortunately, what I get from these cameras is not only lower fidelity, but _cartoonish_. Everything is hyper-contrasty, to the point of black outlines appearing where none actually exists. It's seriously like they decided to give the output cell-shading! I'd be surprised if these weren't actually 720p cameras. But hey - 720p x 4 _technically_ IS "2K!". ***Settings? What Settings?*** When you first turn the unit on, it strongly encourages you to use their data-harvesting phone app, as Manual Setup is "not recommended". Having tried both ways, the difference is in a.) Inputting your password or unlocking with your phone, and b.) The level of settings you have access to. And honestly, it's just a slight upgrade in options. All I could do was adjust how the motion sensing operated - and that, only the first time (during setup). With manual, you basically get what you get. Settings are sparse. ***Big Plugin*** Self explanatory. The power brick is big and blocks the next slot over. Frustrating. I had to grab a power splitter for my two-slot extension cord. Being that the brick for cameras is exactly the same as the brick for the recorder, this was silly. Just give us 4 amps in a single brick instead of 2 amps in two bricks. And the cords are short. ***Big Blank Box*** The recorder comes as a metal box with plastic front. The plastic is half matte, half gloss, all opaque. There are no lights, there is no screen, there are no ports, no buttons. The gloss bit would make sense if we were using an infrared remote. We aren't. And the box really doesn't need to be the size it is; it could easily be scaled down (and would fit better where you could tuck it away or velcro it to the back of a TV). ***ALARM! ALARM!*** You can set this to say "Smile! You're being recorded!", or an alarm sound when it detects movement. There is a light and speaker on each camera, so both can be activated. With an internet connection (via ethernet), you can speak through the device while using the app. With such a sizable recorder box, there should have been a microphone included so you don't have to use the app or the internet. ***Did You See That Fly Go By?*** Now, after all that negativity - here's the silver lining: this set is AWESOME at catching movement. My wife threw a rock into the back of our construction project and this immediately lit up the record indicator. When she walked back there, it immediately knew a human was there and lit up the "person" icon. If you think you're going to have a lot of movement, you can turn off pixel-change detection (IN THE INITIAL SETUP ONLY - COULDN'T CONFIGURE AFTERWARD) - but I would trust this to see a person or a vehicle, no problem. ***Let's Watch That Back*** The event log and interface on this device work as you would expect and aren't complicated - which is better than I can say for my pre-existing setup. Setting the timeline to 24Hr, 1 Hr, 30 min, etc., you can narrow in on what you're looking for. If not in pane, you can drag the timeline. Simple. ***CONCLUSION:*** If you just want reliable motion detection and recording, this'll do it. If you want to be able to scare your wife when she comes home by activating the alarm, bingo. Want to watch that back and play it for your friends? Easy. If you expect options, adjustability, and a tight package, no. And "2K" is a joke. 3 stars.

This Night Owl security system is outstanding. The setup is extremely easy - literally plug and play for the system to start recording and to use the playback. It comes with 60' of wiring (video and power cables) for each camera so we can space out around our shop building for maximum coverage. What we really appreciated about this system is that there are two ways to install and use it - one is using a mobile app and one is to set it up manually using a video display device (we have a 2K monitor) with no internet requirements. We chose to set it up directly to the monitor since we will be looking at it both live and using the playbacks frequently, and we already have some Wi-Fi camera in place. The video quality (2K) is amazing - crystal clear recordings. The playback features include selecting which cameras to view and where on the timeline you want to play. Other quick feature buttons include turning the lights on, two way radio, and our favorite - the "panic" button, which turns all the lights and sirens on. In the setup you can select either a voice that says "smile you're being recorded" or something about "getting back to you later", or sirens. This security system is so easy to set up, yet has some very flexible features. Most importantly - records everything with high quality video and easy access to playback.

With everything going on in the world, you want to have some piece of mind when it comes to your home, business, friends and family. Night Owl has the system that works for you. This 12 channel, 4 wired camera, with 2k video resolution is a great option for those looking for that piece of mind. Now if you have security concerns, I would say start off first what your plan is with recording layout. This 4 camera setup is a good one to say, get all sides or corners of a home. With the DVR, you can place it anywhere that is easy enough to connect all the cameras and make your runs as easy as possible. Initial setup is fairly easy with Night Owl's instructions. I was able to test all connections and made sure everything functions from the video, sound, alarms, and lights. They provide plenty long enough cords but you can also get extensions if needed to fit your needs. As for overall quality, cameras are rated for outdoor use to withstand the elements and the hinges are rather solid. You can position the camera in multiple positions that best fit your viewing angle. I think 2k resolution is a sweet spot to good quality and the recording to DVR since it is only 1TB. Now for what is important to me: The usability of the Night Owl app to view your recordings. I think Night Owl does a really good job to keep the app easy to use. You can of course connect the DVR to a monitor and have full admin control if that is more your thing. Although, the convenience of viewing on the app and downloading those video files to your phone is a huge plus. You can also opt to enroll in Night Owl Protect for the cloud storage solution.

Overall a very good system, good connectivity. Could use a little more storage. Clear night vision. Haven’t tried WiFi camera yet so can’t comment, just the hardwired. I like I can see it from my phone. I think it was worth the sale price but maybe a little pricey normally.

I’ve been using the Night Owl camera system for a few months now, and I’m seriously impressed. The video quality is crystal clear both during the day and at night — the night vision works exceptionally well even in complete darkness. Setup was quick and straightforward, and the mobile app makes it super convenient to check in when I’m away from home.

these cameras are pretty good for the price. the pixels are not that sharp yet but it does the job. and the app takes a while to load eventually having to reboot but it's reasonable loading times

Picture is nice audio is good. They worked perfect from my house.