Customer Ratings & Reviews

First and foremost, I did not purchase this item from Best Buy, but I did buy it from a local hardware store since it was on sale at a lower price (at the time). With that said, this is a very good product (with some flaws). Now, are there better security camera systems out there? Most definitely, but also very likely to be at a higher price. The initial configuration was pretty simple, but I can definitely see someone who is not much of a computer savvy or has any technical knowledge to find it somehow difficult. You need to ensure the necessary ports are opened on your router/gateway in order to be able to view the cameras remotely either via the mobile app (through port 9000) or on a PC/Mac software application (through port 2050 or 2051). Also, to make things easier, it is probably best to configure a private static IP address on the DVR so that it does not change every 24 hours or so and you lose remote access. Depending on your gateway's brand, you would probably have to reserve one of the IP addresses on your current network and then assign that to the DVR via Static IP rather than DHCP. All these steps/instructions can be found on the product's manual that comes with your device. I would suggest going over this before getting anything out of the box to ensure this is something you feel comfortable with. I did run into some an issue with remote access using the Night Owl HD CMS Mac software application. The current files available for download directly from the NightOwl website are outdated (at the time of this review and at least for Macs). I had to contact them via their Chat Support which luckily for me, I was able to get someone right away who was able to help me fix my problem. The solution was to uninstall the old version and re-install it with an updated version of this software, which the representative was kind enough to email me. The current version is v1.2.03 for Macs, so make sure you are at least at this update release if you are using a Mac. Once I installed the new version, I was able to enter all the necessary settings and get it working successfully. Below are some of the Pros and Cons I was able to find: Pros: - Integrated backup battery will continue recording when you lose power. - 1080P recording is a major plus - Smart Infrared Technology definitely helps decrease the number of unnecessary notifications. - Night vision provided good-enough image quality. - Able to get notifications to your smartphone or email address when detecting movement. - 1TB HDD to save all your recordings, which can also be upgraded up to a 3TB HDD. - Easy to setup & configure (the hardest thing was possibly running all the wires through my attic) Cons: - Included cameras (Night Owl Security 2 Pack Add-On 1080p Wired HD Analog Security Cameras with Heat Based Motion Detection) do not have any audio at all (one-way or two-way) - Smartphone app (for iPhone devices at least) need improvement in many areas. - It takes 5-10 seconds to connect to the DVR when launching the Night Owl HD app on iPhone. - Live View does not refresh automatically. You have to select the DVR device which in turn will change the view to default of 9 cameras (3x3). - Live View puts all cameras in portrait mode and not landscape mode, and there is no way to change this setting or at least not one I have found yet. This gives a weird view which for many may not be such a big of a deal but it is a bit annoying. I am sure this can easily be fixed with a software update. - The default stream is SD-SMOOTH (standard definition). You have to manually change to HD-CLEAR every time. I think HD-CLEAR should definitely be the default view, I mean who likes watching standard definition on their smartphones nowadays?!? - No auto-focus or facial recognition. Overall, image quality is pretty good but not great (this could either be a pro or a con, you decide). The cameras are 2MP which is not bad. However, I own a 2MP interior camera which provides better image quality both during daytime and nighttime. Again, this is a very good security camera system, depending on your expectation & needs. Although I did mention multiple cons, I am definitely not disappointed at all in my purchase, hence the 4-star rating. I am sure most of the things I mentioned can be addressed with a software update hopefully in the near future. I have had these cameras for about a month now and so far, I am satisfied and definitely recommend them.

We returned two other security sets, but that one works for us. Simple installation, pretty straightforward, everything works as it was described in manual, no surprises. Connects through the Internet to computer and cell phone. Good quality picture. Comes with program for PC that allow you to save video. I'd say, good workhorse.

Pros: Amazing video quality, easy to install and configure, and the remote app is excellent. My customer can check his house from his iPhones, iPads or any computer. Another big plus is the recording can be set to motion activated, which will provide many hours of meaningful recording time. Highly recommended. Cons: I wish buying additional identical cameras was easier, my customer wanted to add an additional camera but after several attempts to identify an identical camera from Best Buy, it wasn't worth the time invested.

Once all the wires are run and hooked up, set-up is a breeze. Great picture and the app works perfectly. We went out to dinner the other night and I was able to check on the house, and dog whenever I wanted to. We're very happy with it, I added 2 more cameras, one which I installed in the house so I can keep an eye on the pup. Awesome customer service!

Poor night vision, small space it illuminates, the iPhone app really sucks, but android works well. All in all the functionality of the dvd is good, and it connects rather easy..

This is my first security camera system and I really like it. A little manual work to set it up but I was able to do it all myself. The only thing I noticed so far is that the time keeps changing on it after I reset it. I'm not sure if the is an automatic reset. I just have to play with it or call customer care to figure it out. The product details that comes with it says you have to register it before you can get any help. I have done that so I'll see how the customer service goes. Over all I really like the system.

Great picture quality! Easy to setup! DVR holds more than enough storage!

Once the cameras were installed, system set up was easy. Programming configuration was intuitive and very useful - especially the Apple device applications and motion alert / recording function. I especially liked the ability to configure alerts for individual cameras. The video quality is exceptional - we've yet to test the battery backup. Highly recommended!

Got these on sale as a daily deal. Kind of a pain to crawl up in the attic and set them up, totally worth it when done. Easy to get working, a little harder to get it set up exactly like you'd like, but there are guides online to help. I wasn't sure this worked remotely and it does! Night vision is good but not great. For the price, these are worth it!

This system has paid off since we bought it. We have recorded a car running over a mailbox. Easy setting up the system.

This system is worth the cost,,picture quality is excellent day or night.Only downfall is the phone app isn't very dependable.

The easiest security system to set up that if I had to install more this is the one to choose. Ability to see during darkness and clear during the day light hours is just what I wanted and this system delivered.

Set up was easy and the cameras produce good images

This camera does not disappoint. This is my second night owl camera. This one is even more impressive than the first. The storage and backup battery is just two of the amazing features

So after roughly a month of around the clock use, I can now give an educated assessment of my new security system. I can start by saying this; this security system has already caught one attempted break-in on my property. The camera that recorded the perpetrator is approximately 80 ft. away from the garage that the attempt was made on, with the break-in occurring at 1:15 in the morning. It is behind my house, and there is very little ambient light at that time of morning. My new Night Owl security system caught every single detail of the attack clearly, allowing me to see without question who the offender was, with a clear time stamp. This in near-complete darkness, where even had I been standing personally in the cameras location, I would not have been able to identify the person as even being human. There is an abundance of cheap DVR/home security systems available from countless suppliers these days. I have seen some that are nothing more than a source of frustration to a home or business owner, as in one of the unimaginably-helpless times of their lives, they can only watch (probably over and over) as some unidentifiable and blurry mass of grayscale pixels breaks into their lives and steals the things that they have worked for and amassed. There is no accountability in the end, because the video footage of the Tetris blocks that swiped their sense of security cannot be ID'd. If they're fortunate enough to have homeowners (or renters) insurance in the proper range to cover what was lost to societal vampires, the initial relief of not being devastated completely financially is quickly replaced by the sickening emptiness of not knowing who robbed them and if there is going to be a recurrence. That is something I now know I will not be experiencing with my Night Owl system. It is clear. Indoor and out. Light or dark. Near or far. And at a price that cannot be beat. The only ding this system gets from me is the fact that remote monitoring evidently cannot be achieved unless the DVR is plugged into your wireless access point through an Ethernet cable. This was a little frustrating to me, as my security system and DVR are located in my bedroom, and my cable modem is in my living room. This made it necessary to move one or the other, or run a ridiculous and costly length of Cat5e cable between the devices. Maybe a firmware update could fix this easily. (Hint hint...) Kudos to Night Owl and to Best Buy on this product. Together they have made it affordable and sensible to own a security system to deter theft, and bundled it with the power to help you get justice in the event your worst fears become reality. Thanks guys.

This 1080p with battery backup works well so far. Haven't used DVR and can't comment. iPad compatible with clear images. Easy setup.

The cameras work well, they are very sensitive including to bugs and light from sun and cloud changes, but overall very clear video. Happy with the product.

To set up this security cameras it's not easy as it look like but after you get the job done the result is perfect

Very nice system. Great quality cameras and its very nice to have a back-up battery. Easy setup

I must say that installment of cameras was a lot simpler than I thought. Instructions take you step by step through the whole process.