Swann - 8 Channel 1TB NVR, 4 x 4K PoE Cameras, w/Dual LED Spotlights, Color Night Vision and Free Face Recognition - White

I’ve owned several security systems over the years, both wired and wireless, but this is my first from Swann and also the first NVR system I’ve had that supports 4K video recording. This kit comes with 4 wired cameras, though has 8 channels total, so you can add up to four additional wired IP cameras. The cameras are weatherproof for indoor or outdoor use and have a sturdy metal housing that is adjustable in pitch and rotation. Note that this recorder does not support wireless cameras and ethernet cables will need to be run from each camera to the NVR unit; the system ships with 4 pre-terminated sixty-foot length ethernet cables. These wires carry video and audio data from the cameras to the NVR and also deliver power to them, so you won’t need a separate power cord plugged into an electrical socket for each camera, as you would with DVR cameras. You’ll also need to provide your own TV or computer monitor to hook up to the NVR in order to view the camera feeds and configure the system. If you’re not comfortable running wires or setting up this system on your own, Swann includes an InstallerNet activation card for a professional service installer who will come out do the installation, set up your account, and teach you how to use your new security system. This “gift card” covers installation labor and services, though the service may still require additional fees or purchase depending on your specific needs. Setting up the NVR is straightforward and basically plug-and-play. Just connect the included power adapter, camera ethernet cables, USB mouse, and connect to a router and screen, and you’ll be ready to configure the system. You can optionally connect the NVR to a router (via its ethernet WAN port or a USB WiFi antenna) for internet connectivity for access to features like remote camera viewing and cloud backup, though it’s not strictly necessary in order to use the system, as it will function just fine offline for local recordings to the pre-installed 1 TB hard drive. The 4K video feeds from the 5MP sensor cameras are very clear and crisp. Since they are high-definition you can see a lot of detail, which is useful for identifying faces and reading text or license plates. The images have good contrast, color, and white balance, though in certain situations can look washed out, like on bright sunny days or if something is too close the camera. The field of view is about 90 degrees with just a tiny bit of fish-eye lens distortion at the corners, and the depth of field allows for objects to be clearly in focus even if they are pretty far away. The audio captured from the mics in the cameras is surprisingly loud and clear. At night, the cameras’ infrared lights automatically turn on and capture footage in “night vision” black and white. The infrared lights are advertised to illuminate objects up to 100-115 ft away, but be aware that the brightest illumination will be in the middle of the footage, and the perimeters of the video may not be illuminated well or at all. I found that in IR mode when something is in the foreground, the night vision will enhance it very brightly, though the closer it is to the camera, the more likely it is to look overexposed. You can also choose to trigger the spotlight LEDs via motion at night as a deterrent or if you prefer a color image instead. If you have a smartphone or tablet, you can download and install the Swann Security app to use for remote monitoring and on-demand photo and video capture. You will need to register for an account with Swann in order to use it. In the app you can view the live video streams, remotely trigger the deterrent LED lights and/or siren alarm, enable two-way push-to-talk communication through the speaker on the camera’s base, save recordings to your phone, and change modes (home, night, away). Each camera has a speaker built into its base and the audio it puts out is decently loud and clear enough to carry on a conversation. The app has limited capabilities though as you cannot change any of NVR’s nor camera settings through the app, for example, privacy zones, motion zones, alert triggers, smart AI features, etc. These settings can only be updated/modified using the NVR’s dashboard interface. If you’ve used any NVR/DVR security system before, you’ll find the interface to be fairly standard. It will feel very utilitarian and perhaps intimidatingly complex, with multiple tabs, sub-menus, check boxes, and form fields for each option. There are plenty of features and settings you can customize in the dashboard like AI facial recognition, heat sensor tracking and mapping, email push notifications, and audio/sound triggers. You can also enable free automatic cloud photo and video backup by linking your Dropbox account in the smartphone app, and there are no additional monthly/subscription fees. The one thing I did have trouble with was viewing recordings through the mobile app. Each time I opened a recorded event, the playback of it was choppy and oftentimes flickered constantly between live footage from multiple channels/cameras. While I was able to download and save recordings to my phone, I was unable to view them in the app. I had no issues viewing recordings on the NVR through the dashboard, and it was easy to select and transfer the clips I wanted to keep onto a USB thumb drive plugged into one of the USB ports on the front of the recorder. However, playback on a computer requires player software with the proper codec (H.265) to decode and view the video files (.AVI/.MP4/.RF) which I had to download separately. Also, keep in mind that this NVR only saves video footage in which a motion and/or sound event occurred per your selected settings. The cameras do not record all footage 24/7. This reduces the amount of total footage recorded, saving hard drive space, and allows you to quickly review footage with only activity of interest. Since the cameras can use heat sensors, AI recognition of people, faces, and vehicles, in addition to customizable levels and areas of motion sensitivity, you can reduce or eliminate false alerts/triggers like trees and plants moving in the wind, flickering shadows, and changes in lighting conditions. This helped a lot to avoid nuisance alarms and notifications and cut down on the number of recordings where nothing of importance was seen. Overall, this NVR security system is one of the most sophisticated ones that I have used, and allows me to customize how and when the cameras record different kinds of events, monitor and review footage remotely or interact with the camera from anywhere with an internet connection, gives me access to on-demand two-way communication with any camera, activate deterrents like flashing spot lights or loud siren, and lets me save footage locally or back it up to the cloud without additional fees or a monthly subscription. Setup was straightforward, and although running the wires can take a bit of time, the quality and consistency of the 4K footage and responsiveness of the system when accessing it remotely, was worth the bit of extra effort.

Swann camera systems are a great upgrade and addition to a home security system. This 8 channel, 4 camera system is a perfect match. These are wired cameras, and are connected and powered through an ethernet line. No other wiring or power is neccessary. Each camera comes with about 50 ft of ethernet line for the connections and hardware to mount the cameras. Each camera uses 3 screws to mount, and the ethernet cable just plugs into the back of the base station. Hardest part is just running the wiring. The base station must be connected via ethernet cable to a wifi receiver or directly into the modem or router in order to access the swann app. The base station comes with a mouse to navigate it with. Included plugs are an HDMI cable to be able to connect the base station to a monitor or tv, an ethernet cable to connect the base station to your home network, and a power cable that included a power brick. It does have a short heavy cable that plugs into the brick from the outlet, and a small power cable that runs from the brick to the base station. The base station side uses a plug similar to old school keyboard and mouse. Once booted up, your cameras are connected, and your video is connected to a monitor or tv, your camera feeds will display in smaller boxes on the display. You can view each one individually by double clicking on the camera feed you want to view. The base station comes with hundreds of settings and can be a bit boggling to figure out. Definitely take your time getting familiar with all of the settings. The showcase things for this camera system is definitely its 4k video for one. Hooking this base station up to a 4k tv will give you the best playback clarity, but even if not, the cameras are recording in 4k. The picture looks stunning and clear. The details are easy to see and definitely make a difference over say a wireless wifi cam. Second is the cameras ability to take great night footage. Its color clarity in the dark is sharp and not very grainy. Usually my camera is operating where we have garage lights, but the camera does not need them. Plus the camera can be adjusted for detection in dim lit areas to acrivate a flood light and red and blue led lights, which I feel helps deterr any malicious activity. Lastly is the two way speaker system accessible when using the app. There is a speaker in the base of the camera. The sound quality is pretty good and it is clear when talking through it. It can also be used to activate a bit of a siren that can go off with detection. Overall, with the 1TB hard drive, the high picture quality of the cameras, the slew of options available when navigating on the base station, access through the mobile app, and one wire installations make this camera system top notch for your home or business protection. Gone are the days of the "potato cam".. Also with the ability to add 4 more cameras to the system for 8 total makes this a worthwhile investment. Would highly recommend.

This is my first NVR security system. I am familiar with security systems installation and their operations, having installed a couple of older DVR systems in the past, both from Swann and other competing brands. For a long time I’ve had an eye on NVR’s, partly due to the higher resolution, and partly because its simpler, cleaner install if you were to run cables through the wall. Recently the price for NVR systems have dropped significantly making them the more affordable option. The easiest way to differentiate the NVR from a DVR is the way the camera’s connect. On a NVR (assuming you are using Power over Ethernet) - there is only one cable that powers your camera and provides a video connection. A DVR security camera system would use 2 cables, one for the video and one for power. The other difference between the system is that an NVR is all digital recording, and a DVR is an analog signal that gets recorded. Regardless of what system you use, you will need to run cables either through the walls, or tacked to the corners of your wall using wire holders or wire staples. While DVR security systems these days achieve 4K signal, generally the quality of the image is much better on a 4K NVR. The sensor size for most NVR cameras are in the 3-5 megapixel range, and this is a 5 megapixel camera, but there are 8 megapixel NVR cameras available. NVR Cameras tend to use proprietary cameras, and it's harder to mix and match off-brand cameras with your security system. DVR cameras can accept most security cameras from other brands with little configuration. The fact remains, the OEM Swann cameras have never disappointed me. They are high quality and have lasted years in other installs. The Swann box comes with everything you will need to install your security camera, minus the drill bits. The box includes the NVR recorder with capacity of 1tb storage and supporting 8 cameras, a mouse, ethernet cables, 4 cameras and their corresponding wall fasteners, and 60 feet of ethernet cable for each of the cameras. If you are going to do a self install, as it was in my case. My original plan was to run the cables through the wall in areas where I could mount the camera to the outside. To facilitate that in-wall install, needed a couple more items - namely a hole saw drill bit, fish-tape or fish-wire, and bulk Cat5e cable, terminators and a lot of patience. Note, I used Cat5e cable, not Cat6 as they usually have the stiff cross shield seperator that makes bending hard. Alternatively you can use the cable provided, just cut the terminators off before you run it through the wall. Cat5e has plenty of bandwidth that Cat6 is not required for security cameras. In my case I could not use the provided network cable as in a few places my run was longer than 60 feet and as the cable heads would make fishing the ethernet cable through the wall a bit more cumbersome, I ran fresh bulk cable and terminated them with a crimping tool. Now, if that sounds all too complicated and unnecessary… Swann has a lovely solution - They provide a card inside your box that allows you to call pro-installers to install the security camera system for you through a service called “InstallerNet”. This is great, because a lot of people buy these systems and fret about trying to install the security system. Having this in the box helps customers not having to find a local help to install the system. Once you have run the cables, the rest of the process is actually quite simple. Plug in your cameras, provide power, connect your tv or display device and go through the setup process. The setup process is quite painless and very familiar. It's amazing how similar it is to the older Swann DVR systems, although with better icons. You do not need an internet connection but it helps, as you can register your device, and it will update to the latest firmware. An internet connection also allows you to remotely monitor your cameras. Swann NVR connects to the internet via the dedicated WAN ethernet port, but one can get a Swann Wifi Dongle to allow for wireless connection. The security system has a lot of interesting features, including face recognition, person and object detection. The cameras all have LED motion lights that light up when motion or heat is detected at night. The LED lights will turn off the infrared sensors to provide a color image at night. The cameras also have a microphone on the bottom to record sound and also allow talk through the system . The cameras have a field of view of 90 degrees, which is acceptable. The Android and iOS Swann remote access apps are simple to install and use. What used to be several confusing and similarly named Swann apps, is now “Swann Security App”. The setup process for the app is easy, register your account and scan the ‘QR code” on the top of your NVR (also on DVRs) that will allow you to remotely connect to your security cameras remotely. This feature does require an active internet connection and provides a peace of mind when you are away from your home or business. You can configure your camera settings, review footage, listen and talk through your cameras. Overall, I am very happy with the Swann NVR. The install was tedious but smooth, the camera image quality is fantastic. There are no complaints here. Swann has been in the business for a long time and I have personal experience with them for over 10 years, and it's never been a let down. If you were considering a security system for your home or business, Swann should be on the top of your list. What I like: * Came with everything you need to do an install, including a mouse * It is Wifi Capable, though you need the Swann Dongle ($30) * Camera quality is good, very sharp, sensitivity is good, but day time color rendition felt flat. * Comes with a professional install ‘install pro’ code. What I didn't like: * The instructions were on 3 different coloured pages which were not numbered sequentially and only covered ‘android’, no iOS support literature in the box - but really the instructions are the same between the Android or iOS apps. * Not exactly sure if the system would work with non Swann based IP security cameras, but Swann does make a good set of add-on cameras that you can buy and add to the additional ports.

After installing and using the Swann Security system I have found the overall system performs much better than my older Swann DVR system but there are some shortcomings. Below I have tried to list out everything that I really liked about this set up as well as the items that I felt were problematic. This system uses digital cameras with ethernet cabling so it supports audio as well video. This is reason enough to get this system over any analog camera / DVR system out today. While the cameras support 4k resolution at 15 frames per second that resolution is only available when viewing the video directly on a 4k monitor/tv connected to the NVR. Any recording that is viewed on a mobile or remote device is a streamed at a much lower resolution. I included a photo so you can see the Main Stream, Sub Stream and Mobile Stream resolutions. Even at the lower resolution these cameras provide good imaging even when fully zoomed out. Also when recording in 4k it is at 15 frames per second which means the image can be little choppy when viewing anything that is moving fast. If you lower the camera resolution you can increase the fps so it’s a tradeoff of resolution vs frames per second. Luckily Swann gives you the ability to vary each camera’s resolution and frames per second so you can configure the cameras to meet your requirements. What I liked about the system: - Swann provides some quick setup documentation to get the system initialized and its relatively straight forward. To fully understand all the system’s features you should download the user manual which is a 137 page pdf with very detailed information. I highly recommend looking at the manual especially for setting up the alerts and notifications and recording schedules. If you don’t feel comfortable installing the cameras and system Swann also provides information on how to contact professionals to do the installation. - The 4k video images are sharp however the night images are not very colorful under normal lighting conditions. - The cameras record audio and the playback is in sync and sounds natural. - The ability to set up Detection zones and Privacy zones gives you a lot of flexibility as to what is recorded. - Alerts and email notifications were easy to set up and they work really well. - Swan offers a lot of AI type options such as package, car and face recognition but some of this comes at additional costs. - One of the major improvements in this NVR over my older DVR solution is that the Swan mobile app opens and displays the live camera feeds much faster. - Swann uses “modes” which allow you to set up different configurations for home, night and away. - The camera head can be rotated and angled on the mount to meet nearly any type of installation. Also, Swann improved the camera mounting by replacing the easily stripped out screws with new Allen key screws which are much nicer. - You can store your video locally or spend extra to use cloud storage. What I don’t like about the system: - I love using ethernet cables but the ones provided are extremely thin and there is no boot/cover over the plastic locking clip on the cable head. When you are running the cables through walls you must be very careful. Also, Swann provides a weather sealing jacket to seal the ethernet connection at the camera which is nice however the jacket is permanently attached to the camera’s cable so you are forced to provide a ¾ inch access hole if you mount the camera flush. So if you are replacing Analog cameras like I did be prepared to drill much bigger holes. - There is no built-in help feature or user guide in the main NVR configuration screens to explain what the various options are and why or how they would be used. - Setting up the motion detection on Swann cameras is more difficult than other cameras I have used. They seem to be much more sensitive to plant movement and rain which can create a lot of false alarms. - The mobile app doesn’t include all the options that are available in the main NVR configuration page nor does it match or mimic NVR configuration screens. - The cameras have a small viewing angle of 90 degrees. Many of today’s newer cameras have a 130 degree or more viewing angle which means they see a wider view of what is in front of it. - The supplied wired mouse is cheap and limits the distance you can sit from the controller. - This system only records detected activity and so far I have not found a way to have it record constantly like other systems do. The always recording feature would allow you to go back in time to see if there was something that occurred outside your detection zone. - The system only comes with a 1 tb drive so it will overwrite stored videos faster. Most systems come with at least a 2 tb drive.

Other than some wireless indoor cameras I’ve had for a few years, this is the first real security system I’ve ever had. Set up was easy and straight forward . For us, the 60 foot cables it comes with are long enough for our house but they do offer 100 and 200 foot cables on their website. These cables are great, they power the cameras and carry the audio and video. All in one cable. Really cool!! For the time being, we are only using this indoors but will be mounting 2 of the cameras outdoors for more security when we get completely moved in and set up in our new home. This will be fantastic when we go away for the weekend. Using it to keep an eye on our cats and yard will carry a lot of peace of mind. With the 2 way audio, we’ll even be able to converse with the kitties or anyone else that comes within sight of the camera. The app was a simple download and needed to properly set up the system. You do need a TV or monitor for the HDMI connection to be able to view the videos. Really cool that you can see all the cameras at the same time on your screen. And add up to 4 more for a total of 8. The 4K quality on the connected monitor is outstanding but keep in mind, using the phone can only get you 1080P but it still looks crisp and clear. It even includes a mouse to be able to change and adjust your settings once you have it all up and running. The siren is quite loud and should scare off any intruder that happens to set it off. The spotlights are really bright, especially indoors but once we have the outside done, it will add even more peace of mind. Can’t wait to see the first time a raccoon lights himself up in the back yard. Comes with a 1TB hardrive that will probably fill up sooner than later but it is upgradeable to a 6TB down the road. I love how you can add on to the system as necessity requires. You won’t be locked in to it until it becomes obsolete to your needs. Overall this is a great system, affordable and it does everything you would expect out of a nice home security system. It will take a while to learn all the ins and outs of it as it does quite a bit we haven’t even accessed yet. Really looking forward to having this as a permanent part of our home. Thank you Swann

I appreciate the details that other reviewers have left with regard to what a NVR (network video recorder) system is compared to a DVR (digital video recorder) system. Other reviewers also offer details on the high quality output of the cameras with which I agree. I am a reviewer who will focus on what it's like to be "an average guy", not a super tech savvy consumer, who was looking for a security system. I'm a guy with some wireless cameras tucked here and there that I can access from an application on my phone, but was looking for something with better resolution and night vision. What I discovered after opening the box: 1. You need the high definition HDMI compatible TV and the NVR console in close proximity to the router. If the high definition TV or HDMI compatible monitor is in another room or on a different floor, you're not going to be able to do it without moving it. 2. Being inexperienced at this installation process, I found the instructions a little bit confusing. I ended up finding a You Tube video to walk me through the set up process which was actually not too bad and I got it set up without a problem, at least initially. 3. I downloaded the application and signed up and no matter how hard I tried, I could not get "authenticated" even after using the QR code and double and triple checking the password. So far, I've not gotten it to authenticate the account through the app so I can't comment on how that works. 4. The camera cords were so tightly bound with plastic that I found it remarkably hard to get them out and ended up using scissors to help and promptly put a small slice in one of the cords. Use caution and patience when trying to free those cords from very tight plastic strips. 5. The pros of the camera are it's high quality images, heat sensitivity and sound capabilities. It comes at a cost: the cords. Since I am a user of wireless cameras, the thought of having to fish wires behind walls was super daunting and the thought of having "ugly wires" visible was just as bad. As other reviewers have noted, there's a card in the box giving a web site to access an appointment for a professional installer (for an additional fee) and my gut feeling is that I am going to rely on someone else's skill to do the job right. I think that this system is perfect or near perfect for someone who wants a high quality ultra HD NVR system (with good storage and no subscription fees!) who is comfortable with either fishing wires through walls or having them visible (or paying a professional to do it). If that is not you, then setting up this system may well not be worth it even for the benefits. You may be better served by a wireless system that may not provide all the bells and whistles, but is a whole lot easier to set up and use.

First off Im going to give away my conclusion on this system…I LOVE it! I have had many video security systems over the years both wired and wireless, and while wireless may seem more convenient, in actual use I have found that wired is the way to go for me. The Swann System comes with 4 cameras with the ability to add 4 more for a total of 8 camera capability. This system is easier to set up as the power and data are all transmitted via the Power over Ethernet cable, so there is no need to run both power and video to each camera which is a time saver and makes things much easier. I do all installs like this myself but you can choose to utilize the Swann Professional Install Service for an additional fee which is a nice option for those not comfortable with doing an install like this themselves. The included Network Video Recorder (NVR) has a 1TB Hard Drive which Swann Claims will retain up to 6 months of video, so the capacity is more than enough for most users. Setup of cameras and the NVR (after running the ethernet cables) is pretty easy and just plug and play. The 4K cameras are great for all types of weather conditions and are heat and motion sensing so you won’t miss any activity within the cameras range. The video quality is also top notch as it should be. Two-way communication is also possible to speak to whomever is at the camera and I found the sound was great to communicate back and forth. With the companion Swann Security App you can remotely monitor things. As I opened this review with, I think this is a great system and one worthy of consideration.

This Swann 4K security camera system is a very nice system. It has 4 4K UHD cameras, and an NVR with a 1TB hard drive. It also comes with all cables and mounting hardware needed to install. The cameras themselves feel very nice and well-made. They are rated for indoor/outdoor use, and they feel like they will withstand the outdoors just fine, although, I still installed mine under cover just to be safe. Once they are installed, setup isn't too bad. When you turn on the NVR for the first time, it walks you through creating passwords and setting up a Swann account to download the smart phone app. The user interface for the NVR isn't bad as far as these things go, but just in general, these UIs still feel like they are about a decade or more behind current consumer tech. That being said, if you are comfortable with tech, you shouldn't have much trouble navigating and changing settings. However, there is so much you can tweak, that even I don't know what most of it is. But the stuff I did need, like motion zones, schedules, etc, was pretty easy to find and adjust. It's nice to know that there's so much flexibility if I ever decided to dig in and figure out what all the other stuff I can tweak is. One thing I will mention about the NVR that I noticed right away, it is quiet! I have had a few other NVRs in the past, and they always had very loud fans that ran 24/7. This one is whisper quiet, to the point you can hear the HDD writing if the room is quiet enough. The picture quality of the cameras is very nice. The 4K really shines here, and you can zoom in close enough to see things like license plates or other important details. They also have a nice wide field of view. The night vision works pretty well, and if you have it set up to turn on the lights when motion is detected, it works even better, because then you get color night vision. The cameras also feature heat sensing technology, which helps reduce false motion readings greatly. My old system didn't have this, and I have a few windmills in my yard which would constantly set them off. Even when I set the motion zones to exclude them, I would still get dozens of false motion notifications every day. However, with the Swann system, I haven't noticed any false notifications. Once I set up my zones, I really only get notifications when there is actual movement in those zones, and not just wind blowing or something like that. I am really quite impressed with the camera's performance in this regard. The one area I have been disappointed with, is the Swann Security App. The app is fine for just viewing your cameras live, and maybe reviewing recorded events. Outside of that, it leaves a lot to be desired. First off, you can't really do much configuration on the app. Like, you can't set or edit your motion zones. You can't set or edit schedules. This is all stuff you have to do on the NVR. Next, as far as I can tell, there's no way to save clips or videos straight from the app. When I looked up documentation online, it said there should be a share button on the videos, but when you look in the app, there is no share button. I think that just applied to Swann's other wireless cameras. With these cameras, I think the only way to get video off of them is to plug a USB stick into the NVR itself. Lastly, and one of the more annoying things to me, is that the notifications could use some work. First of all, all notifications just say "Motion Detected". It would be nice if it would distinguish between motion, people, or cars. Also, when you tap the notification, you would think it would take you to the recorded event, but nope. It takes you to a live view of the camera. Which I guess is fine if you click right when the event is happening. However, if you see the notification a few seconds/minutes/hours later, taking you to the live view is useless. I would like it to take me to the recorded event. Overall, I am just very disappointed in the app. In conclusion, this Swann 4K Camera system is a very nice system. The camera quality is top notch. The NVR can be a bit complicated to navigate, but is par for the course for these wired systems, and shouldn't be a problem if you're pretty comfortable with technology. The tech in the cameras works really well to cut down on false motion notifications. The biggest drawback to the whole system is the Swann Security App. It just really holds back what would otherwise be a superb product. If this is going to be the primary way you interact with this system (which I assume is true for most residential customers), it's kind of hard to recommend over other options. They really only need to make a few minor tweaks to really address the biggest issues. If they do this, then I would have no problem bumping up my rating to 5 stars. However, as it stands, the app alone is holding this great product back.