Swann PC DVR 4 Net Reviews

• Turns your PC into a security DVR - documentation sketchy

  
  By A1YI8DVNEMT1NR on 2006-03-13
  Bought one of these a couple of months ago to pipe some security cameras into for monitoring the front of my house. Pretty simple to install if you've done a PC upgrade before. Comes with a roughly 100-page manual that was written by someone for whom English is a second language. (Or they didn't proof it very well.) Documentation is pretty bare bones.
  
  As far as function, the maximum frame rate is 15 fps, and it uses MPEG-4 compression. You can set up timer based recordings, motion detection based recordings and so forth. I've worked with the motion based recordings, and it allows you to set the portion of the frame you use for motion detection. The user interface for playback cries out for a 10x fast forward, which this card doesn't allow. (as far as I can tell) There is a slider bar above the play button that gets you up to 2x or 3x, but if you want to look at 8 or 10 hours, its pretty brutal at 3x. If you use motion detection, there is a button that jumps to the next "event" (where the motion detection was tripped). That works pretty well and its how I have mine setup.
  
  If I could give it 3.5 stars, I'd do that. Since this one is pretty cheap as capture cards go, I'll bump it to 4 stars.
  
  

• Good card but its has some faults....

  
  By APJ0W5VG5JPGX on 2006-06-28
  The Good:
  - Nice price point.
  - Works well (exlcuding occasional startup lockups) and nice internet connection software.
  - Great cameras, many available (I use the bulldog camera from them)
  - Powerful software to record and monitor your security with. However, the manual is quite poor and some of the systems are hard to understand.
  
  The Bad:
  - Has to be 1024x768 resolution, if your resolution is higher you have to lower your resolution.
  - The manual was written by someone who speaks english as their second language as someone else mentioned. So it is very hard to understand to say the least. I wish they would take the time to professionally rewrite this.
  - The system restarts itself every 10-30 to free up resources which is a great idea but.... The program locks up on startup frequently. So in my case I have to get into the hot attic and restart the computer which has this card and runs my security system manually every couple of months.
  
  Bottom line, good card and system, and if Swann Company took the time to fix the few minor bugs and released a patch and new documentation, it could easily be a 5 star security solution.
  
  
  

• Great card, not so great software & manual

  
  By A1IDA27M0DTPW2 on 2006-11-06
  Pros:
  
  + Great card (mine supports 4 ports). I use it w/ Max Day/Night came and DIY tinycam.
  
  Cons:
  
  + Manual is bad. Needs to be rewritten.
  + Software has bugs (in settings/configuration, I can not select some options as they are out of view. I have tried to select them in various screen resolutions, but no success).
  + Software can more intuitive (User Interface).
  + If you use RCA extension cables and have multiple cameras that support AUDIO, it would be difficult to handle audio for multiple cameras. Manual should talk about various scenarios of configurations. Card should be able to handle audio on its own and have onboard audio ports as well to connect audio cables.
  
  + Swann Tech support is ok. Out of 4 calls to AUS. tech support on different issues, 3 tech reps gave correct information. The one really screwed up and could have damaged my camera (incorrect power adapter/supply spec). Alway check manual for specs.
  
  Two Lessions learned:
  
  1. I found out hard way that not ALL cameras (such as MAXI Day/Night Cam) support Audio.
  2. If you replace lens on day/night vision cameras (such as MAXI D/N cam) with WIDE ANGLE lens, you will LOOSE night vision (due to special filter wide angle lens, at least from swann, uses). This is what I was told by Aussie Swann Tech Support.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• I Don't Get It...

  
  By AL4HHXFRVQPID on 2006-10-28
  Why are some people saying (in these reviews) that this product has bugs and locks-up their computers? I am running a 4 year old computer 2.76 G with 1GRAM and I have NEVER had these problems.
  
  In fact, I run 8 cameras simultaneously (with a non-gaming video card) with "pro audio" recording software (Steinberg Cubase SL) and often Internet Explorer, Excel and Word and still have not had computer lock-up problems. (Talk about a program that uses resources - Cubase!) This program has run 24/7 for more than two years.
  
  I have found this to be an excellent choice for home or office security (for me it's both). This saves you wasted time getting up to answer the door for salespeople, when the dog barks, when the kids come home or wondering what some strange noise was so that you can concentrate on business.
  
  I would recommend this gear to anyone. HOWEVER, I agree that the owner's manual should be re-written. (By the way, for the guy who thinks that it was written as a second language: What language do you think they speak in Australia?) Their phraseology, terminology and slangs differ and it can be confusing at times. Then again, that's what customer support is for and they have never refused assistance or tired of my inquiries.
  
  
  

• PC DVR Net

  
  By A2BQHRIBLZRWJ8 on 2006-06-23
  This PCI card is installed inside your computer. Your computer must have Windows XP or 2000, but the system requirements on RAM and processor speed are overly strict. I am running this card on a 650 MGHZ HP with a mere 56 MB of RAM. It's obviously sluggish if I play back multiple cameras, but it records just fine. I also bought a pair of SWANN Bulldog cameras for outside, and 2 of the SWANN wide angle cameras for my garage and tool shed. This combo works great for me.
  Otherwise, I agree with everything RY said in his review, especially about the need for a 10X fast-forward on playback. Regardless, the card works like it's supposed to, and the price is hard to beat.
  
  
• Great product !
  By A32E1NEFQWHG9D on 2007-01-12
  Easy to set up..Great for my home security.
  Would refer to anyone wanting this item.
  
  
• Ok, but fickle
  By A18STJN3901AV7 on 2007-10-10
  This card is pretty straightforward. Plug it in and hook it up.
  My only problem was that it needed re-seating the first time I hooked it up. (pull it out and re-set it into the PCI slot).
  It cleared up after that. The software it comes with is great and includes motion detection to turn your cameras on so you don't record every little thing, though IR cameras attract bugs so you may see more than you want to.
  The software could be better, but be sure to download the updated version from the website. It supports all desktop resolutions, sort of. It doesn't change the software but it will run at (my experience) up to 1280x1024. You can full-screen your camera by simply right clicking on the image.
  The manual? It's just a joke. Playing with the features will teach you more than the manual, and you can't ruin anything aside from recording to the wrong place, but that's set up when you install the program so you'll be fine there.
  The card does come with lots of converters from RCA so if you bought the Swann RCA with power cord you'll be OK plugging it in.
  
  
• Fault of the card
  By A165IZ1RO03H91 on 2007-12-18
  This card works only with certain processors and motherboards, something they don't tell you about until it's too late. Unless you like to gamble, buy another brand.
  
  
• Not as good as their cameras, but it works.
  By A1P8RPIO8AD2GD on 2008-01-07
  The Swann PCI DVR Card is an affordable card & Software package. The Software is certainly not pretty, or flawless, however once it is set up, it does what it is supposed to, and does it well. It's easy to use and refine to your needs.
  
  I have had trouble getting the software to install after a clean install of windows. FYI: when re-installing windows. Remove the DVR PCI card. Install Windows. Shut down, install card, boot, install software. The software will not install if you re-install windows with the card in the machine.
  
  I also was disappointed to learn that my Mac Laptop, and Linux-based Nokia n800 Tablet are not be able to view the video stream remotely, because they do not support Internet Explorer. I also have had friends with PC and IE 6-7 try with no success. Setting up windows firewall and my router to let the host stream was not well documented. I looked into using a Linux based program but the hardware was not supported. tough luck.
  
  If you solely dwell in the realm of windows you should be fine. I'm still trying to find a universal remote viewing option that works.
  
  
• WORKED RIGHT AWAY
  By AE7UWM68HCDEI on 2007-07-12
  I emailed a request asking if this worked with VISTA. They emailed me a link to dowload the VISTA driver. My security camera works really great with this card and the included software. I will purchase security cameras two and three in a few weeks.
  
  
• Good system and software
  By AJE91NLSN9I83 on 2007-07-19
  This was the easiest portion of my security set up. The code works well and has a wide array of features. The manual should not be taken literally but I found it very usable and have no real issues with it.
  
  
• Does not work with Windows XP Pro 64 bit
  By A38Z1CXPTJR6GE on 2008-06-02
  Bought this card for use in a Windows XP Pro 64 bit machine.
  Everything installs with out any errors.
  But the device shows up without a driver in the hardware list.
  
  
  
• good pvr card 4 net
  By AE8E1WC8I7644 on 2007-10-30
  got the first pvr card and had some conflics with one of my other cards took out the card that was bothering it after messing around with it for a while and finialy got it to work and went and got the new drivers at the swann site for it and now it works pretty good ,went and bought a second card and got them to match up after a while now im ready for 8 cams,over all pretty good set up but you may have a few problems getting the first one to work ok depending what you have in your computer,the second card i got came with the newer drivers on a disk.the manual could be better in the way they explain things or how to expand with alarms, audio and things.
  
  
• Good Product
  By A1ZC70GHBHFHMI on 2007-12-06
  I bought this DVR Card to replace the one I had in my PC which was very unreliable, mainly the old card would locked up my PC after running for about 2 weeks. All I can say was this card was worth every penny, it was stable and the software that came with it was very easy to use.
  
  Would highly recommend this product.
  
  
• PC DVR Card
  By A25A96GDB9SLP7 on 2007-12-30
  Unless you are going to dedicate a single computer to the cams that work with save your money. Even though I had to contact the manufacture to get it to work with my Vista pc, it will Take some IT knowledge to get the program to work.
  
  

• Swann AV Power Cable (36M / 120FT)
• Swann Outdoor Day/Night Surveillance Security Camera (Color)
• SVAT CV65 Outdoor Nightvision Security Camera (Color)
• Swann Bulldog Security Camera
• Swann Maxi Day/Night Security Camera