CCTV NVR or Microserver?

mushtafa · 9 Apr 2017 at 10:00

I want to install a camera at home, but not sure which option to go for.

I was originally going to buy this: http://www.cctvkits.co.uk/hikvision-3mp-1536p-1-2-camera-ip-kit.html

That's a single 4mp Hikvision camera and NVR for £260.

Or do I buy the camera on it's own (£130), and a HP Gen8 microserver (£125 after cashback)? Total of £255.

http://www.cctvkits.co.uk/hikvision-ds-2cd2142fwd-i-4mp-internal-mini-vandal-dome.html
http://www.******.com/722189-hpe-proliant-gen8-4gb-ram-microserver-******-com-819185-421

I know I will need to buy cables and HDDs for both systems. The microserver will be more useful for the home entertainment side of things, but is it easy enough to use and control the camera/recording software?

Any advice? What would you do?

boxman2000 · 10 Apr 2017 at 11:40

I wouldn't be much help giving you more advice than this but I would always lean towards having the separate server/camera as it will serve more than one purpose.

I've tried cheaper IP cameras and although they do the job, if I wanted to go next level like you, I'd absolutely go for those cameras but you'd need to weigh up the cost as you'd need a Power over Ethernet capable switch or a PoE injector for each camera (if you didn't want to run separate power cable). I'm highly tempted with that 4mp one as I seriously need coverage outdoors.

The kit may be simpler and cheaper option but for me, I'd be tempted to go down option 2 route.

Psycho Sonny · 10 Apr 2017 at 11:56

I installed 2 cameras and was running them off a PC and it was such a hassle.

Ended up getting a NVR in the end. Saves you getting a POE router or faffing about with software. Plus the free software I found is pants and I tried all the recommended ones.

NVR is plug and play. Rather have 1 solution which is built from the ground up to do 1 thing excellently than a jack of all trades which is constantly causing issues.

mushtafa · 10 Apr 2017 at 21:03

The software side of things is the only thing holding me back from the microserver. I've watched a few YouTube vids setting up the Hikvision NVRs and it looks so simple.

Psycho Sonny said:
Plus the free software I found is pants and I tried all the recommended ones.

Thanks for the input, appreciate hearing from experience. Did you try the Hikvision software or just third party ones?

Psycho Sonny · 11 Apr 2017 at 08:45

mushtafa said:
The software side of things is the only thing holding me back from the microserver. I've watched a few YouTube vids setting up the Hikvision NVRs and it looks so simple.

Thanks for the input, appreciate hearing from experience. Did you try the Hikvision software or just third party ones?

i tried 2 third party ones. they were the most recommended on the net.

getting them set up was no issue, it was when something went wrong you ran into issues trying to fix it. camera vanishing, system restarting, etc. with the plug and play NVR never had a single hurdle to overcome. smooth sailing. i would say NVR all the way. remember you need a POE switch with a micro server and they aren't exactly cheap. £40-£80 easy depending on make/quality, etc.