Vonnic DKSY0804D 8 channel + 4 Sony CCD Bullet Cameras 12 IR LED H.264 High performance DVR, Remote Monitoring/Real time record,display/CMS/ with 500GB completed Security Kit

Pros: Cameras are fine

Cons: Hard disk error after a few hours. I even set to reboot daily at 14:00 in attempt to circumvent. The hard disk has never been full and actually, never past 20MB of data stored as I have the unit set to record only on motion. Fact is, we were robbed in two ways. The purchase of this unit and when our car was broken in to and this piece of garbage did not record the incident. It did record me taking out the trash the previous day which is right next to the car. After the stuff out of our car was taken, I discovered the DVR was malfunctioning. Tried working with Vonnic support. Guess what is going right in the trash next week? DO NOT BUY VONNIC PRODUCTS!

Other Thoughts: Avoid this company.

Pros: CCD camera, not CMOS. Comes with a 500Gb HDD. Very easy to set up, with 60ft of power/video wire for each camera. This system is the best you'll get without spending over $1k. I read and searched the internet for 3 months looking for the right system. You can say I did my homework. I bought this for a little over $200 on sale on Newegg, the next day it went back up to $400. I would say that even at the higher price, it is still worth the price.

Cons: The DVR menu setup is a bit hard to figure out and the instruction booklet doesn't help much. It wasn't impossible, just had to play around with it for an hour or so to get the controls down.

Other Thoughts: I've had this running since the day I got it, the DVR automatically starts recording over the oldest file, which is awesome, you'll never have to worry about the camera stopping. Also, you can back up any file (in 1 hour blocks) while still recording.

Pros: Cheap. Works with Android IPcam app

Cons: One cam dead after 4 months. One PSU faulty.

Other Thoughts: This is good example of getting what you paid for. It was cheap so I didn't expect much so I am not that disappointed. Still haven't been able to set up e-mail server. Technical support is weak. Documentation is terrible. User interface is poor and not intuitive. Apparently only works with IE which I currently only have one computer that still has Windows that my son uses for gaming. I simply need to build a Zone Minder Sever and dump this thing. Cams are OK but not as good as a cheap no-name cam I bought on E-bay.

Pros: Price was a big one!! Forget about Sams club. for $200
bucks you get a DKYSY0808S 16CH DVR, not the one mentioned, or at least I did. System works flawless on your LAN. Forget about the manual, waste of paper. It will take some tinkering to get the system just right, so experiment. The mounting screws are a joke, so pick up some. the cameras are good quality! You can not go wrong with this unit. I've heard some complaints of the HD stopping randomly, not true in my case. More than likely lack of understanding setup of the unit. I can not blame others for having trouble, remember the manual sucks.

Cons: Not really a remote viewing system, unless you have strong understanding of networking. This unit is a static IP system, most people use a Dynamic IP, which can be worked around. But unless you have a domain name and are hosted, no can do! and even if all of that is done system will not really work. Easy way to view remotely is using a virtual PC software. But you have to leave machine on.

Other Thoughts: This is the one to buy, unbeatable price for what you get

Pros: Easy Installation
Lots of good configuration options.

Cons: Hard drive stops recording after random amouts of time.

Other Thoughts: Horrible Customer Support.
Conversation with Support
Robert Moore (12:10:54):
I am having an issue where the Hard Drive Status keeps going Error, and then I reboot system and it works for 2-3 hrs and then error again. I am using System DVR-8.28.P02.R5830 Firmware Version 9-9-2011 14:36:13
Support (12:10:56):
Welcome! May I help you?
Robert Moore (12:11:11):
Did you get the message above?

Robert Moore (12:13:10):
Robert Moore (12:10:54):
I am having an issue where the Hard Drive Status keeps going Error, and then I reboot system and it works for 2-3 hrs and then error again. I am using System DVR-8.28.P02.R5830 Firmware Version 9-9-2011 14:36:13


Support (12:13:34):
Sorry for the delay.
Robert Moore (12:14:41):
Vonnic DKSY0804D is the DVR I have.

Robert Moore (12:17:56):
Are you still there?

Support (12:18:19):
It could be something wrong with the hard drive or the DVR. You might have to talk to our RMA department for a replacement.
Support (12:19:11):
Pleas

Pros: Pretty high quality cameras (three outside one inside), indoor night vision is great, outdoor is pretty good too. DVR has lots of settings. Motion detection has lots of settings to control what part is motion controlled, sensitivity, etc.

Cons: DVR needs to be rebooted daily, sometimes more often.
The only web browser that works is internet explorer and you have to disable active x which is extremely annoying since IE always has a pop up saying that you aren't protected (use IE tab plugin for Chrome). Motion detection clicks on at dusk and dawn when the IRs are turning on/off, which makes for a lot of useless MD videos making it hard to find what you are looking for.
When looking through past recordings you are forced to open a new window, type in time and date then select the video (which is cool), but then if it is the wrong video and you want to view another you have to go through that process again and again until you find what you are looking for.

Other Thoughts: This is my first surveillance system so I don't have anything to judge it against, but I will say that I am satisfied with the system. I wish I would like it or love it but I am only satisfied.

Pros: Camera's are solid, Great daytime or in light, ok in dark situations. Nice long 60 foot cables. Software is ok on browser pretty much plug and play. Tech support is willing to help with any issues.

Cons: Camera mounts are solid but for every application I had to modify the length they make the camera hang too far away from wall or over hang. Set screw does not hold firmly. Access to recorded events is a pain, email function doesn't work. I bought 2 units I here and one from another source both after 8 hours of operation error out the hard drive and stop recording events.

Other Thoughts: Works with IP Cam viewer app. Choose DKSY0804D by Vonnic and setup a view only login. If your main concern is to have the unit record events this units hard drive errors out too often. (Tested on 2 seperate units)

Pros: Finally received answers to some of my questions. Their answers helped. The DVR works fine though I never received an explaination to the problem of not sending a picture with the warning email durning daytime hours. Maybe one day I will find out. I raised the egg rating for this unit because the unit works fine. Their support could have been extremely busy and over looked my questions. It's not impossible for that to happen.

Cons: No Cons to speak of with the actual equipment other than the manual could be a bit more helpful.

Pros: Video quality is pretty decent. Especially night videos and motion detection. Menu is fairly simple which is a good thing for people new to home surveillance.

Cons: Swivel bases and screws that mount the camera were poor quality. Unless you tighten the swivel bolt to the point where it feels like its going to break, the camera will keep moving. The screws were very tiny. I would suggest getting better screws from a hardware store.
The DVR's hard drive keeps displaying an error flag even after I formatted it through the menu. Because of the error flag, the DVR won't record or playback anything. I emailed Vonnic about this issue three days ago, but still haven't received a reply. I will try to call Vonnic when they are open before thinking about opening up the DVR myself and taking a look.

Other Thoughts: Probably should have spent a little bit more on a better system by another company with better technical support.

Pros: Works ok over internet. Cameras are not bad.

Cons: Will only email picture during night, not during day. Vonnic support is a joke. They told me they didn't know much about this product. They said they would call me back 3 different times. Never heard from them. The manual needs work.

Other Thoughts: I am buying a different unit. NOT from Vonnic. I would not recommend anyone but from them.