Joined on 06/03/05
Best midrange DVR/NVR I've been able to find in a long while!
Pros: 100% 1080p 30FPS recording on all channels, app and email notification works... Enough said! ;) Actually the video quality is superb, so I took it all the way to max recording resolution at a reduction to 12fps on all channels, quality seemed more important than quantity in this case, and it is very good indeed! Interface setup is typical and convoluted, high learning curve, and no built-in hover-over bullets to explain what an option is, but still doable nonetheless.
Cons: The app is great, having more features than one would expect, like changing motion sensitivity, blocking/screening areas/etc., but the interface is far more convoluted and confusing to navigate than it should be. For instance, if you want to turn off the motion sensing when you get home, you have to click menu, device manager, the connection, then an icon with a gear on it, then video detect menu, channel, slide motion on/off, click save, then change channel and repeat... that is like 8 or so steps that could be simply combined in a far simpler interface... but it works!
Overall Review: Some people report losing settings, well, kinda... if you just get into a habit of hitting that apply and save button on every change, on every window, and even hit apply/save if you aren't sure if you made a change, then you really are good! It really is easy to forget to hit apply and save, and I think this really is the only issue people are having!
Email does not work, and only 2 channels record at 720p! DEAL BREAKER!
Pros: Easy setup, I like the unit over-all compared to many other brands, and most of the menus are pretty straight forward and self explanatory - good work!
Cons: Now the bad! Apparently Zmodo products are known to have alarm snapshot emailing issues. I tried all troubleshooting tips online, and the usual tip that works for some people did not work for this unit (tip about using a foreign yahoo server: plus.smtp.mail.yahoo.com - does not work). Also, the manufacturer is misleading customers about the 720p recording resolutions. They claim that the unit records at 720p resolutions, but only 2 channels record at 720p 20fps, the rest record at VGA (640x480) 25fps. Also, they claim that the cameras send at 720p, although I'm not so sure that they really are native 720p since they seem a bit too grainy for this resolution, to me they seem like they are scaled up to 720p. I could be wrong, but i'm not impressed. Plus the saturation/contrasts adjustments in the interface do not seem to be sent to the individual cameras as the manf says they are. when adjusted, I still have an over contrasted picture , so i can't fine tune the fine details in the faces like i should be able to!
a little tacky to the touch
Pros: Works
Cons: Seems to be acrylic instead of typical harder and smoother shields, but works ok! a little on the smaller size too.
Upgrading my previous review from 7/10/2014
Pros: I have since ordered 4 total refurb units. The first batch had missing materials, cables, or a broken power adapters, but the second batch was perfect manf refurb! i have found that each time you buy one of these units, and each time you upgrade the ASUS firmware, you must go into the web gui and do a factory reset, and re-enter everything manually... especially if you are having issues. If you do this, they work without a hitch, and no more flaky days! Of course, some people will complain about wifi dropouts, if so, download wifi analyzer app from android, or some other wifi detector app. Then pick a channel that isn't being used in your neighborhood/facility! Stop using channel 6 in auto mode and you should be fine. I can cover my whole block on an unused channel with a beautiful signal, but i can barely leave my house on channel 6, since everyone in the neighborhood uses it! I have also converted a couple units to Tomato - Shibby firmware, and they run beautifully! HIGHLY RECOMMEND ASUS!
Cons: Cons have been upgraded from one semi-faulty unit to all 4 units working 100%, due to regular software factory resets.
Nice
Pros: Superb low light vision, wide fisheye lens, mirrored (corrected) reverse imaging!
Cons: But, unfortunately I did not notice what it meant by ruler lines in the description. Basically it is going to have static colored backup alignment bars overlaid on the image. My radio already has customizable alignment bars, the bars in this camera are permanent! :(
Overall Review: Gave a 5 star, because con was my fault, and it really is a decent product!
Works
Pros: Superb low light vision, super wide fisheye lens, mirrored (corrected) reverse imaging!
Cons: But, unfortunately I did not know it was going to have static colored backup alignment bars overlaid on the image. My radio already has customizable alignment bars, these are permanent, and no mention of this was in the listing description! :(