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(More customer reviews)Defender's Digital Wireless DVR Security System with receiver... etc., etc., if set up properly can and will record any movement within the camera view, day or night. The receiver can be connected to any device that accepts RCA video and audio inputs and it will produce an audible warning/alarm when motion is detected. The receiver can wirelessly control up to 4 cameras (one camera included) and, in turn, can be operated by the provided IR remote control.
I wish I could say 'for sure' that this is a bad product or that it's an Okay thing - the difference between 2 and 3 stars - but I can't. I will settle for 2 stars at this time but I am open to any new facts or corrections that would warrant one extra star.KIT CONTENTS
In the box, you will find the camera, the receiver, power adapters for both, RCA wire with plugs for video and mono audio, an IR extension wire, 4 window stickers announcing that the property is protected and the manual.INSTALLATION AND SETUP
I was disappointed to learn thatthe only way you can connect to a TV/monitor is over an ANALOG RCA interface - quite unexpected from a product that calls itself 'digital'. Our living room TV has 3 HDMI ports, 2 component video banks and the traditional coax for inputs. NO 'yellow' RCA for Video In. The solution was to go through a receiver and from 'it' to TV's 'component analog video' but I expected better and less complicated.
After that, the rest of the setup was quick and easy. The camera paired with the receiver automatically, the 2GB SD card was inserted into its slot, went through a couple of menus to set preferences and we were up and running.
We haven't mounted the camera on a wall yet but everything needed appears to be there: mounting screws, bracket, even drilling templates.FEATURES
The Defender (I will use this as the short name from now on) is advertised as an advanced, versatile, easy to operate security solution. I will briefly list its most important (to me) features and compare 'advertised' vs. my reality/experience.
- Optimal range of up to 100 ft. between receiver and camera - I placed the right outside the house with the receiver in the living room, easily less than 50 ft. between the two. I was surprised to notice that, even at this short distance the signal's strength will drop to 2 bars and occasionally drop altogether. Moving the receiver a few inches right or left or changing the antenna's position from vertical to horizontal would sometimes get me 3 or 4 bars. As a frame of reference, I have no reception problems whatsoever anywhere in the house or around the house with my DECT cordless phones or with my Wi-Fi. This is at odds with the advertised claim of 100 ft. combined with the claim that the system will intelligently search for and find some unused radio spectrum to use.
- Night vision at up to 40 ft - I am happy to confirm that this is indeed the case. On a moonless night I was able to watch activity (our dogs that is) up to 40-50 ft. from camera's location. It should be noted that the 'infrared' LEDs do have a visible dark red glow so this can't be a stealth night surveillance camera.
- Color camera - I can't tell if this is my receiver's inability to properly translate the one-channel analog RCA feed into 'component video' sent to the TV but what I get on my TV is honest to goodness black and white. This is strange because the recordings captured on the SD card are very much 'color' so either somewhere inside the Defender's own receiver or, possibly, inside my own, the picture turns to B&W. Strange.
- Clear sound and crisp image - No complaints about the microphone. The picture resolution is 640x480 (VGA) by default but you can take it down to 320x240 if you want. To me, the 'hi res' is barely adequate. In addition, the frame rate seems to be something in the range of 10-20 frames per second.
- Coverage - It should be clear that this camera does NOT move (it's fixed in one position) and the only 'zoom' capability is a so-called fixed 2X 'digital zoom' which isn't real any zoom at all because you aren't getting any extra detail.
- Motion detection - Check. It will detect motion up to 100 ft.
- Motion-triggered recording - It works but there seems to be a delay of about one second between the moment motion was detected and the start of the recording. Somewhat annoyingly, the screen goes blank for one second upon motion detection if you happen to watch this 'live'. In addition, if you set your camera to record for 5 seconds following the detection of motion, the recording will stop after 5 seconds while the motion continued. You can set the recording time to 15 or 30 seconds following detection though so this is no such a big deal.
- DVR capability - Indeed, the DS card will have folders named after the date YYMMDD and inside each folders you will have .AVI recordings labeled by 'time' HHMMSS' that can be easily played with MS's Media Player or just about any other app that plays video. You can set it to overwrite the oldest records when full so the 2GB card should get you several days, probably many days of motion activate records.
- Weather resistant - I believe the specs state a temp range from 14F-116F. The temps do drop to and below zero where we live. I hope nothing bad will happen to the camera when this happens. Other than that, it comes with a aluminum cover and, since it tends to run pretty hot, I would expect for ice and snow to melt quickly off it.
- Up to 4 cameras supported - Could not test that but the menus suggest that you could have all 4 camera feeds on one screen at the same time.OPERATION
We set the camera up outside to overlook the driveway and to start recording whenever motion was detected. Once we found a good position for the receiver where it would consistently get at least 2 bars of signal strength, the camera operated well, doing what was expected of it, seeing through the night, detecting and recording motion until... we closed the garage door at which time the receiver could no longer communicate with our camera, located about 50 ft. away, outside. Opening the door would restore communication but we are not planning to keep the garage door permanently open. Raising the camera - me holding it above my head - restored communication while the garage door was closed but this is not a long-term solution. We are still debating what to do with the camera at this time, like maybe mount it somewhere high, possibly on the roof. I can think of a mode of operation where the receiver isn't connected to any display and, if you only interest is to see who came near the house, you simply take out the DS card and watch the daily records independently.
The best use for this camera, if you aren't home during the day, is to be able to see who happened to be around the house in your absence. With 15 seconds of recording per detected motion all it takes is just a few minutes to 'see' the daily activity. I wish we had something like this a couple of months ago when, while we were on vacation, a package left for us in the driveway... disappeared.RATING
+ Good, almost great, DVR functions
+ Relatively simple easy setup
+ Night vision as advertised
+ Motion detection and motion-activated recording as advertised
- Range grossly overstated
- Terrible, antiquated analog interface to TV/monitor
- Low resolution, low frame rate
While this product comes with many good and useful capabilities, the shortcomings are quite serious - so serious, we are not sure we are going to actually 'use' it, now that the testing is done. Considering that this product isn't exactly 'cheap', while I still hesitate between 2 and 3 stars, I feel compelled to award it 2 stars.
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>> Brush your teeth, it's the law! <<
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Defender Digital Wireless DVR Security System with receiver, SD Card Recording and Long Range Night Vision CameraProduct Description: Defender's PHOENIX 301 system can be used to monitor and record video and audio in any indoor or outdoor space at any time of the day. This wireless plug and play system allows for easy set up in a matter of minutes and the included 2GB SD card can record up to 350 minutes of continuous audio and video footage. The wireless, weather resistant camera included with this system has 18 infrared LEDs that allow you to see up to 40ft away in the dark. This system includes a compact receiver that easily connects to any television in your home or business using the included A/V cable. Ideal for monitoring entrances, backyards, valuables and employees, this PHOENIX 301 system can be used in any situation you need.
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