Security Camera DVR help

[billvyho]

Hi-

I installed a few cameras and a DVR system at my home. The sotware that came on the DVR is not very user friendly and seems to get hung up alot.

Is there any good free or cheap camera DVR software that I can get to replace what I have?

My next question is how would I load it onto the DVR? It came pre-loaded, but I had to buy and install the hard drive, so I'm not really sure where the software is actually loaded.

Its a Talos H.264 Standalone DVR

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[cpp]

Have you contacted the manufacture for support ?

 

[billvyho]

no. There are no contct numbers in the manual, and any web searches seem to only point to parts express sells. This forum was my next best choice

 

[Nestor]

The dvr software is probably firmware and not generally accessible unless the manufacturer provides some sort of software for a pc.

Contact Parts Express. They are probably your only hope at the moment.

If you are a build-it-yourself type, there are video cards that fit your desktop pc. I've used avermedia in the past and they work quite well. They even have an iPhone app!

 

[billvyho]

Thanks. I'll look into the pc card if I cant find a good firmware update.

 

[96cobra10101]

I install DVR's and cameras commercially. Most publicly available setups are not very good but that is how they keep cost down. If interested in a bulletproof system LMK. I can do cost plus shipping.

 

[highfigh]

Hi-

I installed a few cameras and a DVR system at my home. The sotware that came on the DVR is not very user friendly and seems to get hung up alot.

Is there any good free or cheap camera DVR software that I can get to replace what I have?

My next question is how would I load it onto the DVR? It came pre-loaded, but I had to buy and install the hard drive, so I'm not really sure where the software is actually loaded.

Its a Talos H.264 Standalone DVR

Thanks for any suggestions.

The software from someone else won't necessarily work on your DVR. One of the first things to do with a security DVR is a firmware update before using it.

When you posted "The software that came on the DVR is not very user friendly and seems to get hung up alot.", what, exactly, does that mean? Does it stop recording/playback? Are you trying to view the cameras from somewhere else and the video is choppy? Does it turn off? Make sure you don't have any elecrical power issues where the DVR is located. Also, if the video is choppy or slow when you view the cameras from another location, it usually means the internet connection speed is low, or not consistent.

DVRs need to be fully set up in order to run reliably and easily. Make sure the motion sensing area is set up correctly and the sensitivity isn't too high or low.

 

[billvyho]

My main issue with the software/firmware is that it seems like there are way too many settings, just to have a basic recording setup and be able to play back when needed. This is my first camera/dvr setup, so it may be normal and i was just expecting something else. Anyway, I worked my way through and got it set up how I wanted.

As for it getting hung up....I dont look at it too often, but the few times I did in the 6 months I had it, the date and time would always be off. This morning when I turned it on, the date was 10/11/2011, which makes no sense because I know it wasnt off for 20+ days at any time. Also, a few times when I went to log in, the language was reset Chinese. That makes it fun to hack thru the settings trying to remember where the language setting is when everything is in Chinese.

I have a request into parts express to try to get updated firmware.