What is CCTV Video Recorder?
A CCTV (closed circuit television) video recorder is a critical component of a CCTV surveillance system. It is the device that captures and stores video footage from CCTV cameras and sensors for later retrieval and review.
There are a few different types of CCTV recorders:
- DVR (Digital Video Recorders) - Records analog CCTV camera footage in digital format. DVRs convert the analog signals to digital to enable compression and storage.
- NVR (Network Video Recorders) - Records IP/network camera footage. NVRs are connected directly to IP cameras and network rather than analog cabling.
- Hybrid DVRs - Support both analog and IP/network cameras. This allows gradual transition from analog to IP systems.
- Cloud/Hosted Recorders - Records footage in the cloud rather than a local storage device. Easy to access remotely but dependent on internet connection.
Key features that CCTV recorders typically offer include: remote viewing capability, email/text alerts based on motion detection, pan/tilt/zoom camera control, video search, backup over network, smartphone viewing apps, and 4K recording capacity on higher end models.
When selecting a CCTV recorder, some key factors to consider are the number of channels needed, storage capacity, video resolution, and whether analog or IP system. Getting the correct recorder for the surveillance system ensures seamless recording functionality.