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Home » DVR vs NVR: Which Video Recorder Is Better?

DVR vs NVR: Which Video Recorder Is Better?

What is the difference between DVR and NVR? Digital video recorder refers to a digital hard disk video recorder, or DVR for short, connected to an analog surveillance camera. And network video recorder refers to the network hard disk video recorder, referred to as NVR, which is connected to the network surveillance camera. So, which video recorder is better, DVR or NVR?

What is digital video recorder?

digital video recorder

DVR uses hard disk as the storage carrier of video stream, and converts the video stream output by analog camera into digital video stream storage. DVR has network function and can realize network transmission. DVR can work independently. It can store video streams and cooperate with monitor, keyboard and mouse to realize most common functions of video, such as: real-time browsing, history playback, control operation (RS485 mode) and alarm processing, etc. The video stream output by the analog camera is mainly standard definition, and the compression encoding method of the video stream is mainly H.264. DVR is currently on the verge of being phased out.

What is network video recorder?

network video recorder

NVR also uses hard disk as the storage carrier of video stream, and can only access network video equipment, such as: network camera, DVR, and can also access video server data. It is the third generation product in the development process of video surveillance and is based on the development of DVR. NVR is designed based on the network and has network functions to realize network transmission.

NVR can work independently. It can store video streams and cooperate with monitors, keyboards, and mice to realize most of the common functions of video, such as: real-time browsing, historical playback, control operations, and alarm processing. The NVR is connected to digital video streams, which is the mainstream equipment of the current video surveillance system. It can be compatible with standard definition video streams and high-definition video streams, and many of them can also be connected to 4K video streams. The compression encoding method of video streams supports H. 264 and H.265 methods.

What is the difference between DVR and NVR?

What is the difference between DVR and NVR?

1. The appearance of DVR and NVR is similar, but the interface is different.

Intuitively looking at the front of DVR and NVR, it is difficult to tell the difference between the two. But looking at the interfaces on the back of these two types of video recorders, you can quickly tell them apart. It is because there is a video interface on the back of DVR, and the interface is usually a BNC connector. Each interface means that an analog surveillance camera can be connected, which is very convenient to plug and play. However, there is no video interface on the back of NVR. If you want to realize the access of multiple surveillance cameras, you need a network switch to work with it.

2. The prices of DVR and NVR are different, and the market demand is different.

In terms of price, the price of digital hard disk video recorders does have certain advantages. According to inquiries on e-commerce websites, the price of some entry-level DVRs can be bought at around US$50. The prices of network hard disk video recorders that meet the same requirements are almost the same now, and the price gap between the two has narrowed. At present, in some different projects, NVR has become the first choice.

3. NVR wiring is simpler than DVR wiring

DVR has no advantage in price, and at the same time, in terms of integrated wiring, DVR is more obvious that it can’t do what it wants. If the user wants to add an analog surveillance camera, he needs to reproduce the wiring. It seems that the workload is not large, but the actual operation is not easy. However, NVR has a good performance in adding surveillance cameras. Network surveillance cameras can rely on existing cables to avoid the problem of repeated wiring. Just connect the network cable directly to the network switch, the operation is simple and convenient.

Since the cable of the analog surveillance camera is a 75Ω coaxial cable, limited by the distance, the digital hard disk video recorder can not meet the long-distance transmission. The cable type of the network camera is the network cable. When the project requires long-distance transmission, optical fiber transmission can be used. Optical fiber not only has strong anti-interference ability, but also has lower signal attenuation and higher security during transmission. So it is more suitable for relatively complex projects, such as: factories, schools, etc.

For DVR and NVR, data security has always been the focus.

video recorder project

Data security has always been the focus of security companies. For unencrypted data, there are large loopholes in the network transmission process. Does this mean that the data in the NVR is not safe? Security manufacturers use mechanisms such as AES code stream encryption and user permission non-assignment to ensure the security of the network transmission process, eliminate the hidden dangers of users’ inner security, and fundamentally eliminate data security loopholes.

In terms of system integration, the performance of the two is also very obvious. The DVR system is relatively closed, and it is difficult to integrate with other systems. Under the trend of the Internet of Things, it is obviously falling behind. The NVR system is relatively open. Under the condition of ensuring data security, it can easily realize data transmission with other systems through physical connection and matching the corresponding network protocol.

Judging from the current market situation, NVR is about to replace DVR, especially for users who have experienced the clarity of IP cameras, as long as they can deploy network cables in new projects, they will not use analog cameras, so it is a fact that DVRs have been quickly eliminated.

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