ANNKE 5MP Lite 16 Channel Security Video Recorder with AI Human/Vehicle Detection and 2TB Hard Drive, H.265+ 5-in-1 Hybrid DVR, Supports 16CH Analog and 2 IP Cameras for Home Business Surveillance

[General Overview]I bought this unit to replace a failed security DVR (different brand) that I got as part of a camera bundle kit. It's being used in a remote location that's not visited often, but has a 3Mbps DSL connection for live viewing. I needed something that could support 14 cameras, has a fair amount of local storage for historical review, and can send alerts on motion detection. This unit was a solid improvement over my original. It's been in service for about a week as of this review and I have no complaints. Check the Caveats section for things to keep in mind, but definitely consider this if you're in the market.[Details]The on-screen interface is modern and intuitive, so setup was quick and easy. Connecting the mobile app was easy as well, though setting up multiple users on the phone app is best done when you can work on it side-by-side, as there's some sharing/acknowledgement that needs to happen. If you happen to be on the same network, use a VPN, or open firewall ports to it, the web interface on the DVR is very good. I used a Windows PC for most of the config work and found it responsive and more easy to use than when connecting a screen directly. Video quality is very good through all available options, surprisingly even over that slow DSL connection. Looking through older video clips was a bit slow, but I don't expect to need to use that function often.[Working with Tech Support]The setup issue I mentioned above was related to sending email alerts. The config requirements were very standard and the Annke website had a clear guide available when using Gmail. No matter what I tried, I couldn't get past the email test successfully. I'd confirmed the settings, account info, and password time and time again but couldn't get it to send. I finally submitted a ticket on their website. Unfortunately my spam filter grabbed their response and delayed things for a few days. Once I found it, we worked back and forth testing and checking things but with no success. They finally recommended a remote session. Scheduling was easy, though available times were 9pm EST or later and about a week out. I'm assuming this is due to the support desk being located in a far different time zone. No issue there, just keep that in mind when you're scheduling. Once we got connected and worked through it, the problem appeared to be a simple password thing. I had confirmed many, many times that I was using the correct credentials, but changing to a new password solved it. I've worked through my fair share of tech support cases and this one was pretty good. Don't hesitate to open a case if you have a problem.[Caveats]-On my previous unit, I had configured motion detection alerts to FTP video clips to a cloud hosting provider. This product doesn't have an FTP option. That's 100% on me for not triple-checking the features list, not the product's fault. If anyone from Annke's checking, I'd suggest adding some form of cloud backup or a basic FTP/SFTP option in future releases. It would help in remote locations like mine.-If you're going to use email alerts and want to use a Gmail account, I'd first recommend setting up a fresh account for it. Don't piggy-back on a normal personal account you use day to day. Next, keep in mind that the there are limits to how many email you can send in a day via Gmail. If you have a particularly busy area, it may burn through that quickly and leave you with no alerts.-Spend some time tuning your motion sensitivity and what cameras you want to have send alerts, otherwise you'll be flooded with alerts and stop paying attention to them. This is true for any security setup, but this unit appeared to be more sensitive than my original out of the box.

Replaced another brand. Easy to set up and works great with app

Purchased this unit for the positive reviews and price, The first unit I received never even booted up, the second unit set up fine except it would never connect to the router and after several hours it quit working, the picture quality was good but I recommend using the lesser resolution if you don't have a monitor or TV to match it.Update! Although I returned both units I did like that I was able to edit the motion detection area, and I would recommend using separate power sources for the DVR and cameras, if you have issues I recommend contacting customer support, they are quick to respond and very helpful. I may consider trying their products in the future after a positive connection with them.

Works awesome for my camera unitsI’d recommend it to anyone

So Amazon sold me a customer returned product, that only contained half the items advertised. Of course Amazon didn't want to do the 30 day return, even though that would have been the right thing to do, and instead, denied me any assistance at all. I went to the company that provided the equipment and explained my situation. Get screwed over by Amazon, denied any help, forced to re-buy all the missing pieces, just to find out the hard drive was malfunctioning. I bought a second dvr. The hard drive was bad in that one. Amazon gets -5 stars and could really use some improvements in their customer service and corporate policy enforcement policies. Can't even follow through with something they offer. I requested to have it returned and exchanged, and still have proof of it, but they denied me, and sent me to the manufacturer. Communicated with them until they decided to fix the issue Amazon forced me to deal with. So they exchanged my cameras for the correct ones, helped troubleshoot all the problems and assist with diagnosing the dvr and hard drives. It just got solved today. April. Since April I've been dealing with this crap. Thanks for nothing Amazon. Packages getting stolen, and they I go to buy a home security system, and half my cameras get stolen off my porch because Amazon hires people who can't read, and even after filing a police report, they still refused to credit me for leaving my purchased products where I specifically instructed them to not leave them. What a crock of crap Amazon. No accountability, no customer service, no professionalism. Just profit over people. Annke on the other hand.........best company I've dealt with, ever. Like seriously. I can't brag on them enough. Patient, helpful, professional, caring, dedicated to establishing the resolution I deserved from the beginning. 5 stars Annke, 5 big stars!

I called customer service and they were very helpful. The product is great foe business. I can see from anywhere and it's a relieve to know that my business is secured. I want to thank Hugo for helping me with technical problem. Thank you.