Samsung SHR-1040 Digital Video Security System DVR-4 Channel up to 160GB Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm a new do-it-yourselfer (DIY) when it comes to surveillance systems, but have learned a great deal over the two weeks that I owned the Samsung SHR-1040K.I wish to share my experiences and impressions of the system.The SHR-1040 is a compact DVR unit designed for 4-channel surveillance containing a built-in a 160GB hard drive (called an HDD) and remote control.The 1040K adds a complement of four Samsung cameras (2 daylight and 2 day/night) with 60 ft of cable for each.

PROS
Low cost (my complete system cost just over $400) combined with a built-in 160GB drive, and remote, and large number of connectivity options are the chief advantages of this system.The back of the unit is especially nice:containing BNC connections along with Samsung's usual RJ-11 connections for each camera channel, and a VGA port for connecting that old monitor you might have laying around the house (much nicer than a TV set in my view).VGA ports are harder and harder to find, as many manufacturers are going to networkable DVR devices (personally, I have no need for this feature at present).

The DVR uses good file compression technology so you can record hundreds of hours, and it can be done on one channel at higher resolution, or all four channels at once ("quad" recording) at a lower resolution.Has built-in motion detection algorithm that can be set to low, normal, or high sensitivity (but for all connected cameras, not for specific cameras, a disadvantage).

Samsung uses modular RJ-11 cable (somewhere between phone line and RJ-45 for networking) to connect to its cameras.Quite nice, since the DVR unit actually powers the camera and captures its signal.But there are also some cons to this arrangement (see below).

CONS - DVR UNIT
I discovered several disadvantages with this unit.The most important is an occasional tendency for the unit to simply quit running (power on, but not responding/recording camera inputs).Samsung customer service was singularly unhelpful, but at least one other reviewer has reported this problem.Strangely, there are a lot of refurbished units on the market, which suggest to me some kind of product design or manufacturing QA/QC problem.Bottom line:I'm uncertain as to whether this is a reliable unit, when reliability is absolutely paramount in a security situation.

Substantial lag between remote control and response of the DVR unit.

As the HDD becomes full, search times are longer and longer (so much so that it was worthwhile getting a cup of tea and returning to see search results).It can be rewritten, by the way.

Even though it's obvious the user's manual wasn't written by a native English speaker, this would be forgivable were it not that it's the most poorly organized and written (in any language) set of instructions that I've encountered in years.It is not at all oriented to DIY customers.

CONS - CAMERAS
The two standard daylight cameras SOC-C120 that come with the complete kit contain microphones (most useful if only one camera is recording in real-time mode), and a sensor port for additional stuff.They're plastic, and have mediocre resolution of 330 lines with a ¼" super HAD CCD.In actual practice, I found them to be reasonably sharp in daylight and after dark when halogen motion sensitive light illuminated the area. If you need to replace this camera, you'll find it overpriced on the open market, and that the RJ-11 cabling that supports it (it does not have an RCA or BNC connector) is used by very few other (overpriced) cameras.Best, in my view, to stay with cameras with BNC or similar standard connectors.

The two plastic day/night SOC-N120 cameras that come with the complete kit have OK specifications (again a ¼" super HAD CCD offering 330 lines resolution) with 11 IR LEDs and microphone, but in actual practice are pathetic.During daylight hours, they are much less sharp than the standard SOC-C120 cameras, and at night, pictures are poorly lit and grainy.The IR LEDs are much dimmer than those on a Swann Maxi Day/Night camera I purchased, and light less than 20 feet.I would only use them if you have a space of about 10 to 15 feet to monitor--and a little background lighting would help.Again, on the open market, they're expensive, and the RJ-11 cabling narrows your options if you choose to use it.

I replaced one of the Samsung cameras with the higher resolution Swann day/night camera using a BNC connection in place of the RJ-11 channel connection.I found 100 feet of BNC cable with power connection combined for $20 at a local electronics store (50 feet can be had for $15).It gives superior resolution day and night both in "live" viewing and when recording.The Samsung DVR unit was able to detect motion with no trouble.

NOTES
I've discovered that a number of DVR and camera kits aimed at the DIY market pair low resolution (330 lines) cameras with DVR units. My thought is to mix and match, much like an entertainment system.It's desirable to get higher resolution (> 400 lines) cameras and combine them with a reliable DVR system.The Swann Maxi seems a good value for day/night monitoring of 30 to 40 feet (it also has a highly regarded Sony CCD).I'm looking at other cameras, and will be evaluating a Lorex DVR shortly.

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Product Description:
Get up to 14,000 hours of recording time on the Samsung SHR-1040. Use the convenient remote to record or watch playbacks. Secure your property small or large with this easy to use unit. Event Recroding or Motion Detection Function. Rela Time Display and Real Time Recording (120 ips).4 Channel Video/Audio Input. 2 BNC/2 RCA Output/1 VGA Output(Compatible with most TV and PC monitors). High Resolution with MPEG4 Compression.

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