Looking for a reliable surveillance camera system under $2000 for a restaurant. 6 dome cams 2MP or higher, NVR. They currently have system that constantly drops out on the app and are frustrated with it. Don't have the brand right now. Distributors I have access to are ADI, Avad and Snap. Just need a general idea right now for a brand that's not going to lock up a lot.

Also does it make sense to periodically do an automatic reboot on an NVR?

I've found the snap Luma to work well. I don't know about their visulent stuff. Are you sure the problem isn't with their internet or router?

We like Luma as well, but have also began to look into and try Angelcam cloud dvr service. I'm liking the idea of a cloud based dvr with SD cards in the cameras for backup if the internet goes down.

I talked to ADI design and the guy says all mobile apps eventually lock up. Just wanted to see if this was everyone's experience or if there's one product that sticks out. He was recommending a 2MP Hikevision system as a start.

I use Luma all the time and never have an issue. I am liking the Lilin stuff too

We use Hikvision without any issues.

Are they seriously trying to use an app on a cell phone to monitor cameras? We've got several systems in place and nobody gets serious about looking at what's going on without going to the DVR itself.

IC Realtime has been good. Dahua and HikVision, too.

Without a doubt, go to adi and get one of the hikvision kits. They are always on sale and super easy to install. Literally plug and play. Just plug the camera into whichever port you want on the NVR and that is what channel it will show as. No configuring for it to work. I use both ivms-4500 and Luma app with them. Both work great. PM me for pricing idea on the kits

Sorry for my ignorance - i usually sub-contract cameras to someone else but want to start doing them myself. I didn't know that the Luma app could be used with other brands. Are all apps interchangeable like this. Are these systems going to require dynamic dns?

Luma is Hikvision based so you can use Luma with Hikvision and Hikvision with Luma. They are essentially identical apps. I use Luma for my personal system and ivms-4500 for client systems for testing. This way I don't affect my personal system at all. Hik has their own ddns service, but I am not a fan. I have not found a way to label the cameras properly in the app when using their ddns service. I only used it once, so its possible that there is a way, maybe even an easy one, to accomplish this. With a third party DDNS service, the cameras named on the NVR pull into the app, so it is easy.

Yes, HikVision does require DDNS.


With any local device, there are 2 ways got get connected over WAN (Internet).

- Push service which established a virtual link. That requires a remote service (server) that keeps track of your recorders status, IP, etc.
App connects to the server, gets location of the recorder and connects you to the system. That's how C4 works (for example).

- The 2nd and more common way is using DDNS. Recorder, router or some other device pings WAN address and reports current WAN IP address to locator server. Your device points to that server, gets the actual IP address of your house, and connects to your house. Because your house only has 1 IP address, you use ports to direct traffic to different devices in your house. That's why router needs to know how/where to PORT FORWARD(ing).

It does not require DDNS. You can use the app via WAN IP address. The issue is if you do not have a static WAN IP, the IP can change without notice and you will not have access.

I just found out the current brand the restaurant owner is using is Geovision. What do you think of that brand compared to Hikvision? Is Geovision made by Hikvision? I've done a bit of reading and found out Hikvision is the OEM for many companies. I wonder what those companies are besides Luma, GE, Honeywell..etc...

You don't need a static WAN IP if you're using the HIK-CONNECT app. If you're using the IVMS-4500 app then you need to set up DDNS and Port Forwarding. I've done both on dozens of occasions without issue.

Again, you don't HAVE to setup ddns or HIK-Connect. You just have to setup port forwarding and then use the WAN IP in the app. Obviously this is not recommended as the WAN IP can change at any time. But it works and I prefer to set it up first using the WAN IP to test, then add DDNS settings.