Customer Reviews

Q-See QSD6204C4-250 4 Channel MPEG4 Network DVR with 250GB HDD and 4 Sony Sensor CCD Camera Kit

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is pricey, but compared to other products in this category it is not that bad. The DVR is the expensive part. I have to say that the DVR is feature-rich. Everything was plug-and-play. The mounting brackets for the cameras are top-notch. I was worried the wires would not be long enough for me to put cameras at each end of my house and still hook it up to the TV, but I had plenty of wire.

My two complaints are (1) the remote control sometimes has problems. Thankfully, I do not use the remote very often. What it does is sometimes activates the controls of a nearby button. For example, pressing play will sometimes make the video fast forward instead. It seems to be ok if you press the buttons slowly and hard, but you shouldn't have to do that. (2) This isn't specific to this item, but just a word of caution that I put some of the cameras indoors, looking outside through a window. At night, the infrared lights come on and reflect off the window so that there is no picture. Any IR light will reflect off glass, so the manufacturer is not to blame. However, I wish there were a way to turn off the IR lights. Instead I put electrical tape over the lights, and it works fine (with no IR of course). So you need to put the cameras outside, or cover the IR lights, or just not record in the dark.

In daylight the picture is excellent. I have two cameras recording at 20 fps, and two recording at 10 fps. You can split up the total of 60 fps anyway you want among the 4 cameras. Even though it records up to 60 fps, the real-time video is better than 20 fps in all cameras.

I have my settings set to the highest quality video, recording day and night, and I get about a week of history before it starts writing over the oldest video. Not bad!

Edit after owning it for a few months:

I should lower the rating to three stars. The main reason is that the device will sometimes randomly stop recording. The fix is easy, however, just turn it off and back on. The other thing is that the DVR is also pretty loud (just an annoyance).

I did some research and bought this unit knowing it might take a little configuring.The first thing I would say is if you compare other units that are hundreds of dollars more with this unit you get what you pay for.
I received the package via UPS and was concerned right away because it was packed very loosely. I set up the first unit and nothing...I couldn't get it to record. Q-Sees FAQ suggested re-seating the Hard drive so I have the unit 10 minutes and I am taking it apart. That did the trick however I had it recording on channel one, two and three but not four.
I tried to contact the tech support via the e-mail and phone however like another reviewer I did not have any luck. I did get through on the chat link on Q-Sees page. Here is the chat log:-)

Q-See CS: I can transfer you to tech support via chat so they can help you
Robert: thanks
Q-See CS: One moment please
Q-See TechSupport: Welcome to our real-time support chat. How can I help you today?
Robert: I called your land line about a unit I purchased last week . I was transferred to tech support and told the hold time was short, its over 40 minutes!
I purchased the QSD6204 and installed the unit this last week end
however the channel number 4 does not work
I tried different cameras and they all work, the dvr is bad
Q-See TechSupport: have you check MENU and make sure all camera are ON
Robert: yes
Q-See TechSupport: ok then you ned to get RMA, let me transfer you back to customer service
Robert: I can return it faster via amazon , I just wanted to be sure I didnt miss any steps
they will ship me a replacement and then I can ship back the bad part only
Q-See TechSupport: ok. yes i think it something to do with dvr.

(Back to Review)

So I contacted Amazon and they sent me a replacement the next day. Amazon is great about standing behind what they sell.
The 2nd unit was fine no problems, I already mounted the cameras and ran the Ethernet cable, set up the IP per instructions.
The reason I bought this unit was because it had the ability to monitor over the internet. Again I followed the instructions forwarded port 80 to the ip of the DVR and nothing. I couldnt get it to connect from Internet Explorer.
This time I had better luck with Q-Sees technical support, I sent them an e-mail per the support request form and they replied within the hour. I called the tech and he worked on my issue until it was resolved.
( The problem was I needed to use a different port 1025)
So in a quick summary.
I am happy with the unit. Everything works and both Q-see and Amazon I would use again. I also appreciate the Q-see tech support for there assistance.

This is a decent system for the price. Other systems that offer remote over the internet viewing can cost quite a bit more. DVR was easy to setup, but has very basic features. Cameras are actually pretty nice. They are Q-See brand, but have sony optics/lenses. This makes the video a little bit clearer. Cameras have decent video during the day. We use these indoors, so we haven't needed to test them in the dark yet.

Two big cons:
To use this with a PC monitor, you have to get a BNC to VGA converter, which can add at least 40 [..] to the cost.

I could never get the Remote viewing to work over the internet, even with Tech Support over the phone. They are wanting me to RMA the box. The remote viewing website uses a unsigned certificate, which requires some extra configuration in Internet Explorer. These instructions are not in the box, but are available in their FAQ section for the product on the website.

Had a heck of a time getting through to their tech support. Called 3 days in a row and used their form on the site...never got a call back. Called again on a 4th day and stayed on hold until someone picked up the phone. Hopefully you will not need help with yours.

Got cameras working with DVR within 5 minutes after running wires for cameras. More complicated in getting it working over the internet. Turns out I had a bad DVR unit, so Amazon exchanged it out since I was within my 30 days and the new DVR works just fine and as it should over the internet. Amazon was helpful with the issue. Q-See was not, in trying to get my system working. But I got it working. System says it can control recording by motion, however this unit doesn't come with needed parts to do that. Video quality both day and night are fine for the price. Would like the ability to zoom in and out with cameras, but these do not. Overall, good for the price of under $400.

The perfect DVR for any home. I bought one of these for my dads house and will be buying another for mine! Easy setup and can be connected to any standard TV or LCD with a component input (small yellow RCA input). Cameras are great cameras, with good night time performance.

We need make a upgrade via web and the product work perfect...and the internet survillance is very nice.

It is almost impossible to set it up. I had to contact tech support to get some help with it. You have to wait at least 20 minutes on the phone cue to get assistance, when I was finally able to reach a tech, he said that he needed my name and number to give me a call back in one or two hours. 20 mins in hold to get this type of information? IT IS THE WORST COMPANY I have dealt with. I am a computer tech, and it was hard for me to have it running. STAY AWAY.

JOSE, a+ CERTIFIED TECH, salt lake

ANTONLINE ARE CHEATERS
DON'T BUY FROM THIS COMPANY, THEY WILL NOT DELIVER THE PRODUCT AS DESCRIBED AND WILL GIVE YOU HARD TIME AND AMAZON WILL SUPPORT THE SELLER AND NOT YOU THE BUYER AND YOU WILL END UP FRUSTATED AND WILL BE FORCED TO KEEP THE ITEM AS IT WAS SENT WITHOUT ANY REGARD AT THE MONEY YOU PAID AND THE UNDER PRODUCT YOU WILL RECEIVE, TAKE MY ADVICE, ANTONLINE WILL NOT DELIVER THE PRODUCT AS IT WAS DESCRIBED.

This product is advertised with 4 Sony Brand Cameras Yet is shipped with Q-see Brand Cameras to some it might not matter but I expect what I pay for all attempts to contact anyone to complain has failed.

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT JIPPING THERE CUSTOMERS Camera price difference is A considerable $150.00 Difference