My name is Allen Spears. I have owned car washes for 26+ years and have been visiting this forum since about 97 or so. I am also the Chief Engineer at CarWashCameras.com. I haven't posted in a long time, but I read some of the topics from time to time.
Please keep in mind when purchasing a DVR, that you definitely get what you pay for. What you do not usually get when you buy a system from a reseller, is support. Good support is more valuable than the hardware.
Here are some things to consider if you are only looking at price (please look at specs too!):
- Tech Support will be needed when it comes time to get your DVR on the Internet and to set up viewing on your phone/iPad.
- Someone knowledgeable enough to log into your DVr and run Diagnostics, or simply to help you get the settings optimized, get motion detection and Resolution optimized, etc.
- Someone to provide regular firmware updates and feature additions.
- Remote viewing software updates and security vulnerability patches.
- A place to send the DVR to if it should need repairs or Warranty work.
Support is key. If you have good support, then in my opinion, you can buy just about any brand and be happy with it. But be sure and check the specs before you buy. Many of the DVR's out there will only record at 320 x 240 Rez, or will only record a few frames per second at higher Rez settings.
Hope this helps. Questions welcomed.