The NVR is the DVR's modern successor: instead of coax feeds it receives already-digitised video over the network, and on most models the built-in PoE ports power each camera through the same cable that carries its video. One Cat5e/Cat6 run per camera, no separate power supplies, and higher resolutions than analog can carry.
An NVR is a small network appliance, so its health depends on the network around it: sensible IP addressing, enough PoE power budget for the cameras attached, and isolation from IP conflicts. Get those right and IP systems are extremely stable; get them wrong and cameras "randomly" drop offline in ways that frustrate owners for months.
Sizing matters twice: channel count for the cameras you will grow into (not just today's), and drive bays for the retention you actually need at the resolution you record.
Brands we fit and service
The nvr (network video recorder) market splits into hardware built for South African conditions and lookalikes that fail at the first hard season. These are the manufacturers we trust on our installations:
- Hikvision
- Dahua
- Uniview
- TP-Link VIGI
- Ubiquiti
See our brand guides for how these manufacturers compare.
When the nvr (network video recorder) goes wrong
These are the failures we're called to most often — each with its symptoms, causes and our fix on the dedicated problems page:
- NVR not detecting cameras — One or more IP cameras never appear in the channel list, or appear and vanish.
- PoE port not powering camera — A camera is dead on one NVR port but works on another; or several cameras drop when one more is added.
- NVR won't boot or boot-loops — The recorder restarts endlessly, freezes at the logo, or powers off at random.
- Lost administrator password — The NVR runs, but admin access is locked and nobody holds the credentials.
- Recording has stopped — Cameras stream live but playback has gaps or ends weeks ago.
Need this fixed or installed?
Our NVR Repairs service covers nvr (network video recorder) work — quoted upfront and backed by our 12-month workmanship warranty.