Comparison Hikvision DS-7104NI-Q1/4P(C) vs Dahua NVR1A04-4P

The number of RCA analogue audio inputs provided in the design of the registrar.

Inputs of this type are used to connect the audio signal from analogue cameras capable of capturing sound, as well as from separately made microphones. At the same time, the number of such inputs can correspond to the number of BNC video inputs, which allows each analogue camera to be supplemented with sound. However, there are models that have only one RCA input with several BNC inputs.

The number of RCA analogue audio outputs provided in the design of the registrar.

This type of output is used primarily for audio output when viewing footage, in addition to the BNC and/or VGA output. Therefore, there are few such connectors in modern registrars — one, less often two (one each for BNC and VGA).

Maximum HDMI resolution.

The maximum image resolution that can be output via HDMI to the screen of the connected video equipment (monitor, TV, etc.). The HDMI output on the DVR allows you to stream Full HD, 2K or 4K images for high quality multi-screen images.

The maximum data transfer rate supported by the DVR's LAN ports.

Note that for simple tasks, a rather modest by modern standards speed of 100 Mbps is often enough. However, high bandwidth ( 1 Gbps) not only simplifies the transfer of large amounts of data, but also helps to reduce lags and improve the overall quality of communication; and modern technologies make it possible to provide support for gigabit LAN even in fairly simple and inexpensive registrars.

Of course, in order to use all the features of the LAN, it is necessary that the devices connected to such ports also support the appropriate speeds.

The maximum data stream in Mbit/s that the NVR is capable of processing when recording and displaying. The throughput parameter is specified as the maximum incoming/outgoing speed, or as the sum of incoming and outgoing streams (total throughput). It is calculated in such a way that the throughput exceeds the total flow of all IP cameras connected to the DVR, and another 25–30% is put in reserve for playing video or viewing it via network access.

Standards (codecs) used by the recorder to compress the recorded video.

This parameter is important when viewing recorded materials on another device — for example, a media centre, into which a "flash drive" with files from the recorder is inserted. For normal viewing, it is necessary that the player supports the appropriate codec — otherwise the video will be displayed with distortion or will not work at all. Technical details on various standards can be found in special sources.

Note that if you plan to view the materials on a computer, you can not pay much attention to this parameter: most modern operating systems have extensive built-in sets of codecs, and if you don’t have the right codec, you can easily find it on the Internet.

The maximum supported resolution of IP cameras with which the NVR is technically capable of working (primarily recording). With rare exceptions, devices record in maximum resolution from all connected IP cameras. However, the limiting factor here is bandwidth (see the relevant paragraph) – depending on the shooting conditions, it may not be enough.

High resolution allows you to get a more detailed image in which fine details are better visible. On the other hand, such videos take up large amounts of disk space, and their support significantly affects the cost of the device.

The largest total storage capacity with which the recorder is able to work correctly. By default, it is indicated only for internal media with a SATA interface (see above), however, in some models, data is also provided separately for external devices connected via eSATA.

Note that the limit on the total capacity follows from the fact that each individual port has its own limit on the capacity of the drive. In this case, the maximum capacity is distributed equally between the ports. This should be taken into account when choosing drives for the registrar: for example, in a 32 TB model with 8 SATA connectors, the limit for each connector will be 32/8 = 4 TB. This means that installing two internal 8 TB disks in such a registrar will not work, although their total capacity will be less than the maximum.

The maximum power that the DVR is capable of delivering per PoE output.

Such outputs are described in detail above; just briefly recall that they are Ethernet network ports, supplemented by the ability to power connected equipment directly over the LAN cable, without additional wires. As for the power of such a supply, it must correspond to the characteristics of the connected equipment; however, the term "compliant" may have different meanings depending on the PoE standard being used (see "PoE (output)").

So, if the registrar and the equipment work according to one of the active standards (802.3af, 802.3at, 802.3bt), the output power of the switch must not be lower than the power consumption of the connected equipment. At the same time, exceeding the output power is not scary — the described standards provide automatic adjustment, which allows the powered device to receive exactly as much power as needed, without overloading. But if the output is not powerful enough, it is obvious that it simply cannot provide effective work.

In turn, when using passive PoE, the output power of the power supply should ideally match the power consumption of the load as closely as possible. This is due to the fact that in such cases the power output produces a strictly defined power, with little or no matching and adjustment. And if the excess of a couple of watts, most powered devices are able to transfer more or less "calmly", then a more significant exces...s is fraught with overloads, overheating and equipment failure.

In conclusion, it should be said that if there are several PoE ports and they are used simultaneously, the available power supply per port can be noticeably less than when PoE is operating in only one connector. This point can be clarified by information on the total PoE power (see below) — this power is divided into all the ports involved. For example, if the switch has three PoE outputs, and the power per output is 60 W, then the total power can also be claimed at 60 W. Accordingly, when using PoE on all three outputs at once, the power on each of them will be less than 60/3 = 20 W. Technically, more advanced methods of power management are also possible — with "smart" power distribution depending on the needs of specific devices (relatively speaking, 30 W, 20 W and 10 W for the same total value of 60 W); but for a full guarantee, it is worth proceeding from the fact that all energy is divided equally.