Comments on: Q-See QSD004-160 4 Channel Motion Detection DVR with Pre-installed 160GB Hard Drive

By: Flippy Smith

Flippy Smith — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:45:19 +0000

I bought this same DVR (QSD004) separately with better cameras. DVR has very basic features. Neighbor got one with DOA remote, been trying to get new one from Q-See for a month. Here's the CONS:

1) Motion detection is a complete failure. At sens 2 it only records large vehicles, not people. At sens 1 (highest..make sense?) it records almost non-stop. Sens 9 would probably only record a nuclear blast.

2) Can't delete recordings...auto deletes old when full.

3) With less than 4 cameras, it cycles to unused camera screens even when disabled in options.

4) It resets to Quad view every time you exit menu, very annoying with 1-2 cameras.

5) FF and RW very slow when scanning hours of video.

6) Recording is disabled when playing back video.

7) No audio.

8) Scheduler is for ALL cameras, not each.

9) The 30fps is divided between ALL cameras. 4 camers=7fps each.

10) Changing date/time filter to find a certain day's recording is very unintuitive.

11) Menu navigation is very unintuitive.

That said, everything works except the motion detection which is totally unreliable and virtually useless. Q-See refuses to respond to me about a possible firmware upgrade or future update. Since both my neighbor and I haven't yet had success dealing with Q-See I'm starting to wonder if anyone works there.
Rating: 3 / 5

By: A. S. Beasley

A. S. Beasley — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:12:29 +0000

The DVR does all it is supposed to do. However, after a few days the record on detecting motion function became eratic or did not record at all. I liked it so much I returned for exchange. It is out of stock at amazon. But, I will await a replacement.
Rating: 3 / 5

By: Rick E. Lamming

Rick E. Lamming — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:38:18 +0000

Don't expect to get what is advertised. They make about 6 versions of this DVR, and it's pot luck as to which one you get, and what features it has...that said,
If you happen to have an incident, you'd have to turn the entire unit over to the police and MAYBE some of their techs can get a hard copy picture of the incident.
The one I bought will not download recorded video to a computer.
The software for your computer is worthless with a USB stick, it immediately shuts down upon reading it. So all you can do is watch what happens.
The manual's pictures could not be seen due to bad copying. I downloaded a manual from Q-See but it wasn't for the unit I was sent, even though it has the same model number. They don't have an on-line manual for my unit.
My unit will not stop recording from the front panel, you have to use the remote (which is also on the same freq as my TV remote so it does stuff when I use it, so I had to tape over the IR sensor when I'm not using it).

For the good part, it gives a nice picture and does record fairly decently. It takes forever to find anything that goes on but you can see clearly once you find it.
As other reviewers said, it's best if you have 4 cams going. It's fine for live surveillance, but...

You're better off looking for a better unit. I wouldn't recommend this if you think you may have to have video evidence of a crime.

Rating: 2 / 5

By: Vic

Vic — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:17:36 +0000

Great product for the price.

Unfortunately the whole process of viewing video is quite slow due to the fact that it only goes 3x fast when others usually offer a much faster speed.

I would definately recommend this product. Rating: 4 / 5