From the outside front, this DVR looks no different than the Elite Series CIF resolution 8 channel DVR. But trust me, this DVR doesn't even compare to the Elite ICF resolution DVR! The difference in resolution between this and a CIF unit is like comparing the height of the Empire State Building to the height of your home. Each channel can handle up to 1080p resolution (2 megapixel cameras) at 30 frames per second and that is a lot of processing, but the machine seems to handle the workload with ease. I know these units are relatively new in the security camera industry and I personally think they will take off selling like hotcakes. One of the "beauties" of using an HD-SDI system is that you get the same resolution benefits of an IP megapixel network camera, but you can use pre-existing RG-59 coaxial cable from the DVR to the cameras. That means you can replace your cameras and DVR without the need for running new cable (like Cat5 Ethernet cable) or replacing the old. Additionally, the cameras aren't soaking up all your network bandwidth because they aren't operating directly on the network or Internet; they are sending their signals to the DVR on their own dedicated cables. Of course the DVR can connect to the Internet and provide access to the cameras through it so you still reap many of the benefits of a network system without the need for a network. For our DVR we also use two audio channels plus the bi-directional voice support and we also make use of some of the alarm connections as well. You could truly say that this is more like a security "center" more than a DVR. The DVR and the cameras are more expensive than typical analog camera systems, but nothing (other than IP megapixel network cameras) can match the quality of this DVR.

You know I've been wanting to upgrade my old security camera system for our store to a newer system, preferably an IP megapixel network system because I saw a demonstration a while back of how detailed and sharp their recordings are and loved it! However, I have a couple of issues that have kept me from making the transition, and luckily money wasn't one of them (I had prepared myself for the much greater cost of the new system). One issue, one that could be a main issue I guess, is that my store doesn't really have a "network." I have Internet service, but that is it. The second is that I am located in a relatively older business building that was pre-wired when it was built back in the 1970's for RG49 coaxial cable (I don't know if they even heard of Ethernet or CAT5E cable back then). Security Camera King's 8 Channel HD Series 1080p HD-SDI Realtime Security DVR is the solution to both of those issues. I don't have to have a network and my existing coaxial cable can be used (I just needed to use new power supplies). What a difference! There is no comparison; this just blows my old system right away. The DVR records 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second and does it with ease. And I don't have to mess with IP "configurations" and network protocols and all that other network related stuff. I just had to plug my DVR into my Internet, and that was it. The DVR is loaded with a wealth of features some of which are very useful and some of which I'll probably never even use. But it records a great resolution video, and even the second streaming video for the monitor display is at the resolution that my old system's recording resolution was at: D1! I'm just glad someone finally came up with this idea. As a final note, if you are like me and have upgraded from a much older system, make sure you get plenty of internal hard disk drive storage space because the 1080p resolution at realtime does use a lot more than one you were probably used to.