Like any other Digital Video Reorder (DVR), a 16 channel digital video recorder uses a computer hard drive to compress and store video images using various compression techniques. (Incidentally, “16 channel” means the DVR can work with up to 16 cameras simultaneously.)

The compression techniques include JPEG, MPEG, Wavelet and a host of proprietary methods. Images can be stored at a rate of just a few frames per second (fps) to as many as 400fps depending on the software features offered by the manufacturer. This is the latest in CCTV DVR Video Surveillance technology, eliminating the use of tape recorders.