| Defender SN300-4CH-001 User-Friendly Web-Ready DVR Security System with 4 Indoor/Outdoor Night-Vision Surveillance Cameras (Black) | 
| Brand: Defender
Category: Photography
List Price: $639.99
Buy New: $399.99
as of 9/9/2010 06:10 CDT details
You Save: $240.00 (38%)
New (3) from $399.99
Seller: ShopTronics
Rating:  25 reviews
Sales Rank: 2,374
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 14
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 9 x 1.8
MPN: SN300-4CH-001
Model: SN300-4CH-001
UPC: 871363009142
EAN: 0871363009142
ASIN: B002TLSW9O
Promotion: Save $9.99 when you spend $499.99 or more on Qualifying Items offered by ShopTronics. Enter code B7BZWTGY at checkout. Terms and Conditions
Promotion: Data not available Terms and Conditions
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Do-it-yourself system allows you to set up and monitor your property without the need for a professional installer | | • | Record over 2 years of video footage on the built-in 500GB hard drive | | • | Transfer recorded footage directly to your computer using the included USB cable | | • | View video online with no service fees from any computer in the world | | • | 24/7 lifetime live customer support is available through phone, email, and live web chat both before and after you buy |
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Product Description
Protect your hard-earned possessions, assets, family and business; know who has been on your property; rid yourself of uneasiness when you travel on vacation or business. The SN300-4CH-001 is a user friendly, hassle-free security system that you can setup yourself. The DVR's built-in 500GB hard drive can record over 2 years of continuous video. Enjoy the convenience of being able to view your footage online or on a TV. Access your DVR's live or recorded video on any computer in the world by using the Internet. Check in on your property easily and never miss a moment. This DVR is loaded with features that will help keep your property safe and secure. The SN300-4CH-001 is an effective and simple solution for protecting your property.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
 The SN-300 4ch-001 DVR Security System *Just what I needed*! December 9, 2009
J. R. Barrett
26 out of 26 found this review helpful
I replaced my 15 year old VCR based Black and White security system with the Defender SN-300 color Security system with 4 Nightvision cameras for my small retail business. In the past, it was difficult to see a small 9" quad screen in B/W. Now I have a 19" color monitor hooked to the Defender DVR and the difference is huge. I really like the ability to switch from quad view to one camera for monitoring and playback then back to quad again. The picture is not HD quality, but is VERY, VERY good and clear. The DVR in highest quality will record 7-10 days of monitoring only. I haven't tried the low quality setting, but I am sure the DVR would record much, much more with the 500GB drive in the low quality setting! The nightvision cameras are a must and light my office well for recording. That was a huge bonus. The setup is easy and the menus also are easy to use. The networking is a little more of a challenge, but am working through this for watching the store from home. All in all, you can't beat the system for the money.
Easy to set up, good recording in low light and the dark May 22, 2010
Bukkene Bruse (Iowa)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This product is being primarily marketed on the strengths of its ease of setup, and it is indeed completely trivial to connect the cameras to the DVR and the DVR to a television. In this regard the system delivers.
The form factor of the DVR is quite compact, and the cameras are small as well, only slightly larger than the old-style logitech ball webcams.
The cameras record nicely, even in the dark. The infrared images are like those from infrared 35mm film ([...]), not the more widely known heat fields that night vision goggles render that render no detail.
The only issue I have is with the premise of easy setup. You still need to run the camera wires, which dwarfs the amount of work and hassle needed to set up the electronics. For many people this requires professional help -- they give you a number to call if you want it, and supposedly they'll install anywhere in the U.S. But then the ease of setup becomes moot.
Defender Security System July 14, 2010
Basil MacDougal (The Corner of My Room)
I was SO happy to get this system! There are a couple of issues that made me want to get this for my home. First, someone stole my van right out of my driveway last year. Someone has also broken into my other car and attempted to steal it. Having a security system like this in place would, I think, deter someone from trying to steal and/or help catch them if they do take something. I really think just having the cameras in place would be enough to stop them.
The second issue is that I have a 15 year old who has been tempted to try to sneak out of the house at night. Now, with cameras on constantly in the front and rear of our house (and we have 2 dogs that yap constantly inside the house) I feel he will not be attempting to sneak out anytime soon. :)
Hook up of the system was a breeze. The instructions were very clear and I had no trouble at all. Running the wires through our attic was not hard although it was time consuming. I was tempted to call a service person (the company can recommend some for you). But, I'm a do-it-yourselfer and it really wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. It's always a little intimidating to try something new. However, like I said, it turned out to be very simple.
The picture quality is great and I enjoy watching the video from my computer (located in my office in the back of our house). I can clearly see if anyone is coming up to the house. This is great! I should have gotten one of these long ago.
defender security camera September 5, 2010
Anthony Mendola
easy hook up. picture quality good. you just have to remember to pull out the plug when you finish recording. the security camera I had before this I never shut it off after two years the system was no good.
 Good first impression, with just a few quibbles April 21, 2010
William W. Davis
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
QUICK SUMMARY: I setup this surveillance system (not really a security system) with minimal trouble. It's doing what it's supposed to do WITHOUT having to call Tech Support, without reading the owner's manual, and without scouring the Internet for solutions to problems -- I didn't encounter any serious issues, and the few minor installation bumps I encountered were easily remedied. Don't expect much from the "color" cameras - the default colors from them are abysmal (but for an inexpensive surveillance system, I'm willing to put up with lousy color). I'll wait a month before deciding whether or not recommend this system, but overall, I'm pleased with what I've seen so far.
What I LIKE:
- Well packaged and complete. It comes with a Quick Start guide and an owner's manual which is only slightly more informative. You can do the installation just from the Quick Start guide, and refer to the owner's manual only if you need to.
- It worked! It does what it says it will do -- without having to call Tech Support for assistance. Yea!!
- The color "high-res" cameras (which are NOT "high definition") are really quite small and unobstrusive.
- The cameras can be installed indoors or outdoors (but if outdoors, they must not be directly exposed to the elements, so says the owner's manual).
- Lots of configuration settings let you decide which cameras to turn on/off, how many frames-per-second they'll record (from 1 fps to 30 fps), resolution quality, when to record, and more. I haven't tried many of the features yet, like connecting to my home network, or recording only when the camera's sensor indicates something is moving within its narrow field-of-vision.
- If I really want to have this system professionally installed in my home, there's an option the manufacture provides to do just that. But I don't know what the cost of that would be.
- The "night vision" feature (for darkly lit rooms or outside at night within ~15 feet of the camera) works pretty good! I've never used "night vision" electronics before, and it's startling how clear someone's face can be seen using this feature.
- At night using available streetlight, you won't be able to read a license plate from the video that's recorded, but you will be able to see the model of a vehicle driving by.
What I Did **NOT** Like:
- The default colors from these "color" cameras are awful. The color green -- leaves on trees and the color of grass -- show up grayish-brownish-purpleish, NOT green, on both the live video feed and the corresponding recorded video. Strangely, the only time grass and leaves show up green is during a torrential downpour of rain. White and black show up well, orange shows up okay, but most other colors seem way, way off. You can improve the colors by manually adjusting the hue setting for each camera.
- Using the remote, sometimes pressing the "Menu" button (which should exit a screen and return to the main menu) instead caused the toggling of the configuration setting which was highlighted on the screen.
- The 1st camera I connected to the DVR did not work until I connected the 2nd camera, and then both cameras worked. I swapped the camera inputs on the DVR and still had an issue with one of the cameras. I suspect a suprisingly loose connection between the video cable and the DVR to be at fault. I stopped debugging the problem, though, once both cameras began working.
- There is no chart that explains what types of settings will lead to what kind of disk usage within the DVR. The retail box says it can record up to 2 years of video, but the fine print explains that is at the lowest frames-per-second (that is, 1 fps) and at the lowest video resolution possible. In other words, you're not going to get 2 years of recorded video from this unit! After a few days living with this system, I found that I could record a total of 20fps (among all 3 cameras combined, where all cameras are set to the highest quality resolution), and that uses about 7%/day of the hard disk space. So, in my installation, I'll get about two weeks' worth of recorded images before I begin overlaying the oldest images with newer images.
What Could Be BETTER:
- The camera's field-of-vision is very narrow, and there's no adjusting that. On the camera I installed outdoors, the field-of-vision 30 feet away is about the width of my double-wide driveway plus the mailbox.
- The zinc-plated hardware (wood screws) used to install the cameras will rust quickly outside, even if they're not directly exposed to the elements.
- There is no glitz when it comes to the menu user interface. It's like something out of 1980. Just white, block text...no icons, no graphics, no media bling at all.
- The tightening screw on the installed cameras (that applies pressure to the ball-and-joint of the stand) tends to keep the cameras from moving vertically out of place, but it still seems too easy to move the camera horizontally with a very light touch. I need to investigate this some more to ensure it's not "user error" though. The cameras themselves aren't moving out of place, but with a strong wind outside, I'll bet they would.
BACKGROUND: I already have a home monitoring system -- that is a much better deterrant than a 4-camera surveillance system. If all you're relying on is this system to protect your home or business, a burglar can easily haul off the Defender's DVR unit, leaving you empty-handed and without any video proof of the crime! But a surveillance system has many other uses and benefits. It's a great compliment to the measures you're already taking to secure your property. For instance, what ARE my kids doing while I'm not at home and they're home alone?!
INSTALLATION: As I said already, it really was easy. I mistakenly assumed I could connect the DVR to my computer and use my computer to do the setups. Afterall, the DVR has an Ethernet jack and it comes with an Ethernet cable. But you can't configure this DVR using your computer -- you *must* use either a TV or a monitor with an RCA-type video input. So, I moved the DVR from my computer desk over to the home theater armoire in the family room, and quickly connected it to my Samsung LCD TV. Right now, I've connected one camera atop my armoire, and another two outside my home overlooking my driveway, street, and walkway up to our front door.
Note for Northerners: The operating range for these cameras is 14°F ~ 140°F, so if you live in a part of the country that gets very cold in the wintertime (I don't!), this may be of concern to you if you plan on installing any of these cameras outdoors.
CONFIGURATION: Simple to do. Hit "Menu" on the remote control, and walk through each menu choice to make your selections. Hit "Menu" again after you make a configuration setting change, and "Menu" once more to update the settings on the DVR.
VIDEO QUALITY: Okay, don't expect to see anything approaching HD videos here! The live video feed is probably like TV's standard definition. The cameras struggle with most colors, like green, navy or dark blue. Other colors, like honey oak on our table, look good. Indoor lighting can get screwy if you're using a combination of different lighting equipment within the same camera's field-of-vision (for instance, my kitchen with fluorescent lighting in the foreground looks okay, but the background incandescent lighting in the dining room causes the walls to look faintly purple). By default, outside colors are awful. Tree leaves and the grass outside look gray-brown-purpleish using the camera's default settings. If you change the "hue" setting for cameras placed outdoors from the factory default 64% setting down to 40-50%, tree leaves and grass obtain an acceptable green color. Most everything tends to look washed out, but the objects you'll see in this video -- people or pets, for instance -- are easily recognizable. In other words, it's "good enough" to be useful, as you won't be using these video cameras to record baby's first steps! Recording at the "Highest" resolution setting won't be quite as good as the live video streaming. Lower resolution settings just make the recorded video look that much worse. My suggestion is to take some short video samples and see which resolution you can live with. Note: There is no audio feed coming from these cameras -- you only get video.
CONCLUSION: I've only had this system for less than a week, but I like it. It can help identify the goings-on around and inside my home. I'll continue to update this review until I decide whether I'll recommend it or not.
*** APRIL 27, 2010 UPDATE
Here's how this system helped solve a mystery for me. Yesterday, I left for work in a downpour. While backing out of my driveway, I ran over our garbage can which had been emptied by the city workers just a few minutes before! Why did I run over my garbage can? Did I not look behind me, before backing up? Did the city workers place the emptied trash can directly behind my vehicle? Later in the day, I watched the video and saw that the city workers had placed the emptied can at the corner of my driveway, but yesterday's storm blew over the can and pushed it directly behind my vehicle! There was no one to blame; it was a freak incident. The video explained exactly what happened. Pretty cool!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
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