Review on REOLINK H.265 4K PoE Security Camera System: 4pcs Smart 📷 8MP Cameras with Person Vehicle Detection & 8CH NVR Recording - RLK8-820D4-A by Darrell Kiley

FYI I have been in IT for over two decades and have installed DVRs for security in the past. But I really believe that anyone who can follow simple instructions and fix minor problems should find this system very easy to install and use. This is the first NVR I've installed that provides POE for the cameras via a built-in switch. This greatly simplifies and cleans up the installation. Many of the issues I see in these reviews can be fixed with a simple fix. I didn't actually need to contact Reolink support, so I can't comment on how available or helpful they are. Just wanted to point out a few negative things I've seen in the posts and offer some advice/clarification. Disable cameras/channels. When running cables in ceilings and walls, stay away from electrical interference. Make sure network cables do not touch existing wiring or things like lighting fixtures. If possible, also avoid heating air ducts, for example. All of this can ruin any network traffic and especially 4K video streams. It can certainly be more difficult, especially if you've never wired before, but it's definitely worth the extra effort to properly route your cables. Complaints about video quality - I can confirm that this NVR absolutely records in 4K. The quality of the streams you watch on your phone/pc/monitor will be reduced to improve performance. Even the "Clear" setting doesn't match 4K. To access the full 4K video you need to download the recorded files. This can also be confusing because if your computer/device doesn't have a 4K GPU, you won't be able to play the files with your native media player. I installed this device in a remote office out of town and did not export files directly from the DVR but uploaded files remotely. These files are typically 1 to 3 GB in size. To edit or trim a video, you need a video editor that can work with 4K videos. If desired, you can also use it to remove the slight fish-eye effect of wide-angle lenses. Video clarity is excellent for a system in this price range. Capture near-photographic quality images when you have good lighting. All that said, if you don't have the resources to actually work with 4K video, I highly recommend setting your cameras to a more manageable resolution like 1080p. The files are smaller and can be processed by almost any modern computer. These settings can be changed and undone at any time. Complaints about outdated software - I'm not sure where that's coming from. The mobile apps are just as good if not better than those we've used and continue to use for more traditional DVRs. The Windows application works great too. I have no complaints. If you're having trouble watching channels, it's possible that the download speed at the NVR's location isn't good enough for the resolution settings you're using. them into the housing. You have to set the plate to the angle you want, but someone said it has to be perfect, and that's just not true. You'll run into problems if you're far away, but I reckon you can have 15-20 degrees of play either way. Overall I am impressed with the quality of this system. Great video quality, night vision works great. I have no complaints here either. I've just ordered two more cameras to add to our current setup. If anything changes and we start to have issues I will definitely be back to complete this review.