Review on Amcrest 1080p ProHD 16 Channel DVR Security Camera System with Pre-Installed 2TB HDD - Analog & Amcrest IP Cameras Compatible (AMDV108116-2TB) by Michael Mayes

About two weeks ago I bought a 16 channel Amcrest Pro HD without a hard drive to replace a DVR left by the last homeowner. Setup: Installation was fairly easy, although the ports on the back feel a bit cramped for each camera, making it difficult to plug in and latch. I found that if I wanted to remove the connection from, say, channel 5, I had to remove the surrounding cameras to make it easier to unplug. - There is no power switch, so the device turns on as soon as it is plugged in. Once activated, programming was a breeze. The DVR will walk you through the process step by step and you can follow the instructions in the printed manual if needed. This doesn't work with my old Dell desktop flat screen monitor which is probably about 10 years old so I bought the Scepter monitor for about $70. Clear image. I use a VGA cable, but I also have an option for HDMI. This unit did NOT come with a hard drive, so I installed a Purple 3TB 3.5 hard drive. There seems to be enough space on the hard drive, but I haven't had much time to see how long it's been recording. Installation was easy, remove the cover of the DVR and screw in the hard drive, attach the two connectors and replace the cover. motion detection. Like most DVRs, this Amcrest has motion detection. It was easy for me to set recording locations, for example one of my front cameras captures part of the roadway, I could draw the motion detection area as a front yard and driveway to exclude the street. Now my phone sends me push notifications through the app when someone is in my yard, not every passing motorist bringing me to the app. - I use an iPhone so I downloaded Amcrest View Lite. This is a free app. In the app you click on the device manager and during setup you can scan the QR code sticker on the dash cam or scan the QR code from the computer monitor. After that, your dash cam will be connected to your phone app. Monitoring is free and easy. I can go back and watch videos from my DVR directly on my phone over Wi-Fi or LTE. My motion detection also allows me to receive push notifications. So if someone is on my property, my phone notifies me with a banner. By clicking on the banner, I set it up to show me a video clip of what triggered it, and it does exactly that! - Besides the DVR, the free app can also connect to my internal Amcrest 1080P PTZ camera. I can view and pan/tilt the camera right from the app. Overall, this is a great, easy-to-setup device, even if you have minimal knowledge of dash cams. I think the clarity could be better but it also suits the cameras you have and the settings. I won't hesitate to buy it again in the future and update as I discover more features I like or don't like.