Yeah, the number of channels out from each DVR is exactly the concern I have using DVRs to convert HD-TVI, but since you have hands-on experience, you're giving me exactly what I was hoping to learn. I really appreciate you helping me
If I'm hearing you correctly, some DVRs have a single output feed, others have multiple - some even as many as it has camera inputs. Is that right?
Amcrest 16CH HD-TVI DVR can be used between the camera and the NVR as an HD-TVI feed decoder/transceiver:
(diagram) Old HD-TVI BNC Camera --> Amcrest 16CH DVR ==> New Amcrest (n_CHs?) NVR --> TV
Re: the BNC to IP camera converter is marketed as being like a single-channel DVR used as a decoder. But we have a couple 32-channel Hikvision DVRs (7332-HGHI IIRC) - the DVRs show up as either 4 or 8 channel ONVIF devices (I remember it's >=4) when configuring cameras on Milestone, for example.
I'd rather have a 1-to-1 feed for each BNC camera, but yep, like you said, cost - if an 8-Ch Zosi DVR w/NO HDD is $50 on eBay, and it outputs at least 4-Channels independently, that's still $70 cheaper than the asking price of those $30 single-channel BNC to IP camera converters ($120 for 4 converters at $30/ea). If it outputs all 8 channels as individual feeds, that's $190 less: I figure eight BNC/IP cam converters is 8 x $30 = $240, minus -$50 for cost of 1 DVR, so difference is $190.
Still goddamn $150 at least for 3 DVRs, assuming the Hikvision would be the 4th one feeding 8-Ch to Zoneminder or Frigate or something, but I guess $150 is still cheaper than buying even 1 single new camera --
Explanation: We are done fkn with cheap cameras after seeing the difference between Andy's cams and the TVI ones we were buying originally, so 4-5 years ago when we started buying from him, we decided will only buy straight from Andy whatever tf his best sht is at the time. That means $150+, as high as $250-$275 historically. But, even though an IP cam with 1/1.8mm sensor or larger is basically invaluable compared to cheaper options, we still need an area covered by those 32 cheap Hikvision BNC cameras. I think would still take about 8-12 of them, so perhaps $2,000-3,000. Not real eager to shell that all out at one time.
But anyway, do you have any model numbers of the DVRs you have that worked best for using as a "TVI converter" for your NVR?
Do you think it made any difference your TVI DVR and your NVR are both Amcrest-branded? (did I read that right?)
Is there anything else you had to do, like downsampling (e.g. 1080p to 720p) or reducing frame rate (e.g. turning 30fps down to 15fps) What kind of results did you get, do the cameras look anything like your IP cams, or is it crazy obvious when you see a side-by-side?
We've got Wyze cams all over the property, too, so 1080p/8-15fps is about the standard, until you get to the 5x 8MP Dahua Color 4K-X bullets and 3x 8MP some I forget the name (a 2020 varifocal pandemic special from Andy's amazon store)
OK that's lots of words. Thanks again for getting back to me, have a good one.