Your cameras are only as good as what records them. We set up, configure, and maintain NVR and DVR systems that reliably capture and store surveillance footage for your Long Island property.
The network video recorder or digital video recorder is the brain of your camera system. It processes video feeds, compresses footage, manages storage, and serves the remote viewing interface. We install NVRs and DVRs in secure, ventilated locations in your Long Island home or business. We configure recording schedules, resolution settings, motion detection parameters, and storage allocation for each camera. We also set up automatic overwrite policies so your system always has room for new footage while retaining critical recordings.
How long you can store recordings depends on the number of cameras, resolution, and hard drive capacity. We size your storage based on your needs. A typical 8-camera 1080p system with 4TB of storage retains about 30 days of continuous recording. 4K systems need more storage. We install surveillance-rated hard drives from Western Digital Purple and Seagate SkyHawk that are designed for 24/7 recording. When additional storage is needed, we add drives or configure network-attached storage for expanded capacity.
If your existing NVR or DVR is failing, outdated, or out of storage, we replace it with a modern unit that supports your current cameras and future expansion. We migrate your settings so the transition is seamless. Upgrades from older DVR systems to modern NVRs unlock better compression, higher resolution support, AI analytics, and improved remote access. For Long Island businesses replacing aging surveillance equipment, an NVR upgrade often eliminates the reliability issues that plague old systems.
A DVR connects to analog cameras via coaxial cable and processes video at the recorder. An NVR connects to IP cameras via network cable or WiFi, and each camera processes its own video before sending it to the recorder. NVRs offer higher resolution, more flexibility, and better remote access. Most new installations use NVRs. If you have an existing DVR system, we can advise whether upgrading to an NVR is worthwhile for your Long Island property. Call (516) 407-8111.
NVR setup as part of a new camera installation is included in the system price. Stand-alone NVR replacement or upgrade for an existing system costs $300 to $800 for the NVR unit plus $99 to $199 for configuration and migration. Hard drive installation is $100 to $200 per drive depending on capacity. We provide the total cost upfront after assessing your current system. Call (516) 407-8111 for a quote.
Storage duration depends on the number of cameras, resolution, and drive capacity. Typical examples: 8 cameras at 1080p with a 4TB drive stores about 30 days. 8 cameras at 4K with an 8TB drive stores about 25 days. 16 cameras at 1080p with 8TB stores about 30 days. We can extend retention by adding larger drives, using motion-only recording, or adding network storage. We size storage to meet your specific retention requirements.
Without protection, a power outage stops recording and can corrupt the hard drive. We strongly recommend installing a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) that keeps your NVR and cameras running during outages. A standard UPS provides 30-60 minutes of runtime, enough for most power interruptions on Long Island. For critical business surveillance, we install larger UPS systems with 2-4 hours of backup. UPS installation starts at $150 including the battery.