I'm a retired alarm/CCTV industry professional that upgraded my own home video system to the TIGERSECU 16-channel DVR (Digital Video Recording system) from an older system that was produced by the sister company of the one that I worked for. What an AWESOME system! The DVR is loaded with features that greatly enhances its desirability and usability and at a price that makes it an excellent value for the money. Some of those features include:
"¢ In working with TigerSecu technical support on system "how-to's" and custom details, I've found them to be very knowledgeable and promptly responsive to inquiries and tech support contacts.
"¢ The TigerSecu DVR is easy to set-up right out of the box.
"¢ The DVR has three output connections for HDMI, VGA PC monitor and composite video all of which can be used simultaneously if desired.
"¢ There's a free application you can download that's easy to setup and use on PCs or laptops to view, operate and control the system on your local home network or remotely via the internet.
"¢ There's also a free application from the app store to view and control the system from your smartphone (IOS or Android) and tablets.
"¢ I've used all three local monitors as well as the IOS app on my phone and tablet and also the PC-based application and found them easy to use with great video quality and packed with features"”a really thoughtful design.
"¢ Reasonable internet security features exist to protect the system from unauthorized remote access but, as with most systems, you are STRONGLY advised to change the preset default logon password when you set-up the system.
"¢ For smartphones and tablets, you can use your device to snap a picture of your system's unique QR code as displayed in a menu option on any of the local displays. That process identifies and configures your remote device to your own system making it ready to view and operate without having to type the unique system ID"” a really straight-forward set-up. Alternatively, you CAN enter the system's ID by typing it into the device set-up screen.
"¢ On-screen menus can be activated with a mouse click and offer all of the system's features, settings, playback options and configuration in a logically organized selection menu structure.
The smartphone apps provide similar access to features via touchscreen displays.
"¢ You may record audio input for 4 of the 8 or 16 cameras (depending on the model you buy). Note that you need to purchase inexpensive MICs and cabling separately from virtually any source including Amazon.
"¢ This system supports many different classes of cameras from the oldest black and white minimal quality analog models of the 90's to the newest high definition cameras formats and resolution qualities. Newer IP (LAN/NETWORKED cameras) are also supported. Check out the system specs for compatible models or check with tech support for further details.
"¢ The DVR supports both time-of-day schedules for continuous recordings of selected (or all) cameras as well as time-of-day (or continuous) event recording when motion is detected within a camera's view. The system allows you to specify the exact areas within the camera's view for where motion should automatically trigger recording from an overlaid grid across the picture of 20 x 11 areas dividing the view into 220 squares that you can turn ON or OFF with the included mouse to very specifically select motion-sensitive areas. Each camera's motion detection area also allows for a sensitivity setting from 1% to 100% to determine how much change within those detection areas need occur to trigger recording.
"¢ An added option allows motion triggering from one camera to automatically and additionally trigger recording of a second camera even though that secondary camera has not yet been triggered by motion in its own view. This is great for two cameras that overlap the same area or that point in opposite directions in portions of the same location.
"¢ The user can configure and select pre-triggering and post-triggering times to have the system include recording a camera's view of any events shortly BEFORE motion is detected and/or AFTER motion triggering has stopped when recording activity with a camera's view.
"¢ The system supports sounding a built-in buzzer which can be optioned to sound locally at the DVR when motion is triggered in one or more specific cameras.
"¢ Playback of recordings is easy from any screen or device. System memory notes which recordings occurred per scheduling and which were triggered by motion. You can select a date from the on-screen calendar for either or both activities types and then from a timeline display and playback recordings in actual time or at speeds of 4x, 8x, 16x and 32x forward or backward or even at a single frame step at a time. The 24-hour timeline has color-coded sections to show when recorded events occurred. During playback, the system will advance through the recorded segments automatically and display the actual time of each recording.
"¢ There are options to allow the user to select the exact segments of the video they want to capture for export to a thumb drive including trimming the leading and trailing portion of the recording to grab just the desired result. Users can also take a "snapshot" of any specific frame on the screen to export as a still image.
"¢ Camera settings allow you to adjust picture brightness, contrast, color saturation and hue for each camera to maximize that camera to its environmental lighting and the physical content at its location.
"¢ Digital zoom feature allows for close inspection and expansion of any portion of a live or recorded camera.
"¢ The user may "name" each camera's view and select whether and where the name and optional time and date is located on the recorded view of each camera.
"¢ In addition to a master user's "Admin" log-on, the system supports up to ten user's logon names and passwords. Each user's individual permissions can be set for both local system use and/or remote internet logon insofar and what cameras they may view, which settings (if any) they can modify, and which system features they can access.
"¢ The system supports remote pan/tilt/physical zoom capabilities for a number of compatible cameras via a 2-wire RS-485 interface. I haven't tested this feature as all my cameras are "fixed-view" but the menu options look good. There are provisions to configure a "video tour" for each PTZ camera insofar as pre-set views, the duration of each and so on.
"¢ The system supports notifying one or more email accounts when motion triggering of a camera occurs and/or if video from a camera is lost. If your smart phone supports TEXT message via an email address for your phone number (like mine does) you can receive notices as real-time text messaging.
"¢ Additionally, the system can be configured to send push-notifications directly to its own smartphone app also for remote notification of events when they occur.
"¢ There are a rich host of views that can be used for local or remote viewing which include full-screen mode of a single camera; 2x2 (quad view), 3x3 (nine camera) and 4x4 (sixteen camera if your DVR model supports 16 cameras.) The system also allows for cycling through individual or multi-view modes. Additionally, the system allows for picture-within-picture configurations.
"¢ Each screen of multiple views (2x2, 3x3, PIP, etc.) can be customized by selecting which individual cameras are displayed on the multi-screen view.
"¢ Once you've configured your system settings and options, (or as you adjust and set them up) the configuration can be stored as a back-up configuration image on a local thumb drive or at a specified location of your PC when you're using the PC application. These settings can then be restored at a later time if needed or desired.
"¢ Note that the current USB connections for a mouse and thumb drive are on the back of the DVR so, depending on where & how you locate your system, you might wish to purchase a 3-feet USB extension cable for a thumb drive in front of the unit if you desire to do so.
"¢ The system includes a customized IR remote control that places virtually all functions, features and view capabilities right in your hand. I've added an inexpensive IR relay unit to be able to control those functions from an adjacent room that has its own monitor screen.
"¢ There are a number of other features and options I haven't mentioned. The instruction manual (which you can also view on-screen of a PC or laptop as a .pdf) is helpful and well-illustrated but not as quite as detailed as I'd like. I understand that it's currently being updated based on customer feedback and suggestions with newer copies available via free download. Until that's complete, the tech support team is well-versed in providing user assistance with the details and "how-to's" of the system.

As an alarm industry & CCTV professional, I am highly impressed with all the features of the TigerSecu system and fully recommend it as an excellent product, especially for its price.
Dave P, Irvine CA

I am moving from D1 resolution Geovision PC based CCTV, used it for 13 years, rest in peace my friend. Bought this DVR based on user reviews, 16 camera, 2 HHD capable, no fan, BNC cable, tech support. I have existing BNC cables, some non coax, D1 cameras were happy with any cable. I found that moving to 1080P to 5MP cameras, some cameras would have poor day and night image, thinking its the camera, for me not so, ran new RG59 cable with power, image now clear as camera resolution states. Found out this DVR supports 5MP, be warned it lowers the frame rate to achieve it. My 5MP colorvue cameras runs @ 9 to 11 FPS and has good day vision recorded playback. But, the night vision, (night colorvue uses white LED, not IR), motion with people or objects is blurred on recorded playback, because of the low frame rate, so, backed cameras off with on screen camera menu thru PTZ UTC-TVI to 4MP@20FPS, night recorded video now viewable. All this is a learning curve, worth learning. For me, anything less than 20FPS is needed for night vision recording weather its IR or white LED cameras. The DVR interface has right click shortcut menu bar takes you to system pages. I have learned the system and feel its user friendly. I added 2nd HDD@4TB not expensive. Record on motion works, to save HDD space. I bought the DVR only, to buy and try different brands/resolution/IRvsLED cameras. From my experience, I have bought dozens of cameras over the years, most cameras will work fine to great at day vision, night vision is a spin the wheel. No camera description is 100% accurate, placing of camera matters, affects the most important recorded video, the night vision. I have found cheaper IR cameras had better IR LED distance and recorded image clarity than higher price ones. I try em, pick the better to best ones, return the rest. I have to say, the Tigersecu 1080P IR dome and bullet impressed me and put 4 into use with this DVR. They have a 5MP bullet IR camera, most likely will work at a lower frame rate with this DVR, but its that IR night vision I want to see. If it as good as the 1080P IR cameras, its a keeper. My camera price points are $50 or less, so, very pricey cameras might out do these. Tech support has responded to my emails in a very timely manner. Explains in detail an answer to my question or questions. Also, the internet is vast, there's an answer somewhere. The future for the home owner CCTV is DNR and IP. That 5MP vs 4K video(WOW), new cables, new equipment. As a note, heat kills electronics, this DVR has no fan, uses heatsink, DVR boards appear to be so simplified these days, with a CPU and a few IC's generating less heat, I would allow for air drafting from rising heat from DVR. I took an extra 12 volt CCTV power supply and attached it to a PC fan(a quiet one) and aimed it at the DVR vents, hopefully extending life of the DVR. If I can, I will update results of the purchase of Tigersecu 5MP bullet IR camera. This DVR so far, has never had a software freeze, where you have to reboot the system. Its does have a reboot feature to schedule it if needed. Remote viewing so far, has always worked, on android, ipad and PC. The PC based viewing app(a small exe file downloaded from Tigersecu web site, does not install into any directory. Just double click each time to use it.) is standalone not browser, and has fewer features. Everything is set up thru a unique ID assigned to the DVR, QR code is also used. Once you copy or type that ID into text and put it into an email, copy paste makes it easier to setup the apps in your devices. Has good instructions included. I purchased a 4K monitor to use with this DVR, makes images clearer since I am above 1080P on some cameras.

You've heard it before "I don't write reviews" and you will hear it from me too. I don't write reviews mainly because we all know most are fake or bribes from the product seller/company.
I truly hope you believe what I'm saying because it's 100% true and from me.
I had a older security camera system that required port forwarding and honestly I never could figure out how to set it up where I could view cameras from my phone when away from home. All I could do is view it from the connected monitor which works fine while your at home.
After researching and looking at a dozen different brands and reading reviews it seemed like Tiger was the best. If your reading this then you've seen all the others and know they all talk about how good the product is and how awesome the support is. Well, let me tell you they are right.
First, I bought the 16 channel but I honestly don't think it matters because I'm certain all of them are the same high quality. I got it quick and it was about a week before I had time to set it up.
I was afraid it would take a few hours but oh was I wrong. It took longer to unbox it then setting it up. Believe me, they box it right.
It's pretty basic and the steps are right inside the manual they send. Seriously, just a few clicks of the mouse and your done.
The only issue I had was I was using a very old monitor and the default resolution setting made my screen black. I sent a email to customer support and within 15 minutes I had a reply with steps on fixing it. 2 minutes later it was fixed and up and running.
This is how it should be...great products, affordable price and outstanding customer support.
Tiger has a loyal customer in me for life and if your debating on a new dvr or cameras, stop wasting time and just order...you'll thank me later right after you thank them...

Needed help getting everything online. Still having issues getting it on some of the phones.

hooked up to qsee cameras and worked great so far