Customer reviews from defender-usa.com
Defender - 8-Channel, 4-Camera Wired 1080p 1TB DVR Surveillance System - Black/White
Average customer rating
4.7
(694 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 694 reviews
5 Stars
505
4 Stars
162
3 Stars
13
2 Stars
6
1 Star
8
97%of customers recommend this product.
(
639 out of
659)
Customer Reviews for Defender - 8-Channel, 4-Camera Wired 1080p 1TB DVR Surveillance System - Black/White
Customer Rating
4
Defender HD
on January 17, 2017
Posted by: hd1080
from Red Deer, AB, Canada
Gender:Male
Length of ownership:1 week
installed this HD system, wish the cables were longer and menu a bit intuitive, otherwise great system
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting defender-usa.com
Customer Rating
5
So Happy with this system!! Meets all our needs
on January 18, 2017
Posted by: Steveo
from Oklahoma, United States
Gender:Male
Length of ownership:1 month
I set up system this system on 12/21/16.
Before my purchase I shopped around and read many reviews on quite a number of different brand surveillance systems. I soon discovered that most of the complaints on many of the surveillance systems had to do with poor customer service response and long wait times. Before purchasing a Defender product I read the reviews and they were pretty favorable. I decided that I would go even a step further and place a call to customer service just to see how they handled customer complaints or calls. After a brief hold, I was connected to “Candice” a very professional and courteous person who answered all my questions about their product. My experience with this call sold me on this company. I purchased this system in late November and set it up on December 21st 2016. Shortly after ordering the system Defender sent me a follow up email which had links for me to review including YouTube links that had some great videos which were very helpful. I tested it out before installation by setting it up with all the cameras and the connections in my living room. This helped me prepare for the installation of the system and assured me that all the components were working. It also gave me a chance to become familiar with the system. I highly recommend reviewing the set-up and installation instructions both written and the video links on their site. Before installation of the cables I highly recommend that you draw a layout of your home, or the building you want to install the system on. Consider where you will mount your cameras well ahead of running any cables and where you place your DVR and monitor. One review recommended that you study and follow the instructions. That is excellent advice. I took that advice to heart and for me the result was, no set up problems, or operating issues, including the phone viewing app, or computer viewing link. The first time I had a good chance to view the system fully installed and set up on my 27” HD monitor with a HDMI connection I was amazed! Very clear video. I was also very pleased with the night vision. I chose the higher quality output video settings on the DVR during the final setup. Currently I am running just 4 cameras, but intend on expanding the cameras in the future. I am very glad that I got the 8 Channel and 8 camera system, because it expands my options for my home, parking, and shop. I can without hesitation recommend this system. My experience has been very favorable with the company and the products performance has exceeded my expectations. I am happily giving this review and would give the very same high recommendation even if I wasn’t offered another year of warranty if I wrote a review on their product. But, I am pleased that I can give a good review regardless of the added bonus incentive of being offered. I gave it only 4 stars for ease of installation which may not be entirely fair as it would have been just as challenging with any cabled system. Considering that, it probably deserves 5 stars in that department as well. Just keep in mind I am a detail guy and like to do it right. So I took care and extra time in the installation process.
I hope this is helpful and your experience is as positive as mine has been. By the way, my wife loves the new system!
Before my purchase I shopped around and read many reviews on quite a number of different brand surveillance systems. I soon discovered that most of the complaints on many of the surveillance systems had to do with poor customer service response and long wait times. Before purchasing a Defender product I read the reviews and they were pretty favorable. I decided that I would go even a step further and place a call to customer service just to see how they handled customer complaints or calls. After a brief hold, I was connected to “Candice” a very professional and courteous person who answered all my questions about their product. My experience with this call sold me on this company. I purchased this system in late November and set it up on December 21st 2016. Shortly after ordering the system Defender sent me a follow up email which had links for me to review including YouTube links that had some great videos which were very helpful. I tested it out before installation by setting it up with all the cameras and the connections in my living room. This helped me prepare for the installation of the system and assured me that all the components were working. It also gave me a chance to become familiar with the system. I highly recommend reviewing the set-up and installation instructions both written and the video links on their site. Before installation of the cables I highly recommend that you draw a layout of your home, or the building you want to install the system on. Consider where you will mount your cameras well ahead of running any cables and where you place your DVR and monitor. One review recommended that you study and follow the instructions. That is excellent advice. I took that advice to heart and for me the result was, no set up problems, or operating issues, including the phone viewing app, or computer viewing link. The first time I had a good chance to view the system fully installed and set up on my 27” HD monitor with a HDMI connection I was amazed! Very clear video. I was also very pleased with the night vision. I chose the higher quality output video settings on the DVR during the final setup. Currently I am running just 4 cameras, but intend on expanding the cameras in the future. I am very glad that I got the 8 Channel and 8 camera system, because it expands my options for my home, parking, and shop. I can without hesitation recommend this system. My experience has been very favorable with the company and the products performance has exceeded my expectations. I am happily giving this review and would give the very same high recommendation even if I wasn’t offered another year of warranty if I wrote a review on their product. But, I am pleased that I can give a good review regardless of the added bonus incentive of being offered. I gave it only 4 stars for ease of installation which may not be entirely fair as it would have been just as challenging with any cabled system. Considering that, it probably deserves 5 stars in that department as well. Just keep in mind I am a detail guy and like to do it right. So I took care and extra time in the installation process.
I hope this is helpful and your experience is as positive as mine has been. By the way, my wife loves the new system!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting defender-usa.com
Customer Rating
3
Good daytime vision, bad night vision & internet
on January 19, 2017
Posted by: Rob S
from Middletown, NY, United States
Gender:Male
Length of ownership:1 week
Quick and easy to get camera view access on my Android phone using the bar code scan option from the phone app, but the connection to the home PC with the same router has taken me at least 6hrs so far, reading reviews and tutorials and videos online & everyone seems to say the same thing. "Its almost impossible to get the "1-step software to locate and synch your dvr to the router. You need to be an Network engineer to even have a clue. Port forwarding, Active X / Internet Explorer versions, 1-step, router firewall, available IP addresses, static vs locked ports, etc etc etc. The kicker is....they do NOT HAVE A Support Phone Number to call and get a real person to walk you though the process. For $450+ for the system, you would expect this service! Very unhappy about this. I knew the networking part would be a pain but this is ridiculous. Why not make it easier like with the phone bar code scan? If I didnt spend 3 days routing 8 wires all over my attic and installing 8 cameras from a 32ft ladder in the freezing cold, I would return this immediately. Sorry, but I would overlook ll this if the router to DVR connection was not impossible! To boot, the infrared vision is not even close to 100ft....it is more like 10-15ft which is useless at night when most crime issue occur.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting defender-usa.com
Customer Rating
5
Excellent product
on January 20, 2017
Posted by: Meurei
from Royal Palm Beach, FL, United States
Gender:Male
Length of ownership:1 week
Bought these cameras last month and installation was easy, app is great and customer service is first class!
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting defender-usa.com
Customer Rating
5
Versatile High Quality and Great Support
on January 20, 2017
Posted by: Bham AL
from Alabama, United States
Length of ownership:1 month
This system is great. There's a one-sheet pictorial showing the various connections, and the cables and DVR receptacles are color-coded It was so well laid out that I connected everything in about ten minutes excluding running the camera cables to their permanent location. The DVR setup walks you through the initial selections in less than five minutes, then my test camera video appeared on the DVR monitor. Instead of buying a new monitor I used an older PC monitor with the old multi-pin plug. No problem, the DVR has receptacles for both the old-type plug and the newer HDMI plug.
For remote monitoring, the instructions clearly explain how to log-on and download the app for a PC or one's IPhone. Thus, one can view the camera pictures anywhere in the world where there's access to a PC or use of one's IPhone. I haven't yet experimented with all of the numerous features, but I look forward to setting up intrusion notifications. The software analyzes pixel changes to detect movement and allows for blanking of certain areas where movement may be common such as a waving flag in the yard. Also, I've tested inside with the lights out, and the picture is still very good. I had a set of desires for the system I wanted, and after researching many, this Defender system fills all needs and more.
Of equal importance is customer support. Before buying, I called Defender support. They answered quickly, and were quite accommodating addressing and satisfying all of my questions and concerns.
I had one non-Defender related problem Upon setup, I asked my girlfriend to connect the Ethernet cable to the router. She mistakenly plugged it into the cable TV box. Thus, after setting up my home PC to monitor, I couldn't get a picture. I went to Defender's online chat and within a couple minutes Daniela chimed in. She was great, walking me through checks on everything. But, when she asked about the Ethernet cable I just said it's connected without actually checking it. I was tired so I told her that I'd chime back in the next day and we'd try again. Well, I double-checked and found the Ethernet problem, and plugged it into the correct router receptacle. The next day Daniela called me to assure all was OK, and being at work she walked me through setting up my PC there. I didn't have my phone with me to set up, so sure enough, she called me again the following day to assure my IPhone was working too. I've never experienced better customer care. She not only solved my problem, but she took ownership and initiative to take care of things. A+ to you, Daniela!
And, for you future buyers, if you don't make a dumb mistake like I did, the setup is about as well laid out and straightforward as it gets.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting defender-usa.com
Customer Rating
5
on January 21, 2017
Posted by: Noe 86
from California, United States
Gender:Male
Length of ownership:1 week
Good home camera security system. Easy install good for indoor /outdoor. Great price recomend to any home owner.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting defender-usa.com
Customer Rating
5
Easy-to-use and Imstall.
on January 22, 2017
Posted by: CMRDUCKS
from Seville, OH, United States
Gender:Male
Length of ownership:1 week
I purchased this device 2 weeks ago. Running the camera cables was a bit tricky. I have back ground in running security and Data cabling so having the proper tools made it easy. You don't really need much to install the system. I Just wanted to hide all the wire. I also ran cat5e and Hdmi(TV, internet) cable from inside of my house to my garage where I installed Defender system. MY ONLY REGRET I should have went 8ch. The Colors and clarity is awesome.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting defender-usa.com
Customer Rating
5
Great quality
on January 22, 2017
Posted by: coelho5br
from Brazil
Gender:Male
Length of ownership:1 month
I changed my Defender 21031 model to this one and the quality is really good. Installation is quite similar and I could use the same cables.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting defender-usa.com