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Got a coworker in another dept that got a new house and came with CCTV 8 analog type CCTV cameras. The prior owner for some reason took the DVR and power box for it. I am thinking just find them a decent analog DVR preferably something with an app or something that they can use to remotely view if desired. I was thinking going with an alibi super circuits unit as that is what they use at work but I have no experience with their apps or webaccess past the LAN. They said the prior unit was a Swann while I have heard of them I know nothing about them. Just hoping see if anyone has seen a great one or something i should avoid.
Thanks.

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Can’t recommend an analog DVR for you as I haven’t touched analog in ages, but what I will say is this. Ignore remote network access on the DVR. Security on those is generally garbage. Look for something that allows local lan access and then get a home internet router that will allow a VPN connection say via open VPN which you can load on a cell phone. Then your coworker will have secure access to their home network to check their video without worrying if it’s going to become part of the next botnet.

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I do (unfortunately) have some experience with those older style coax / BNC cameras and DVRs. They are not fun.

For the DVR I would say to just find one that has a NIC and can send the camera stream out via RTMP stream to a more functional NVR. You can do something like BlueIris. That is way more functional as a platform and can be viewed via web; a lot of those older DVRs required desktop apps for playback and download. Perhaps a NAS like Synology could even take an RTMP stream (I havent tried that).

I agree with @PatrickFarrell that you should consider security. At the very least have that thing in a DMZ, more ideally using VPN to connect instead of NATing it through.

The more concerning thing for me is that the power supply (or power box as you call it) has been removed. In my experience those things are a complete pain, especially when the fuses blow. Maybe it will be easier to find than I am thinking, but I had one go bad in 2017 and couldn’t get a replacement as they were no longer manufactured.

Even if you get all THAT working, you end up with cameras that are so grainy, difficult to focus, and no real features (uv light, view angle, etc.), that honestly you would probably be better just putting in wifi cameras or running some ethernet for PoE cameras. Who knows, you might be able to use the coax to pull your new cable (if the contractor didn’t staple it to the studs).

I think you would be better off pulling those things down and putting up something more current.

Hope that helps.

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