LOREX LW2301 4-Channel Wireless Quad Surveillance System with Digital Video Recorder & 1 Indoor/Outdoor Motion Camera
August 19, 2010 by admin
Filed under Home Security Camera System
- Video recorder supports up to 16 GB on Secure Digital Card?
- Record options?schedule by time or motion detect
- Single channel recording
- Expandable to 4 total cameras
- Quad or sequential viewing
Product Description
Video recorder supports up to 16 GB on Secure Digital Card (TM) Record optionsschedule by time or motion detect Single channel recording Expandable to 4 total cameras Quad or sequential viewing Includes 1 indoor/ou… More >>
LOREX LW2301 4-Channel Wireless Quad Surveillance System with Digital Video Recorder & 1 Indoor/Outdoor Motion Camera
Yes, easy to set up. But if you have a camera device, why not go the extra step and let it be network connected? Remote viewing is what most people want and expect today. Does it cost that much to throw in a tcp/ip connection? Maybe it does, but it would sure make this a lot more useful.
Of course there are situations where just storing and looking at it later are fine. I suppose that’s the market they are aiming for. I think I’d rather step up and pay extra for PC connectivity and setup – setup was a bit annoying for me because my TV already has all of its video inputs in use. Once that’s done, you can just pop out the SD card and view it in your computer, but you do need to set it up with a TV – and I suppose if anything every went wrong you’d need it again – more reasons why network access would make more sense.
I liked that the mounting bracket was decent quality. That at least makes it a little harder to climb up a ladder and rip this off – they’d need some tools at least,
Good looking unit, too – not boxy and clumsy. If I could access it through my computer directly, it would be perfect.
Rating: 4 / 5
This is a descent system for those looking for basic security.
Pros:
Very compact system/small footprint
Good picture resolution with 2 resolution settings
Built-in microphone for recording audio
Connects up to 4 cameras
Split screen – 4 panels (1 per camera)
Easy to use menu panel
Wireless Cameras
Removable 16G SD Card
Excellent reception – minimal interference
Quick and easy set-up
Date stamped image recording
Connects direct to monitor via RCA plug
Built-in motion detection sensor
Pros/Cons (Can be either):
Stand alone system – No PC connections
Cons:
Limited recording time (4-6 hrs.)
Requires dedicated monitor
Setting the system up is quick and simple, but helps if you have a second person helping to monitor when you have achieved the best signal reception before you start permanently setting the camera, especially outside.
Besides the cons, I really do like this video recording system and hope it will outlast my current needs.
Rating: 4 / 5
Before I delve into the numerous issues I have with this product, the price is low and installation is easy. However, if the product is defective or can’t do the job, I can’t see how it could be rated higher than 1 star!
Cons:
My unit was defective in two ways.
1. First defect, the area where the AC adaptor plugs into didn’t work consistently. While not being touched, the unit would alternately lose power then turn back on, or just stay off. One night while attempting an overnight surveillance with motion-detector record, it shut off shortly after being set up. I had checked the connections and made sure it was on a stable surface. My husband inspected it and feels the jack is loose or that it is not making the connection inside the unit (it’s not a defect in the wire cord). I worry of the quality of this product or the consistency of the product’s manufacture. Perhaps the low price for this unit is a signal for low quality construction and is unreliable. Even at this low price if it doesn’t work or is unreliable, what good is it?
2. The second defect was the digital memory card that came with this kit was non-functional. This is the card that records the video. I tried it in other products I own and it didn’t work there either. In order to test the product I substituted the card from my digital camera, and my card worked just fine. Again if this product is defective what good is it? If some product this company ships out is not consistently of high quality this is risky for the consumer to invest in.
3. There are two settings for the video quality. The default setting is a poor quality video. It does not stream well and action is recorded in jerky motions or appears smear-y. Details on faces or objects are not very good on that setting. If you want higher quality you must change the setting but I note it will use more memory on the card and you may run out of space depending on how long you record for in before deleting the files. You may have to buy a new, larger memory card.
4. I tested the motion detection indoors and outdoors on a deck. Indoors it was fine, but outdoors, it recorded RAIN as motion and recorded every rainy moment that the camera was on. The recordings were in ten minute segments and recorded the entire time it rained. I live in New England where rain or drizzle is common. If the issue is you want to know when or if someone is on your property or who was at your front door, you’d have to visually scan every recorded segment to see what happened or if it was just rain, or just not view it if nothing problematic happened (like a break in). It also records small movements due to WIND. Tree leaves and bushes that move due to wind trigger the device to record. I guess if you record and only look at the video if your house is broken into then this would not be an issue.
5. The deleting of the 10 minute long recordings has to be done one by one. On the rainy night I had to delete many files which takes 4 button pushes per deletion. This took me about 15 minutes to do after 9 hours of motion-activated recording on a night of intermittent rain. That was too long to spend on that endeavor. There should be a “delete all” button or the process should be simplified in some other way.
6. The programming of the unit and its remote control is primitive. The steps seem odd and I needed to use the instruction manual to figure out something that should be simple such as how to turn the motion detection video on and how to delete a file. This is not really intuitive or user friendly. There seem to be more steps to do something simple and common than there need to be. The remote is small and the number of buttons is low. The buttons are not all unique and labeled with their actions which doesn’t make them user friendly.
7. The power source is an issue in general. If you place the unit outdoors the power cord runs right out of the unit and needs to plug in somewhere. Homeowners may not have a power source outdoors to plug the unit into. It could be tricky or damaging to the wire to try to run the cord indoors through a window or door to access an indoor electrical outlet. If this is for security reasons, such as if placed near a front door, a thief could easily unplug the unit (easiest) or cut the power cord (harder). I think the company is over-marketing this to homeowners as a home security system when its outdoor use is limited due to the electrical power challenges.
***However this is a system for amateurs to be able to install themselves, the alternative is a professional security system installed by a professional that includes electrical wiring that goes into walls. You can’t have it both ways!
Or, a battery operated unit is another option. Perhaps this unit, although weather-proof, really is optimal for INDOOR USE. Think about what your purpose for this unit is and what your environment is like, if it can support this do-it-yourself system.
Pros:
1. It’s inexpensive.
2. It’s easy to set up. My twelve year old son set it up in under 15 minutes. He has no experience with this type of system. You certainly do not need a professional to install this.
3. This seems ideally suited for INDOOR USE such as for a small business for staff monitoring or security purposes (should the business be robbed).
4. This system can also be used as live video cam. It does not have to be used to record or motion record. It is a better system than I once received as an unasked for baby shower gift which was a system to watch the baby napping in the crib when I was in other rooms in the house, to check to see if the baby was awake or sleeping or safe. I am unsure how many homeowners would desire to use such a system in their private homes but you never know…
I did not contact customer service to discuss this faulty equipment. I have been too busy to deal with the company, and I’ve already put in multiple nights of recording and daytime recordings, many hours of product review time working with the unit have been dedicated to this review, plus the time to write this. I put off publishing this waiting for time to call customer service. Sorry, but I have no time to take it to the next level to deal with customer service, so the experience I had as described will have to suffice.
Rating: 1 / 5
I bought the Lorex LW2301 based on several reviews and a friends experience with it. The unit itself is pretty good. The video is passable and the features in the reciever are good.
My problem came because of aluminum siding interferring with the signal and I wanted to see if there was a way to extend the antenna a small amount to get it in past the siding and closer to the receiver. After waiting on the customer service line for 15 minutes I got a foreign sounding woman that said I needed to buy a range extender even though the camera and receiver were less than two feet apart. (That didn;t say much to the reputed 450 ft range) I sent an email to the customer service address provided on their web site and now a few days later still have received no response.
I finally got in touch with another friend who has installed similar units professionally and he got it sorted out. It now works fine, no thanks to Lorex. They appear very happy to take your money and to sell you anything else they can if you call back but when it comes to listening to the customer, not so much – if you can get them at all.
Rating: 3 / 5
The Lorex LW2301 wireless camera system is easy to setup and use. It has a basic set of features that limit its application. It is a very good system for in-premises monitoring.
Setup
Unpacking and setting up the system is quick. For testing, I was able to have the system up and runnning in about 30 minutes. This excludes proper mounting/installation for actual usage.
The package includes everything you need to connect the system using a display (display not included). Once the base unit and camera were powered on, they paired automatically.
Features
The built-in IR motion sensor on the camera is a great feature. Other systems I have used rely only on the captures image, which can take processing time and is less accurate. The IR motion sensor range is wider than the camera view point, so motion is detected before the subject enters view,which is nice for a security system.
The base unit needs to be connected to a display that has composite vide input. This allows for connectivity with most TVs and monitor. The low resolution of the composite connection limits image quality. The user interface (UI) has a basic set of options that are navigated using directional arrows in both the unit and a remote control included in the package. The UI uses icons. Most are intuitive; some require referencing the user manual.
Recording can be done manually, by schedule and by motion detection.
The package includes a remote control. The remote is small and not very responsive. I had to hold it with one hand and press keys with the other to get it to respond. I found myself utilizing the base unit controls to avoid the frustration with the remote.
Conclusion
The camera system’s main strenght is its simplicity. For monitoring a small room or building entrance, it works well. It avoids complex software and computer setup. The system is not suited for remote monitoring and instant event notification or alerts because it is self-contained with no connectivity. It is not designed for remote security monitoring. This is its BIGGEST downfall, and why you can’t rely on it when you’re away from the business/store etc. What this means is that if someone breaks into your house/store etc when you’re NOT there, you’ll have no idea it happened. Yes, the Lorex will record it, but if the Lorex gets stolen during the break-in, that won’t help you.
If you are looking for simple local monotoring and record-keeping video, this is a low cost, easy-to-use option. No remote access means it loses a star. But you could certainly do a lot worse!
4/5
Rating: 4 / 5