For reference I have worked in I.T. for over two decades and have installed security DVRs before. But I honestly believe anyone with the ability to follow simple instructions and capable of minor troubleshooting should find this system very easy to install and use. This is the first DVR I've set up that provides POE to the cameras via the built-in switch. This greatly simplifies and cleans up the installation. Many of the problems I see in these reviews can be fixed via simple troubleshooting. I haven't actually had to contact Reolink support so I can't really comment on how available or helpful they are. I just wanted to point out a few of the negative things I've seen posted and offer a few tips/explanations.Cameras/Channels cutting out - When you're running your cables in the ceilings and walls, steer clear of electrical interference. Don't let the network cables touch existing wiring or things like light fixtures. Also avoid heat - like ductwork if at all possible. This can all mess with any kind of network traffic and especially 4K video feeds. It can certainly be more difficult, especially if you've never run wiring before but it is definitely worth the extra effort to route the cables properly.Complaints about video quality - I can verify this NVR absolutely records in 4K. The streams that you watch on your phone/PC/monitor are reduced quality for performance purposes. Even the "Clear" setting isn't near 4K. To access the full 4K video, you have to download the recorded files. This too can get confusing because unless your computer/device has a 4K GPU, you may not be able to play the files with a native media player. I installed this unit at a satellite office out of town and have not exported any files directly from the NVR but I have downloaded files remotely. These files are typically 1 to 3 GB in size. To edit or crop the videos, you will need a video editor capable of working with 4K video. This also allows you to remove the slight fisheye effect of the wide angle lenses if desired. The clarity of the video is outstanding for a system in this price-range. Frame captures are near photographic quality if you have good lighting. All of that said, if you do not have the resources to actually work with 4K video, I highly recommend setting the cameras to a more manageable resolution like 1080P. The files are smaller and just about any modern computer can work with them. These settings can be adjusted and you can change them back at any time.Complaints about outdated software - I'm not sure where this is coming from. The apps for mobile devices are as good if not better than those we've used and continue to use for more traditional DVRs. The Windows app works perfectly as well. I have no complains whatsoever. Perhaps if you're having trouble viewing the feeds, the upload speeds at the location of the NVR may not be sufficient for the resolution settings you're using.Limited camera positions - the cameras are tight in their housings but you can rotate and tilt them within the housing. You do need to install the plate close to the angle you want but someone reported that it has to be perfect and that's simply not true. If you're way off you would run into problems but I would guess you have maybe 15 to 20 degrees of play in either direction.Overall I am impressed with the quality of this system. The video is excellent quality and the night vision works great as well. Again, I have no complaints so far. I just ordered two more cameras to add to our current installation. If anything changes and we begin to have problems I will definitely be back to add to this review.

Very good cameras, easy to setup. Remember to upgrade firmware to the latest to have all available features that comes with new firmware. No issues at all in connectivity. Camera power source is through Ethernet(PoE). Motion detection can be setup for car, person and/or pets. 24/7 recording with NVR and 2tb SDD integrated expandable up to 6tb of storage. 4 Dome cameras included with 8 channel ports in the NVR and you can install up to 12 cameras. No lag/delay at all, 0.02ms probably. Night vision IR/Color. Reolink is the way to go for my home security system.

Overall, I am very happy with the system. It was replacing a wireless camera without POE. In the northern part of the United States, when the temperature dropped below freezing temperatures, the former camera became inactive until the temperature outside warmed up.Reolink is high quality 4K and does not require a subscription, which was one of the main selling points in choosing this system. it also offers POE so that the camera does not require manually charging the batteries. I am happy with the speed and the ease of use of the system. I can access my security cameras throughout the United States through my home network.The downside for me was the inability to set up the Shortcuts for each individual camera. I can only access the DVR through my current network. That is a huge downside for me, but did not outweigh the benefits noted above.

Wired is always better, IMHO. The wi-fi models offer lots of frills and monitoring options. I just wanted something that records and I can check if an issue arises.Hooked it up, plugged it into HDMI-2 input on monitor and have added 2 cameras so far, no issues.Upgraded the firmware to latest, file needs to be written on a flash drive formatted FAT-32 on a Windows computer. I couldn't get it to work by writing it with my Mac, maybe you can.Drive is a little noisy, shouldn't be an issue to replace when it dies as it looks like it's just treated as storage and the OS is just firmware on the controller board.I'm going to order the Amazon Basics Wireless Mouse as suggested in the "Ask A Question" section, will update if it works or not.No interest in checking on the web or using a phone app to access it. This thing just uses a HDD with spinning discs and basic processor, probably not going to be a great experience. I appreciate that we don't HAVE to hook this up to our home network and let it on the internet.I'm giving 5 stars because it was exactly what I was looking for. If you need it for on-the-go access and serious security threats it may not be a 5-star experience.Picture is clear.Night vision works great.Waterproof connectors are nice.Cables are nice but unlikely to be long enough for all your cameras so now is a good time to learn how to wire an RJ45 plug. Good news is they now have "pass-through" connectors which make the process a helluva lot easier. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B098DX9RJ9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1When attaching the cameras to the mounting rings be sure to turn hard enough to feel a click.Trying hard to think of a "Con" but I researched these and watched some videos so there were no surprises.I'll update the review with wireless mouse info and anything else that pops up.*update* The Amazon Basics wireless mouse linked above works perfectly. Plugged the receiver into the front USB port, turned on the mouse and that was it. I turn the mouse OFF when done using it because battery will die a slow death and someone could potentially start playing with the mouse but not know it's "live". With the input on a different source they could potentially click on something to negatively affect the NVR. Anyway, yay for the Amazon mouse!