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Swann 4K Ultra HD 2TB HDD with 6x 4K Thermal Sensing Cameras Home Security Kit $999 (Was $1399) @ JB Hi-Fi

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JB are currently selling this security system for $400 off the original price. Seems like a great deal given the reviews of the product and the reliability of the Swann brand, and the fact that they include 6 cameras with 4k and thermal detection.

Key Features

Resolution: 4K Ultra HD (8MP)

Night Vision Distance: 45m

Viewing Angle: 90°

Camera Outdoor Rating: IP66, Weatherproof

DVR HDD Size: 2TB (Up to 180+ days of recording)

Cable Type: BNC (DVR)

App: HomeSafe View, View 24/7

Works with the Google Assistant

Warranty: 12 Months

Related Stores

JB Hi-Fi
JB Hi-Fi

closed Comments

  • +9

    Swann Camera is rubbish, avoid at all cost, image quality is just awful.

  • +6

    Swann are junk as stated above.

  • +2

    Even with 4K res?

    • +1

      Higher the resolution means little, I gave the best night cameras are around 2 to 3. Megapixels.
      Daylight quality is good, shame this is BNC and not PoE.
      Swann systems are very crippled and usually rebranded from another manufacturers.

      But it should do what it says on the box, just seems expensive for what it is.

  • +2

    Bye Swann. Hi Arlo.

  • This could be their swann song

  • +4

    I would check out what deals on a Hikvision system you can get for similar money.

  • +1

    and the reliability of the Swann brand

    That's not what I've heard…

  • the Homesafe app is terrible. Also the only time I have had an unauthorized activity on my credit card was after I used it to buy directly through swann. Hadn't used it for anything else. coincidence….maybe….

  • SAFE by Swann app is also rubbish

  • +3

    Fair enough, but if Swann is rubish in terms of the camera/image quality and the app is crap, silly gadgets like Arlo don't offer continuous 24/7 video recording and you have to rely on the camera being triggered and hopefully start recording in time, and then decent quality cameras with a good app like Google Nest rely on super-expensive cloud-based subscriptions… what are you options really?

    • +5

      Dahua, hikvision with a NVR will do the job.

      • +1

        If people really want secure outside viewing of their camera, they should consider VPN(OPENVPN) into their network instead of opening ports and cameras to the internet.

        Or consider services which are open sourced and have 2FA. I personally have been running Shionbi for object detection + recording and home assistant to view camera and send alerts.

    • -1

      I got a uniview system, not super expensive app is good too.

    • Dahua or hikvision cams with an sd card. Good to have some footage of your nvr is pinched. Often the local save to SD is a good backup in perfect quality.
      Also have the option of using their nvr or any major brand NAS or if you like rolls Royce Blue Iris running on a small PC
      I use BI and direct record to a local disk which is cloud synced for offsitong.

  • I have the cheaper 1080p version, using the iPhone app and I've ever had a problem - the app works great!

  • +3

    If Swann is that bad, what other brands would you guys recommend? I don't want the Arlo as I want a wired system to be setup, couldn't bother to take down and charge.

    • +1

      Hikvision + NVR or IVMS on old PC or Raspberry Pi running Shinobi

  • Swann is just rebranded Hikvision with custom software for easy use. Not sure how people can literally recommend the exact same thing but not sold by large retail for good warranty.

    • +2

      Swann is rebranded, but not all gear is from the same manufacturer.

      • +2

        Agree they regularly change own and cripple the firmware. Never again Swann

    • +1

      Most will be recommending these 2MP/4MP/6MP/8MP cameras, not the versions that Swann rebrands. And the firmware plays an important role.

      • Personally prefer better night quality, so I like the starlight / dark fighter style cams. Don’t worry about only being 2/3 megapixels. If you only record in daylight or well lit areas then sure beef up the megapixel

        • +1

          Yeah if you need good night vision stay with the darkfighter 2MP models, or try the newer ColorVu models.

    • It's not rebranded hikvision any more, its something cheap and nasty now

  • +3

    Just buy hikvisions and use blueiris

    • IPCT has BI 5 for US$58 currently or existing BI 4 users can upgrade by purchasing an extended support plan for US$30.

    • The BI animated gif notifications are the best.
      I get alerts from certain zones only which turn on my HUE lights.
      Direct to disk recording in mpeg is great, just map a drive and view raw footage.
      Their iOS app is also great. I only get alerts when I have left home (geofence)
      Agree BI is the way to go….so many updates.

    • +1

      Since I have to google Blue iris I'll best assume I'm not clever enough to set it up myself :)

  • +1

    I have a box full of swann cameras I bought years ago that just never worked as they should. Straight out of the box. I'm amazed they are still in business. DLink and Arlo in use in my house now for years and work flawlessly.

  • Can we use/flash Swann dvr with some other software? I have spend a lot on getting a set of cameras from Swann n would prefer to try to make them work. Software on the dvr is horrible to say the least. I wish I could install something better on the dvr.

    • +1

      No but depending on your cameras if they are PoE should be able to get them working under BlueIris. I’ve tested a few and most I got work g, but some without sound.

      Unlikely you can flash the nvr, one version you could put the repoint firmware on, but still crap compared to BlueIris

      • I have those dual cable bnc cameras so I guess I am screwed.

        • Actually depending on your unit (NVR) you might be able to find the URL for each cam and point BlueIris to the NVR. I know I could with mine.
          While I use BlueIriss, contacam is great very simple to use and provides the best daily summary of motion events (better than BI)

          I ran swann for years, it did what it said it would, I just moved on, mainly because I record to cloud and was finding swann difficult to akin through events.

  • If anyone needs help installing security camera, and live in Brisbane region, I would be able to help out !

    • If you ever plan a Melbourne holiday do keep us informed :)

    • hey man. Be interested to get your take on security cameras and install. I'm in Brisbane too.

  • +1

    I’ll go against the tide and say I’ve had a Swann system in for several years now and have had no issues. It is an older system, (NVR7400) with POE cameras. I have a mix of 3 and 4MP cameras and I have been happy with the result. I paid about $650 for 4 cameras/8 channel.

    Yes the software and the app is clunky and old fashioned, but I don’t play with it all day. I have a dedicated monitor sitting on the wall and it gives me a picture of who’s in the street or coming to the front door. I use a PiP for that purpose. It is very useful for avoiding people trying to save my soul or get me to donate…. but lets me know when the postie has a delivery.

    The night vision is okay but I doubt it would be good enough for evidence in court, but luckily I haven’t had to test that. Getting the exposure balance between night and a bright sunny day is not easy, even with “auto”.

    My main complaint is that the base unit (like most) only has a small fan (35-40mm?) and I don’t care what quality you get, they are noisy.

    I believe my cameras are rebranded Reolinks.

    • That was the unit I had!!!
      Great quality during the day, night is poor and spiders / insects are attracted to the IR.
      Damn that is a noisey unit!!!’

      Yes it works, but if your broken into that unit will be taken (easy to find due to the noise).
      Also buggy exporting clips and difficult to locate events.

      But it does do what it said on the box, and you paid a great price.
      Your cams work with BlueIris and Contacam, should check them out.

      You can use a POE switch with that unit so only need one Ethernet cable.

      If you use a PoE switch you can have the cams sending a feed to the swann nvr and. Say contacam for a day summary

      • Yes - moths dive-bombing the IR lights at night make the motion detection useless. Then the spiders set up shop because that's where the insects come!

        For downloading clips, I find the PC software is a lot easier. The trouble is it exports in AVI or something they call .264, which I assume is meant to be MP4, but the only way I can get the .264 clips to play is to recode them through Adobe Premiere.

        I have been toying with the idea of Contacam, because I do run a server which is always on and I could stick a 4TB HDD in that. I could also mix and match other cameras, using a dedicated night-vision camera at the front.

  • Just out of curiousity
    The Aldi ones that keeping popping up on special, are they any good?

    Can they be paired up with blueiris to make a decent setup?

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