Rosewill RSVA-12001 Security Camera DVR System Review

Rosewill’s 8-Channel Digital Video Recorder Remote Monitoring Camera Kit RSVA-12001 / RSVA-11001 DVR Demonstration

By Olin Coles

Manufacturer: Rosewill, Inc.
Product Name: 8-Channel Digital Video Recorder Remote Monitoring Camera Kit
Model Number: RSVA-12001 / RSVA-11001
UPC: 989745051605
Price As Tested: RSVA-12001 $230 (Newegg|Amazon) RSVA-11001 $250 (Newegg|Amazon)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Rosewill.

The recent economic collapse forced layoffs across the board, affecting private sector jobs as much as public professions such as law enforcement. The recession caused government furloughs that reduced police presence and made it difficult for others to find work. As a result, theft and robbery became an increased problem in many areas. Without the manpower to proactively patrol congested areas, it became more important to utilize crime prevention tools that could also assist in solving crimes.

For many, security systems are something they consider mandatory, or just too expensive to implement. Thankfully, there’s a whole new generation of affordable products that can help people get started. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Rosewill RSVA-12001, an all-in-one security system with four cameras and digital video recorder that can be remotely monitored. Rosewill offers the two similar kits with the same DVR, packaging four CCD sensor cameras in RSVA-11001 or CMOS sensor cameras in RSVA-12001.

• H.264 Compression Algorithm
• 3G USB Network Support: DVR can allow the user to use USB 3G modem to connect with Internet.
• 3G Smart Phone Surveillance Support: Synchronize Live Viewing, PTZ control is available
• Convenience Quick Menu Bar: Friendly for use
• Watermark: Editable watermark name
• Individual Channel FRAME/RESOLUTION Setup: Powerful resolution & frame setting for each channel, Up to D1 resolution recording
• Individual Schedule Setup for Each Channel: Flexible schedule setup for each channel
• Unlimited Motion Area Setup: Simply to hold & drag the mouse to create the motion area
• Powerful Individual Factory Default Setting: Default the single function you require only
• Snapshot Available in Playback Mode: Pause & snapshot all the images you require in playback
• Switchable Spot VGA/BNC Monitoring: Choose the control side you want, Up to 1440 x 900 VGA resolution
• Multi Level User Management: Maximum 17 users (ADMIN, USER1~16), Restriction for CHANNEL, MAIN MENU, SYSTME MENU, PTZ, LOG SEARCH, PLAY SEARCH, BACKUP, NETWORK
• Digital Zoom-in in live & playback mode: Hold & drag digital zoom-in area selection anywhere on the screen
• PIP (Picture in Picture): Up to 2 x PIP available
• Smart Backup: Support external DVD-RW, Hard Drive (Up to 2TB, FAT 32) and USB flash drive
• Support Touch Panel Screen
• Powerful Event
• ESD Surge-protection for video filter
  The Rosewill RSVA-11001 and RSVA-12001 kits are very similar, and come with the following common items: Rosewill H.264 8CH DVR model RSVR-H08, (4) four slim 82ft./25M long cables, four-way power cable splitter, (4) four camera brackets, 12V 4.17A camera power adapter, 12V 3A DVR power adapter, 2M RCA video cable, BNC-to-RCA converter, remote control, USB corded mouse, software CD-ROM, installation manual, and quick-start guide.

  

  The Rosewill RSVA-12001 kit sells for $230 (Newegg|Amazon) and includes (4) four 1/4” CMOS IR cameras RCMR-14CMOSIR, while the RSVA-11001 kit features 1/4″ CCD cameras RCMR-14CCDIR and sells for $250 (Newegg|Amazon). Specifications for the cameras are nearly identical, with subtle details discussed in the next section.

  

  Rosewill’s H.264 8-channel digital video recorder (model RSVR-H08) comes included with both versions of the kit. At the front of the DVR is a USB 2.0 port for attaching external storage or the included USB mouse. LEDs illuminate when the DVR is powered, recording, or playing back video. Should the user want to utilize the front panel interface instead of the remote, there are multiple buttons that correspond to the menu and features for this DVR.

  

  At the back of the Rosewill RSVR-H08 DVR you’ll find BNC connections for up to eight cameras, four of which are included with this kit, along with audio, network, USB, and video output ports. Continue on to the next page for detailed examination of these features.

   

  H.264 8CH DVR (RDVR-H08)
  Operation System	LINUX
  PTZ Control	Built-in RS485, support PELCO-P & PELCO-D, MIKAMI
  Senor & Alarm I/O	4in/1out
  Mouse Control	YES
  Remote Control	YES
  Compatible OS	Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7
  Power Supply (power adaptor included)	DC 12V/3A (AC100V~240V 50/60HZ)
  Power consumption	10 ~ 15 W (exclude HDD)
  Working Temperature	32? ~ 114.8? (0? ~ 46?)
  Dimension	8.7″(W) x 11.3″(D) x 1.9″(H) (220mm x 288mm x 48mm)
  Weight	3.5 lbs. / 1.6 kg (DVR only)
  Video
  Video Compression	H.264
  Video System	NTSC / PAL
  Video Input	BNC 8-channel
  Video Output	BNC 1-channel, VGA 1-channel
  Display Resolution NTSC	D1(720×480)
  Display Resolution PAL	D1(720×576)
  Display Frame Rate NTSC	240 fps
  Display Frame Rate PAL	200 fps
  Display Modes	Full Screen/Quad/PIP/S.E.Q
  HDMI Interface	NO
  Max. VGA Resolution	1440×900
  Audio
  Audio Input	RCA 4-channel
  Audio Output	RCA 1-channel
  Audio Alarm Modes	Motion Detection, Video Loss, HDD Error/Full
  Intercom	NONE
  Audio Compression	8kHz*16bit ADPCM
  Recording
  Record Resolution NTSC	D1(720×480), HD1(720×240), CIF(352×240)
  Record Resolution PAL	D1(720×576), HD1(720×288), CIF(352×288)
  Recording Frame Rate NTSC	60fps@D1, 120fps@HD1, 240fps@CIF
  Recording Frame Rate PAL	50FPS@D1, 100fps@HD1, 200fps@CIF
  Recording Mode	Always / Schedule / Motion detection / Manual
  Playback Mode	PLAY / FF / SLOW / FWD / Frame by frame
  Playback Search	Date/time, Event list
  Multi-Channel Playback	Local: Playback 8 channels at the same time Network: Playback 1 channels at the same time
  Recording Pack Time	5/10/15/20/30/60mins file time selectable
  HDD Interface	supports up to 2TB SATA HDD
  Backup	USB 2.0 external hard drive (Up to 2TB, FAT 32) / USB 2.0 flash drive / USB 2.0 CD/DVD-RW / Network
  Network
  Network Interface	RJ45, 10M/100M
  Network Protocol	Support TCP/IP, DHCP, DDNS, SMTP , PPPoE, 3G WCDMA
  Internet Viewing	Internet Explorer 6 or Higher (Max. 8 users at once)
  Smart Phone Viewing (via 3G)	iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Symbian S60
  Tablet PC Viewing	iPad, Android
  Support Network Time Protocol (NTP)	YES
  Support Free DDNS	YES
  1/4″ CMOS IR Camera (RCMR-14CMOSIR)
  Power Consumption	70mA(IR OFF) / 260mA(IR ON)
  Power Supply	12V DC
  Operating Temperature	23? ~ 149? (-5? ~ 65?)
  Weather Proof	IP66
  Dimension	2.6″ x 2.5″ x 4.1″ (66mm x 64mm x 104mm)
  Weight	0.73 lbs. / 330g (camera only)
  Video
  Image Sensor	1/4″ CMOS
  TV System	NTSC
  Effective Pixels (NTSC)	640(H)X480(V)
  Horizontal Resolution	420 TV Line
  Electronic Shutter (NTSC)	1/60-1/100.000sec
  S/N Ratio	Max. 45dB (AGC off)
  Backlight Compensation	Auto
  Video Output	1.0Vp-p. 75ohm (BNC)
  Lens
  Lens	4mm
  View Angle	60 Degree
  Night Vision
  IR Distance	49.2 ft. (15M)
  IR LED	21pcs
  Min Illumination	0 LUX / F1.2
  Mechanical IR cut filter	YES
  Package content
  H.264 8CH DVR (RSVR-H08) x 1 1/4″ CMOS IR Camera (RCMR-14CMOSIR) x 4 Slim Cable (82ft./25M) x 4 4 Way Power Cable Splitter x 1 Camera Bracket x 4 Camera Adapter (12V4.17A) x 1 DVR Adapter (12V3A) x 1 RCA Video Cable (2M) x 1 BNC TO RCA Convertor x 1 Remote Control x 1 USB Mouse x 1 Quick Manual x 1 Quick Installation Guide x 1 Software CD x 1

  Each DVR kit comes with four cameras outfitted with IP66 weatherproof enclosures, each delivering 420 TV lines of resolution. Either kit’s cameras will include backlight compensation, 21 infrared LEDs for night vision, and 70mA/260mA (IR on) power consumption, but other camera specifications differ between kits.

  Rosewill’s DVR kit RSVA-11001 includes four RCMR-14CCDIR cameras with 510×492 effective NTSC pixels on a 1/4″ Sony CCD image sensor, and lacks any mechanical IR cut filter. These CCD cameras feature a 2.9mm lens with 75-degree viewing angle. DVR kit RSVA-12001 includes four RCMR-14CMOSIR cameras with 640×480 effective NTSC pixels on a 1/4″ Sony CMOS image sensor, and include a mechanical IR cut filter. The CMOS cameras feature a 4mm lens with 60-degree viewing angle.

  

  Either Rosewill DVR kit will include four spools of video+power cable, each measuring 25 meters / 82 feet in length. The power connection uses standard male/female barrel plugs, while the coaxial video cable uses BNC (Bayonet Neill–Concelman) quick connect RF connectors. Rosewill does not list other cable options in their product catalog, although the included spools should be long enough for most basic installations.

  For custom installations using handmade BNC cables, power connection can be made on a camera-by-camera basis using third-party AC adapters. The kit includes one 12V 4.17A adapter split across four cameras, but based on power consumption specifications, individual power adapters can be rated as low as 12V 500mAh each.

  

  Located at the back of the Rosewill RSVR-H08 H.264 DVR are (8) eight BNC video connections, one for each camera input channel supported, plus a BNC video output for display/TV. The recorder include (4) four RCA audio inputs, utilized by third-party cameras that support this feature, plus a RCA audio output for sound playback.

  10/100 Ethernet connectivity is established through a single RJ-45 network connection, which supports TCP/IP, DHCP, DDNS, NTP, SMTP, and 3G WCDMA. Although there are two USB ports below the RJ-45 port, the top is blocked because only the bottom port is functional and reserved for the bundled USB mouse.

  Video output can be routed through the BNC connection or analog VGA output, as this Rosewill DVR does not include digital DVI/HDMI output. External alarms can be attached through the system’s DB-9 serial port, or wired directly through leads.

  

  The Rosewill DVR requires the installation of a SATA storage device (not included), with a capacity not larger than 2TB. The Linux operating system will not detect drives larger than 2000GB, so plan accordingly. We found that the 2TB Seagate Desktop HDD or Toshiba 7200 Hard Drive worked really well.

  While not discussed in the user manual, the DVRs mainboard includes a second SATA 3.0 Gb/s port. Using a 3rd-party SATA Y-adapter to split the power cable, two compact disks could potentially be installed. This function is not supported, so behavior is not guaranteed.

  Alternatively, the DVR includes a USB 2.0 port at the front of the unit, which can connect any portable storage device: from a USB flash drive, to a 2TB external hard drive. The Rosewill DVR also supports USB-DVD or USB-CD burners.

  

  In the next section, we’ll cover many of the basic features included in the Linux user interface, and demonstrate video playback and recording backup and restoration onto PC.

  Benchmark tests aren’t applicable to a Linux-based digital video recorder, so our testing will include practical application tasks such as recording and playback. The Rosewill RSVA-12001 kit we received includes the same DVR that comes with the Rosewill RSVA-11001 kit, so demonstrations apply to either model.

  In the video below each menu option is briefly inspected and functionality discussed. This is a full-featured DVR, so there’s a lot of ground to cover:

  RSVA-12001 Digital Video Recorder Menu Options

  In the video below, I demonstrate how to backup a previously recorded video file and export it to PC for playback or conversion:

  RSVA-12001/RSVA-11001 Recording Transfer Process

  The Rosewill RSVA-11001/12001 digital video recorder has the ability to select and play-back recorded video files from storage:

  RSVA-12001/RSVA-11001 Recording Playback Process

  Below is a clip containing raw camera sample footage, with daylight, artificial light, and dark/night vision examples:

  Rosewill RSCM-12003 Sample Footage

  As you can see from these examples the Rosewill DVR offers a well-rounded feature set, one that expands well beyond the included cameras. Of course, there are four remaining channels to add third-party cameras that feature pan, tilt, zoom, motion sensing, and/or audio functionality.

  In the next section I summarize my final thoughts and offer my rating for the Rosewill RSVA-11001 and RSVA-12001 kits.

  Security cameras are a strong yet inexpensive deterrent for would-be criminals. Unfortunately, crimes will occur even when armed guards or law enforcement are present, so a good camera system can aid law enforcement in the prosecution of criminals caught on video. This applies to your business as much as your home, where an extra set of eyes can let you be in two places at once or have the ability to identify suspects in hindsight.

  

  IMPORTANT: Although the rating and final score mentioned in this conclusion are made to be as objective as possible, be advised that every author perceives these factors differently. While we each do our best to ensure that all aspects of the product are considered, there are often times unforeseen market conditions and manufacturer revisions that occur after publication which could render our rating obsolete. Please do not base any purchase solely on this conclusion, as it represents our rating specifically for the product tested which may differ from future versions. Benchmark Reviews begins our conclusion with a short summary for each of the areas that we rate.

  The first rating is performance, which considers how well the Rosewill RSVA-12001 / RSVA-11001 Digital Video Recorder Security Camera Kit operates according to specification. Rosewill’s H.264 8-channel digital video recorder (model RSVR-H08) comes included with both versions of the kit, and performs extremely well. System initialization was quick, and movement between screens was fast. Translated English terms are rough in a few spots, but still easily understandable. The user interface is easy to navigate and intuitive, even for some of the most advanced settings. The included remote works well at a reasonable range, but the included USB mouse is the easiest way to travel menus.

  While the DVR was impressive, the cameras were less so. Four RCMR-14CMOSIR cameras came included with the RSVA-12001 kit, and offered better quality with a 4mm lens and 1/4″ Sony CMOS sensor that produced 640×480 resolution. RSVA-11001 includes four RCMR-14CCDIR cameras with 2.9mm lens and 1/4″ CCD sensor good for 510×492 pixels but lacks a mechanical IR cut filter. While either kit will perform well for general purpose surveillance, neither of these cameras are good for sharp detail at distance. Since four additional channels are supported, Rosewill’s RSCM-12003 Outdoor Security Camera delivers 768×484 pixels and is worth considering for add-on or substitution.

  In terms of appearance, the DVR and cameras all look the part of modern equipment. The DVR looks both cutting-edge, and yet elegant. The cameras feature a textured silver finish that gives them a durable look.

  Construction is an easy win for the Rosewill cameras, since they all feature IP66 weather-proof protective enclosures. The DVR is built to last, with passive heatsink cooling and no moving parts to fail. The mounting points for the storage drives aren’t the best, but everything else is well made.

  The DVR delivers solid functionality: it can record and play back video with ease, has remote network access for monitoring by phone. The Rosewill DVR offers custom configurations for pan, tilt, zoom, motion sensor, and audio recording settings, but the four included cameras lack these features so it’s a rather moot point to support them.

  As of June 2013 the Rosewill RSVA-12001 kit with CMOS cameras is available online for $230 (Newegg|Amazon), and kit RSVA-11001 with CCD cameras is available for $250 (Newegg|Amazon).

  Both versions of the Rosewill DVR system are good, but between the two kits my recommendation goes for the RSVA-12001 because it includes slightly better cameras with larger lens and mechanical IR cut filter. These kits offer a great value, but are best suited for general-purpose surveillance tasks. For anything requiring fine detail and precision, better cameras will be necessary. Considering the price, the Rosewill RSVA-12001 packs plenty of value into a ready-to-run kit.

  + 8-Channel digital video recorder
  + DVR features PTZ, motion, and audio support
  + Network accessible over 10/100 Ethernet
  + Remote management via smartphone
  + Includes four RCMR-14CMOSIR cameras
  + Night-vision camera functionality
  + Encodes with H.264 compression algorithm

  – Does not include storage drive
  – Limited to 2TB capacity drives
  – Cameras offer entry-level resolution

  • Performance: 8.00
  • Appearance: 9.50
  • Construction: 9.25
  • Functionality: 8.75
  • Value: 8.25

  Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Silver Tachometer Award.

  COMMENT QUESTION: What is the most important feature in a security camera system?