Costco - Lorex 4K UHD 8-channel Fusion NVR Security System with 8 Smart Deterrence 4K Cameras Valid 8/4/21 – 8/29/21 $649.99

You know after going through several kits, custom kits, and not too long ago purchased this Lorex kit, I'm over these.

Lorex's chat support was terrible when I had issues on their app. Their CS were hardly helpful as they lacked even the basic knowledge of the products outside of the spec sheet.

The app is usable but a lot of the UI isn't intuitive especially looking over the recordings and navigating the time frames. It will occasionally crash for no reason but for simple viewing it suffices. The detection zones you select on the app will differ from the one you set on the NVR and the human detection works occasionally as it still sometimes detect my dogs or a drape getting blown by the wind.
The most annoying thing is that the app allows only one active device per account that you are required to signup for. This means if I am checking it on my phone and I open the app on my tablet it will log out the last login.

Another thing to note is that I don't believe the NVRs or at least the recent ones have free software for PC but you can always use your own. They offer cloud viewing iirc but it's a subscription type service but I can't speak to it as I never bothered with it.

The cameras are pretty decent but anything beyond 40ft you won't be able to make out things like plate numbers with clarity. Don't get me wrong, the image quality is still really good but it was pretty useless when someone broke into one of my neighbors car parked in the street and the video recording was impossible to discern the plates. This was at night and the car had no notable markings but despite the plates not hidden/removed it couldn't be read.

I recently just did a fully custom setup roughly $200 more than this deal for my parents and I can't see myself purchasing kits again. I built a cheap computer, bought a 16 port POE switch & cables on ebay, bought several dahua IP cameras on ebay, and bought Blue Iris for PC/Mobile. The cameras are of higher quality offering better and works amazing at night, I can always add more drives to the system for longer recordings, and it's a lot more comfortable configuring it on the PC than on the micro mouse and no keyboard.

I'm not saying that building your own is the be all end all as it does require some savviness but it's the next step up if you're really looking for a better than kit system.

All in all if you are mainly concerned about the security of your home premise then I would still recommend going for kits as it's cheaper, good enough for most needs, and having one is better than not. Just remember to have it on a UPS backup for any blackouts.

Would you happen to have links to any high quality guides/videos on setting up a DIY system like you described? Also, specific model suggestions for POE switches and/or cameras? I've been researching upgrading from my crappy Blink secuirty cameras for months, first considering Wyze, Eufy, Reolink, and then Lorex, but like you, I'm starting to think a custom Blue Iris system is the best way to check all of the boxes I'm looking for. I'm well versed in building PC's and Plex servers, but have a lot to learn about security cam hardware/software and networking (POE and non). These threads have been very helpful with a lot of very knowledgeable people willing to share their expertise.

Thanks for your guys expert info on these cams in advance. Contemplating returning the costco 649$ 8ch, 8 4k cam fusion system and getting the Lorex 16ch 8 4k cam fusion system instead). Have a few questions below about the comparison. Mostly concerned with the warranty that costco offers vs the lorex extended. And the dome cams vs bullet cams. For my outdoor application, the 8 ch would work just fine, but always nice to have additional 8 channels to work with for future proofing.

For 50$ more than the costco 649$ deal:
Costco deal $649 w/costco's epic warranty:
-8 4k bullet IP67 cams, 108 degree FOV, 1/2.8" CMOS sensor, w/smart deterrence (light/siren - not that important to me),
-8 port POE Fusion NVR, 2tb HDD,
-8 x 60ft cat5e cables, and some other sensors, not required however for my outdoor application),

Daily deal/anniversary 16 channel deal from Lorex plus 90$ for 5 year extended warranty from Lorex:
-16 4k IP Dome IPV67 cams 105 degree FOV, 1/2.7" CMOS sensor (dome but no smart deterrance)
-16 port POE Fusion NVR system, 3tb HDD (lorex) vs 2tb (costco)
-8 x 100ft cat5e cables vs 8 x 60ft (costco)

Features:
For the most part the features are similar on both systems, give or take. But the daily deal 16 channel system has the smart search function, which may save you some time searching footage.

I think the 16 channel option vs the 8 channel option would be better for obvious reasons, and you can get a 5 year warranty from Lorex for 90$, more. The only thing that would want me to keep the Costco one and not get this 16 channel would be for the Costco warranty versus the 5 year lorex extended warranty option. And possibly dome cams vs bullet cams.

My questions are:

1. Should I return the costco 8ch system and get the lorex 16ch system?
-Costco 8 ch system normally 800$, saves 150$.
-Lorex 16ch system, normally 900/850, saves you 200 or 150$
2. Or is the costco warranty better than having a 5 year warranty from Lorex? (How long does costco cover anyway?)
3. Whats your guys take on the dome 4k cams w/no smart deterrence (lorex daily anniversary sale deal) vs the 4k bullet cams w/smart deterrence (costco deal)?
-For outdoor, would bullet or dome cams be the better option?
-Anyone whos used both types of cams and/or either/or, any opinions? I've only used bullet cams and am happy for my application. I've used dome cams that can rotate for indoor, but not sure if better for outdoor or not?

Return and get lorex 16 ch system or just keep the costco version? Costo warranty worth it? or lorex 5 year warranty just as good?

Thanks in advance all!

A few specs from the spec sheet:
https://www.lorextechnology.com/d...eet_R1.pdf

Product Specifications

Image Sensor 8MP/4K 1/2.8" CMOS
Video Format NTSC
Video Compression H.265/H.264H (Main Stream & Sub Stream)

Viewing Angle
(Horizontal)
108°
Lens/Lens type 2.8mm F2.0/ Fixed
Video Output
Resolution/Frame rate 4K(8MP)@15fps, 5MP@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@30fps

Effective Pixels H:3840 x V:2160
HDR Yes
Termination RJ45

Audio
Microphone/Speaker Yes/Yes
Siren Yes (Siren sound options available)
Two-way Talk Yes

Active Deterrence Yes - Warning Light + Siren + Two-way
Talk

Hi mat. Looks like the deal is back. What do you recommend under 800 dollars? I need about 6 to 8 cameras and new to this. Thanks

Hi jvin

I really like larger sensors in cameras.

I really do like Costco as a kit vendor as they have a great return policy.

I do like that you can put a better Dahua OEM cameras on that NVR and get it to work.

Honestly, right now the supply chain is still messed up .. and the semiconductor chip supply is very poor .. so not many great options right now.

Perhaps when all those containers from China land here in the USA we'll see better deals? Though I doubt it for tech stuff. ( probably great for clothing and misc stuff that is getting shipped in ).

If you must get a system now and are on a tight budget - perhaps pick up the kit and test it out, then swap one camera for a better Dahua OEM 4MP 5442 model to cover the most important low light zone you need to cover.

Been following you for years now and thanks Matt!
So I am super slow at getting a set up or anything going (multi year plan). I did get this (1080P HD IP PoE Bullet Security Camera 2 Pack (QCN8082B) in 2019 and it's still NIB. What do you think the chances of these working with the above Costco system? I can use these cameras at the street level in case I had to do a return I could leave these in place. I guess these are supposedly Dahuas as well? Looking forward to more chips and better cameras at some point... Thanks