List Price: $512.00
Sale Price: $459.00
Today's Bonus: 10% Off
I bought the 8 camera system from USA Security listed here. I would have given five stars, but it's four for the product not the firm.
The company shipped out a package missing a power supply for the main DVR unit. However, when I wrote and called to complain, they immediately shipped out a replacement power supply without any trouble whatsoever. This firm seemed committed to resolving sales problems for its customers, and for that I'm grateful. I'd definitely buy from them again, and would recommend others purchase from the firm as well.
The device works as advertised. Images from the cameras are straight 480i, and what's recorded is really about 320i, but then again so what. I'm not making a movie, I'm recording video of the exterior of a property. I don't care about image quality, I care about having proof for insurance adjusters and law enforcement. I've installed about half the cameras and got the DVR working, so I can say for certain that it works as advertised.
However, and here's why the fifth star is missing, the DVR system is based on Linux. It's clearly imported hardware from China. Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn't include source code for the Linux portion of the product. Yet, that's a requirement of the GPL license agreement for Linux. Frankly, I doubt USA Security has any control over their Chinese manufacturers they're likely just buying in bulk and selling an imported product. But they should know that if they could get their customers source code, folks like me just might improve it. I'll need the root password too.
For the vast majority of potential buyers, this is not an issue. If you want a cheap 8 cam security system, this device will do the trick. But it sure would be nice if these manufacturers actually read and followed the license agreements of the Free Software they base their products upon. Following that license would actually benefit them and their customers as well.
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