Lorex LW1742 Live SD Wireless Recording Video Surveillance System with 2 Cameras (Black)

What customers say about Lorex LW1742 Live SD Wireless Recording Video Surveillance System with 2 Cameras (Black)?

1. 116 of 122 people found the following review helpful

   
   A excellent choice for basic security; it has some limitations., November 7, 2014

   By 

   Richard Aubin (Dallas, Texas USA) -
   
     

   This review is from: Lorex LW1742 Live SD Wireless Recording Video Surveillance System with 2 Cameras (Black) (Electronics)

   Vine Customer Review of Free Product (What's this?)

   I've been somewhat conflicted over the rating and review for this system. It is, I reckon, what it aspires to be - a relatively inexpensive surveillance system that is somewhat de-featured, but still offers a lot of the basics and a excellent picture quality. It's not really clear from the description here, but there is no remote access to this system; you cannot check on it from out of town, or at the office and there's no way to get remote notifications that the motion detection has been triggered. If that's vital to you, then you should look at one of the many other systems that Lorex offers. Lorex really markets this lack of connectivity as a "feature" on its own website. You -can- remove the micro-sd card and watch any recorded video on a computer, using a dedicated Lorex app or most other video playback programs. (I was able to view recorded videos on my Mac using the VLC app.)

   The setup is simple and operation is relatively straightforward for basic items, but overly arcane for other things (e.g., formatting a new memory card cannot be done from the "SD Card" choice in the menus, it's really buried in the "Recording" choice.). The "feather-touch controls" are non-responsive at times and required a few reboots to sort it out (I believe the unit has upgradeable firmware, so hopefully this can be resolved on the software side). Motion detection works, but seems overly sensitive at times. There is not a lot of clarity in the gradations of sensitivity (there are five levels, I reckon) - it mostly seems to be hyper-sensitive (2-5) or really out to lunch (1) - but the feature is there and you can set it to record upon detection for some period of time. You can also set it to just straight-up record.

   A few words about the cameras on this system . . . the picture quality is quite excellent for SD and the night-time quality is very excellent (the cameras have a lot of infrared lights) - although some items will give a high reflectance to IR emissions (right of nearly any night system). The cameras are billed as weather-resistant and have the appearance of outdoor cameras - yet the instructions suggest that the cameras should not have direct exposure to the elements. It's hard to say whether they really need shelter or whether Lorex is hedging against folks who might otherwise place this unit somewhere where it could be submerged in water (you never know what people are going to do with these things). I've mounted one of the cameras in a non-sheltered area and will see how it goes.

   Overall, I'm somewhat conflicted on the rating. It's not an awesome system, but it is a excellent one and probably a excellent one for the money. The security you get is basic - much more of a "Hey, who threw that rock through the window of my car." than a proactive system that would say you remotely that a camera had been triggered. Ultimately I reckon it mostly achieves what it aspires to be, so 4-stars instead of 3. If basic security is what you are looking for, then this is probably a excellent choice.

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2. The manufacturer commented on the review belowSee comments

   69 of 74 people found the following review helpful

   
   Entry level system-Initial bugs & problems, November 20, 2014

   By 

   Amazon Customer (CA) -
   
     

   This review is from: Lorex LW1742 Live SD Wireless Recording Video Surveillance System with 2 Cameras (Black) (Electronics)

   Vine Customer Review of Free Product (What's this?)

   **This an entry level wireless security camera system**

   My Observations:
   o I tested the system with one camera outside and one inside.
   o Range is excellent enough for my average 2 tale house.
   o Unit looks like it should be a touch screen, but it isn't. You have to use navigation buttons to go from one menu item to the next.
   o It only records data on the monitor unit and only when the monitor is on.
   o The video and still images can be went to your computer by ejecting the memory card and reading them on the computer with your own adapter. This is fine for storing the files or viewing the still images (jpeg). The manual says there is a media player that you can download from their website, but I couldn't find it.
   o Video and still quality are low resolution, but it conserves space on the 4GB memory card. It looks like it will take several weeks to fill up the memory card using 2 cameras. It lets you choose whether to overwrite when full or not. I tested overwrite by nearly filling it up with added files. When it gets down to 4MB, it simply over-writes the oldest files and keeps 4MB available.
   o Night camera is really pretty excellent for low resolution. It does illuminate the area itself with 16 small red lights that are visible, but the area doesn't look illuminated to the naked eye.
   o Extra cameras cost $120(comes with only 2 cameras) & the show has 4 small, live sections on the screen for up to 4 cameras.

   Problems: (too many)

   o Unit reset the date/time to factory default (01JAN14) on its own a couple of times.
   o "OK" button worked intermittently, requiring a reboot to fix it. Seems ok now.
   o Unit freezes occasionally and doesn't record events that it should have. A reboot temporarily fixes it.
   o I contacted the manufacturer through their website. They took a week to get back to me and suggested restoring to factory defaults and reformatting the memory card. This seems to have worked but the system is problematic.

   Initial setup details:
   Inserting the battery is harder than it should be. You use your own small screw driver to remove a screw, but then it isn't obvious if the door should slide out or pop up. The instructions imply that it slides out, but it pops up.
   Manual issues: The web address in manual doesn't work, but a quick search of the internet reveals the new one: www.lorextechnology.com A more thorough manual can be found there for downloading. The manual says "It is vital to keep the system up-to-date with the latest firmware. You can check for and download available firmware upgrades at www.lorextechnology.com." The website doesn't have any firmware downloads yet.

   **This system is certainly not worth $300, maybe $200.00.
   I gave it 3 stars but it is working better now after all of the distress so maybe 3.5.

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   The manufacturer commented on this review(What's this?)

   Posted on

   Nov 26, 2014 6:35:50 AM PST

   Lorex Technology Inc. says:

   

   Hi LG,
   Thank you for your detailed review about the monitor system. The PC player software can be downloaded from the product page, under the Download tab at www.lorextechnology.com/Lorex-Wireless-Video-Surveillance-System-Series-with-7"-LCD-Monitor/prod700001.p#downloadsTab (the full manual can also be found here). The small URL on the included quick start guide documentation for the model is http://www.lorex.ca/LW1740 (which redirects to our main Lorextechnology.com website). At this time, there are no new firmware updates available, but to update it in the future if needed, the firmware files can be copied onto the SD card on a PC, and then the firmware can be updated from the system menu. We appreciate your other comments about the system and have forwarded them to our product team, and we hope that you continue to delight in using the monitor system.
   Thanks, Lorex

    

4.  

5. 56 of 61 people found the following review helpful

   
   Very user-friendly wireless recording video survellance system; requires keeping cameras and monitor in a direct, unblocked path, October 31, 2014

   By 

   Bold Consumer (USA) -
   
     
   
     

   This review is from: Lorex LW1742 Live SD Wireless Recording Video Surveillance System with 2 Cameras (Black) (Electronics)

   Vine Customer Review of Free Product (What's this?)

   This is a nice small surveillance unit. I already have a more serious unit that is wired in and cost a lot more. My main unit required people (electricians) to install it. When something goes incorrect, it requires tech people to fix it. The Lorex LW1742 is basically plug-and-play. You'll need to play around with location of the cameras and monitor, because moving it just an inch makes a huge difference in success or failure. I'm amazed at what a fantastic view of my yard I'm getting, a long, clear view, even on such a small monitor. The fact that the monitor is small is an advantage, since it doesn't take up much space and isn't in the way. I can keep it right next to the chair where I watch TV and read. If the doorbell rings, I can just turn my head to look at it and choose if I want to answer the door or not. Usually not, because it's those sales people who are "not really soliciting, just demonstrating a product." I no longer have to deal with them.

   No electrician or tech expert was needed. The instructions were simple to follow about how the cameras, power cords, etc., are place together. I tried to follow the instructions faithfully and did pretty well until I did something really stupid. Rather than admit to that really stupid thing I did, let me just say that if it doesn't say to remove cardboard from an item, don't. Fortunately, the battery works anyway and I lucked into putting it in the right way, even though the THIS SIDE UP mark was on the cardboard which I removed.

   I did have to fuss with the buttons and settings for half an hour because the menu bar isn't well clarified in the instructions. I kept trying to use it as a touch-screen, which it isn't. But, after fussing with it and having no thought what I was doing, suddenly the cameras were on and working. There was also annoying sound, but hitting the down-arrow turned the volume down/off. Since I'm using the system inside, I don't need the sound function.

   For most people, I reckon this will be honestly user-friendly. It has a very long range of sight of view. One negative is, it only works when the monitor is in the direct path of the camera, with no obstructions like steel or brick to block it. That greatly limits my options of where to place the cameras and monitor. Once I established locations that worked, it turns out that it gets a view that my outside security cameras were never able to get of people standing out of range at my front door. I like that very much! Since it's indoors, strong winds, hail, snow, and rain won't affect it either. My outdoor cameras (another system) sometimes get poor treatment from the weather, tree limbs banging into them, and/or spiders crawling across them. Keeping the cameras inside on this system will avoid all of those problems, even though they "can" be place outside. Our weather around here is not that predictable, so putting them outside isn't going to work for me. There is a two-way talk feature, but I probably won't use that.

   Night vision is fascinating. The system works fantastic in low-light, probably even better than in direct sun. In total darkness, the monitor doesn't show you anything you can identify UNLESS someone comes into view. I believe that's typical of most night-vision cameras.

   All-in-all, this is a decent, VERY user-friendly system, somewhat limited by where cameras and monitors can be located in relation to each other, with an brilliant range of vision. I'm enjoying using it.

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