The monitor when connected to the DVR (abbreviation for Digital Video Recorder) can display video from 1 to 4 cameras one camera at a time, all four cameras at once, or sequencing pictures from the cameras. A hard drive can be installed in the DVR for recording video. Alarms can also be connected to the rear of the DVR for each camera. It also has a PTZ control port (RS485) on the rear. PTZ stands for Pan-Tilt-Zoom type cameras.

The DVR can be controlled locally with a remote control device or the various buttons on the front of the DVR. The DVR can be scheduled to record on alarm or motion detection. The DVR can be programmed to begin recording when motion is sensed in all of the picture area or parts of the picture area can be excluded from the motion alarm. The hard drive can be searched for recorded information based on time or event (motion detection or alarm conditions).

The Basic DVR can also record sound from one of the cameras as well as the video from all 4 cameras.

An 8 -Channel DVR and a 16-CH DVR is available as an option. This DVR has the same type of programming options, only for up to 8 or 16 cameras in rather than a maximum of 4 cameras..

The DVR can also be accessed by one person at a time through a LAN or a remote location through the internet. When connected to a LAN by a router or to the internet through a modem, a remote viewer has access to the live picture(s) of 1 to 4 cameras in a choice of views. The remote viewer can also search the DVR hard drive for recorded information. This information can be saved on a remote hard drive if desired, copied from the DVR.

When viewing the DVR system over the internet, the DVR must be connected with a modem using a broadband internet connection. The DVR (modem connection) requires a static IP (fixed address) for viewing over the internet which is provided by the ISP (Internet Service Provider) for the DVR connection. (In the Atlanta area this requires a DSL internet connection as the cable company cannot provide a static IP.)