Q-See
Is This Your Business?1.5
2.8
Overall Score
Author: Kaitlyn Short
Q-See is one of the most reputable sellers of digital video recorders and cameras for monitoring in the United States. In 2004, the company introduced the first Internet monitoring DVR. Q-See also holds the H.264 compression standard for the DVR and security camera industry.
In 2012, Q-See launched its 1080-pixel surveillance package, the first on the consumer market. Q-See's packages are designed primarily to have a hard drive recording system integrated into the system.
Q-See products are available on its website, as well as in many different stores, including Home Depot and other home improvement retailers. Q-See is actually a business subsidiary of a larger company known as Digital Peripheral Solutions, Inc.
The company was founded in 2002 and is based out of Anaheim, CA. Here is what is included with the 16 Channel 960H/D1 DVR with 16 900TVL Resolution Cameras and 1 TB bulk deal on Q-See's website:
- 16 Channel DVR with 960H & D1 Recording Resolutions
- 900TVL Resolution Cameras
- Weatherproof Cameras for Indoor and Outdoor Use
- Up to 100ft of Night Vision with Ambient Lighting
- HDMI Port for High-Resolution Viewing Options
- Free Apps for iPad, iPhone, and Android mobile devices
- PC and Mac Compatibility with Four Different Browsers
- 2 Year Warranty and Lifetime Technical Support
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Camera Options
- 24-Month Warranty
- Package Deals
- Compatibility
- Online Video Tutorials
Camera Options
Over three different brand families are available through Q-See, including nearly 30 dome cameras. It can be easy to be confused by all the hardware and accessories available through Q-See.
24-Month Warranty
Q-See offers a 24-month warranty on all of its products. This also includes a free exchange policy in the case of manufacturing defects for one month after the purchase date. You'll need a copy of your receipt, invoice, purchase order, or order confirmation to receive replacement products.
However, there are a variety of exceptions that will be void of the warranty, including misuse, accident, modification or alteration of hardware or software, cut or spliced cables/wires, painted products, insulation-coated wires, improper maintenance, incorrect power supplies, loss of data, etc. A full list of warranty exceptions can be found on Q-See's website.
Package Deals
Thankfully, Q-See has "deals," basically bundles of equipment that give a client a home camera system. One such packaged deal we found was the 16 Channel 960H/D1 DVR w/ 16 900TVL Resolution Cameras and 1 TB hard drive. This is the highest-end "entry-level" camera and recording system that Q-See sells (at $699.99). It has 16 cameras, as well as a 1 TB recording system.
Compatibility
The system is compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android devices. Another thing that we found out was that the system is compatible with the "Big Four" browsers: Safari, IE, Firefox, and Chrome. The camera recording system has 1 TB of storage and can be upgraded to 3 TB of storage.
Q-See also lets customers "pick and choose" according to their needs. Cameras, recording devices (both digital video and hard drive), and other peripherals can be purchased based upon a customer's individual needs. Q-See also has "reconditioned" products available for customers, which have been returned with no defects.
We found a four-channel setup (with four security cameras) for only $199.99. A major selling point is Q-See's rapid response to firmware updates. These updates help keep the system compatible with computing technologies and phone operating systems.
Online Video Tutorials
On Q-See's website, it has multiple how-to video installment videos that show consumers how to install each Q-See security systems, including the QT IP HD System, the QT Analog HD System, the QC Analog HD System, the QC Wi-Fi Camera with the Q-See Plus App, the QC Wi-Fi System. There is also a video that shows customers how to add the QC Wi-Fi Cameras to existing QC Systems.
The Bad
- Overwhelming
- Installation Instructions
- Q-See Reviews
Overwhelming
New customers may become overwhelmed with the sheer numbers of products available. Most "plug and play" surveillance cameras do not have an overly complicated setup scheme. With Q-See, a customer may not know what the best fit for their particular situation is. Thankfully, this negative is rectified by the fact that Q-See has packaged deals for clients who want to get into the home camera market.
Installation Instructions
Q-See doesn't provide any installation instructions or guidelines on its website. A blog, downloadable PDF, or other resource might be a great fit for integrating this product into a home network. For a do-it-yourself, this might be a difficult project to task.
Q-See Reviews
Unfortunately, the majority of Q-See reviews are negative, highlighting poor customer service, faulty equipment and software, and ineffective tech support. We recommend reading through Q-See reviews before making your purchasing decision.
The Bottom Line
Our experts liked Q-See's refurbished product line and found great products at this level. Q-See does not offer a recording service, so purchasing your camera and recording unit is a one-time investment that is sure to reap dividends in terms of home security.
Q-See's recertified products are also a great feature. These tend to be individual packages of cameras or bulk packages that include the following:
- DVRs
- IP Cameras
- SDI Cameras
- Camera Kits
- Cables
- Connectors
- Power Supplies
- Free mobile app
Even though Q-See says these products are installable as a do-it-yourself project, its installation service is strongly recommended, even though a price is not provided on the website. Installation can be ordered via an e-ticket tool. While this system is perfect for homes, clients still might get a better deal if they use one of the camera systems that integrate into an existing home network. For a small business, Q-See is a great technology.
Check out Q-See reviews below to see what consumers had to say about the company. Current reviews note poor customer service and problematic equipment.
John G Gwinn San Diego, CA
7 years ago
James La Jolla, CA
8 years ago
Marci Randall Sandy, UT
4 years ago
