Night Owl Security Cameras Review 2026: Budget NVR Systems — Worth It?
Night Owl has been selling budget DVR and NVR camera systems since 2009, primarily through Costco, Sam’s Club, and Amazon. Their pitch is simple: buy once, store locally, no monthly fees. But in 2026, with smart cameras costing $30-50 and cloud storage included free, is a traditional NVR system still worth the hassle?
We analyzed Night Owl’s current lineup, app reviews, and real owner experiences to give you an honest verdict.
Night Owl at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Boca Raton, Florida |
| Product type | Wired NVR/DVR camera systems + newer Wi-Fi cameras |
| Monthly fee | $0 (local storage) or $5-$10 for cloud features |
| Where sold | Costco, Sam’s Club, Amazon, Home Depot |
| Professional monitoring | No |
| Smart home integration | Limited (Alexa only, no HomeKit, no Google) |
| Our rating | 2.5/5 |
2026 Product Lineup
Night Owl has shifted from pure NVR systems to a mix of wired and Wi-Fi cameras. Here’s what they currently sell:
| Product Line | Resolution | Storage | Cameras | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTD Series (NVR) | 4K (8MP) | 1-2TB HDD | 4-16 wired PoE | $400-$900 | Large properties, warehouses |
| BTN Series (NVR) | 2K-4K | 1TB HDD | 4-8 wired PoE | $300-$600 | Homes needing 4+ cameras |
| Wi-Fi Smart IP | 1080p-2K | Cloud or microSD | 1-4 wireless | $50-$200 | Small setups, renters |
| Doorbell Camera | 1080p | Cloud | 1 | $80-$100 | Front door only |
What Night Owl Does Well
| Strength | Details | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| No monthly fees (NVR) | All footage stored locally on hard drive | Hard drive failure = lost footage. No off-site backup unless you pay for cloud |
| 4K resolution | Sharp detail for identifying faces/plates | Requires good network for remote viewing at full quality |
| Color night vision | Spotlight-based color recording at night | Spotlights visible to neighbors, may attract attention |
| Costco availability | Easy returns, Costco warranty on top of Night Owl’s | Costco models sometimes use older hardware |
| Wired reliability | PoE cameras don’t drop signal like Wi-Fi | Running Ethernet cables is a major installation project |
| Two-way audio | Built-in speakers on newer models | Audio quality mediocre compared to Ring/Nest |
Night Owl’s Problems (2026)
| Problem | Impact | What Competitors Do Better |
|---|---|---|
| Terrible app (2.5★ iOS, 2.8★ Android) | Constant crashes, failed connections, laggy playback — the #1 complaint across every review platform | Ring (4.6★), Abode (4.7★), Reolink (4.3★) |
| Complex installation | NVR systems require running PoE cables through walls/attic — not DIY-friendly for most homeowners | Abode/Ring/Wyze: wireless, 15-min setup |
| No security system | Cameras only — no door sensors, no alarm, no siren, no monitoring | Abode: complete security + cameras |
| No professional monitoring | Nobody calls police for you — cameras are evidence, not prevention | Abode/Ring/SimpliSafe: optional pro monitoring |
| Limited smart home | Alexa only (basic), no HomeKit, no Google Home, no IFTTT | Abode: HomeKit + Z-Wave + Zigbee + Alexa + Google |
| Hard drive failure risk | Local-only storage means one dead HDD = all footage gone | Cloud backup + local (Reolink, Eufy) |
| Declining brand | Fewer new products, stagnant innovation, app neglected | Reolink/Eufy actively shipping new models |
The App Problem: Why It Matters
A security camera you can’t reliably access is a security camera that doesn’t protect you. Night Owl’s app — Night Owl Connect (and the older Night Owl Protect) — is consistently rated as one of the worst in the category:
| App Issue | How Often Reported | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Failed remote connections | Very common | Can’t view cameras away from home — defeats the purpose |
| Playback lag/crashes | Very common | Can’t review recorded footage reliably |
| Push notification delays | Common | Motion alerts arrive minutes late or not at all |
| Multiple app versions | Confusing | Old/new apps, unclear which to use for your system |
| Poor timeline search | Common | Finding specific events is tedious compared to AI-powered search |
Compare this to Reolink’s app (4.3★) which reliably connects, or Abode’s app (4.7★) which manages both cameras AND a full security system from one interface.
Night Owl vs. Modern Alternatives
| Feature | Night Owl (NVR) | Abode | Reolink (NVR) | Ring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camera resolution | Up to 4K | 2K (Cam 2) | Up to 4K+ | Up to 2K |
| Security system | ❌ No | ✅ Full system | ❌ No | ✅ Full system |
| Pro monitoring | ❌ No | ✅ From $6/mo | ❌ No | ✅ $20/mo |
| Door/window sensors | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Monthly fee required | $0 (local) / $5-10 (cloud) | $0 (free plan) | $0 (local) | $0-20/mo |
| Local storage | ✅ NVR HDD | ❌ Cloud only | ✅ NVR HDD + microSD | ❌ Cloud only |
| App rating (iOS) | 2.5★ | 4.7★ | 4.3★ | 4.6★ |
| Smart home | Alexa only | HomeKit/Alexa/Google/Z-Wave/Zigbee | Alexa/Google | Alexa (Amazon ecosystem) |
| Installation | Complex (wired PoE) | Easy (wireless, 15 min) | Complex (wired PoE) | Easy (wireless) |
| 3-year cost (4 cameras) | $400-$900 | $340 + $0-216 | $300-$700 | $460 + $0-720 |
Who Should Buy Night Owl
| Buy Night Owl If… | Skip Night Owl If… |
|---|---|
| You need 8-16 cameras for a large property | You want an app that actually works reliably |
| You can install wired PoE yourself (or hire someone) | You want a security system, not just cameras |
| You refuse to pay any monthly fee, period | You want smart home integration beyond basic Alexa |
| You buy from Costco (great return policy) | You’re a renter or don’t want to run cables |
| You want 100% local storage, no cloud dependency | You want professional monitoring as an option |
Better Alternatives by Use Case
| If You Want… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cameras + full security system | Abode | Complete system, HomeKit, free plan, optional $6/mo monitoring |
| Budget NVR with better app | Reolink | Same concept as Night Owl but 4.3★ app, more reliable, often cheaper |
| Easy wireless cameras, no sub | eufy | Local storage, good app, no monthly fee, no cables |
| Best camera ecosystem | Ring | Huge camera lineup, Neighbors community, Protect plans |
| Ultra-budget cameras | Wyze | $30 cameras with person detection, $2/mo optional cloud |
| Pro-grade NVR (commercial) | Hikvision / Dahua | Superior hardware, more channels, better software — but no US support |
The Cameras vs. Security System Question
Night Owl gives you cameras — but cameras alone don’t protect your home. They record evidence after something happens. A real security system with door sensors, motion detectors, and a siren actively deters break-ins and alerts you the moment a door opens, not after a burglar is already inside and walking past a camera.
For the same $400-$500 you’d spend on a Night Owl NVR kit, you could get an Abode Smart Security Kit ($199) + two Abode Cam 2 cameras ($70) + extra door sensors ($60) = $329 total with a complete alarm system, app control, HomeKit, and zero monthly fees.
Verdict: 2.5/5
Night Owl was a reasonable choice in 2018 when smart cameras cost $200+ each and local NVR was the only way to avoid subscriptions. In 2026, the value proposition has collapsed. Budget cameras like Wyze ($30) and Abode Cam 2 ($35) offer better smart features, wireless cameras from eufy and Reolink match the local storage advantage, and complete security systems like Abode cost less than most Night Owl kits while actually protecting your home.
If you already own a Night Owl system that works, keep it. If you’re buying new in 2026, spend your money on a system that does more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Night Owl going out of business?
Night Owl is still operating but shows signs of decline — fewer new products, neglected app, reduced retail presence. They haven’t released a major new product line recently. If you buy, purchase from Costco or Sam’s Club for their generous return policies in case support dries up further.
Can Night Owl cameras work without the NVR?
The newer Wi-Fi cameras work standalone with the app and cloud storage. The traditional PoE cameras require the NVR to record. Without the NVR, wired cameras are useless — they need it for power (PoE), storage, and network processing.
Is Night Owl better than Reolink?
No. Reolink offers similar or better hardware at comparable prices with a significantly better app (4.3★ vs 2.5★), more product variety, and reliable remote viewing. Reolink also supports ONVIF for third-party NVR compatibility, giving you more flexibility. Night Owl’s only advantage is Costco availability and bundled deals.
Can I use Night Owl cameras with a different NVR?
Most newer Night Owl cameras do NOT support ONVIF or RTSP, meaning they’re locked to Night Owl’s NVR. This is a significant limitation — if the NVR dies, you may not be able to use your cameras with a replacement from another brand. Reolink, Amcrest, and Hikvision cameras all support ONVIF for cross-brand compatibility.
Do Night Owl cameras work with Alexa or Google?
Some newer Night Owl cameras support Alexa for live view on Echo Show devices. Google Home support is limited or unavailable. Apple HomeKit is not supported at all. If smart home integration matters, Abode supports all major platforms.
How long do Night Owl hard drives last?
NVR hard drives typically last 2-4 years under continuous recording. When the drive fails, you lose all stored footage and need to replace it ($50-$100 for a surveillance-rated drive). This is the hidden cost of local-only storage — and why having cloud backup (even as a secondary option) is valuable.
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Nehemiah Gen says
I received my Night Owl Security last week, and I haven’t installed it yet due to my busy schedule, but after reading all these comments, I might think that I need to install mine so that I can conclude that it’s really a great deal.
Richie David says
I purchased my Night Owl surveillance camera these past two weeks, and I love setting it up by myself. With the live feed on my phone, I can clearly see what’s happening outside and in my backyard with the help of this HD night vision surveillance camera. Aside from all of the advantages of this night owl, it is an excellent investment in protecting my life from all of the bad people who do not understand the value of life.
Merlyn So says
Because the Night Owl security camera app is available for both iOS and Android, I won’t have any trouble connecting it to my Android device, and it’s free. And I appreciate the HD night vision. Although it’s not that perfect, it works really well, and I am loving it. And I didn’t pay for the installation fee because I just did the installation of the cameras with the help of my spouse and the instructional materials, of course. And I think it was great; at least I know where I placed my Night Owl cameras.
Ashley Marreon says
This Night Owl Security Camera makes me think about purchasing it or not. Especially that our internet connection is not stable at this moment. Though I know that this will be very helpful for me and my household, most of the time this year there is no one to sleep in the house because our parents are busy on their business trips and we sleep at our grandparents’ house. So maybe it will be a great help if I purchase and install it right away.
SN says
Terrible, software from the 1980s, wifi excessively weak, maybe 300ft with line of sight but I cannot get paring through stucco siding beyond 5ft. Cameras okay–when they connect.
Mari Mebrano says
I was very disappointed with this security camera. It worked fine the first 4 days then system went down for a whole day and a half and I did not wait for update as it was already going on two days. I uninstalled and exchanged for better camera. Customer support opened ticket and stated it was due to an update they were working on. Representative also said if I tried to troubleshoot problem myself any and all video from the downtime would be erased.
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Charles Wing says
Well, rats. Bought the 4-camera wireless NVR set up from Best Buy yesterday. Took a few hours to get it set up but was super-happy with how it was working. Today (Saturday of Memorial Day weekend) was my day to actually put the cameras in their respective locations around my house. Yay!
This AM in the wee hours I checked my Night Owl Connect app on my phone and it said the system was offline. Their were the four thumbnails of the last view from last night but that was it. I went into my office and the NVR was dead. No lights. I unplugged, plugged, unplugged. No luck
So I’m repacking and returning the whole shebang to Best Buy. Funny, since I was ready to leave a glowing review. Now I’m just a little annoyed, what with packaging everything up again. Talk about going from sugar to sh*t!!
I do like how easy it all came together, loved the packaging and the seeming care that went into the product. But obviously a dead NVR within the first 24 hours is a red flag. Sad!!
M Boehm says
Ive had my security cameras in operation for about 8 years now. I started with eight, bought a discount camera at a time adding up to sixteen. As time moved on I purchased a 32 DVR and kept adding cameras. My cameras were added sometimes just for fake security and then wired as time went on. The process took years. I have all types manufacturers on the system. The night Owl’s are the best overall for the price. I use these cameras daily for security and checking up on the kids. You will be surprised at what is going on around you that you never see. Not only theft or property damage, but also what is going on behind your back with friends and family. I’m old and mostly do not understand all the technology stuff, but I can make it all work. I use my iPhone the most. I also have the DVR direct via HDMI wired to my big flat screen tv. That works great when viewing with multiple people. The local police have on many occasions dropped by to see what my cameras have caught. Gun muzzle flash at over 200′ at night. Some nights the vision is great and others not so, but it doesn’t take long for you to learn how and why. 100′ is realistic, I have some reaching several hundred feet, while others less than 50′. The simple fact is they do provide security and they do provide you with lots of information. And they will take some time to set up and the more time you take to tune them the more you will benefit from the project. I am sure that there other systems out there but this has worked for a long time and has no monthly fee. No batteries to go dead. All you need is power and internet connection.
R Keeler says
I have owned Nightowl DVRs for over a decade, even recommended one to a small business. Bad DVR? Replaced at the store. Bad camera? Replace at the store. At the price point, I am quite satisfied, and it always cracks me up to see DIYers complain about customer service. If you cant troubleshoot, you ain’t no DIYer. Good product if you know what you are getting into.
Tristan J Parks says
Soo I found out that the web live view is not actually supported, but yet they still include it in the firmware? What kind of nonsense is that? You put a feature that you “quit supporting” 3 years ago and just basically left trash firmware on it. I also got yelled at by a representative over the phone because I had asked for a copy of the web plugin they used to have from chrome (the old version) and they told me they didn’t have a copy of it….”you don’t have a copy of your own software?” Agent:”We do not support the plugin for linux” Me:”I don’t care if it isn’t for linux I would like a copy” needless to say I proved them wrong being the linux fanatic I am and was even nice to include a snapshot for them during the chat session, but why argue with the CUSTOMER!!!? Makes absolutely no sense to me
Matthew Waller says
If you got this running on Linux I would love to know how
Margaret says
The nightowl security system works great l love it.
Once in a while it will go off line, after shutting off my wifi and phone turning both wifi and my phone back on it does work again.
The nightowl app gives me a nice clear view rather it’s dark or light outside let’s me see exactly who is at my front door and alerts me to when somone come’s to my house on my phone notifications no matter how far away l am from my house.
Shawn Lane says
Camera clarity is fine. The software that runs them however, amongst the worst I’ve seen. Mobile slow and unreliable. PC – ha! If you have the old Active X plugins MAYBE you can get it to work. The technology is all about 15 years old. Taking it back to Costco. Terrible system overall. My $25 Wyse cameras a far better and more intuitive to use.
John says
having a problem setting up the system to record with motion sensing I went thru the setup but had no success is there a better manual for setup
Me says
Bought 2 DVR-X3-161 and have the NightOwl X iPhone and iPad App.
Not able to choose a time and date on playback to view motion videos.
The older NightOwl DVR and App playback functions were much easier. You did not have to spend all your time watching through long videos.
Also downloaded the NightOwlX_CMS for Mac. The playback has begin time with dates and you have to download the entire video file, some of mine were over an hour long and wait for it to download then view the entire video instead of just the time you want.
Going to go down g my old DVR out of the trash and hook it back up and download the older app.
Mike A says
I installed the 4 camera wireless system in the summer of 2018. I am on holidays in Hawaii and at 1AM the alert went off. I witnessed two criminal trying to break into my car in my driveway in Canada. The hardest part was calling 911 to another country. The cops responded to my call and caught three people who had broken into every vehicle on the street. Thanks to the Night Owl system I installed, I gave the full description of these low lifes and the cops arrested and charges all three. And my neighbors got their property back! Feb2019. Mike A
Mr.p says
My wireless night owl system works great. Pretty easy to install. Have no problems viewing them from any of my devices. Nor from my tv. Great system.
BRYAN says
I RARELY COMMENT ON A PPRODUCT….THIS IS ONE I MUST RECCOMEND.EASY INSTALL FOR MY 12 YEAR OLD , GREAT SUPPORT .1 CAMERA WILL BE ALL YOU NEED TO COVER A HUGE BACKYARD …ANYTHING UNDER 2 ACRES……DONT HESITATE GREAT INVESTMENT””’YOU WILL HAV DOUBLE COVERAGE BECAUSE THE WIDE WIDE ANGLE
LARRY says
bought the cam 6 camera found out i need to buy there dvr as welll. my defender dvr will not work with this camera. Just another way of making more money. sending it back.
Tony says
Looking through these reviews post purchase and I probably would not have purchased if I read them first.
HOWEVER, I have found these to be very good cameras with only a bit of tweaking needed to make them work the way I needed. The app is a bit quirky, with little instructions included but I was able to work with it. Changing the camera connectors made the favorite views workable for me.
Setting the proper motion recording delay along with full time recording on overlapping cameras helps pinpoint comings and goings and deliveries. This will also pinpoint security breaches if they ever occur.
Motion alerts do seem to happen with shadows and sun glare even though they should not, but they may also be animals just out of field of vision. More alerts are better than less though.
Alerts are good when on WiFi at home or remote, but across data is a bit unreliable, This would point to the phone carrier though, not the Night Owl system. I also have the Night Owl alerts set to a completely different sound than texts and other alerts.
I can still look back over 2 weeks with 4 cameras(3 recording full time) with only about 1/2 of the 1TB Hard Drive used.
Overall so far. I am extremely satisfied.
Leon Laster says
I have the 6 camera monitor system & it’s A-1 in my book… GREAT JOB TO THE NIGHT OWL COMPANY!!!
andre voie says
I did an upgrade to the hd3 system this is the worst 16Ch I have ever use it records every 2 Min even if there is not movement it won’t work on my Mac it do work on my iPad and when I call in to them I can tell they don’t have all the answer I feel I lost money I have a night owl dvr-16 it works great but this is the worst upgrade I with I have never done it I’m out of $300 all because it was supposed to work with apple
David says
I have Night Owl 3k wired camera system. Works well on Mac, ipad, and windows. Also works on iphone and droit. Great system.
Michael says
I bought the 4 channel system approximately 7 months age had nothing but nightmares/ problems starting with the system, then with the nightowl representatives! They’re disrespectful towards you when you call and advise them of problems with they’re system. When you’re chatting with them online of course, the majority of representatives(if you want to call them that), can’t figure out the problem(s) you’re calling about . They put you on hold forever, and then hang up on you just like it happened to me. This company doesn’t care about you the consumer, they only care about selling their defective products, and of course not standing behind it. To this very day, I’m still having problems with my 4 channel system and I’ve decided not to even waste my time calling the company for any assistance because I normally get someone that I can barely understand anyway. Everyone’s views are different of course, I’m just stating my experience and disappointment with this company.
John Mc says
I purchased the (4) four camera set… the one camera developed a big blurry spot on the middle of the picture…did ALL that I was told to troubleshoot it… defective camera!!! they will not replace it…
Robert Fischer says
My experience so far:
I purchased my 16 channel dvr system and got 8 extra cameras in July of 2014. It is now July of 2018. Somehow I forgot my security code but being as busy as I am it was a kick the can down the road poor decision making things on my part. On July 1st at 144AM someone broke our window on the side of the building and stole our cash drawer. Of course I couldn’t get into my security system because I forgot the passcode. I registered the product (4 years late), sent a ticket request at 630am to see if they could help, at 824am they had a reply with a temporary password for me. It worked! Then, in addition to the amazing service, I was really surprised how well the dvr separated and labeled each recording. I narrowed my search by date, times, AND cameras. It showed me which recordings fell in that range, plugged in a thumb drive, hit copy, and got to watch the moron on video. Very clear picture, this guys toast!
I am surprised at all the negative comments on here. I went out of my way to find where to leave my comment since I was so happy with the all around experience, even 4 years after I bought the product.
Pete says
I have the 5MP system and the cameras do not seem to have full 5 MP resolution (2560×1920). Even though the recorder is capable of 5MP recording, it seems to be upscaled/interpolated from a low resolution sensor. I’ve read that analog BNC cables (HD over Coax) are only capable of 1080p resolution (1920×1080). Does anybody know the actual camera resolution?
Don Price says
Purchased a Night Owl WNVR-20B-41 WIFI WITH A 1TB HARD DRIVE
Boots into Night Owl logo screen Hard Drive light goes off no signal to monitor Hard Drive light comes back on never boots up into set up screen no video signal . DOA Dead On Arrival .
Tristan Parks says
Had my night owl for less than a week, hard drive was faulty so I had to PAY shipping to get a new one out in, got the entire system back and one of the cameras was missing, hmmm never heard of a 7 camera system before. They take advantage of the consumer when their competitors lorex have already crushed them. If you buy a night owl system after doing some review reading then it is completely on you.
Your friend but not a employee of toys place says
You can have a 3,4,5 or S10 no camera. That doesn’t tell you if it’s he, 4k or what? Also you have to push the he resolution of your viewing from phone or turn phone on its side. But like I said the mp doesn’t have anything to do with it being 4k or not. Just means you’ll have a clearer picture the more mp you have
Tristan Parks says
Also the software does not allow a “local” connection, regardless it uses internet and connects to their servers just to see your own cameras
Dave D. says
Definitely the WORST software I have ever come across. Doesn’t work on any of the devices well. Kind of work on mobile, but can’t download files. Barely get Live View to work. Good hardware, horrible software. And I mean horrible. Tech Support is non-existant and idiots to boot. I really wish I had read the reviews first!
Jerry McLaren says
Completely agree’d. I bought a unit, they did a firmware upgrade and screwed up my unit. After hours on hold and with people who do not speak English very well, they have shipped me 2 more defective units as a replacement. The last one came with a screw rolling around in it! They will absolutely not refund any money. They just want you to continue sending defective units back until you get tired of their game.
Dave says
Me Too! I am trying to find a fix for it and came across this…piece of junk!
Freddy says
Don’t buy this camera the costumer service is very bad and don’t answer really don’t buy this
Ann says
My cameras have been out for 5 days now. Night Owl has said repeatedly that it is their system but I just don’t get it. I also have a Lorex system at work with Flircloud and it has never gone down. Yes, costs a bit more, not a lot but at this point, totally worth it. They say that I have to be in the location of the DVR to fix the issue except I bought the system so I could look at our cottage during the winter and not have to be there. Not impressed, already ordered a Lorex, this one is going back.
Djara says
I have had the Night Owl system for two and a half years. It performed adequately (you get what you pay for) for two years and three months. Three months out of warranty and a camera went black. Three weeks later I couldn’t connect to Night Owl on my android or tablet app. My wi-fi was working fine as I could connect to all my other apps. I called Night Owl Support more than six times to help me troubleshoot and get the matter resolved, only to be left on hold each time, for as long as 25 minutes, never once speaking to a real person. In my opinion, very low-end product and deplorable customer service. Do not waste your money on this inferior product. Invest your money wisely and buy a home security system of quality……..not Night Owl.
Chris says
Follow up: Since below I did write a bad review, I will say at least one good thing at least: The mobile app does work and has no issues. Works without having to setup network and port forward. If this is all you need, this feature is fine. But still, get PC app and manuals; it’s terrible to see on your website (coming soon)
Chris says
oh… my …. What a terrible product. Here’s why in quick rundown.
* Camera i bought only supports mobile app – The PC software does not work.
Nowhere does it say this on the box. Also, it says ON THE BOX, and instructions, to get Night Owl CMS software – Called tech support only to be told this camera doesn’t support anything but the APP and only when your on the network. Why did they waste their ink putting false information on a box and instructions..
* Tech support was terrible, hard to understand, has no clue what they are doing. They want to remote into my PC, do ipconfig and act like they are doing something only to find out, this doesn’t work for your camera.
* You should see the box, full of false information.
Save yourself effort and don’t buy this product or vendor. They need to learn how to actually write software and build hardware that does what they say it will. Very frustrated.
–
Wailer Mon says
Excellent in theory, but very poor execution. I bought my system at Costco. After living with the system for about three months, these are MY personal observations. Keep in mind that of my eight cameras, five have over-lapping fields of view with at least one other camera. My first DVR was defective and kept re-booting at random times. Night Owl replaced it, and I had high expectations that would solve several critical issues. Sadly, it only solved the rebooting issue, not the rest noted below . . .
THE GOOD: Excellent quality clear picture from all 8 wired cameras. Works well in daylight or nighttime. Wide field of view, but not too wide to miss smaller details. . Display of camera picture can be viewed individually (full screen), 4 at a time, 8 at a time with one enlarged (your choice), or 8 at a time (all the same size), or slide show sequenced. Great flexibility in setup for full-time recording, motion-activated recording, length of recording, masking of field of view areas for motion that you do not want to set off recording (traffic on a street for example). All frames are date/time stamped. The android app works fairly well with reasonable latency.
THE BAD: The interface takes some getting used to, and not very intuitive. The included instructions are not much help with operational details, though there are instructions online, at the Night Owl website that are a bit better. You will fare best just playing with the controls to understand what they do and how to use them. The much larger problems are listed below:
1) There are distinct “holes” in the recorded coverage by the DVR. They are RANDOM and will end recording pre-maturely, despite continued motion by vehicles, people or animals directly in the field of view. Even with motion detection unmasked for full screen coverage, it often starts motion-detected recordings late, partially records an event, or completely misses the triggered event all together. I have repeatedly tested and witnessed this with all eight cameras. The single worst problem with this system is that it misses events happening right in front of the camera. This is entirely random. It also makes this system nearly worthless as a surveillance system.
2) The DVR (for the most part) is only recording from one camera at a time. This is problematic when more than one camera has coverage of the same scene from different angles. I HAVE noticed occasional overlap of two camera’s recording at the same time, but it is rare, and usually only for a few seconds at the beginning or end of a scene. If there is an event triggered by an animal, say, on one side of the house that triggers recording, the DVR can miss the burglar breaking in on another camera, on the other side of the house. THIS IS A PROBLEM!
THE UGLY: The most disconcerting of all these issues is #1. What good is a surveillance system the consistently misses events and fails to record when it’s supposed to? Testing has been done under a wide variety of lighting situations to rule out shadows or glare as interfering with the proper recording of the scene.
If Night Owl can deliver what it promises, the system would be a great value! Unfortunately, as it stands now, it falls far short as it certainly doesn’t deliver reliable security. If Night Owl introduces a software updates that fix these issues it would be a great system. As it is, I have spent many hours documenting and sharing these issues with Night Owl, and I am disappointed they are still issues with no resolution in sight. Tech supports goal, at first seemed friendly and responsive, but now it seems their main goal is to close another service ticket, rather than deliver the promise of the system.
crist says
Thank you. Clear and very helpful review. Well done!!!
Jerry King Weston says
My unit has not been in operation for two months. I have forgotten my ID and password but cannot seem to get it from night owl. Any suggestions?
Sharon Webb says
Don’t worry about it. Throw it in the garbage and buy a different brand. It’s not worth the trouble.
PJ says
LOL this is too funny
Ron says
Thanks for the concise report, certainly making me look at other options…
Mal says
Purchase this systems June of 2017 about to rip it out and let my kids play with it’s nothing but a toy. Nothing but problems
Bill says
Pretty sad situation here with the Night Owl C-841-PIR3MP. It turns out, in spite of what was told to me in my pre-sales inquiry, that the motion alarm is nothing other than a split-second bleep on my iPad and/or Android, which isn’t enough to wake up even a light-sleeper. With that, the only people that would ever see the video showing the lurking predators preparing for a home invasion at 2AM would be the CSI team the following day as they examine the dead bodies.
Even if one can get by the horrible software, both CMS and phone apps, this IS NOT an alarm system, so the nice camera resolution isn’t very helpful.
Wes S says
Around Christmas time 2017, Night Owl decided to do an update (according to their support; Costco concierge said they had a server crash) and the database that allows the app to log in and connect to the cameras was not functioning. After several calls to both Night Owl support and Costco concierge over a couple of weeks, there was still no resolution. I had to factory reset the DVR and go through the setup again to finally get it working. Here it is now less than 2 months afterward and the app again no longer connects. I’ll give them each one more chance to provide a reasonable solution otherwise this unreliable system is going back to Costco, which will take me hours to disconnect and pull out the wires. We have a Lorex (Flir) system at work from Costco which seems much better.
???? says
DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!
We purchased a system from Walmart never used it and wanted to upgrade to a wireless system. Was told we couldn’t. Customer service sucked – never called back.
Loren says
Spend the money and get a real camera system, or one connected with the security system so you don’t have 3 different apps on your phone to control it like me. Its pricey but well worth the money. As with most things “you get what you pay for.
joe buzz says
have same problem cameras grainy at nite talked to tech support not enough pwer to farthest cameras power pack could be bad tried every thing said still terrible have to reset ones stuck in nite vision during day any suggestions would help
Ed says
Have a Night Owl 8 cam 1080P system, installed it myself about 14 months ago & have had no problems so far. Although I haven’t finished installing all cams, my plan calls for 12 eventually, so recently picked up another 4 cam 1080P system which is so far untouched. Since the 2nd DVR is 8 channel, thought I’d try my old 700 TVL WInbook cams, just for giggles. Connected one to my existing DVR & was pleasantly surprised to find it works perfectly & the image is clear – not as nice as the 1080P cams, but good enough for some locations. .
As to connectivity, have had no problems there either. Connect via computers running Windows 7 and Windows 10 remotely, also via multiple Android devices.
Did have one occasion to contact NIghtOwl, used their online chat system & they were able to resolve it fairly quickly.
Overall, so far so good but it’s still early in my opinion. 14 months is nothing, ask me again in 5 or 10 years.
Lorinda Smith says
Not happy. Can not view remotely and this is why I bought it. Works randomly. Then not at all. I need something to work the first time as a business owner and I am beyond frustrated.
Ron says
I set up my system and it works great on my monitor and Samsung Phone while at home. Once I leave home I can’t seem to connect from my phone. When trying I only get a message saying offline and flashes connecting. I’m not all that computer literate but this seems to be a poor software product. I did use a Power Line Adapter for my Lan Hook UP. I thought that adapter might be going into power saving mode so I did in fact shut that off. Still not working remote and now all I get is Motion Alerts….just can’t view anything. I’ll be taking this back to the store this weekend.
Rossmoor says
If your at home and viewing the NightOwl monitor All works fine. The app is worthless!!! So trying to view your home when you’re not there is like gambling in Vegas ?
robert drew jordan says
I purchased a night owl security system about 3 years ago. I9t took a considerable amount of time and I decided to set up 6 cameras around my home.The hard drive night owl sold me never was able to playback previous dates and times.I have always been very computer literate from early on.About a year ago or so they told me i needed to buy another hard drive for the system.So what about the so-called 2 yr. warranty? Anyway, I was so driven to make the system work that I purchased a newer model with ‘1’ terabyte. Same problem, yet I was so driven to make my newer system work correctly.Well, I called N.O..support again…Again I was told I had to buy a new box(DVR). Once again what about the 2 yr. warranty. Later tonight I will be sending a comprehensive email to the state of florida’s attorney general’s office of consumer affairs.I would strongly suggest that you send me an updated newer hard drive DVR.dismayed and angry.
Robert drew jordan says
I purchased a night owl security system about 3 years ago. It took a considerable amount of time and I decided to set up 6 cameras around my home.The hard drive night owl sold me never was able to playback previous dates and times.I have always been very computer literate from early on.About a year ago or so they told me i needed to buy another hard drive for the system. So what about the so-called 2 yr. warranty? Anyway, I was so driven to make the system work that I purchased a newer model with ‘1’ terabyte. Same problem, yet I was so driven to make my newer system work correctly. Well, I called N.O..support again. Again I was told I had to buy a new box (DVR). Once again what about the 2 yr. warranty. Later tonight I will be sending a comprehensive email to the state of Florida’s attorney general’s office of consumer affairs.
ERNST EXUME says
Do not buy night owl systems, after 1 year 4 of 8 cameras became defective. customer support is asking me for receipt. My system is now working with 4 cameras, soon i will be buying a new system.
Bdunc says
Horrible customer service. I purchased a 4 camera system. Huge lag between mouse and DVR. Cannot remotely view or replay anything. Contacted Customer Service several times, they said they were sending a new DVR… they sent me a power supply cord! Finally they said the system I have is new and they have a shortage. Said they are checking the warehouse. Still no replacement or repair after 3 weeks! Keep giving me the run around! Will be returning for refund. Not worth the hassle. Worst customer service experiences
Linda Nave says
Purchased the Night Owl 8 camera 5MP system, 2 TB DVR. Installed easily and the cameras have great detail. The problem is the remote view feature. Will not work. Been on tech support multiple times. They fix it, and then it won’t work again. Can’t remote view on my android, tablet or PC, plus the push notifications aren’t consistent. One day they work, then they won’t. They tell me they will have a fix by the end of the week. We’ll See…. If not, it’s going back to Costco.
Rick Emerson says
I just bought the 6 channel 1080 system. Images are crystal clear, I haven’t tried remote playback yet. I had small issues with remote viewing until I switched it to [P2P] as well as my xfinity modern and now works every time. I am impressed so far.
G says
The cameras and recording system are fine. The software which provides remote connectivity is poor as it continuously shows disconnect. I reinstall the software and it helps for a few days maybe a week and the problem reoccurs. Techs cannot solve the problem
Colleen Elias says
Can’t view remotely anymore after working a short time.Tech team has no idea how to fix it, each level 2 tech has a different solution, none work. I suspect it’s the software. Will buy a different DVR and hope the cameras are compatible.
Mike says
I bought my night owl system in April. System easy to install but remote viewing of the cameras is not stable. My system allows for 3-4 weeks of viewing and then there is no connectivity until I reset the system. Given the system is remote, it has become aReal hassle. I have worked with their tech support team 5-6 times to get this resolved and so far it hasn’t worked properly.
Not sure if it is a dynamic/static IP issue??
Phillip says
I just recently purchased a system from them as well.
Setup was easy for the most part, having never installed a camera system before. It took about 3 hours, and that was with buying about 500 extra feet of cable to go around my property. I did the initial setup on a tv and then moved the system to my garage, so that I only check it from my phone/computer.
The only issue I had initially was viewing the remote playback away from wifi, but that’s because I had no idea about IP/port forwarding or network controls. After trying to read through myself, I just used their online chat, and had someone walk me through everything in about 25 minutes. Works perfect now, the image is very clear, compared to other cameras I’ve seen. I haven’t received one false notification yet. The first day I installed them, I caught the delivery guy hit my carport, and run over a ladder. Then throw a package into my dog kennel.
It’s not the most fancy or tech-packed system, but that’s what I wanted. A simple camera only, with on-site storage, no cloud fees, or low battery issues. I will be adding a single camera with 2-way voice to my front door as well. Other than that, I’m extremely happy with everything overall.
Max says
I bought the Costco 8mp system a couple of weeks ago and it works great! Compared to my previous LaView system, the DVR and Cameras are much better. Night view is outstanding! The real challenge is with the computer and cell phone apps. Viewing works fine but remote playback of DVR recorded clips is spotty at best; works fine directly from DVR. If/when they fix the software, this will be an outstanding product all the way around. But, until then, still a very good product for the price that I would purchase again.
Robherr says
Have the same problem as Luann, can view cameras over WiFi, even a wifi outside of my lan, but not over mobile data.
Costco night owl THD system, 4 cameras, 8 channel dvr with 1TB drive. Setup was super simple, and the picture quality is very good.
However, tech support said that the system required a viewing device with a minimum of 5 Mbps download speed to view the video. Hence why it is viewable over WiFi but not mobile, but I turned the camera resolution to the lowest setting and still didn’t work, so I don’t think that’s it.
Ryan says
It could be your router blocking access to your DVR remotely. I have an AT&T modem/router and that was blocking my access to the DVR. If you have AT&T and use the same combo modem then you would have to call AT&T to turn off the wifi from the modem so it will become just a modem and buy yourself a wireless router. Then use the new wireless router to connect all devices. Hope this helps.
NOTE: The new router will be connected to the modem.
Hope this helps.
Rick Emerson says
Rob/Luanne
You have to go into your router settings and switch it to enable P2P (port to port) and remote viewing should work just fine
CARL FULLER says
The poorest software i have ever used built . I strongly advise if you need dependable play back to buy other brand . Its a flip of the coin when you review recording but if your looking for a ok system on a budget i would recommend it ..but if you need crystal clear images and dependability This is not the product to buy . This is my 3rd one and the configuration has certin options after a reset and the next there missing and as far as play back i accused my wife of deleting the video several times before installing a separate hidden cam recording the dvr and found the night owl repeatedly hit and miss on playback and half the time the dvr has 3 or 4 windows with cams playing at a completely diff time and out of sync have yet to find the firmware to try to side load that will take says you have the most receant version …YEAH WELL WHAT IF ITS FLAWED AND NEEDED OVER WRITTEN LIKE MINE !
Linda says
I have the set of 8 Night Owl cameras and love them. But I run them through a tv, no computer. Because I had problems with my neighbor trying to get on my computer. It works great, we couldn’t put the wires up in the attic due to wild animals up there so the wires run through the house. But still the best ones I have found so far. Don’t listen to those that say don’t buy them because they really work well. Handle whatever weather my state which is Iowa kicks out, wind too and love that play back. I plan to buy more of these cameras. Customer service people always helped me with my problems which was moving them from the computer to the tv.
Leesa Mouw says
Can some please tell me how to find and download the User Manual for the C-841-PIR3MP system. I can’t seem to find it on the Night Owl website. The systems seems to run okay but the time stamp is incorrect on the playbacks and I can’t find any way to change that.
James says
It does take some setting up, but the system is very complex so you should expect that it takes a little while to get everything going. I am a tech guy, so it did take me fooling with it in my house for about a week until I understood how it works. Remember that there are many different interfaces like the web admin module, the actual screen on the system, and then the Google and Apple apps as well. I would say the web admin way of configuring it is easier and exposes a few features that the other interfaces do not. The system overall is well worth the price, and works really really well. Don’t believe the other people that say otherwise, because they probably just don’t understand how to set it up. Ask someone who is good with tech to help you get everything working, and you will be glad that you choose this system.
LouAnn says
I have had mine just a few short months. I always have the same problem. It only works on my phone when I’m at home.
John Jax says
I had a system that became obsolete (after 4 years) and the cameras were pretty bad being outdoors, then while walking through Costco I saw the 8mp 8 camera system and decided to spring for it (it’s now 299 on a black Friday special). Installation was a snap as all my wiring was in place already. The software leaves much to be desired but it does kinda work. The images are incredible. The language translation is both humorous and frustrating. Terms like “push” for an alarm type… what exactly is “push”? Where is this online manual you speak of? The Costco 8mp system uses unique software (which is the only real problem I had, no one tells you this until after I burned 2 hours of my time on the wrong software the customer service rep gave me a link for my system)
Ron & Lois Hollerup says
We bought Night owl 8 camera system and only hooked up 4 cameras with 1 android phone and and a lap top have had nothing but problems. Said we needed to upgrade WiFi, which we did. Terrible pictures when it did work and only worked while I was in my home occasionally at that and no replay ever. After several phone calls, hours with customer service finally gave up. Returning
Isaac Erickson says
Just bought a wireless eight channel six camera unit with an additional two cameras. Originally, I had issues with connectivity for the further cameras but did as the manual said and installed the two 9 foot antennas. Signal came back and was very strong.
I highly recommend this product. If you have problems, download the manual and read it! This product was extremely affordable for eight cameras!
My only complaint is that they do not offer a 16 channel wireless unit available as they do for the wired units. If they had, I would have returned my eight channel and upgraded and not had any complaints at all.
I’ve noticed an awful lot of negative reviews on here and have come to the conclusion that these people have not read the manual or do not know what they’re talking about. If you purchase this unit and you have problems you cannot figure out after reading the manual, you should not be installing the system yourself.
The manual is very clear.
SJ Bokinskie says
GREAT…… Truly Plug & Play
Jerry King Weston says
how to get ID and PW (forgotten)?
Steve Most says
Had some issues with my Nightowl System, which I think was an early version. Each time the same problem, each time after hours on the phone their tech support got me running, only for a short run. Nightowl made it right and I will give them 5 stars for standing behind their product. I had to make a little noise, but they listened to me and have made me a continued customer. Thanks Nightowl
Brett Meckes says
It’s junk. Not worth buying Night Owl systems.
Al says
Brett, when and where did you buy yours I just picked one at Costco night owl 8 channel with DVR 8 5mp cameras, sounds like I should take it back without even opening it. We already have the cable company security, but I wanted to break away from a monthly bill. Have you found something that works well for you?
Joe says
Hi, I recently bought the 8 cam system from Costco and am seriously thinking of returning it. Several of the cameras get stuck in night mode, only show black and white when bright daylight. Cycling power to the cameras seems to help, but I’m not going to use a camera system that I have to manually reboot the cameras each day.
IAN CORE says
Ive had this system four 2 years. I had some equipment stolen out of my yard. Somehow the thieves were able to jam the system so they didn’t show up in the play back. Im not sure how they did it because it’s hardwired. But I’m out a lot of money
Chris Bryan says
Works flawlessly if I view it in my home network, if I’m on a public WiFi, it’s “disconnect” (notice the misspelling?) And will only send me notifications, no playback since the dvr never conects
Ron says
I have a 16 channel with 10 cameras and it works fine. On your misspelling comment, “disconnect” is spelled correctly and there is no such word as “conects”. Just saying ….
Brian says
And you think conect is the correct spelling?
Good Speller says
connect is the proper spelling not conect. And they have disconnect spelled correctly. You might want to do your homework first before “correcting” someone else!
Alarm Reviews says
haha, good call!
Michael from Cleveland says
Do not buy this system. We’ve had nothing but trouble with it! The internet connection is shotty at best. Constant disconnection, and much like others above; our hard drive made scraping noises shortly after purchase. The customer service (from outside the country) is horrible too. As long as they get your money, they don’t care about their product.
Erick says
People this system is good you just need to read the owners manual which is in the internet
Mark Thomas says
Yep. You are right. A lot of these people bought the cheap and SLOW internet which will NOT work for this application, or another like it
Veronica says
I bought a night owl 8 channel with 4 cameras, 1080p system from Best Buy 2 months ago. Since I’ve had it set up I’ve had nothing but problems with the night vision being extremely grainy looking to where nothing much is noticeable. One of my guest have thought it was snowing outside because it’s so bad. NightOwl has sent me a new power/ power adapter cord and now 4 new cameras which hasn’t fixed it at all. It’s very frustrating when there’s a string of break ins going on and the suspect was 10 feet away from the camera, but we couldnt see anything at all because of how grainy it is. I do not recommend this system to anyone! Its taken 2 months so far of Night Owl guessing what’s wrong with them.
Bigabe says
I had a lorex unit before this night owl. I’m impressed with the quality of the 3mp cameras. The app is decent. If you have good reception in your phone then it works real good. I have experience installing and setting up dvr so its no big deal. Yes it is easy for the average diy person. No complains. Thinking about returning this 3mp unit for the new 5mp unit that just came out at costco.
Andy lopez says
You get what you paid for. It’s really bad, I’m doing an upgrade. I can’t even monitor my home while I’m in my home. I bought this thinking is was the best choice. That was my biggest mistake. I called technical support a few time and the last one told me sorry but I can’t do anything and hung up.
Kent says
I’ve had my Night Owl 3MP system (from Costco) for a little over a month, and so far I’m very happy with it. Yes, you have to download the manual (except for a start-up guide that comes with the system. That’s normal with just about anything related to computers these days. Yes, even then you don’t get every detail about the system. That’s so newbies to security camera systems (like me) or computers (which I do have quite a bit of experience with) don’t get totally bogged down in technical details that many people don’t want or need. If you do some searching you can find the answers to your questions. Or contact tech support. I have contacted them both by chat and by phone, and have received good information and had good experiences both times. The system is easy to set up, works well with good, sharp images, and was very affordable. I get the feeling most of the bad reviews are people that have installed their system incorrectly, don’t know what they’re talking about, or don’t even own a Night Owl system and just want to bad-mouth the company so potential customers will go elsewhere — for whatever reason. As for me, I give the system 4.7 stars.
Brian Loughlean says
Don’t buy this with any expected good results. Terrible system that fails constantly and the “user friendly phrase is b.s.
Hard drive is noisy, it won’t connect remotely, and the picture quality is absolutely terrible.
Mike says
I am on my third one from Costco just picked it up today. Third one in 18 months. And, plugged it in and this one wont even boot. All the same items as above 24×7 customer service a joke, hard drive starts making noise, unit just quits all together. This thing is junk. Don’t walk away from this POS – run.
Duminda W. says
WOW I wish I read this before, I bought one and had it almost 11 months in the garage, and finally when I get to install it it was terrible, there was a lines going on from all my 7 camera’s that I installed, and the one that is not is a DOME camera, not a night owl brand , that ha abosolute no flow or problem. Last two days I spent almost 6 hours with the Costco Concierge and Night Owl customer service without any positive out come. I have 23 days left on my warrently, as the Costco told me. I might have to return this piece of S**T and try to buy a different brand.
A pearson says
Terrible customer service. Outdoor camera got full of water. They told me to dry them out. Never will I ever purchase anything from this company again. Do not buy night owl products.
Chuck Schultheis says
REALLY BAD USER INTERFACE. REALLY BAD SOFTWARE. Software for the direct local access works differently than the Windows app that works differently than the tablet app that works differently than the Android app. Connection to the NightOwlDVR host may not function without refreshing the network settings. Not all cameras always display without restarting the app. Live resolution is great. Playback resolution is very blurry for moving objects. You can’t read a licence plate or even the emblem for the make of the car. Most playback functions don’t work. Or, the whole playback tool will lock up requiring a re-boot. You cannot select the recording you want to see without viewing all of the recordings for that day in sequence – at least on some apps. It may even provide recordings for the wrong date. The buttons are mislabeled. RWD in’t rewind. It’s slow the display speed. There is no rewind function – at any speed. “Skip to Next” performs a “frame forward”. There is not “skip to next record” function. Alarms sensitivity is adjustable but, is far too sensitive. The range is 1-10. At a setting of 2 (very low sensitivity), five to twenty alarms are sent each day from each camera for the smallest changes – i.e. a leaf blows through. Level 1 won’t send any alarms even for a car driving right in front of the camera. Tech Support basically said I bought the wrong system if I didn’t want a bunch of false alarms because a bug flew through the frame.
Mary says
This night owl security system is a piece of junk. I wouldn’t recommend at all. Within a month this system was totally out.
NIchol says
I purchased this system last summer August 2016. Hired an electrician to run wires and set it up. Within 8 months the DVR made horrible noises. I contacted customer support and they had me convinced that it was my power cord. After many calls (to India) they finally sent me a refurbed DVR and I sent my old one back. Now the refurbed unit is making the same noises. I’m not impressed at all.
Moore says
Night owl Hd has been nothing but a nightmare since we had it professionally installed. A very expensive installation.$$$ we might as well threw out the window. It is next to impossible to view our cameras monitor’s
Remotely. While we are away from home or just to observe camera activities around our home. On my iPhone or iPad it is always showing disconnected. . We have had the installer out several times for this problem. It is never a long term fix. The app always crashes!!!! DO Not Buy This System!!!
The company does not keep up on updating their systems.
Do not let an installer or store clerk persuade you into buying this system!!!!
don says
I’ll make this simple to read , because NITE OWL dont know the term ” user friendly” we bought the dvr8-hda10l with 4 camera’s in the box. I have been fighting this thing now 3 days , trying to figure this junk pile out. Their customer service is based in Florida. You cant understand spanish or indian language , then no need in calling. I waited 35 minutes on hold , for a guy i couldnt understand. When you pay $400 dollars for something like this , it should be more user friendly. I repeat.. do NOT buy nothing from Nite Owl ,unless you just love to swear lol.
Daisy says
Again, shocked to read this, installation and setup was so easy that my 17 year old son installed 8 cameras, set up the DVR and downloaded the app in our IPhones and got app working in less than 5 hours. Hmmmm!!
lee says
same here. i had a 12 year old cousin help install this at midnight & it was up & running in 2 hrs. my wires are run really ugly. it works great & anytime i check my cameras on my app, they are running perfect. i can see everything in the dark & it looks great. im actually buying my 3rd set today for my shop. i also recommend these to a brother and he bought a set.
good system that i love.
Joseph Arc says
Mine was working good for three years now all of a sudden I can veiw remotely only works on my home network. Tried reinstalling the software, tried everything just won’t work anymore. Absolutely useless if I can’t veiw while away from home.
Isaac says
Most people don’t read instructions these days and think it should just work. I bet 90% of the people on here did not upgrade the firmware or even knows what that means.
David Oneal says
Customer service was ok, phone app was not correct and had to be tweaked. Cameras will not always respond when not at home this could be a Verizon issue. Sometimes accessing the live button resolves that issue. Over all it’s only been on 6 months best you can do for the price and no monthly fee. If someone doesn’t like theirs leave a comment I will buy your cameras so I can have 8.
Daisy says
I agree it’s a pretty good system for the price. Yes the issue with not responding is do to internet issues as we tested it so can’t blame the cameras. We love our system and I’m trilled that I can just pick up my phone and look around my house. Totally recommend this system.
Lydia says
Omg this is shi* don’t buy it I have it and if the power goes off you have to do this long as process that takes about two hours customer service sucks this is ridiculous I have a nest at home it’s soo worth it omg easy and the best.
PhIllip says
Do not buy this system. The software is a joke and cameras are not clear. I purchased this system to do time study’s on machines and the camera’s lag is terrible. Images will not load 90 percent of the time. I also have a Q-see system and camera’s are little better great software.
Javy B. says
Do not recommend; I had a night owl system for over 2 years and have had to call customer support for various issues like no e mail notifications, cameras power supply adapters going bad, phone app not working, remote viewing not working, and finally dvr turning it self on and off and not recording. Needless to say, never was able to get them to resolve the e mail notification issue, and dvr is worthless.
Angry says
Do not purchase . Spend the extra money and get a system that works. I bought this to monitor my property remotely and I am constantly getting booted off the system and have to wait till I get back and redo the entire install. Defeats the whole purpose of getting the cameras in the first place
Richard Colletti says
The worst, wait until you need a warranty issue, I think the fellow was on drugs, the best part is I spent $140.00 on IT time and never got the warranty issue fixed. The system sucks with clarity, etc, and ripping out system and replacing with a more professorial unit..
ed paris says
do not buy night owl system no good
OpaS says
That doesn’t say much. Why is it no good?
David Tomlinson says
I need some hard wired cameras and some wireless cameras to be able to cover my home and garage properly. convert wireless signals to wired on a channel to channel basid?
Rodolfo Sabonge says
Customer support is nill. Do not buy this system. I use it as a paper weight because it never worked, and I can’t get customer support to send me a new password. I was fooled by the lower price. In the end what you save now you will have to pay dearly later.
D Gigout says
I have two Night Owl camera systems. The older 720p and a recently purchased 1080p. I have had one of the older cameras go out on the 720 system, but for the price I can’t complain. If you look at some of the other systems and pricing, unless it is a business expense that can be written off this system does a good job for the money. I had four cameras on the new system that had cracks in the mounting bracket. I had already installed 4 of the cameras so I didn’t try to return it. I took pictures of them and the receipt. Sent it to the Night Owl customer service email address given. I was sent a prepaid shipping label and after returning them I received 4 new ones. No big hassles or anything. The tech support has been good in my experience so far. I have contacted them on several occasions. The best way was by chat online. Since Night Owl currently does not have a PTZ camera for use with there system I purchased a Sony PTZ camera that Night Owl confirmed would work. When I received it I had only a minor problem, but it works great with a 30 X zoom and user set panning/tilting/zoom control pattern. That has been my experience with Night Owl, that is all I can say.
By the way, there is online manuals at their website I believe that is where I downloaded them. Though they are not full disclosure on everything, they have helped.
Ronnie says
Beware, stay away. Customer service is very rude and the warranty process is a joke. They will make it impossible to warranty anything.
David says
I personally would not recommend this product, its a great starter if you want to spend some money to show other people you own a system. cons if someone parks a vehicle directly under the camera system you will not be able to read the plates in optimal conditions. so if you want to watch a pixlated video of people stealing your stuff and hear the police tell you they are sorry buy this product, or if your going to drop the money, spend the little extra to get a 1080 system. as for price and install it works great, my neighbors system had a hard drive crash in the first year and mine is clicking so ill need a new drive soon as well. hope this helps
Al K. says
This system works very good if it is setup right. That’s where the problem comes in, the instructions that come with the system are poorly written and in some cases not understandable due to the fact they are not written by someone with English as their first language. That said you can muck your way thru it and the system works very well. If your computer ability is checking your email or doing a google search, get someone with networking knowledge to help you.
I have even hooked up the PTZ cameras, quite spendy, and have the system working flawlessly. For the money really a very good system.
If you are a “Tim the Tool Man Taylor” kind of guy leave it alone you will only screw it up and blame Night Owl for your short comings. VERY GOOD SYSTEM!
josh h says
Don’t waste your money these products are junk! I bought a 8 channel,worked for 8 months then 7 cameras quit. I was remodeling and didn’t install the sytem for about a year and of course they only offer a year warranty. oh and you will grow old waiting to talk to someone! terrible products and customer service!! DONT BUY!!!
Susan King says
our system worked fine for a month. two weeks after we left our winter home for the summer, it stopped working and the tech people, when we finally got ahold of them said they can’t help us until we are at the same location as the system. Well that won’t be for 3 months, which completely defeats the purpose of this camera system. We bought at Costco and will try and return it when we do get home.
M OHara says
This system works very well for the price. Had to get some set up help from tech support but problem was solved quickly. Don’t let these reviews make you try another different system.
Chas Ok says
I purchased 16 channel Night Owl but it only lasted 22 months. The DVR is dead and when I called night owl, they said, “your warranty is expired so there’s nothing we can do for you. Find someone local to repair for you.” Very disappointed in this product. I will not recommend it.
Robin B says
Well — I am leaving an additional comment in addition to the one I wrote the other day. As of today, only my iPhone is working! My computer, my iPad & my sister’s Android phones are NOT working. Yesterday I called because everything showed offline – I was on with Tech Support over 30 minutes & he finally told me they had a network glitch. All worked fine after they figured that out (apparently because I called & told them!) And then suddenly, today, only the iPhone works. This is a horrible system & I would not recommend it!
Robin B says
I purchased the newest Night Owl security system (4 cameras + upgradable to more) from Costco. The picture quality is good, it works on both my iPhone & iPad & my sisters Android, however I also downloaded the software for my Mac. I consistently have ‘no connection, connection lost’ issues with the Mac. There is NO online information/booklets on ‘how to’. I have emailed, called & entered tickets for my issues, No one at Tech support seems to know anything about the Mac software. I also get put on hold a lot & then get cut off when I am on with them. And even though they have my callback number & my email, I never hear from them again! I finally just give up & I end up fixing the problem myself (mostly by restarting my computer!- which is ridiculous). And since there is no online docs, you can’t even find out how to download your playback – I had to guess & then once I did that, it took forever to download a short block of a time. I do have one problem with my phones’ views & they cannot tell me how to fix that either. To put it in a nutshell, their 24×7 support stinks! So if you need help, forget it.
Rob Meldrum says
I’m about to return my system to Costco. I first set it up with a “good” password – mix of digits and letters, etc. It wouldn’t connect to my iPad. I called Costco Concierge – you have to use a maximum of eight characters! You can’t edit the admin password once set. Called back to Costco and was instructed to set up a “user” account with an 8-digit passcode, no alphas or special characters. So much for security. Once done, my iPad connected but would only show one of the eight cameras. I’m not bothering with a third call to Costco. This one’s going back!
J M Kinsey says
We have had our system for over 4 months. And still not working. This is NOT a DIY project. I’ve had guys with a computer science degree, and a post graduate in electoral engineering trying to get it working.
Unless you are really good at computer geek stuff, or willing to pour some money into a system… looking out the windows is a better, more effective, and much cheaper solution.
I can’t believe I let my wife talk me into this.
Dan Recon says
What a load of bull. One need not be have a “computer science degree, and a post graduate in electoral engineering” to use this device. You are just a bloviating jackmouth.
This device can be installed by most anyone that is able to physically install a wired systems. Its not a plug and play .. but its also not rocket science.
Denese Dominguez says
I was debating whether to buy the system — I need 6 cameras and a DVR. I saw your display at Costco and decided to look you up. So glad I did. Whether your system works or not, your response to a customer is abhorrent. “A bloviating jackmount” — Really? Wow. Whether your system is good or not, I will not be purchasing just based on how you handle your customers. Thanks for the head’s up before I spend my money.
Don says
What makes you think Dan works for Night Owl? He’s just some random jackass calling complete strangers names while hiding behind his keyboard.
Alarm Reviews says
Let’s go easy on each-other boys 😉
c brady says
tech support sucks