32 Channel NVR

Built-in PoE or External PoE Switches

There are two practical ways to build a 32-camera system with the NVRs sold by CCTV Camera World. Some models include up to 16 built-in PoE ports, so cameras near the recorder can plug directly into it for power and video. The rest of the cameras connect through one or more external PoE switches on the same network.

Other 32 channel NVRs have no built-in PoE ports at all. In those installations, every camera connects through external PoE switches. This is often the cleaner layout when switches are already located near groups of cameras, on different floors, or in another building.

AvaEye and Avalonix NVRs sold by CCTV Camera World automatically discover compatible cameras connected through PoE switches on the same subnet, not just cameras connected to the built-in PoE ports. When needed, CCTV Camera World can also pre-configure camera IP addresses before shipment. This lets larger network installations behave much more like a plug-and-play system once the cameras and switches are connected.

Should You Choose a 16, 32, or 64 Channel NVR?

If 16 cameras will cover the property, a 16 channel NVR is usually the better value. A 32 channel NVR makes more sense when you expect to use between 17 and 32 cameras, want room to expand later, or want one recorder to manage cameras from two buildings connected to the same network.

If the installation is likely to grow beyond 32 cameras, start with a 64 channel NVR. For substantially larger installations, see our 128 channel NVRs. It is usually easier to plan for the extra capacity at the beginning than replace the recorder after the system grows.

Channel count only tells you how many cameras the recorder can manage. Picture quality, recording performance, and retention time depend on the cameras, recording bandwidth, and hard-drive capacity.

4K, 12MP, and 16MP Camera Support

Every NVR in this category supports 4K IP cameras, and selected newer models accept cameras with resolutions up to 12MP or 16MP. Higher resolution is most valuable where you actually need the extra detail, such as entrances, cash registers, gates, loading areas, driveways, or other locations where identifying people, vehicles, or activity matters.

You do not need to use the same resolution everywhere. A 32-camera installation might use 12MP cameras at entrances, 4K cameras around the outside of a building, 5MP cameras indoors, and a motorized zoom or PTZ camera where a wider area needs to be covered. The individual NVR product page lists its maximum supported camera resolution and incoming recording bandwidth.

Plan Storage Around How You Actually Record

A 32-camera system can create a lot of recorded video, but the amount of storage you need depends on how the system is set up. Camera resolution, bitrate, frame rate, continuous versus motion recording, and the number of days you want to keep video all affect retention time.

CCTV Camera World offers surveillance-rated security camera hard drives built for continuous video recording. If you tell us how many cameras you are using and how long you want to keep footage, our team can help size the storage before you order.

For installations where recorded video is especially important, look at NVRs with multiple hard-drive bays and RAID support. RAID provides additional protection against certain hard-drive failures, although it reduces usable storage capacity and is not a replacement for backing up critical footage.

Using Third-Party Cameras and Other Network Video Sources

Using cameras from the same product family as the NVR gives you the easiest setup and the best access to features such as Smart Motion Detection, audio, motion events, camera settings, and other integrations. That does not mean the recorder is limited to only those cameras.

ONVIF lets many third-party IP cameras provide live video and recording to the NVR. Advanced features can vary depending on the camera brand, model, and firmware, so CCTV Camera World checks compatibility before recommending a mixed system.

AvaEye and Avalonix NVRs also accept compatible RTSP video streams from cameras and other network video devices that do not support ONVIF. That means the recorder is not limited to conventional security cameras.

In one specialized Department of Defense installation, CCTV Camera World supplied NVRs with HDMI-to-IP converters so HDMI video from drones used for equipment inspection could be recorded by the NVR alongside ordinary IP camera video. It is an unusual application, but it shows how flexible these recorders can be when the video source provides a compatible network stream.

What You Need for a Complete 32 Camera System

• 32 channel NVR: Choose the PoE layout, incoming bandwidth, maximum camera resolution, number of hard-drive bays, RAID support, and analytics that fit the installation.
• IP security cameras: Mix bullet, turret, dome, PTZ, panoramic, zoom, and specialty cameras based on what each area needs.
• PoE switches: Use external switches for cameras that are not connected directly to the recorder, or for every camera when using an NVR without built-in PoE.
• CAT5e or CAT6 network cable: Connect each wired camera to the NVR or to a PoE switch on the local network.
• Surveillance storage: Size the hard drives around camera count, resolution, recording schedule, and how long footage needs to be retained.
• Internet only when remote access is needed: The NVR and cameras record locally without internet service. Internet access is used for remote viewing, mobile access, and off-site notifications.

Frequently Asked Questions About 32 Channel NVRs