Q-See Out of Business: What to Do With Your Existing Cameras and System

Q-See shut down in 2021, leaving a lot of DVR, NVR, and camera owners with equipment that still worked but apps, software, cloud services, and manufacturer support that no longer had a future. If you still have a Q-See system today, that does not automatically mean you need to tear everything out and start over.

Depending on the recorder and cameras you own, you may be able to replace only the DVR or NVR, keep the cameras, reuse the wiring, or replace individual cameras as they fail. The hard part is figuring out exactly which Q-See equipment you have before buying anything.

What Happened to Q-See?

Q-See announced that it was closing its doors on January 31, 2021. In its public closure message, the company pointed to the effects of COVID-19 factory shutdowns, tariffs, political uncertainty, and changes in the market.

For existing customers, the bigger issue was practical: once a surveillance manufacturer stops supporting its apps, cloud services, software, and hardware, owners eventually have to find another path for remote viewing, repairs, replacement cameras, or recorder upgrades.

That is where we recommend separating the system into parts instead of assuming everything needs to go in the trash.

Do You Have to Replace the Entire Q-See System?

Usually not. A Q-See system is made up of a recorder, cameras, wiring, camera power, and network components. One failed or unsupported part does not necessarily make the rest of the system useless.

• If the DVR failed: You may be able to keep the BNC cameras and coax wiring and replace only the recorder.
• If the NVR failed: You may be able to keep compatible IP cameras and Ethernet wiring and replace only the NVR.
• If one camera failed: You may only need a compatible replacement camera.
• If the system is very old: Replacing the recorder and cameras together may make more sense, especially if you want higher resolution, newer AI features, more storage, or more channels.

Our Q-See replacement category is the best place to start if you already know which direction you want to take.

What Information Should You Gather Before Replacing Anything?

The fastest way to waste money on an old surveillance system is to buy a replacement before identifying what is already installed. Before contacting us, gather whatever you can from the list below.

For a Q-See DVR or NVR

1. The recorder model number.
2. A clear picture of the front and back of the recorder.
3. A picture of the main menu or system-information screen on the monitor.
4. For NVR systems, note whether cameras connect directly to the recorder or through an external PoE/network switch.
5. For DVR systems, include a picture of the camera power supply if you are unsure how the cameras are powered.

For Q-See Cameras

1. The camera model number if it is readable.
2. Pictures of the camera and the connectors on its cable.
3. For IP cameras, a picture of the old NVR's camera-registration screen is useful.
4. For coax cameras, pictures of the DVR's encoding or camera-resolution settings help us identify what the recorder supports.

Replacing a Q-See DVR or NVR

If the recorder is dead, the app no longer works, or you simply want newer remote viewing, replacing the recorder is often the cleanest upgrade.

Q-See sourced equipment from several manufacturers over the years, so there is no single recorder that replaces every Q-See DVR or NVR. The exact model and camera type matter.

If you have a recorder with round BNC camera inputs, you are dealing with a coax DVR/XVR system. If the cameras connect over Ethernet, you have an IP-camera NVR system.

For the detailed QC, QT, Knox, DVR, and NVR compatibility breakdown, use our Q-See DVR & NVR Compatibility Guide.

Replacing Q-See PoE / IP Cameras

IP-camera compatibility deserves a little more care than simply matching an Ethernet connector. Q-See used IP cameras from different manufacturers, and the new NVR has to communicate with the camera correctly.

When asking us to recommend an IP camera or NVR replacement, send:

1. The Q-See NVR model number.
2. The camera model number.
3. A picture of the camera-registration screen from the old NVR when available.

If we cannot identify a dependable camera replacement for an old proprietary system, replacing the NVR and cameras together may be the better use of your time and money.

One other issue catches people off guard: existing IP cameras may still have passwords assigned by the original Q-See NVR. A new recorder may show an “invalid username or password” error until the correct camera credentials are entered.

If you have QC Series IP cameras and are moving to an Avalonix recorder, our step-by-step guide explains how to connect Q-See cameras to an Avalonix NVR.

Replacing Q-See HD Coax and Analog Cameras

Coax camera replacement depends on two things: the video signal type and the resolution the DVR supports.

Q-See sold cameras using several coax formats, including standard analog CVBS, AHD, HD-TVI, HD-CVI, and, during part of its product history, HD-SDI. Current multi-format DVRs support CVBS, AHD, HD-TVI, and HD-CVI, but HD-SDI is the major exception.

If we are helping you identify a coax-camera replacement, send:

1. The DVR model number.
2. Pictures of the front and back of the DVR.
3. A picture of the recorder's main menu or system-information screen.
4. Pictures of the encoding or camera-resolution settings for the channels you want to replace.
5. Pictures of the existing cabling and camera connectors.

If you cannot access the DVR information, send the camera model number and clear pictures of the camera and connectors instead.

Can You Keep the Existing Q-See Wiring?

In many cases, yes.

Coax / BNC Wiring

Existing coax can usually stay in place when you replace a DVR or install a compatible replacement camera. The biggest exception is an upgrade to 4K over coax. Many older Q-See kits used thin pre-made copper-clad aluminum cable, which cannot reliably carry a 4K signal over longer distances. Solid copper cable is the better choice for 4K coax installations.

Ethernet Wiring

Existing CAT5e or CAT6 Ethernet cabling used for Q-See IP cameras can normally be reused with a replacement NVR as long as the cabling and terminations are in good condition.

When Does a Complete System Replacement Make More Sense?

Keeping old cameras and wiring is useful when the equipment still does the job. There is also a point where trying to preserve every old component stops making sense.

A complete replacement is worth considering when:

• the recorder and several cameras are already failing
• you want to move from coax to a full IP/PoE system
• you want a substantial resolution upgrade
• you want newer person/vehicle or other AI features
• you need more channels or substantially more storage
• camera compatibility has become more expensive to troubleshoot than replacing the old system

Q-See Owner FAQ

Is Q-See still in business?

No. Q-See announced that it was closing its doors in 2021. Existing owners now need third-party replacement equipment and support when recorders, cameras, apps, or software stop meeting their needs.

Do I have to replace all of my Q-See cameras?

No. In many systems, compatible cameras can be kept while only the DVR or NVR is replaced. Whether that works depends on the camera type, signal format, resolution, and recorder series.

Can I still use the wiring from my Q-See system?

Usually. Coax cable can often be reused for a DVR replacement, and CAT5e/CAT6 Ethernet cable can normally be reused for an NVR replacement. A 4K coax upgrade is the main situation where the quality of older cable becomes a major concern.

What should I do if the Q-See app no longer works?

If the old recorder depends on unsupported Q-See remote-viewing software, replacing the DVR or NVR with a current recorder is usually the cleanest way to restore supported mobile and desktop viewing.

Where should I shop for a Q-See replacement?

Use our Q-See Replacement category to compare replacement DVRs, NVRs, cameras, and complete-system options.