Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Beware of Q-See camera surveillance systems from CompUSA

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The Q-See brands of security cameras are a scam. The 8 camera set with an internal 1 Terbyte Harddrive sells for about $900. It claims to have an "easy" setup on the internet. But the truth is, the set-up is impossible and invovles more than 30 confusing steps.

Clearly, Q-See was setup by a geek with no commonsense who doesn't use or need a security system and involves software designed by high tech software programmers who have normal life. The system is inoperable.

Now, they give you a card to call someone to install your system. But the cost is unbelievable, more than $200 per camera, plus another $1,500 to configure your computer system.

Here's the problem. It takes 10 days to set up your home system so that you can make the cameras display on a flat screen TV monitor. Then, it takes another 10 days to configure the DVR that manages the cameras so that you can access the video images "internally" through your home network. What that means is that they allow you to view the camera images on the TV monitor AND they allow you to use an iPad (after downloading the Super Cam HD system software after paying the unbelievably rip-off price of $10.99) so that you can use the iPad to view the images WHILE YOU ARE IN YOUR HOME.

How stupid is that? Okay, maybe it's a convenience but for $10.99 after spending $900. Forget about it. It's stupid like the idiot who designed this system.

But that's not the biggest problem with the Q-See QT$ DVR systems.

If you want to access the system from OUTSIDE of your home network, you have to follow 50 steps to configure your system so that your "router" forwards your port to only God knows where.

Are these people moronic or what? The most idiotic waste of money system I have ever purchased.

Don't buy it. You can't configure your own system. It is impossible because the "User Manuel" they provide to manage the 16 Channell CIF@480fps & D1 @ 120fps Digital Video Recorder is a worthless piece of garbage.

The User Manuel for the QT426 -- have you figured out that with all these numbers it is a scam to just take your money? -- is worthless. It has100 pages of worthless instructions that cannot be configured by any normal human being.

So, if you are going to purchase a home camera security system, DO NOT PURCHASE the Q-See models. Honestly, you will be wasting your time. Or, you will have to be wealthy like Steve Jobs (the king of consumer abusers) to afford having one of the Q-See technicians to come over and set it up for you. And the cost of them coming to your home is over $2,500 to set up their worthless system.

You are better off going to ADT and purchasing one of their remote camera systems that works better and costs far less and have security monitoring linked to the local police station.

The bottom line is that the Q-See QT426 and all of its other models do not work at all.

You might be tempted to try and follow the directions but the directions are worthless and lead you to a dead end.

For example, they try to get you to go to their web page at www.q.see.com. There, you will set up a "free" account that is even more worthless. It does nothing. You set up a domain there, to do what? Once you have their domain address, it does nothing.

I urge you not to buy this or any other product from Q-See systems. You do not want the misery of knowing you wasted your money because you will not be able to set up the system. You will have to pay the Q-See moron geeks to do it for you and you don't want to waste that money.

You will also waste your time trying to get "Port Forwarding" enabled. It doesn't matter if you have the IP address for the DVR or for your router. It will not forward. And, to make matters really worse, this is the instruction manuel they provide for "simple and easy port forwarding" instructions.

Click here

Don't even waste your time. I can't say it enough.

-- Ray Hanania
www.hanania.com

23 comments:

  1. Maybe you are just not smart enough to do it. I have had no problems, nor did a number of other people that have used them.

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  2. I've had terrible problems with Q-See. The resolution they promised is weak. I have been unable to access the system using the Internet. Sounds like the comment above is from someone who works for Q-See and it reflects the problem that Q-See has: They are not there to help you, just to scam you. Their system sucks and is NOT worth the money. Get a better system even if it costs a little bit more. Other systems have easier setups to connect using remote Internet access, which is the whole point of having a system like this. Q-See obviously doesn't get it.
    Simon
    Boston, MA

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  3. I have them setup at work. It was a little difficult to follow their instructions because I had never set-up a serveillance system but wasn't rocket science, took me about two hours. Once I got it done they worked awesome and I've had no problems since.

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  4. I tried following the directions to remotely access my Q-See home camera system and it doesn't work. But I did call the Q-See tech center and they offered to come and install it for $2,500. I told them I already installed the cameras, too, and they said they don't come out to connect the systems. I brought in the Geek Squad from Best Buy and their technician said it was not possible to view the system from outside of the house. You CAN view your cameras from inside the house using the same Wireless Network but only using wireless, by download the SuperCam Ap for the iPad or cell phone. But that doesn't do much good at all. I'd like to view my system from outside of the home and now I am looking at purchasing a new DVR system but have to find one that connects to the Q-See wiring system. Hopefully, Q-See did one thing right with this horrible product.

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    Replies
    1. The geek squad is a scam anyway. Most of them don't squat about tech shit.

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  5. q-see is a budget friendly system.
    yes you can get uncommon names cheaper That work just as good.
    but yes I say but. they may not have any quality or maybe nobody familiar with them to get any sort of help.

    First time I got my q-see 8channel with 4cams totalled 300 4 more cams for another 100. lot's cheaper then you paid & it was flawless to setup. only issue i have with q-see is there motion detection notices insects or rain drops depending on your sensitivity setting.

    Would I purchase another q-see? YES
    would I buy another brand? Yes if it has the features I would like.

    Sorry to say but your article is not accurate.
    I have contacted q-see with no problems also emailed & they sent proper information to me.

    Now just waiting for info about modifying my q-see LOL.

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  6. I am with Ray on this one... I have problems with my Q-SEE DVR and want to get a RMA but their online process doesn't work and when you call them and put in the ext # you continually get a recording that the person isn't able to take your call and to leave a message. If you press "0" for operator once again you get a message that individual isn't in also and to leave a message. Guess what they don't call back either.
    Leave a message on their site and guess what? no call back or reply. Unit is crappy with crappy cameras.
    Sorry I wasted my money on them. Buyer BEWARE!

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  7. I agree with these people. This camara system sucks. It's only good to scare off the customers or your workers. To let them know that there is a camara recording them.

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  8. I think their cameras are pretty good, 420 TVL. I take the VGA output and put it into a VGA input card and show these videos on the web as web cam. Very good quality from all four. the instruction manual is accurate; if you follow the instructions to the letter, everything will work as they say. Remember this is a security system and not just a webcam. Forwarding the ports is a well known process. I have to do it for other devices as well. easy with a DLink router, or simply use PNP if your equipment supports it. I had ADT before, now there's a scam! The blogger is being unfair to QSee. (I also had Night Owl which is similar and their instructions were pretty well the same)

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  9. I would say that instead of ip cameras,it is better that you get an ip cctv so that you get a cheaper and the better deal on the security that you need.

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  10. www.security360cameras.com provides affordable surveillance equipment for business and homes that can be remotely monitored with any PC, smart phones, i-pad, i-phone,mac or laptop. Clients do not have to pay a monthly fee. The apps are free and easy to use. The Stand Alone DVR's are easy to use . One can add as much Hard drive as they wish, We provide special AV( Audio Video) specially made by western digital for this purpose DVR Board.

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  11. I just purchased the QT548 with 6 cameras. I had never set up a camera system before however with a little effort i was able to open the ports on the router and it works fine. I can access the system from the DVR, my Windows computer,Galaxy SIII phone and via an Ipad in Amsterdam. I think the it is a great system. I am currently having an issue with color on 4 of the cameras however Q-See has sent me 4 replacements and it has been quickly. I dont think Ray's comment are accurate. It appears he knows very little about electronics and how systems function

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  12. Hey, I am not a Q-see representative. I work for a restaurant group based out of NC. I have installed sixteen of the QS systems. Port forwarding, static ip addresses and figuring out how to view locally and remotely requires a somewhat small understanding of computers. The new systems they are releasing have not been as user friendly as I like. These are cheap options for home surviellence. For the person that was told by a geek squad agent that they could not view that system remotely...was just like every other agent Best Buy hires...computer dumb. As i said before, i have run he camera lines and configured sixteen camera DVR's from scratch. I have reconfigured these countless other times due to various reasons, including but not limited to ISP changes. Do your research. If you still can not figure it out, look up a local I.T. business or find a tech friend(or their son/daughter) that knows quite a bit about computers.

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  13. I'm on my second system . Didn't Learn the first time around. This past week, the second system crashed? It no longer records . First system was worse , just stopped working . Both system last 2 1/2 to 3 years . I can say that it works good during that period , but as I mentioned, after the " time period " it just craps out on you . The systems were purchased far enough apart for them to work out any bugs or improve their hardware/software , but I think they would rather have me buy a third system !
    Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

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  14. I ordered the QT548 system with 6 cameras in Dec 2012. Was able to set up the system with no problems altho it did take some trial and error.
    Then the problems. 4 of the 6 cameras intermittently do not display the proper color. A call to Q-See resulted in the 4 cameras being replaced. Of the 4, 2 still did not work. A call to Costco/Q-See resulted in a promise of 2 more cameras being shipped but never did. A call back a week later, and another tech that knew nothing about the problem promised to send 2 cameras. The Tech support for problems is sorely lacking. These cameras have some latent defect and i am afraid my only answer is to send the entire system back. I would not recommend anyone to buy this system.

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  15. I'm surprised so many have had problems with Q-See. I had never even touched a security camera or system. I've been in the pest control industry for 17 years and no technical background. I ordered a Q-See Elite 8 camera system. I read the instructions and proceeded to install the system. Once I had all the cameras in place I called Q-see support. The technician remotely got on my computer and got the DVR working with my router in about 10 minutes. I had absolutely zero problems getting the remote viewing to work. I called my wife who is terrible with technology, got her to download the App, gave her the numbers to type in, and she could instantly see me and all the cameras. It took me longer to install the 8 cameras and run all the wires than it did to get it running. The system has been up for 8 months and we haven't had any issues. Picture quality is amazing, DVR works great, remote viewing is seamless, could not be happier with Q-See. I've never figured out why when people can't figure out a problem or can't get something to work they blame the product or company and tell us all how terrible something is when in reality it is them that has the problem. If something is over your head don't try to do it then blame someone or something for your inability to make it happen.

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  16. Well anonymous. we know you are not telling the truth. Q-See's tecnicians DO NOT help consumers unless they pay hundreds of dollars for support. The fact is Q-See refused to even help me and hundreds of others here who asked for the help. We had to pay outsiders to install the system and make it work. Quick flaking for the company just because you probably work there. Q-See systems are the WORST system out there for surveillance and the public should be and is aware of that fact. There are so many other systems out there that are far easier to install without all of the hi tech changes you MUST make to your home internet system.

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  17. I'll admit, the intial setup process as well as remote monitoring can be challenging to configure, however it's nowhere near as difficult as Ray describes. The manuals are fantastic and so is the telephone support. A little time and patience go a long way. It took me about 4 hours to configure the software on my 4 channel DVR system. The day and night picture quality is phenomenal. The software is advanced for a reason. It allows you to customize the recording, playback, alarms, etc. to an amazing degree. Bought mine at Costco for about $700. My degree in Computer Science did come in handy : )

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  18. It is extremely difficult and Q-See technical support is non-existent. They demanded that I pay them and buy a tech plan which I refused. It was more than $300 to do the work and even more for them to travel to my house to set up the system. I ended up hiring a local computer techie who came in and took 3 hours to install at a cost of $375. What a waste of time and money. There are so many other easier-to-use systems out there. I again warn everyone to pass up this system. My experience with Q-See systems has been terrible and it is not even that dependable. Find another system.

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  19. Granted that it is not the easiest system in the world, but if you take the time to read the manual then try to install it actually works.. I have an 8 camera system operating just fine and it wasn't hard to configure, in fact it took very little... the hardest part was setting the access port on the system to get through the firewall. To install it on any additional computers for full remote viewing (not just within your house) you simply have to know the IP address that your camera system is on, which is easy as typing "what is my ip" into any search engine from the system the cameras are on...

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  20. i think for security issue we should must buy dvr surveillance camera for our homes or Businesses..

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  21. I'm sorry to disagree with the critics, but I've used Q-see for years now; first a 4 then an 8 cam DVR. The configuration can be a bitch the first time around, but it's worth learning (i.e. reading the manual). Once you've got it down, it can do everything they say it can. A sweet system for the money for sure.

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