DVR Storage Calculator

Welcome To ESLI's DVR Storage Calculator

One of the most overlooked upgrades when purchasing a digital video recorder (DVR) is the size of the hard drive.

Fortunately, our DVR Storage Calculator will give you a good idea what hard drive size is appropriate based on your response.

Remember, other factors may influence the DVR's hard drives storage capacity as well as the number of days your DVR will store video. Most common are HD compression and resolution. Check with your DVR's manufacture for compression value.

Helpful Hint; Bytes are measured through the power of two's!

One gigabyte is two to the 30th power in bytes, equaling 1,073,741,824 bytes, or 1,048,576 kilobytes or 1,024 megabytes.
One half of 1,024 megabytes is 512, therefore, 512 megabytes is equal to one half of a gigabyte and half of a terabyte is 512 gigabytes.

Try several scenarios that best fit your specific situation.

Let's Get Started!

1. Minimum # of days to store video:

2. Total # of cameras connected to your DVR:

3. Recorded frames per second on one camera*:

4. Total # of hours each workday DVR is recording**:

5. Total # of days in a typical workweek DVR is active**:

Suggested Hard Drive Storage***...

FPS = Frames Per Second - DVR = Digital Video Recorder - HD = Hard Drive

*If the total FPS recording speed is 160 on your DVR and, you have 16 cameras connected to your system, you divide 160 ÷ 16. Therefore Ten is the response to the question "Frames per second on one camera"

**If your DVR is set to record on motion, do not include days and/or hours when the recording area is clear of traffic.

***Other factors may influence the DVR's hard drives storage capacity as well as the number of days your DVR will store video. Most common are HD compression and resolution. As with all advice listed on eyespyli.com or other publications, we try to give you a starting point. All CCTV jobs are different and individual needs have to be taken into consideration. Please check with one of our trained representatives with your specific requirements before starting any job.

NOTES:
FRAME RATE: 1 FPS (Frames Per Second) is the lowest frame rate possible. 30 FPS (real time) is the maximum rate. 1 - 3 FPS is the frame rates most commonly associated with older analog surveillance systems (VCR based). You can always rewind or review your recordings at higher speed. Most people find a frame rate of 10 - 15 FPS is sufficient.

REAL TIME (30 FPS): Most people discover there is little need to record in real time. Some installations have regulatory reasons to operate at 30 FPS/IPS or faster (government facilities and casinos, for instance). Residential surveillance installations rarely - if ever - require that frame rate.

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