Hard drive calculator for NVR and DVR

Determining the storage needs of CCTV is important so that you always know how long footage is stored without being overwritten. This is a common question and that's why we've made a guiding tool to calculate how big a hard drive you need. The calculator depends on how long you want to store with a certain number of cameras at a specific camera resolution. Your storage time is also affected by the type of recording you use. The model takes into account whether you are recording constantly around the clock. The following transfer rate (bitrate) is used for each resolution. This is the AVTECH standard.
  • 5 mpx - 5 mbit/s
  • Full HD (1080p) - 3 mbps
  • HD (720p) - 2 mbps

How do I extend my storage time?

There are three good ways to extend storage time as we see it. They are summarised below.

Motion-activated recording

If you set up motion capture on your NVR or DVR, the video storage device will only record when the image changes due to movement, for example. This usually results in a significant increase in possible storage time as it is rare that there is constant movement in front of cameras. You also avoid recording "dead time" when nothing happens in the image.

Scheduled recording

Most of the time, the cameras don't need to record all day and night, so you can set them to record only during specific times. Like motion-activated recording, this is a smart way to increase storage time.

Expanding storage space

It is usually possible to expand the storage space to extend the storage time. We recommend using a hard drive adapted for camera surveillance like Seagate Skyhawk.