IP Cameras from our 2017 line (Vanguard and Executive series NVRs)

Technology is always marching forward. A NVR is a very powerful highly specialized machine where the video encoding is done via a specially designed processor chip. This allow it to be more cost effective and more efficient at a single task (in this case recording HD video) than a computer, which has a general purpose processor. General purpose processors are significantly more expensive and require significantly more power (and thus more cost) to record multiple HD streams at once, so the industry largely uses embedded systems.

One of the challenges with video surveillance hardware is that the features are built into the chipsets. This means that when you upgrade chipsets, you often have new products that don't plug-and-play with older devices.

***Compatibility***: If you are using our Vanguard NVRs, we strongly recommend keeping 2017 NVRs with 2017 cameras and 2018 cameras with 2018 NVRs.

Although, you can still use the Admiral Line of cameras by connecting the camera to a PoE switch on the network (the ONVIF method), they will not plug-and-play. Vanguard line cameras record using the H.264 codec and will not be able to utilize the new H.265 in the 2018 line. The vast majority of our Vanguard line cameras, should work with the POE ports on the new Admiral NVRs (so you won't always have to use a switch), but because of the new security protocols and differing languages between the lines, you will have to authenticate the Vanguard Line cameras on your network first, by using a POE switch, and you may have to upgrade firmware. In some cases, you may have to use the ONVIF method. Not all features between Vanguard and Imperial line cameras are compatible with each other. Because of this, we strongly recommend keeping 2017 NVRs with 2017 cameras and 2018 cameras with 2018 NVRs.