Professional Test
controls. The latter double up for menu
USB ports (one front mounted, the second on the rear panel). Interestingly, the MX cameras are connected via 16 independent RJ45 connections; the system automatically identifies the cameras and configures them automatically, according to the manufacturer. It’s what you should expect from a single brand solution!
The unit can support up to four HDDs; any additional recording capacity will have to be network attached There is no WORM media archive drive, so a third party USB-connected device will need to be added if such functionality is a necessity. Other features include Camlock technology to keep the camera network separate from any data network, and SureView, which is used to link with RVRCs. The latter is beyond the scope of this test. As is common with Teleeye DVRs and NVRs, the GX6216 uses the manufacturer’s proprietary Smac-M compression algorithm. This has been created to allow a single compression engine to handle requirements for a number of streams, including recording, local viewing, network transmission and mobile transmission. The algorithm produces five separate streams. Teleeye does claim that the compression is significantly more efficient that other options, and quote figures based upon JPEG, M-JPEG and MPEG4. Video streams can be sent to mobile devices if the iView mobile monitoring application is used.
At first glance, the unit looks pretty much like a standard DVR, aside from its rather unusual bronze colour which is a bit of a ‘marmite’ thing! If anything, the front fascia makes the unit seem a little basic. There are status LEDs, channel select buttons, a few display option selection buttons and playback
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navigation too. Aside from a USB port, that’s it. The rear panel is just as basic, and you get the feeling that the GX is a very understated model.
Installation As with any one-brand solution, you do expect the manufacturer to have made the process simple, easy and intuitive. Teleeye has done this, and the process is reminiscent of analogue DVRs in the past.
The GX6216 is supplied with a quick start guide and a CD containing various utilities. If the information you need isn’t in the quick start guide, you’ll be out of luck as there doesn’t seem to be a full manual. The installation process is straightforward.
It’s a simple job of connecting the cameras to the relevant RJ45 inputs, connecting a monitor to the HDMI output, and powering the system up. In reality, if it all seems a bit too simple, don’t worry, because the process works exactly as stated. We did think one camera had failed as the screen remained blue after the others were active, but after around 20 seconds it came to life. Once everything is up and running,
recording is automatically initiated. You can then enter the menus and make final tweaks. The menus are best accessed using a
mouse. You can use the front buttons, but it’s not the most intuitive way of working with the unit. Once you are in the menus, it really is a case of flicking around until you find the bits you need. It leaves you feeling that no manual is a penny pinching exercise! Next Issue: Benchmark assess the performance of the GX HD Recording Server, and delivers the full Benchmark ratings for the product.
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