Wired for sound and vision: Swann DVR4-2000 Security Recording System

Milton Keynes: birthplace of the famous concrete cows, the location for Cliff Richard’s promo video for Wired for Sound, and home to Swann Security, a global leader in plug n play security monitoring devices.

So what is Swann offering us this time? Well, there’s not a roller skate or Walkman in sight, but you do have the ability to monitor your home or office from your smartphone or iPhone, so you can have peace of mind wherever you are, as long as you have your phone with you.

The DVR4-2000 Security Recording System comes with two cameras and a digital video recorder with a 500GB hard drive. It is possible to purchase two more cameras to add to the system if you need them.

The PNP-150 cameras look very similar to the Y-Cam Bullet camera that we featured recently. They have a weather-resistant casing, and night vision offering coverage of up to 30ft/9m in the dark.

The system can record continuously in H.264 quality for 30 days, or can be set to record on motion detection or ‘set & forget’ to save hard drive space. Recording can also be saved to a PC via USB.

Download the free APlayer app from the App Store for live streaming on a 3G iPhone or connect to the TV for instant live viewing. Software also allows you to view images online.

The DVR4-2000 is now available for £399.99 from selected PC World and Currys stores.

That’s about 100 quid more than the price tage on one Y-Cam Bullet, so not bad price-wise for an extra camera. The difference is, of course, that the Bullet can be connected via a wireless network, which allows for greater flexibility. However, if it is important for you to have cameras trained on two locations the DVR4-2000 offers a good-value option, and it is possible to buy wireless cameras if you really need them.