Today, we are writing our Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR Review, which focuses on the NVR from Reolink.
The RLN8-410 is the NVR model with eight channels that can handle wired/wireless Reolink cameras that are not battery-powered. This product eliminates the need to use SD cards or bother with monthly Cloud Storage payments.
It stores everything locally on an integrated HDD that has a capacity of 2TB, which is also expandable.
This review will focus on the RLN8-410, such as its design, functions, features, etc. But before anything else, let us look into its packaging and the contents Reolink included.
Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR Packaging
When the NVR arrived for our Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR Review, it shipped in a standard-looking, sturdy cardboard box. Reolink ensured to keep the items secure, so you do not have to worry about any damages while in transit.
Aside from the RLN8-410, Reolink included an NVR power adapter, HDMI cable, and a USB mouse inside the box. There is also a 1m network cable and a quick start guide inside the box.
You will not find any other extras inside the package. But we appreciate that Reolink included everything necessary to start using the product immediately.
Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR Review – Design and Functionality
The RLN8-410 is an 8-channel NVR made for wired and wireless Reolink cameras, except its battery-powered versions. With it, you do not have to utilise SD cards or provide monthly payments for Cloud storage. While writing our Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR Review, we learned that you store everything on an integrated HDD.
The RLN8-410 is 10.91 x 3.82 x 3.82 inches and is likely the size of a regular cable box. It has an adequate size since it can easily house a 2TB drive.
Its front control panel has a set of navigational buttons. However, you will perform most of the functionalities via its on-screen interface. You can execute these with the help of the included two-button mouse.
Along its base, you will find one USB port.
The RLN8-410 has a black matte finish and sports a semi-industrial design save for its plastic front panel. The latter provides a distinction to the product from the looks and design of standard Ethernet switches.
This kind of product is not something you want to bring too much attention to for security reasons. So the best place to keep the RLN8-410 is in a small cabinet with your other networking devices.
It is also good to note that you can add four silicone feet to the base of the NVR. Doing so will help keep it in place. Generally, the RLN8-410 is already heavy, so it will stay put after adding eight or more connections.
Heat Management and Passive Cooling of the Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR
Reolink also took its heat management seriously, considering we are dealing with a PoE product. Around its case, you will find numerous ventilation cut-outs on it. Some are on top, while others are on the right side and bottom of the product.
There are even cut-outs to set a fan, but you will not see anything installed. It means the NVR relies mainly on passive cooling and will run silently. The good news is that the product can maintain an ideal temperature.
Of course, you cannot prevent it from getting warm, but the RLN8-410 will not overheat.
Front Panel of the Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR
Our Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR Review will discuss the front panel of the NVR. Here, the company added all the necessary USB ports and controls. Interestingly, Reolink even included a secondary USB port along its rear panel.
The front is for the provided mouse, and you can utilise the second USB for additional external storage.
Next to the IR receiver are the power LED and HDD LED. Solid red shows that the HDD is not recording while flashing red lights indicate the cameras are saving data.
Shifting to the right is the play/pause button for checking out videos. Next to this button is a view mode button to change the cameras you see in real-time.
You will see the menu and select options followed by four directional buttons. The latter is necessary to navigate the menu better.
Turning the NVR to its rear, you will find the remaining connector and ports.
Rear Panel
This area features HDMI and VGA ports to connect the RLN8-410 to an HDTV or PC monitor. You will also find an audio out, USB, and LAN port.
The essential element in this section is the eight PoE ports for connecting cameras. Remember that this NVR will not work with any other camera brand.
Additionally, there is an e-SATA port to allow the linking of an external disk up to 4TB.
Updated Hardware for Smart AI Motion-sensing
Even if this NVR carries the same name as its five-year-old predecessor, there are new elements in this current version. The new RLN8-410 has different hardware that supports Smart AI motion-sensing technologies.
These differences confused some users. That is because they were unaware that the old NVR could not work with the Smart motion-sensing cameras from Reolink.
Generally, it would have been better if the company entirely changed its name to showcase the current NVRs. And considering there was another essential improvement, changing its name would be better.
Its extra storage also increased to 12TB from 4TB. But other than those, everything else remained as the first RLN8-410 NVR.
Key Features of the Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR
We will discuss the product features and the importance of these in our Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR Review. Here, we listed all the elements that make the NVR better than its competitors. Plus, these will help you determine if it is something for your needs.
PoE for Easy Plug-and-play Setup
This RLN8-410 NVR is a real plug-and-play network video recorder since it features PoE with one network cable. It connects each IP camera to the NVR for video signal transmission and power supply.
With this NVR, you get easy wiring, a process that cannot be simpler for DIY-ers.
Works with Reolink IP Cameras
The NVR works perfectly with all Reolink WiFi and PoE cameras. You can also connect and manage up to eight cameras simultaneously.
Local and Remote Access & Control over the Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR
With the RLN8-410, you can access and control your cameras locally and remotely. Connect the system to an HD TV or a monitor for local access and control. If you want remote access, use the free Reolink app on mobile, Reolink Client on desktop or web browsers.
No matter what you choose, these options will allow you to seamlessly control your cameras without issues.
Smart Reolink Camera Integration
The NVR integrates Reolink cameras with features like human & vehicle detection, two-way talk, optical zoom, motion-triggered spotlights, and auto-tracking.
Remote View and Free Versatile Apps
The Reolink app and Client have rich features and functions. You can download it from Android, iOS, Windows, or Mac without monthly fees.
Sound Recording and 24×7 NVR Recording with the Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR
Reolink cameras can record videos with audio 24×7. That means you can receive footage with sounds anytime you need them.
Works With or Without the Internet
You can use the RLN8-410 without connecting to the internet for live viewing and local recording. Plus, you will need an internet connection to enable motion push notifications and remote viewing.
Specifications
We looked into the different specifications of the NVR to share it in our Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR Review. It has a DC 48V / 1.875 – 2.5A power supply and consumes less than 10W without the PoE and HDD.
It measures 260 x 41 x 230mm and weighs 1.4kg. Reolink also included a 2-year warranty with the product, so that is a plus.
Video + Audio Input/Output Specifications
For its IP video input, the NVR supports eight PoE IP cameras. Its audio and video input ports include cameras with integrated mics, VGA, and HDMI, respectively.
Additionally, the product utilises the H.264 and H.265 video formats.
HDD Specifications and External Interface
The RLN8-410 comes with a SATA interface (Seagate 2TB HDD) and one eSATA interface for the external HDD. It has a capacity of up to 12TB, and the maximum for each HDD is 6TB.
For its external interface, the RLN8-410 has two USB 2.0 ports.
Network Interface, Network, and PoE
This NVR has one RJ45 10/100Mbps self-adaptive Ethernet port for the WAN/LAN. Also, it has eight RJ45 self-adaptive PoE Ethernet interface ports for the IP camera.
Furthermore, each port needs a maximum power of 25W, and its supported standard is IEEE 802.3 af/at.
Lastly, the RLN8-410 can work with Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Chrome, and it supports Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS.
It is also good to note that the maximum user access capacity of this NVR is 20 users. These include one admin account and 19 user accounts. Simultaneously, it supports up to 12 video streams: two main streams and ten sub-streams.
Hands-on with the Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR
We tested the NVR for a week to share our experience in this Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR Review. Also, we will discuss the setup process and how well (or not) it performed in this section.
Setting Up the Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR
While setting up the NVR, it is safe to say that Reolink lives up to its plug-and-play promise. We only linked it to our monitor, plugged it into our router with the Ethernet cable, and switched it on.
Once we finished that, we hooked the mouse to one of the USB ports. And since our camera comes with an integrated mic, we linked a speaker to its audio output port.
Next, we connected our Reolink cameras to the NVR. And since it supports PoE, the NVR supplies power through the network cable. We did not have to utilise a separate power source for the camera.
Generally, it decreased cable clutter when we set up numerous cameras around our place. We only had to thread one network cable from the cameras and back to the RLN8-410.
When we started the NVR, a setup wizard prompted us to create a password. It also assisted us with setting access levels and configuring network and camera settings.
Software – Reolink Client and Mobile App
When it comes to camera controls, our software experience was not different from other platforms. After adding a camera to the proper channel, we continued watching the surroundings via the monitor. We also successfully monitored using the mobile app.
Aside from these, there are two other options to see footage on the computer. These are accessible by installing the Reolink client or accessing the IP address provided to the NVR by the router.
We consider the browser-based utility handy for those who opt out of installing anything. However, this option is also the least flexible since simultaneously viewing multiple streams is impossible.
All other settings were present, so adjusting the display was possible. Moreover, stream-related options, detection options, and modes for setting up audio and light were also available.
Reolink RLN8-410 Live View + Camera Status
Live view was the default display mode when we finished setting it up. And after the setup process, we saw all linked cameras on a nine-panel screen.
We could toggle to a single-camera full-screen, eight-camera, or 2×2 four-camera view via the menu bar. The latter is on the base of the screen.
From there, it was also possible for us to shift from one camera to the next. We could also switch to picture-in-picture or start manual recordings for any suspicious activities on one of the cameras.
A set of icons display the detail on each camera status. For HD 4M, it means the camera is recording 4MP HD resolution. The camera icon means a camera is currently recording, while a figure running means it detected motion.
Other icons state when the camera loses its video feed or encounters other issues.
When we clicked on any camera view, it displayed a camera menu bar. The options available included playback of recorded videos, operating zoom on that channel, and activating live audio.
Camera and image settings, like motion detection, are accessible in this area too.
Surveillance
Surveillance is where we adjusted how the NVR saves recordings, and we could enable the Buzzer too. This section also features network-related settings, the option to view remaining storage, and for adjusting system settings. The latter includes firmware upgrades and user management.
When it comes to the Windows OS utility, it has similar settings available. However, we saw multiple cameras and noticed we could use the NVR and our Reolink camera separately. On its mobile app, we saw the same settings, but it was slightly different, layout-wise.
Here, we viewed all cameras linked to the NVR, and each camera can have settings adjusted individually. And although more general, there are other NVR-related settings available, like date/time management, user management, and FTP Upload enabling.
Adding a Camera to the NVR
The most convenient way to add a wireless Reolink camera that is not battery-powered is to set it up via the app. This process will allow the NVR to detect it immediately if the camera is already on the local network.
We reset our camera, linked it to our router via cable, and followed the app instructions. After that, we disconnected the Ethernet cable, but the camera continued displaying live footage.
We checked the NVR, and it detected the camera without issues. After keying in the password, we saw the live footage and some additional settings for adjusting how the camera captures videos.
Generally, the NVR records things while the camera handles motion settings. We managed these via the NVR interface or even from the camera interface.
Motion Settings of the Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR
The motion settings are available for motion-only recording, which allows for maximising storage. With motion settings, we also set it up to the following:
- Send audio warnings so the NVR will release an alarm tone to distract or ward off intruders.
- Send e-mail alerts where the NVR will send e-mail notifications when motion is detected.
We can have a snapshot of the triggering event, which sends as an attachment.
Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR Review Summary
The RLN8-410 is an impressive NVR and an excellent purchase if you have Reolink cameras. It is a superior storage solution that can store 24/7 recordings, unlike microSD or cloud recordings.
This NVR is ideal if you have multiple Reolink PoE cameras and do not want to deal with microSD or cloud storage. It works well if you do not need over eight channels, which should be enough for small to medium offices.
When we tested the product for our Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR Review, we did not experience issues with it. Installing cameras was easy, and the NVR stored all recordings. It is excellent for keeping an eye on large properties and businesses.
We highly recommend this affordable yet comprehensive security solution. With this product, you will only spend a fraction of the cost of a CCTV surveillance system.
Visit the official product page of Reolink for more details about the Reolink RLN8-410 8 Channel NVR.
