THIS MONTH THE DOCTOR TACKLES...

> Save CCTV system

> Multiple audio devices

> Encrypted download

Q-See CCTV replacement

I have a self-installed security system by Q-See from 2012—eight QCN8093B cameras with motion detection, night vision, playback, and so on. Q-See went under during Covid, and although my system works, I would like to plan for when the computer system that came with it dies. The cameras are POE, and the computer is a proprietary system with 8TB of Western Digital HD storage.

I could build a new system, but I don’t know where to start. I haven’t found software that seems to be able to collect data from multiple security cameras to do what this system does. Any ideas? I am not afraid to build a new computer if that's what it takes, I just don’t know where to go for software.

— Dorothy Meister

THE DOCTOR RESPONDS: The Q-See brand was resurrected in 2022 as Qsee, but the new company has made it clear that it won’t support legacy products, which is why Dorothy has this issue. Her decision to act must have been caused by a premonition, because between contacting the Doc and responding to his queries, one of the drives had died.

Old cameras can be reused if they’re ONVIF-compatible.

© Q-SEE

The system runs two hard drives, so while she waits for a replacement, she is at least able to continue using it. The Doc’s hunch is that the system will work for many years yet—way beyond the life of the drives—but it’s still an idea to plan ahead. Many Q-See models were based on OEM Dahua kit, which bodes well for cannibalizing them in a different system as they’re likely to support the ONVIF protocol; however, they’re likely to need a fair bit of setting up—including a full hardware reset. One excellent online resource is IPcamtalk. In particular, follow the thread at https:// ipcamtalk.com/threads/qsee-cam-issue.62551, which covers the specifics of Dorothy’s exact model.