Frequently asked questions

• Why the N118 and not the N110 if they are all Imou recorders?

  It comes down to camera count and power. The N118 has 18 channels versus 10 on the N110 and N110W, plus an 8-port PoE switch built into the chassis that the plain N110 does not have. If you run more than ten cameras, or want to power them straight over the network cable, the N118 is the larger-scale version in the same family.
• How many cameras can it power directly over PoE?

  Eight: the recorder has 8 PoE ports at 10/100 Mbps (IEEE 802.3af/at). Those eight cameras get data and power over one cable and pair automatically. To reach all 18 channels, the rest must already be on the network — via an external PoE switch or an injector.
• Does it work with non-Imou cameras?

  Yes. The N118 is ONVIF conformant Profile T and supports RTSP, so it takes third-party ONVIF cameras as well as Imou. The streams can also be read by an external VMS — Home Assistant, Synology Surveillance Station or Frigate — without locking you into a single ecosystem.
• What HDD fits, and is it included?

  The recorder has one SATA bay that takes an HDD up to 16 TB. The disk is not included. For continuous recording choose a surveillance-grade HDD, built for round-the-clock writing, not a plain desktop drive; pick the capacity by how many days of archive you want to keep.
• Does it have Wi-Fi like the N110W model?

  No. The N118 is the wired recorder: it communicates over LAN and the 8 PoE ports, with no Wi-Fi radio. The Wi-Fi 6 version is the N110W, but that one has 10 channels and no PoE. Choose the N118 when you want stable PoE cabling and more channels, and the N110W when cameras connect wirelessly.
• How many channels can it play back at once, and to which output?

  Simultaneous playback runs on 4 channels — 4 streams at 8 MP/15 fps or 4 at 5 MP/30 fps. For viewing, connect a monitor over HDMI (up to 4K) or VGA (up to 1080p). Recording of all 18 channels continues in the background regardless of how many streams you play on screen.
• Do I need a hub or a subscription to use it?

  No. The NVR is the hub itself — no separate hub is needed, and local recording and playback work without a subscription. The Imou Life app adds remote access and alerts for home use, while business clients can use the Imou platform; optional cloud services are separate from the core functions.