fleet safety

How to Choose the Right MDVR System for Your Fleet

Posted on by admin
11
Dec

How to Choose the Right MDVR System for Your Fleet (4CH, 8CH, 4G & AI Explained)

For many fleets, cameras + MDVR are now standard – not only for safety, but also for recording evidence, live tracking and driver coaching.
But when you start choosing an MDVR, you quickly see a lot of options: 4-channel, 8-channel, HDD, SD card, 4G, Wi-Fi, GPS, AI…

This guide will help you understand the key points so you can choose the right MDVR system for your trucks, buses, forklifts or special vehicles.

Tip: If you’re already using Xinvisual vehicle cameras and monitors, choosing an MDVR that matches your existing AHD/CVBS format will make integration much easier.

1. What Does an MDVR Actually Do?

An MDVR (Mobile Digital Video Recorder) is the “brain” of your vehicle camera system. It:

  • Records video from multiple cameras (front, rear, side, in-cabin, forklift view)

  • Stores footage to SD card and/or HDD/SSD

  • Can add 4G for remote viewing and alerts

  • Often includes GPS tracking, G-sensor, I/O input, and alarm outputs

  • Can integrate with AI ADAS/DMS/BSD functions for advanced safety

Instead of just seeing live video on a monitor, an MDVR lets you review incidents, coach drivers and protect your company during disputes.

2. 4CH vs 8CH – How Many Channels Do You Really Need?

The first big decision: how many camera channels?

4-Channel MDVR – Good for:

  • Small trucks & vans – front, rear and two side cameras

  • Forklifts & warehouse equipment – mast view, rear view, load view, cabin view

  • Simple bus/coach setups – front, rear, stair door and inside cabin

Choose 4CH if:

  • You are upgrading from a basic 1–2 camera system

  • You don’t need full 360° coverage or many special cameras

  • Budget is tight but you still want recording and GPS

8-Channel MDVR – Better for:

  • City buses and school buses – front, rear, doors, aisle, driver, side blind spots

  • Large trucks & articulated vehicles – multiple side cameras + trailer view

  • High-risk applications – fuel, chemicals, valuables, public transport

Choose 8CH if:

  • You want complete coverage of inside + outside

  • You plan to add more cameras in future (e.g. AI BSD side camera later)

  • You need to meet stricter safety or compliance requirements

If you’re not sure, going for 8CH is a safe long-term choice: you can start with fewer cameras and add more later as your fleet grows.

3. Storage Options – SD Card, HDD or Both?

Storage decides how many days of video you can keep.

SD Card Recording

  • Simple and cost-effective

  • Easy to remove and swap

  • Capacity typically up to 128–256 GB (per card)

Best for:

  • Small fleets with fewer vehicles

  • Short retention needs (e.g. 3–7 days of recordings)

  • Forklifts and small machines inside warehouses

HDD / SSD Recording

  • Much larger capacity (up to 1–2 TB or more)

  • Better for long-distance trucks, buses and long retention periods

  • SSD offers higher shock resistance than traditional HDD

Best for:

  • Long-haul fleets that want 15–30 days of video

  • Public transport where incidents can be reported late

  • Regulated industries that must keep records longer

Hybrid Systems (HDD + SD)

Some MDVR models (including Xinvisual’s AHD 1080P MDVR system) support both HDD and SD – HDD as main storage plus SD as backup or event clip storage.

This gives you:

  • Long recordings on HDD

  • Extra safety for critical events on SD, even if HDD is damaged

4. Do You Need 4G, Wi-Fi and GPS?

Modern MDVRs often include connectivity features:

GPS

GPS allows you to:

  • See the vehicle position on a map

  • Link video to speed and route

  • Analyse driver behaviour over time

For most fleets today, GPS is recommended – it adds significant value with little extra cost.

4G / LTE

4G gives you:

  • Live viewing of cameras from a control room or mobile app

  • Instant alerts with snapshots or short clips (harsh braking, door forced open, panic button…)

  • Ability to download recordings remotely without touching the vehicle

This is ideal for:

  • High-value cargo

  • Passenger transport (buses, school vehicles, shuttle fleets)

  • Fleets spread across multiple cities or countries

Wi-Fi

Useful when vehicles return to a depot with Wi-Fi coverage:

  • Automatically upload video (e.g. only events or important segments)

  • Update firmware and configuration without cables

If your vehicles always come back to the same yard, Wi-Fi can reduce 4G data costs.

5. AHD 1080P vs CVBS – Don’t Forget Video Quality

Most fleets are now moving to AHD 720P/1080P because it delivers:

  • Much clearer images compared to old analog CVBS

  • Easier to see number plates, faces and small details

  • Better evidence for insurance and investigation

When choosing an MDVR, check:

  • Does it support AHD 1080P on all channels?

  • Is it backward compatible with your existing CVBS cameras?

Xinvisual’s AHD 1080P MDVR system, for example, is designed to work with both AHD and traditional analog cameras – very useful for gradual upgrades.

6. AI Functions – ADAS, DMS, BSD & More

The latest MDVRs are not just recorders; they’re AI safety platforms. When combined with AI cameras, they can support:

If you plan to sell into Europe and the UK, AI functions will help your customers meet upcoming GSR, BSIS and MOIS requirements .

Choose an AI-ready MDVR if:

  • You want to offer premium safety packages

  • Your customers operate in urban areas with vulnerable road users

  • You target school buses, city buses, refuse trucks, construction trucks

7. Practical Checklist Before You Buy

Before you confirm an MDVR model, ask these questions:

  1. Vehicle types: Trucks, buses, vans, forklifts, construction machines?

  2. Number of cameras per vehicle now – and in 2 years?

  3. How many days of video do you want to keep?

  4. Do you need live view (4G) or is local recording enough?

  5. Is GPS tracking important for your customers?

  6. Do you want to offer AI functions (ADAS, DMS, BSD) now or later?

  7. Are your cameras currently AHD, CVBS or mixed?

Once you have these answers, it becomes much easier to select between:

  • 4CH vs 8CH

  • SD vs HDD vs hybrid

  • Basic MDVR vs AI + 4G MDVR

8. How Xinvisual Can Help

This means you can offer a complete, compatible solution from one manufacturer – easier for installation, warranty and long-term support.

If you’d like to build a tailored MDVR package for your fleet or for your customer’s project, feel free to contact us and share:

  • Vehicle type & quantity

  • Application scenario

  • Required channels & functions

We’ll help you design a simple, reliable and future-proof MDVR solution.

admin