The Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T is an 8-channel Penta-brid digital video recorder with 5MP camera support, WizSense AI and two-way talk over coax, available at Mascom International for KSh 10,500. Each unit is brand new and sealed, with one SATA bay that takes a hard drive of up to 16TB. Penta-brid means the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T accepts five signal types: HDCVI, AHD, TVI and CVBS analogue cameras, plus IP cameras over the network. You can see it running at our shop on the first floor of Old Mutual Building, Kimathi Street, in Nairobi CBD, with a camera connected and the live picture on screen.
Designed for shop owners, small offices, clinics and family homes, the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T handles up to eight wired cameras from one compact box. The usual problem with cheap recorders is hours of footage nobody can search, and alerts set off by every swaying tree or passing cat. The Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T uses SMD Plus to flag only people and vehicles, so a phone on Safaricom or Airtel data gets alerts worth opening. A shopkeeper in Nairobi CBD can check the till at closing time from a matatu home, and a parent in Kilimani can speak to the gate through a two-way talk camera.
Where most Nairobi electronics shops still sell older 1080p recorders that waste the detail of a 5MP camera, Mascom International stocks the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T to match the 5MP Dahua cameras on our shelves. At Mascom International, we're seeing more installers move small clients to 5MP because faces and number plates hold up better when zoomed. Customers across Nairobi tell us the DMSS phone app is what they use most, far more than the monitor. Walk in to test it, or order on WhatsApp for pay-on-arrival delivery anywhere in Kenya, with same-day dispatch inside Nairobi.
Common Questions About the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T
How much is the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T in Kenya?
The Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T costs KSh 10,500 brand new at Mascom International in Nairobi CBD. That price covers the recorder and the 12-month Mascom International warranty, and pay-on-arrival delivery is open to all 47 counties. A hard drive is not included, so budget for one separately and ask us on WhatsApp which size suits your camera count. The 16-channel Dahua XVR5116HS-5M-I3/T costs KSh 16,500, which is KSh 6,000 more for twice the camera inputs, a gigabit network port and face recognition on four channels.
What does the /T at the end of the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T mean?
The /T marks Dahua's two-way talk version of this recorder, with talk-back over coax on all eight channels. Audio travels both ways on the same coaxial cable that carries the video, so no extra audio wiring is needed. Pair it with a camera that has a speaker and microphone, such as the Dahua HAC-HFW1200RLP-IL-T bullet at KSh 2,800, and you can speak to a visitor at the gate from the DMSS app. Dahua has discontinued the earlier version without the suffix, so the /T unit is the current model.
Should I buy the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T or the Dahua XVR1B08-I/T?
Choose the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T if you run 5MP cameras or plan to; choose the Dahua XVR1B08-I/T at KSh 6,300 if every camera is 2MP or lower. Both are 8-channel Penta-brid WizSense recorders with two-way talk. The XVR1B08-I/T records at 1080N, a format below full 1080p, so it cannot keep the detail a 5MP camera captures. The KSh 4,200 extra buys 5MP-class recording, which matters most when you zoom in on a face, a receipt or a number plate after an incident.
Will the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T keep recording during KPLC power cuts?
The Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T stops recording when power drops, unless it sits on a UPS. It runs on 12V DC at 2A and draws under 7W before a hard drive is added, so even a small UPS carries it comfortably. The cameras need backup too, so put the camera power supply on the same UPS. KPLC outages often come at night or during storms, which is exactly when break-ins happen, so a UPS on the recorder keeps the footage you most need.
Which cameras work with the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T?
The Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T works with HDCVI, AHD, TVI and CVBS analogue cameras on its eight BNC inputs, and it detects the signal type on its own. It also takes IP cameras, up to 12 IP channels in total: four by default plus the eight analogue inputs converted to IP. Every Dahua HDCVI camera in our current range plugs straight in, including the 5MP Dahua HAC-HDW1500CLQP-IL-A eyeball at KSh 3,200. Face detection, face recognition and perimeter protection switch off once IP extension is turned on.
How big a hard drive does the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T take, and how long will footage last?
The Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T has one SATA bay for a single hard drive of up to 16TB. How many days you keep depends on camera count, resolution, frame rate and how busy each scene is. H.265+ and AI Coding shrink files by compressing still backgrounds harder than moving people, so a drive holds more days than with plain H.264. Dahua notes the 16TB limit varies with room temperature, so keep the unit in a cool, ventilated spot. Ask us on WhatsApp to size a drive for your cameras.
Can I watch the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T on my phone over Safaricom home fibre?
Yes, the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T connects to your router through its 10/100 Mbps network port, and the free Dahua DMSS app shows live and recorded video on Android and iPhone. Safaricom, Airtel and Zuku home fibre all work, as does a 4G router at a site without fibre. Upload speed matters more than download, because the recorder sends video out to your phone. Use the sub stream when viewing on mobile data to save bundles, and switch to the main stream when you need detail.
Who should buy the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T and who should skip it?
Buy the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T if you run up to eight wired cameras, want 5MP-class detail and want to talk through gate or door cameras. It suits shops, clinics, small offices and homes. Skip it if you need more than eight analogue cameras; the Dahua XVR5116HS-5M-I3/T at KSh 16,500 doubles the inputs. Skip it too if your cameras are all 2MP and budget is tight, since the Dahua XVR1B08-I/T at KSh 6,300 covers that job. A site that is IP-only from day one is better served by a network video recorder.
Technical Specifications
Recording and Compression
- 5M-N main stream recording on all eight channels with encode enhancement off — a slimmed 5MP format that trims horizontal pixels to save disk space.
- Channels 1 and 2 record at up to 25fps, the rest at 12fps — put entrances and tills on the first two.
- HDCVI input up to 5MP at 25fps — the recorder reads the full camera signal before storing it.
- AI Coding, H.265+, H.265, H.264+ and H.264 compression — newer codecs shrink files, so one drive keeps more days.
- Encode Enhancement mode changes the per-channel limits — useful when you want a different balance of resolution and frame rate across cameras.
Camera Inputs and Compatibility
- Eight BNC inputs with auto-detect for HDCVI, AHD, TVI and CVBS — mix camera brands and older analogue units without changing settings.
- Up to 12 IP channels: four by default plus the eight analogue inputs converted — add network cameras as a site grows.
- 64 Mbps incoming, recording and outgoing bandwidth for IP channels — room for a handful of network cameras next to the analogue set.
- Two-way talk over coax on all eight channels — speak through a talk-capable camera without running a separate audio cable.
- One RCA audio input, one RCA audio output and eight coaxial audio inputs — connect a microphone or a powered speaker at the recorder.
WizSense AI Detection
- SMD Plus on all eight channels and SMD by camera on 12 — alerts fire for people and vehicles, not leaves, rain or animals.
- Perimeter Protection on 8 channels with 10 IVS rules each — draw virtual lines or zones that raise an alarm when someone crosses them.
- Face Detection on 2 channels — captures face shots at a door for quick search later.
- Face Recognition on 2 channels with up to 10 databases holding 10,000 images — compare visitors against a list of known or barred people.
- AcuPick on 4 channels and Video Quality Analytics on 8 — trace one person across cameras; get warned when a lens is blocked.
Storage and Backup
- One SATA bay for a single hard drive up to 16TB — pick a drive size to suit anything from two cameras to the full eight.
- Supported drive size varies with room temperature — keep the recorder ventilated, away from a hot ceiling.
- Two USB 2.0 ports, one front and one rear — copy clips to a flash drive for police or insurance, and plug in the mouse.
- SMD Plus events are tagged as people or vehicles — jump to those clips in playback instead of scrolling through hours of an empty corridor.
- Hard drive not included in the box — buy a surveillance-rated drive sized to your camera count and the number of days you want kept.
Network and Remote Viewing
- One RJ-45 port at 10/100 Mbps Ethernet — plugs into any home or office router for viewing over the internet.
- Free Dahua DMSS app for Android and iPhone — live view, playback, alerts and two-way talk from your phone.
- Main and sub streams for each camera — use the lighter sub stream on mobile data and the main stream when detail matters.
- Network alarm and IP camera alarm inputs — the recorder can react to events sent by network cameras and other connected devices.
- Works over home fibre or a 4G router — DMSS pairs with the recorder by scanning a code, with no computer needed.
Build and Power
- Compact 1U chassis measuring 260.0 x 237.8 x 47.6 mm — slots into a small network cabinet or sits on a shelf.
- Net weight of 1.17 kg — light enough to mount in a wall cabinet or carry to a site in one hand.
- 12V DC 2A power input, under 7W without a hard drive — a small UPS keeps it running through short outages.
- Operating temperature from -10°C to +55°C — suits ordinary indoor rooms, though airflow still helps the hard drive last.
- One HDMI output with 4K support and one VGA output — connect a modern TV or an older office monitor at a guard desk.
Package Contents
The Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T box typically holds the recorder, a 12V power adapter, a USB mouse, hard drive mounting screws and a quick start guide; ask us on WhatsApp to confirm the exact contents of the unit in stock. A hard drive is not included, so add one sized to your camera count. Cameras, coaxial cable, BNC connectors and camera power supplies are sold separately, and our counter team can put them into one order for a complete install.
Warranty
The Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T ships with a 12-month warranty through Mascom International, covering manufacturing defects under normal use. Claims are handled at our Nairobi CBD service desk on Kimathi Street, so bring the recorder and your receipt, which records the date the cover runs from.
Where to Buy the Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T in Kenya
The Dahua XVR5108HS-5M-I3/T is in stock at Mascom International, Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. We open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Bring one of your cameras along and we will connect it, so you can see the live picture, the menus and the DMSS pairing before you pay. Dahua recorders in this series usually come in a black casing; confirm the finish of the unit in stock on WhatsApp.
To ask about stock, a drive or a full camera bundle, reach us here:
- Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521
- Email: info@mascomintl.com
- Website: www.mascomintl.com
We deliver pay-on-arrival to all 47 counties. Orders within Nairobi and its environs arrive the same day, and other major towns such as Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu and Mombasa get delivery the next business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days.
Your recorder is backed by the 12-month warranty above. We give honest specifications, accurate pricing and real after-sales help from a walk-in Nairobi store, so you know exactly who to call long after installation day.
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 bullet HDCVI camera 1 Mascom International.webp)
