Advice on home security camera system

Snal~

Snal~

I Run A Tight Shipwreck (Tragic Boating Accident)
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The wife and I have decided that we'll ditch the holiday gift exchange this year, and opt for a home surveillance (video) system.
I know nothing about these things, so I ask advice from those that do.
We need....
Minimum 4-6 cameras (all outside)
Night vision
DVR
Remote viewing (android)
No monitoring fees.
Whatever those in the know might suggest.
No real budget...ease of install and use is a major factor...quality is very important.

Any specific suggestions?
 
I am wanting to do the same and waiting to hear what is recommended.
 
Been very pleased with my blue iris setup and poe ip cameras. I started slowly with just the cameras emailing and the moved up to the computer with blue iris with coaching from many and several questions answered by jayne. I used hiki cameras and been very pleased dahua is another good one. It does take some networking knowledge but not terrible.
 
Jp8819 said:
Been very pleased with my blue iris setup and poe ip cameras. I started slowly with just the cameras emailing and the moved up to the computer with blue iris with coaching from many and several questions answered by jayne. I used hiki cameras and been very pleased dahua is another good one. It does take some networking knowledge but not terrible.
Click to expand...
I need plug and play...or on site help...if I have to go to call waiting tech support I'm just gonna get pissed :)
 
Jp8819 said:
Been very pleased with my blue iris setup and poe ip cameras. I started slowly with just the cameras emailing and the moved up to the computer with blue iris with coaching from many and several questions answered by jayne. I used hiki cameras and been very pleased dahua is another good one. It does take some networking knowledge but not terrible.
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Kyle - can you please make sure that tech support is monitoring this thread. I'd hate to see Larry disappear again.

The Green Heron
 
All of those responsible for my previous need to enter the witness protection program are now deceased (I have no comment on the specifics of their demise)...so I'll be around for awhile. :)
 
Jayne;n22999 said:
My camera class preso is on that other web site still I imagine... but it's out of date at this point. Tech moves on.
Click to expand...

You best be gettin' to makin' an update then ;)
 
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Snal~;n22448 said:
Any specific suggestions?
Click to expand...

All that is totally doable if you want to roll your own system using Blue Iris (http://blueirissoftware.com/) and a PC. It's console and android/iphone app is really really good. It's built in web server is "good enough" if you don't want to pay the extra for the app but I'm a cheap bastard and even I got the app. Well worth it.

Right now I have 17 cameras running, a mix of wired and wireless, PoE and not. I've got #18 sitting on my desk ready to install this week. Some are indoor rated (inside the barn and chicken coop) and some are outdoor rated and mounted up under the eves of the house or on the outside of the barn. Some of the outside cams have been up for a few years now and have had no issues with rain/snow/ice/humidity. Lightning... yea, that hurts the cams some times.

Cheap outdoor fixed cams are $60-70, decent outdoor fixed cams are $110-130 and then you can go nuts with PTZ domes and high end. Even the $30 wifi cams I'm using in the coop have night vision.

The wife says our place is like a prison now... but I like to think it's just well observed.

I did a class on this last year, gave everyone the basics. Could probably do it again if there is enough interest or if it's just a handful of people I could do a demo at a Starbucks or something.

Everything around our place is recorded day and night. :)

 

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Snal~ I have a Zmodo DVR system (4 camera) that uses "PoE" (power over ethernet).
A system that is POE is the ONLY WAY to go!!

It sends the video signal and power all from 1 RJ 45 ethernet cable. ..much easier install.

I can remote access the cameras on my Droid phone which....after you do....you'll never live with out it!
My system is HD (720p)....but I would recommend 1080!

Zmodo is an ok system for the price...but I'd recommend a better system that has more cameras. I'm also personally not fond of wireless cameras. ..that's why I like the poe ones.

DS
 
Jayne;n23026 said:
All that is totally doable if you want to roll your own system using Blue Iris (http://blueirissoftware.com/) and a PC. It's console and android/iphone app is really really good. It's built in web server is "good enough" if you don't want to pay the extra for the app but I'm a cheap bastard and even I got the app. Well worth it.

Right now I have 17 cameras running, a mix of wired and wireless, PoE and not. I've got #18 sitting on my desk ready to install this week. Some are indoor rated (inside the barn and chicken coop) and some are outdoor rated and mounted up under the eves of the house or on the outside of the barn. Some of the outside cams have been up for a few years now and have had no issues with rain/snow/ice/humidity. Lightning... yea, that hurts the cams some times.

Cheap outdoor fixed cams are $60-70, decent outdoor fixed cams are $110-130 and then you can go nuts with PTZ domes and high end. Even the $30 wifi cams I'm using in the coop have night vision.

The wife says our place is like a prison now... but I like to think it's just well observed.

I did a class on this last year, gave everyone the basics. Could probably do it again if there is enough interest or if it's just a handful of people I could do a demo at a Starbucks or something.

Everything around our place is recorded day and night. :)

Click to expand...

I would like to learn more Jayne ...mainly to see if I want to do the blue iris or just get a better box system.

DS
 
I run Hikvision POE turret cameras and a gray market Hikvision NVR, right now only have 7 cams hooked up. We have roughly 2-3 week playback 24/7 recording with a 4tb harddrive that can be up graded to 12 or 16tb IIRC. Nellys security is an awesome dealer and they offer tech support to their customers, great company to deal with.

If I did it over I might have just set up a desktop computer with blue iris and ran the cameras over our network with a poe switch. I like the NVR but it limits me on how I can hook up cameras to other buildings on my property.

I drew out my property and played with angles to see exactly what the cameras would cover and where they were best suited, Pay close attention to the viewing angles when your looking at them. Mine have roughly 90* viewing angles (2.8mm lense IIRC). I'll try to get some screen shots the next day or so..
 
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I am by no means tech savvy. I would recommend looking at SimpliSafe. It's plug and play. It was very easy to set up (I dropped no F Bombs) reasonably priced and has been pretty solid for a couple of years now. They just came out with cameras recently and I can't comment on those. I bought some system from Best Buy. Mine is nothing like Jayne's. He seems to go "all in" when he does things! He's a bad mothercoitus.
 
How much power of a PC do you need?? Not that it's tgat big of a concern. ...but most Desktop PCs have large wattage power supplies. Besides the high wattage. .most are noticeable on the noise. Where do you have everything set up at...ie control room?


DS
 
If that is directed toward me, my NVR is near silent, very little noise. The problem I have with the NVR is I want to run an additional 6-7 cameras to my shop. If they were directly on the home system i could just throw a switch in the shop to hook the cameras into and run the switch to the Nanobeam I'll be hooking up. The way it sits, I think I'll have to run a hardline from the NVR, to a switch to the shop then run the cameras from there. its not a big deal but I didn't want to run a hard line if I didn't have to.
 
There a number of systems out there, just comes down to what you want and how much you want to spend. For DIY install (As I did) you'll need to plan the install. It involves running CAT5 cable to all your cameras (cameras are POE or power over Ethernet) thru your attic to the outside. A two person team will work best. I purchased a component system as I was able to from one manufacturer. I went with Hikvision. They offer several NVR (Network Video Recorders) and I selected one that gave me internal POE, 8 channels, room for 2 HDs (up to 4 TB each in size). I did not want external alarm capacity so saved a little there. Cameras are all HD 1920 x 1080 w/night vision and IR LED that switch automatically. NVR was about $250, cameras average about $90. There are two styles of cameras. The dome type (manual Pan/Tilt/Zoom, so you point it where you want it) and the bullet type. The dome type are a pain to keep the glass dome clean but the bullet type are great, except they are not totally water proof. Under the house overhang they are fine, but I do not recommend them being directly in rain. You can also add IR LEDs for more lighting at night or you can get a dealer to install the system for you. I like the DIY approach, then If I need to change anything I know what to do. Here is a nightvision view of my front entrance
 
Jp8819 said:
Been very pleased with my blue iris setup and poe ip cameras. I started slowly with just the cameras emailing and the moved up to the computer with blue iris with coaching from many and several questions answered by jayne. I used hiki cameras and been very pleased dahua is another good one. It does take some networking knowledge but not terrible.
Click to expand...
@BurnedOutGeek
My flying monkeys are on a banana break in West Palm Beach right now, tomorrow they will be in the keys and honestly, there is no telling what the little bastages will get into. To say that "Ask Kyle, Tech Support" will be spotty in the coming week is a gentle euphemism.
We will get right on that.
 
DirtySCREW;n23456 said:
How much power of a PC do you need?? Not that it's tgat big of a concern. ...but most Desktop PCs have large wattage power supplies. Besides the high wattage. .most are noticeable on the noise. Where do you have everything set up at...ie control room?


DS
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I would look at a I5 processor at min and a I7 if you can swing it and atleast 8g of ram+ Depending on number of cameras you are wanting and res and if your trying to run anything else on computer direct to disk helps it alot. That said you can get buy with less just makes it run smoother. You can get the Dell business class desk tops refurbished at a resonable price (under $500 from dell with warranty) and are quiet and good on power and seems very solid in a small package. They seemed to be the most recommended when I was looking a year or so ago. Nice thing about blue iris is it supports many brands of cameras and lots of flexablity. I really like the app like jayne said and even works with a slow dsl connection for remote viewing.
 
beamernc;n22466 said:
I am wanting to do the same and waiting to hear what is recommended.
Click to expand...

I used to install high end stuff and I'll tell ya...The cost now is a fraction of what it used to be for even better technology. My suggestion would be to have at least one PTZ camera that has a patrol function. That would give you the freedom to guard a space much larger than a fixed camera. With that I'd suggest an 8 zone DVR and 7 fixed or less to go with the PTZ. Newer DVRs have video motion detection so you won't need a very large hard drive. I'd make sure you can connect it by wifi too. Then you can peek in on your property anytime from your smartphone. There are tons of out of the box systems out there so read lots of reviews. If you need any help I'll offer it free...labor for me would be tuff because I have my hands full with Arlene but we can program over the phone.
 
MuzzerFuzzer;n24113 said:
I used to install high end stuff and I'll tell ya...The cost now is a fraction of what it used to be for even better technology. My suggestion would be to have at least one PTZ camera that has a patrol function. That would give you the freedom to guard a space much larger than a fixed camera. With that I'd suggest an 8 zone DVR and 7 fixed or less to go with the PTZ. Newer DVRs have video motion detection so you won't need a very large hard drive. I'd make sure you can connect it by wifi too. Then you can peek in on your property anytime from your smartphone. There are tons of out of the box systems out there so read lots of reviews. If you need any help I'll offer it free...labor for me would be tuff because I have my hands full with Arlene but we can program over the phone.
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What high end stuff? Can you share brands? I thought Hikvision was top of the line.

DS
 
DirtySCREW;n24125 said:
What high end stuff? Can you share brands? I thought Hikvision was top of the line.

DS
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This was all commercial stuff from Sony, Panasonic, Braun, I can't remember some of the others names before Honeywell bought them. It's been about 8 or so years. Looking at the market now, it seems the Koreans and Chinese have taken the market away from the larger companies. I would imagine that there are those who fill the niche that the larger companies would have to get out of. since they were side offerings. That alone would have made it priced high. Panasonic's 20x zoom PTZ with programmable patrol back then was $2K. The Asians are known to do private labeling and have only a few factories because of the way their logistics planning works. So l'm unable to hang position labels on much of their electronics. You'll probably find that the whole systems, under any name, are made at the same factory under a different price point in a lot of cases.
The stuff we used was all extreme low lux without any infrared aids. Later on we used LED style infrared in small spaces with coverage outside done with large infrared illuminators that looked similar to spot lights since the LEDs wouldn't cover 100+ meters.
 
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skiles;n23408 said:
I am by no means tech savvy. I would recommend looking at SimpliSafe. It's plug and play. It was very easy to set up (I dropped no F Bombs) reasonably priced and has been pretty solid for a couple of years now. They just came out with cameras recently and I can't comment on those. I bought some system from Best Buy. Mine is nothing like Jayne's. He seems to go "all in" when he does things! He's a bad mothercoitus.
Click to expand...

FYI - simpli safes cameras are indoors only. they don't currently offer an outdoor camera.
 
I've had a Swann system saved in my Amazon cart for a while. I asked the exact same question over at the old place and got some good feedback. I decided Swann was an ok band for my needs an budgets They've got a bunch of different flavors available for needs and budget (i.e. Hard drive size, number of channels, number of cameras, color, etc.).

Swann SWDVK-8ALP14-US Compact Security System 8 Channel Digital Video Recorder & 4 x Cameras https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015WCV4LE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_hCDyybTEVQEER
 
9outof10mms;n28678 said:
I've had a Swann system saved in my Amazon cart for a while. I asked the exact same question over at the old place and got some good feedback. I decided Swann was an ok band for my needs an budgets They've got a bunch of different flavors available for needs and budget (i.e. Hard drive size, number of channels, number of cameras, color, etc.).

Swann SWDVK-8ALP14-US Compact Security System 8 Channel Digital Video Recorder & 4 x Cameras https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015WCV4LE..._hCDyybTEVQEER
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No offense 9outof10mms ...but I'd pass on the swann. It's NOT Power over ethernet (PoE) ...& not HD with only 650 lines of resolution. I have a 720p system and wished I had 1080!!

DS
 
SCshooter57 said:
skiles;n23408 said:
I am by no means tech savvy. I would recommend looking at SimpliSafe. It's plug and play. It was very easy to set up (I dropped no F Bombs) reasonably priced and has been pretty solid for a couple of years now. They just came out with cameras recently and I can't comment on those. I bought some system from Best Buy. Mine is nothing like Jayne's. He seems to go "all in" when he does things! He's a bad mothercoitus.
Click to expand...

FYI - simpli safes cameras are indoors only. they don't currently offer an outdoor camera.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I didn't know that.
 
DirtySCREW;n28813 said:
No offense 9outof10mms ...but I'd pass on the swann. It's NOT Power over ethernet (PoE) ...& not HD with only 650 lines of resolution. I have a 720p system and wished I had 1080!!

DS
Click to expand...
No offense taken. I'll consider that when I get enough sea shells saved to buy one! I know people harp about being able to count skin pores on bad guys' faces when/if you ever need to ID someone, but I'm constrained by budget too.
 
I put up some POE Dahua turrent cameras with a Dahua NVR. Cameras are 4mp turrents with one varifocal bullet. Still have a couple to put up. All of the cameras were basically plug and play with the NVR with built in POE. Having some issues getting the remote access setup but that is on my routers end. Once I get all the cameras up I'll decide if it is worth moving to a pic with blue iris. Picture is amazing with these newer cameras.
 
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