DIY security cameras

[couch67]

I bought a few Reolink dome cameras (POE, 4MP) on amazon a few months ago. tested inside and I like the app, and configurability. Just installed one on the back deck last weekend, and not too happy with the false triggers. Lots of big wasps as usual this time of year, and they cause lots of triggers. I've dialed sensitivity way back to the point I can walk across the deck and it doesnt trigger the camera. But those damn wasps, as they fly in front of the camera, still trigger the camera at that setting!

Not sure if other models are better at sensing motion, guess more research is in order.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

I have a couple cameras... and they aren't good enough.
I'm on Nextdoor.com I've heard of some thefts in the neighborhood that have been caught on video... and the video wasn't good enough t be useful. To be useful the cameras must be:
- able to get good pictures of peoples faces at night.
- be able to read the license plate on the vehicles passing by at night.

So far, this doesn't seem to be an easy requirement to meet. On the faces, my Ring doorbell camera regularly doesn't get a good picture of the UPS man's face. And the street at an angle and 30 feet away means I can't see license plate numbers. My Nest camera isn't any better.
So I'm still looking.

My point is... make sure you can get USEFUL video. Otherwise, the cameras may not really be worth the cost.

 

[awdblazer]

i have a swann system
was cheap, easy to set up and works well

 

[rick carpenter]

We have a wired Defender HD system that we're satisfied with. Not much fun running the cables though. We have three cameras because we have two walls with only glass block bathroom windows. The garage sticks out front so we have one camera on that outer corner, one covering the front, and one covering the back. Add to that a Ring doorbell and interior system.

 

[thaxboyd]

Had a large rock thrown through the daughters car window a few nights ago and of course our Ring door bell does not see the driveway very well.

Looking at getting the Ring floodlight cam for above the garage... Does anyone here have experience with one?

 

[Angelfire]

Not sure where the OP is located so not sure if this question on cameras will be of interest to him (worried a bit that I'm hijacking here!). But wanted to understand how all of these camera systems (namely the ARLO's and NEST) handle the cold? They are only rated to -4F (the NEST IQ is rated to -40F but $$$$ relatively speaking). Just curious to hear from those that have these systems and have the cold weather, are their ratings accurate or the cameras work just fine in lower temps?
Cheers.

 

[BruceMc]

Regular Arlo Pro is programmed to shut itself down at -5, even when it's plugged in to 120V. I've got 2 of them outside and thought the rating was just a general guide. Nope. It's a hard number.

 

[fitter30]

Night Owl system from costco 4 wired two wireless 1 tb drive. Garage to wifi recorder 150' wireless in garage one wired looking at the outside garage.

 

[like2wheel]

Had a large rock thrown through the daughters car window a few nights ago and of course our Ring door bell does not see the driveway very well.

Looking at getting the Ring floodlight cam for above the garage... Does anyone here have experience with one?

I have the Ring floodlight wired cam on my attached garage.
First & only cam so I'm no expert, but it seems to work well for me.

Any questions I can answer, I'd be glad to help.

 

[thaxboyd]

I have the Ring floodlight wired cam on my attached garage.
First & only cam so I'm no expert, but it seems to work well for me.

Any questions I can answer, I'd be glad to help.

How far out does the motion sensing work? I am thinking it would be close to what the old motion lights were from years ago.

Is it pretty clear at night?

Wired? Meaning the power cord?

Thanks

 

[My Old Tools]

Mine are Q-see from Costco. They work just fine. I watched them from Italy last spring. They are POE, 8 channel DVR, 4 cameras included. 4k system.

 

[like2wheel]

How far out does the motion sensing work? I am thinking it would be close to what the old motion lights were from years ago.

Is it pretty clear at night?

Wired? Meaning the power cord?

Thanks

I have a side load garage, & I had to dial down the motion zone because I was getting alerts every time my neighbor left or came home. Or when he walked down his drivewy to get tne mail. Thats about 70' away from the camera. Might see even farther but thats his lawn.

Night is a little grainy but acceptable. Has infrared, & is slightly better when the spotlight trriggers. Pm me your email if you want me to forward you a video or two

Yes, has a power cord & thats a big pain in the *** if you want to just replace a spotlight mounted on an electrical box. Took some engineering to make it a clean install.