Looking for Wireless Security Cameras

[CDD]

So my uncle call me and ask me to recommend him a wireless security camera system that he can access when away from home from a computer,ipad,iphone,android etc. he just want two cameras. That's it.

Told him give a couple of days since I'm a member of a great forum

Ability to record? If it comes with the system great if not no problem.

I'm confused with the Foscam since some say jay! and others nay!.

Fire away guys!

 

[The Ratchet Man]

Look at Dropcam. Its a WiFi camera that just needs to be plugged into an outlet after its been configured on the computer. Records in HD to the cloud and recording service is available for a reasonable fee through Dropcam. Recordings can be editted and turned into video files if need be. The Dropcam app let's you do everything through your phone, including talk back to the person you're watching via the camera mounted speaker. Night vision is standard and you can get real time motion event notifications to your phone. $150 per camera plus monthly fee but well worth it for all this simple little camera offers.

I've had one for about a year out in the garage and really like it. I have the 7 day recording plan.

Dropcam

 

[scaron]

at the institution where i work, all the networked security cameras are made by a company called axis communications. this company has been around making networked cameras for probably at least 15 years now. it's always the first name that comes to mind for me when someone comes asking about networked cameras. depending on how familiar you are with computer networking, you may need to find a local specialist who can help you with systems integration once you have the cameras in hand.

 

[cburnscrx]

Look at Dropcam. Its a WiFi camera that just needs to be plugged into an outlet after its been configured on the computer. Records in HD to the cloud and recording service is available for a reasonable fee through Dropcam. Recordings can be editted and turned into video files if need be. The Dropcam app let's you do everything through your phone, including talk back to the person you're watching via the camera mounted speaker. Night vision is standard and you can get real time motion event notifications to your phone. $150 per camera plus monthly fee but well worth it for all this simple little camera offers.

I've had one for about a year out in the garage and really like it. I have the 7 day recording plan.

Dropcam

I'll second Dropcam. We use it at work in the office...it's great.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Dropcam works great, but the monthly fees are a bit much. Seems like every company out there is trying to go with the subscription income method these days.

 

[Zeke]

Hold the phone...er cam, I was in a shop today getting a set up. I haven't seen the proposal yet but for various reasons I'm not getting wireless. One reason is having to have a power source near the camera. The other is transmission quality. The DVDR that the system is built around is Ethernet ready. Or, it can use a wireless adapter. Interface with phone or the Net is easy. All for not that much.

I'll report as soon as I have the numbers.

 

[CDD]

I'm not getting wireless. One reason is having to have a power source near the camera. I'll report as soon as I have the numbers.

Hey Zeke good point about the power source for the wireless cameras since I don't know where he plans to put them. I will have to talk with him about this.

Thanks guys for all the suggestions ans keep them coming

Side note: My uncle and I are in Puerto Rico so any other suggestions with Amazon and ebay seller would be great.

 

[MixManSC]

If you do not have any easy way to get a power source at the cameras you might consider going wired then. In the long run I prefer wired - I have a couple of wireless ones and every once in a long while they seem to forget their configuration. With wired you can run Ethernet cable for each camera. Depending on the camera you can terminate the cable as Ethernet or as 12vdc and composite video using baluns. On many network cameras they support POE (power over Ethernet) but you then also need a POE switch.

I know wireless is much simpler since no cable pulls though but realistically pulling a CAT6 cable is generally not too tough and will likely be much cheaper than pulling wires for 120v plug outlets. Depending on the cameras though you might also be able to just put in a single central 12vdc power supply and just pull 2 wire cables for DC power only. At my graphics shop I've recently started upgrading the old analog security camera setup. Not eliminating the analog cameras but a few I'd like higher resolution and in some areas I'd like to add IP cameras. First step for me was to upgrade the old 8 channel analog DVR to a new hybrid 16 channel DVR/NVR which can record from multiple combinations of analog cameras as well as IP cameras. What was important to me was having all on one interface accessible both locally and remotely.

 

[MixManSC]

Also just looked at the Dropcam. Me personally, I despise "cloud" stuff. I have a graphics business and Adobe has now gone to making people subscribe to their cloud versions of their creative suite programs. So far we are staying with our perpetual licenses. Freaking renting software... stop paying them 50 bucks a month and you can long longer edit your files. Some of the files you will not even be able to open period. With regular software I can work with my files forever.

On Dropcam, you have to pay a monthly fee for every single camera you want to have recorded. Additional cameras look to be half the cost of the first one for recording. Yikes!!! I have 11 cameras around my property right now and am expanding that to at least 16.

 

[Castel]

I bought a Wansview NCB541W from this store: http://www.ipcamprice.com/ Just about $45, works well basically, not bad.

 

[kythri]

On many network cameras they support POE (power over Ethernet) but you then also need a POE switch.

Don't let this limit you.

If you've got a PoE device, check the power requirements, and take a gander at power injectors/midspans (NewEgg has a bunch of different brands).

802.3af = 15.4W power
802.3at = 25.5W power

There's non-spec 802.3at stuff that claims 45-50W, and they provide it, but I most consumer devices will be at the actual spec.

The injectors are handy, because you basically plug your device into one port and the LAN/network into the other port, and it pushes power to the endpoint device.

I wouldn't count on using the injector as a repeater, but it's a viable solution to pulling in power, be it AC or DC.

 

[CDD]

@MicManSC my first suggestion was a wired system with DVR but he said NO.

Why? I don't know since I know it's not about money and he said to me that he wanted me to install it so

Thanks @Castle for the site.