Security Cameras

[climb.on]

I'm ready to buy a security camera system and the choices are dizzying. The Reolink systems looks pretty good, but it also looks like they are pretty good at marketing and don't want to fall for that if there are better products out there for same money or less. I'm willing to buy individual cameras and a NRV separately to customize a bit more. I will start with 4 cameras and a recording system, with room to expand. I will be using PoE cameras and I have run cat 6 cable all over the place to give me lots of camera location options. My budget is around $500.

What do you love and what is ****?

 

[b-dog]

I know what you mean about dizzying, took me forever to pick something. Take my words for what they're worth, very little. I'm no expert.

I'm guessing in your budget, most systems are comparable. Like cordless tools, whether you prefer yellow, red, blue, etc, you can't really go wrong with any of them.

I settled on an Amcrest 8-camera system with a dvr and 4TB hard drive. All of that was just under your budget. I am using 1080p cameras over analog cables. I wish the picture was better and if I were to do it all over again, I would consider higher resolution. However, 4MP or better was out of my budget.
My DVR is only good for 1080p so I would have to upgrade or add a 2nd DVR if I wanted to upgrade any of my cameras.

I'm not familiar with PoE and NVRs compared to what I have but I can store about 3 weeks of recording on 4TB. I have dialed in my motion detection a little so I'm storing more than that now.

Viewing my cameras on the DVR video output to a tv was easy and if that's all you want, great. I'm alright at computers but I'm not a wizard and it took me a lot of time and frustration to figure out how to view my system locally and remotely on my phone and a computer. As far as I know, my system is not capable of viewing on an internet browser. That means, I have to install Amcrest's clunky program on any computer I want to use. But, I always have my phone so it's not that much of an issue.

BTW, just checked your house thread - looking great!! Can't wait to see more of the shop as it gets setup.

 

[ItsNemo]

Another vote for Amcrest...have 3 of their IP based camera's around the house. Gives you options for NVR, local recording (SD card), and their cloud. Whatever you do, go IP based camera's.

 

[climb.on]

I was looking at the Amcrest NVR units, so that is helpful. Was maybe thinking about adding the Reolink cameras with them, as they have a little better specs for the money it seems.

 

[EatonEggbeater]

For some this will be somewhat pedantic, but realize the purpose of this response. OP will be using CAT wire and POE cameras.

First, stay away from coax/analog cameras; CAT 6+ is what you should be looking at.

Determine a central location for all your stuff.

Run CAT 6 everywhere you even might ever want a camera. Run strings as well if you want to be thorough- all to this central location. (A closet, or rack, with available electric.)

POE cameras (Power Over Ethernet) you only run the CAT wire, and power comes across that.

Pick your manufacturer, I've also used Amcrest. All cameras should be 4MP minimum, with an NVR that supports that resolution. If you're going simple; a POE NVR and POE cameras from the same manufacturer. Configuration of the NVR can be time consuming, but if you've used Amcrest cameras with an Amcrest NVR (or whoever) it will likely configure itself to some degree.

I used GW security domes with the Amcrest NVR; all manufacturers conform to ONVIF protocols (whatever they are) so different cameras can work with other recording devices. Don't buy any cameras from GW security without asking me. Most of their stuff stinks, but one dome camera is truly the cat's ***. $160.00 for a 5MP with remote lens, die cast aluminum housing. They have one bullet that's OK, but not stellar.

I have a central system with a POE switch made by Netgear that can handle 8 POE devices (actually 2 of them, both gigabit, as I have another area to service- only one camera on the second.)

I've got all my cameras but one home-runned to my primary POE switch, next to my Internet gateway. The 2 Netgear devices are connected with CAT6+, so a gigabit backbone, with a bit of future safeing.

I configured my Amcrest NVR (connected to the primary switch.) to grab the cameras by IP, the power is fed by the Netgear switches.


Additionally, a remote computer is running Blue Iris software (look it up) and will record motion as does the NVR. I'm not actually using the POE NVR for power, bought it for that but things evolve quickly for me at times.

A problem with the Blue Iris thing is when power fails, I haven't yet figured out how to get the BI software to restart on power return, there's a procedure for that, but I haven't chased it down.

Alternatively, the Amcrest NVR reconnects on power up with no issues.

Oh, and if you're worried about taxing your network, my cameras tell you the bitrate they're transmitting, and most of them say under 4000KiloBits/S (4MB/S, obviously) so on a 10MB (obsolete) net you'd be short with 2 cameras, but a 100MB net (dated) you could cover 25 of them.

 

[climb.on]

Awesome info thanks. I'm mostly tracking with you...

I've run all CAT6, often multiple cables, all over the house & property, to one central location in the house. All my coax drops come there too. Those pull strings you speak of..ran them too and have already come in handy. Can see a couple places I wish I would have run more, but I got the bulk of it.

Which GW dome model? I could see getting one higher end camera in the system.

I was looking at Blue Iris, but I didn't get far enough to know if it replaces the NVR or what? Sounds like you use it for redundancy?

Hadn't considered the system straining my network...will have to look into that more too.

I have one location that is upwards of 500 feet. Still need to see how to get a camera to work. POE injectors or something...

 

[EatonEggbeater]

Hey climb.on, the model I recommend from GW security is their GW4571MIP;

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071RBTZ8M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Fixed camera with remote zoom and night vision LED's. $159.00

All the other GW cameras have issues that shake off my BI software, and were returned.

And you're correct; the BI software does the same thing as an NVR, recording, multiplexing, all that. The BI software is super cool, and works really well, and it allows you to view all your cameras on a PC. The Amcrest NVR would too, but I'm using that as a multiplexer for my father. He's in a wheelchair, and likes to be able to look around the house. So, really, the Amcrest is the redundency.

My only beef is that the BI program doesn't restart when power goes out.

 

[Hubmonkey]

I have the Reolink RLK8-410B4 that I bought off Amazon. The cameras are pretty good and it is pretty simple to setup. I use the browser plugin to configure everything. Only thing I don't like about it is the playback needs some improving. If you have it set to record all the time it does not show you motion events on the sliding scale you can setup email alerts for it though. I also wish they had a fast forward on the playback as well.. They are doing releases and updates to the software though.

Hub

 

[climb.on]

Thanks Hubmonkey. That's kind of a big deal if you can't fast forward on playback. Seems like that should be a really basic feature.

 

[Tmart86]

Im going to suggest an over budget option. Im a fan of Axis Communications. you can grab 4 of the companion Bullets for $200 each or companion Eyes for $250 or less then add a 64GB or 128GB sandisk extreme Sd card for each camera to record and power them with Poe.

Reasoning to spend a little more would be a higher quality cameras 3 year warranty and good customer service even for end users. better video management even with the free axis companion software, secure remote access for viewing and playback. no central recorder if you dont want one and the list goes on. Ive been running these kind of systems for several years with good luck. and a quality 2mp camera with a good lens will outperform a cheap 4 or 5 mp camera and more megapixels doesnt mean better low light performance.

 

[Tmart86]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=365564&page=2

I have examples from a cheap Swann system and Axis cameras in post #24 and #25 of that thread. The swann cameras are re branded Hikvision cameras from what I understand.

 

[A**holes Garage]

I have all Cat 6 runs, all Hikvision cameras with 4TB NVR. Not near a $500 system.

But, I do recommend some type of battery back up in case of power outages.
I have the APC BR1500G Back-UPS Pro 1500VA 10-outlet Uninterruptible Power Supply with a APC BR24BPG Back-UPS Pro External Battery Pack For 1500VA Back-UPS Pro models

 

[elliottw]

I'm going to echo Tmart and say you should up your budget at least a little bit, I work for my local telecom as a security camera specialist. I work with stuff in the $200+ range for POE cameras and I can say I've done a lot of work for customers that have spent sub $800 on a package on amazon or at menards etc. and they're never happy with the pictures and or web viewer/phone apps. If you're not looking very long distances you can get away with lower MP cameras (1.3-2mp) but if you're wanting license plates of vehicles outside or trying to identify faces at a distance in or outside of a shop you're going to have a difficult time getting the picture you want at that price point. This is all just my opinion, but hate for you to shell out money and not be happy

 

[climb.on]

Thanks elliott (& tmart). Do you have any specific camera recommendations or do you like the Axis cameras too. I'd rather get fewer better cameras than more crappy ones. I can always add on later.

 

[climb.on]

Im going to suggest an over budget option. Im a fan of Axis Communications. you can grab 4 of the companion Bullets for $200 each or companion Eyes for $250 or less then add a 64GB or 128GB sandisk extreme Sd card for each camera to record and power them with Poe.

Reasoning to spend a little more would be a higher quality cameras 3 year warranty and good customer service even for end users. better video management even with the free axis companion software, secure remote access for viewing and playback. no central recorder if you dont want one and the list goes on. Ive been running these kind of systems for several years with good luck. and a quality 2mp camera with a good lens will outperform a cheap 4 or 5 mp camera and more megapixels doesnt mean better low light performance.

I am seeing the Axis Companion cameras only work with their software. Is that correct? Are the cameras & software that good where you recommend committing to that system. Makes me a little leary.

 

[Tmart86]

I am seeing the Axis Companion cameras only work with their software. Is that correct? Are the cameras & software that good where you recommend committing to that system. Makes me a little leary.

The companion line cameras are committed to their software thats correct. you just save some money because of that. you can look at the M-2025-LE as the full featured version of the companion bullet and the M2026-LE MK as a step up to 4 mp. and the M31 series is the full featured turret style like the companion eye.

The axis image sample from the link above are axis M2025-LE.

 

[elliottw]

Look for cameras that are ONVIF supported. Its a universal format that allows brand X to work with brand Y. Meaning I can use Axis cameras on a Samsung recorder or any type of combination etc. Lots of cameras or NVRs that have proprietary features will only work on like branded equipment though.

 

[Krauts]

I picked up a reolink rlk8-410 system on eBay for 386. Going to install it in the next month or so. No one was bidding on the auction listing. The cameras are metal and appear to be well built.

 

[Astross89]

I have a 8 camera Reolink. I love it. I never use the home monitor to playback. I only use the phone app. The playback is easy on there.