WIFI Security Cameras - Need advice!

[thickhead]

I want to have at least 3 Security cameras on my property. I'd prefer to not deal with running video cables, but they will be near power. I would like them to monitor motion and store video for at least 7 days for free and be iOS accessible. Doesn't matter too much to me if it is cloud or NVR storage.

I'm pretty close to buying a Blink 3 camera kit for $220 but there must be other good options I don't know about.

 

[PugetDude]

Contact the ladies in this thread, they have quite a bit of experience with security cameras.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=341777

 

[stang2007]

I have 4 of these they work great and are super easy to setup.

https://amzn.com/B00P1NAPPQ

 

[Mstrfxit12]

I have been using the Netgear Arlo wireless system for about 4 months. They are completely wireless, each camera is powered by 4 cr123 batteries. Life on the batteries seems good as long as there isnt a crazy amount of motion. They store 7 days of recordings(cloud based) for free and it is accessible from IOS and Android. I got the four camera system. Super easy to get it up and running.
https://www.arlo.com/en-us/products/arlo/default.aspx

 

[L@urens]

Happy with the Arlo set too at home. Find a good online sourxe for cheap CR123 from an A brand. Will probably install too at my new workshop.


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[thickhead]

Arlo looks cool. Have to check out the Samsung.
Also, any out that are HomeKit compatible?

 

[L@urens]

Arlo now connects to Samsung SmartThings


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[Bwana]

Arlo looks to be what I'm trying to find too. Wonder how often you have to change th batteries? I know it says "depending on movement" but there should be some guideline. Although I guess it must be mort htan 7 days if you can have that much storage.

The website doesn't say much, any better description out there on the capabilities?

 

[RHOPPER]

manything.com. It's a service that uses your old smart phone as the camera. One single camera version is free, upgrades for more cameras and storage are pretty cheap. Works off your home wifi and has options for alerts, motion, turning on the smart phone light, etc. You can also yell at your dog to get off the couch remotely.

 

[ddawg16]

I'm quite happy with my Lorex NVR system.

Yes, it is 'wired'. But, because it's POE (Power Over Ethernet), the wiring is actually a lot cleaner. And having 'had' a wireless setup, I'll take wired any day.

You will NOT get decent updates with wireless, much less HD. There is just too much data to send wireless. And anything less than HD is a waste of money. Neighbor has the old standard resolution cameras. You can't read lic plates.....Mine will.

And...with the Lorex NVR...nice app to watch it on your smart phone...or any computer.

Got some good video last week of a guy who was going into cars at 4:21am in the morning. Not breaking in, just trying door handles...if unlocked, ransacked the car. He 'almost' tried our cars, then saw the cameras....moved on.

 

[nehog]

I have a Foscam that works well. We did one for a commercial project, and I got another for my house. Outside are all wired to a security recorder/system. The Foscam system is IP and separately accessible and used to monitor my living/dining/kitchen area.

 

[thickhead]

No cheap AC powered wifi setups that just work?
Also, would a WIFI extender with a port work for POE?

Nehog, what model foscam?

 

[stang2007]

the Samsung is 720p for recorded items (the camera is actually 1080P with a 2 megapixel sensor). works for me gives notifications works well and is Easy to setup. However; if you want to see the pimples on a nat's a$$ you will want a more expensive system.(and will need to go hardwired)

 

[stang2007]

I looked into the ARLO but getting the ladder out once a month.. I'm busy enough as is.

 

[thickhead]

How about Blink cameras?

 

[L@urens]

Arlo looks to be what I'm trying to find too. Wonder how often you have to change th batteries? I know it says "depending on movement" but there should be some guideline. Although I guess it must be mort htan 7 days if you can have that much storage.



The website doesn't say much, any better description out there on the capabilities?

About 2-3 times a year in my home. And we live there. So I am expecting longer life in the workshop.


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[cheechi]

having 'had' a wireless setup, I'll take wired any day.

This is the best advice you've got so far.

No cheap AC powered wifi setups that just work?
Also, would a WIFI extender with a port work for POE?

Assuming you have a local DVR/NVR, let's say you have a wifi extender the camera talks to, you're adding another layer between the cam & network. Just being wireless it's going to be situational whether you can get 'clear' HD vs 'its HD blocks so the blocks are in widescreen', what res, what refresh, whether colour is an option, speed and clarity with pan/zoom may be nonexistent, etc. Now add having to go through an extender, which probably means the extender isn't going to be close to the source wifi which means it's already going to be slower than the wifi will claim to go.

There might be one place you physically can't run the wire. Wireless cameras, plural, is a toy and not a security system. If you ever need the footage for court you won't get facial details, plate numbers, or anything really useful. If you are serious about needing the cam for security you are serious about running the wire to get it.

 

[thickhead]

I can't run Ethernet to the locations I need without it being a large undertaking, but I can locate them near power easily enough. Maybe Powerline adapters would make it easy to use a POE NVR system? Could be an easy way to add better internet/WI-FI in my detached garage anyway.
This is starting to be info overload with all the damn options.

 

[falconero]

I have 4 of these they work great and are super easy to setup.



https://amzn.com/B00P1NAPPQ

i have one of the samsungs, works great, depending on the location may not quite be as good of resolution as you need


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[n20junkie]

No cheap AC powered wifi setups that just work?
Also, would a WIFI extender with a port work for POE?

Nehog, what model foscam?

Nest (drop cam pro became nest) are easy and just work. You get email notifications with snapshots and notifications on your phone for free. For $10/month and $5 for each additional camera you can get cloud based saved video.

Its not the cheapest option, but they work damn good.

 

[Todd.Brock]

No cheap AC powered wifi setups that just work?
Also, would a WIFI extender with a port work for POE?

Nehog, what model foscam?

I can tell you another model to stay away from. I used this about 5 years ago. Connection is terrible to wifi- uses Blue Iris as a software is ok but it doesn't work well with camera, you have to have a hard wired connection to set up the wifi, and the picture *****.


Foscam FI9805W 960P HD 1.3MP Night Vision 98.4 Feet ONVIF Outdoor Waterproof Wireless IP Camera with Two-way Audio (Certified Refurbished) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JZX0BY2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Gary in NY]

Nest (drop cam pro became nest) are easy and just work. You get email notifications with snapshots and notifications on your phone for free. For $10/month and $5 for each additional camera you can get cloud based saved video.

Its not the cheapest option, but they work damn good.

+1 on this. I have had my Dropcam (now Nest) for a couple years now. I've never had any problem. Video is saved for a week and it will notify me immediately if there is any motion or sound (if I want it to).

 

[Denwood]

I have 3 of these running: https://amcrest.com/amcrest-1080p-wifi-video-security-ip-camera-pt.html

You can store video and or snapshots on the camera, NAS or FTP to the web. I use onboard SD cards for video, and save the snapshots to NAS. The iOS app works flawlessly, and I get notifications on the phone if motion is detected during the hours that it is programmed to detect motion and record video/images.

You can set up four motion detection areas on each camera, defining the sensitivity of each. They can also trigger recording on noise.

The HD image recording is quite good, as is the night vision. Pan/tilt/zoom functions using the IOS app are quite useful. I use one of the security cams to tilt down and zoom in very tight on our 3D printer to see if jobs are completed, and whether the parts have printed ok. The app also allows two way audio..so you can listen and speak to anyone at the camera end.

The firmware is not for newbies..there are a ton of options there, however it's stupidly impressive for a $100 PTZ camera that does full 1080 HD video. Wifi connectivety is fine, however I have several of them connected via LAN to speed up HD video playback on our fiber building uplink.

Once ports were forwarded correctly on our router, remote veiwing using the iOS app, or via any web browser worked flawlessly.

 

[nehog]

Nehog, what model foscam?

F19831P is the model.

 

[tarmy]

Sharx...best thing I found...pricey but worth it.

 

[L@urens]

I have just added a Ring Pro door bell to my workshop. It is wired for power using standard 18-24V AC door bell transformer. It uses WiFi for everything else.

Quite impressed as it can do motion and ring detection and record to the cloud. Might not need to add another outdoor cam.



That is my neighbour trespassing [emoji28]


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[tdott]

I have 5 Blink Cameras, they are not ideal for high traffic areas and they also don't record longer than 10s clips. Also 10s retrigger time, so there is alot of action you can miss.

I knew that going in, I mostly have them to keep an eye on my dog while at work, but I do have one placed at the front door and that one probably sees the most recording (when people come up to the door, it doesn't point to the street, and it's been over 7 months so far and it still reports full battery life, I wasn't expecting to get the 1 year life out of that camera but so far it looks like it might make it. Replacing batteries and how easy it is to install Blink cameras is the main advantage.

Thinking of adding a two camera wired system in my garage, with camera outside pointed at the driveway/street/sidewalk that is always recording to a local drive, that should complete my system pretty well I think. Keeping it in the garage and cameras just outside will make installing the wired cameras easy.

 

[CSRPenFab]

I have just added a Ring Pro door bell to my workshop. It is wired for power using standard 18-24V AC door bell transformer. It uses WiFi for everything else.

Quite impressed as it can do motion and ring detection and record to the cloud. Might not need to add another outdoor cam.



That is my neighbour trespassing [emoji28]


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+1 for the smart doorbells. I did a ton of research and wound up with a SkyBell HD for $199 via Amazon. It wins most comparisons over the ring pro and it has full 1080 video and full color night vision. What really sold me was the included video hosting vs paying $30 a year to ring. It also integrates with Nest cams and Amazon Echo.