Security cameras

Jubee · Mar 31, 2024

Any home security cameras recommendations? A friend had his garage busted into it, door is fixed now and they didn't take anything thankfully.
But my buddy wants to get cams and while I'm relatively comfortable with tech, this is something I'm not overly familiar with and while he'd like wireless, powered seems to be the better option since he doesn't have to worry about, well, power.

Are the Ring cameras the way to go? Any experience with night vision and motion sensing?
Just looking for first hand experience or setup suggestions, and/or brands.

Thanks

gar · Mar 31, 2024

Jubee said:
Any home security cameras recommendations? A friend had his garage busted into it, door is fixed now and they didn't take anything thankfully.
But my buddy wants to get cams and while I'm relatively comfortable with tech, this is something I'm not overly familiar with and while he'd like wireless, powered seems to be the better option since he doesn't have to worry about, well, power.

Are the Ring cameras the way to go? Any experience with night vision and motion sensing?
Just looking for first hand experience or setup suggestions, and/or brands.

Thanks

I would not recommend any solar powered security cameras. They have problems recharging in the winter. The freezing temperature affects their ability to recharge, rendering them useless during the winter months.

Jubee · Mar 31, 2024

gar said:
I would not recommend any solar powered security cameras. They have problems recharging in the winter. The freezing temperature affects their ability to recharge, rendering them useless during the winter months.

That's something his brother suggested but we didn't like it. Didn't know cold weather affects charging, but it makes sense, batteries.

gar · Mar 31, 2024

Jubee said:
That's something his brother suggested but we didn't like it. Didn't know cold weather affects charging, but it makes sense, batteries.

It's simular to your iphone. They stop functioning in extreme temperatures.

Jubee · Mar 31, 2024

So hardwired is the way to go, since batteries by default (science really) just don't perform well in cold.

Now the question is, which security cameras are "good" and "reliable".

explorerzip · Mar 31, 2024

I have a pan and tilt (no zoom) Tapo camera by TP-Link that connects to my home WIFi. You may have to add an external WiFi access point to get the cameras working and run a power cable though. The one I have has a "Starlight" night vision sensor and it was less than $50 on Amazon.

Each camera has a SD card so the files are stored locally. There's no need to run Ethernet or video cables from the camera to a hard drive bay.

I installed them last year and we had a very mild winter so I'll see how the perform long term. So far so good with them though and the night vision is very good. I keep a light on anyway to help the night vision.

There's no subscription on them unlike Ring. They do have a monthly plan if you want unlimited cloud storage for the files. I didn't bother because if something happens I can take the SD card out to view files if I need them.

I can pan and tilt the camera, see the live view and recordings using the Tapo app from anywhere.

Hope this helps.

Jubee · Mar 31, 2024

explorerzip said:
I have a pan and tilt (no zoom) Tapo camera by TP-Link that connects to my home WIFi. You may have to add an external WiFi access point to get the cameras working and run a power cable though. The one I have has a "Starlight" night vision sensor and it was less than $50 on Amazon.

Each camera has a SD card so the files are stored locally. There's no need to run Ethernet or video cables from the camera to a hard drive bay.

I installed them last year and we had a very mild winter so I'll see how the perform long term. So far so good with them though and the night vision is very good. I keep a light on anyway to help the night vision.

There's no subscription on them unlike Ring. They do have a monthly plan if you want unlimited cloud storage for the files. I didn't bother because if something happens I can take the SD card out to view files if I need them.

I can pan and tilt the camera, see the live view and recordings using the Tapo app from anywhere.

Hope this helps.

So I'm assuming that Ring has to be subscription based? Did not know that, thought it was optional. Good to know.
The Tapo cam, I'm assuming it's indoor and not outdoor? He's looking to install one above his garage pointing down the driveway, is it okay in cold weather?
In fact, Ill look it up right now lol

Yep, they have outdoor ones - https://www.amazon.ca/TP-Link-Tapo-Security-Records-C100/dp/B0BKZK4JGK?th=1
Awesome, good start, thanks Ex'

ExploerZip - how many wifi points did you add? His signal from the main router to the garage is far, so he'll need a WiFi point for sure. How good is one WiFi good for, how far and which model do you have?

Ceiling Cat · Apr 1, 2024

Jubee said:
So hardwired is the way to go, since batteries by default (science really) just don't perform well in cold.

Now the question is, which security cameras are "good" and "reliable".

I am not familiar with all the brands, I suspect that what you can get at consumer electronics stores and big box hardware stores are mostly wireless. I have hard wired Panasonic surveillance cameras like the ones used in businesses. Take the time and wire them up one at a time. A lot more work, but well worth it in reliability and quality. Any brand used for businesses are good, there is a plethora of professional brands you never heard of. I prefer to stick with big brands.

These days you never know what people are capable of. I have had people ring my door bell at 8 PM claiming to be Uber Eats drivers, people selling cheap internet services ect. ect, When you open the door they might try to push their way in.

Good automatic lighting that turns on when it gets dark around your house will also deter miscreants.

explorerzip · Apr 1, 2024

Jubee said:
So I'm assuming that Ring has to be subscription based? Did not know that, thought it was optional. Good to know.
The Tapo cam, I'm assuming it's indoor and not outdoor? He's looking to install one above his garage pointing down the driveway, is it okay in cold weather?
In fact, Ill look it up right now lol

Yep, they have outdoor ones - https://www.amazon.ca/TP-Link-Tapo-Security-Records-C100/dp/B0BKZK4JGK?th=1
Awesome, good start, thanks Ex'

ExploerZip - how many wifi points did you add? His signal from the main router to the garage is far, so he'll need a WiFi point for sure. How good is one WiFi good for, how far and which model do you have?

Afaik, Ring cams are subscription based. This is the exact Tapo cam I have: https://a.co/d/6gKLdx6 It went up in price since I got it, but still affordable. It's only gone through one winter, which was very mild. It's well reviewed on Amazon though and cheap enough that it doesn't matter to me if it lasts that long. Technology is always getting cheaper and better anyway.

I already had a wifi access point inside the back of my garage. I had to move it slightly so it pointed right at the camera, which is at the front corner of my house. My garage door is wood so it doesn't interfere with WiFi signals, which is another thing to consider. A metal garage door might interfere if the access point is inside the garage. Same thing if there's brick or concrete walls between the garage and the house. Wifi does go through dry wall.

The easiest way to test how far the wifi reaches is to put a ladder where you want the camera to go. Use your phone to try to connect to WiFi then do an Internet speed test to see how well it works.

explorerzip · Apr 1, 2024

Ceiling Cat said:
I am not familiar with all the brands, I suspect that what you can get at consumer electronics stores and big box hardware stores are mostly wireless. I have hard wired Panasonic surveillance cameras like the ones used in businesses. Take the time and wire them up one at a time. A lot more work, but well worth it in reliability and quality. Any brand used for businesses are good, there is a plethora of professional brands you never heard of. I prefer to stick with big brands.

These days you never know what people are capable of. I have had people ring my door bell at 8 PM claiming to be Uber Eats drivers, people selling cheap internet services ect. ect, When you open the door they might try to push their way in.

Good automatic lighting that turns on when it gets dark around your house will also deter miscreants.

I disagree with using wired cameras because I still have some in my setup and they have some major limitations. All my wired cameras require power over Ethernet or POE that was a pain to intall. Wifi cameras weren't available or were too costly when I got my system. Ethernet can be tricky to run because you have a maximum distance of 100M. You could reach the max length if your camera is under the roof at one corner of your house and your video recorder or DVR is in the opposite corner of the basement. It's not a good idea to use the maximum cable distance either. You might be able to get it working, but also might run into performance issues. You can extend the range, but you need to use a switch or repeater and it is another device to setup, power and point of failure. It might not be possible to put a repeater device near the 100M limit because of lack of space, power outlet, etc. It's also possible to use coax instead of Ethernet, but that further complicates things.

A major headache I have with my system is that I must use a web browser app to control the cameras or view video. That software only works with Internet Explorer 9, which Microsoft no longer supports. There is an Internet Explorer mode in Windows 10 and 11, but it doesn't work well with my camrea software. AFAIK, many of the hard drive aka DVR based security systems have similar apps that only works with Internet Explorer. Secondly, I cannot access the video files from outside my home. This is not a major problem, but it's nice to be able to watch out for my place while I'm out and about. Third, wired cameras need to be plugged into a DVR that has a finite number of ports. You can't add any more cameras once you've filled up all the ports. Fourth, the DVR is filled with hard drives that can fail.

With my WIFI camera, I can control and playback video using an app on my phone. IMHO, wired camreas are not meant for home installs anymore.

I've used many motion sensing lights and they don't always work. Most motion sensing lights use passive infrared sensors that can have trouble detecting people in cold weather. Exposed skin tends to be relatively cold and the infrared sensors in the lights might not detect it. I've found it more useful to leave an LED flood light on all night long because they last a lot longer than regular bulbs and draw less power. So I'm fine to leave them on all night long and it also helps my wifi camera capture a clearer video.

Jubee · Apr 1, 2024

Expo' what brand wifi

explorerzip said:
Afaik, Ring cams are subscription based. This is the exact Tapo cam I have: https://a.co/d/6gKLdx6 It went up in price since I got it, but still affordable. It's only gone through one winter, which was very mild. It's well reviewed on Amazon though and cheap enough that it doesn't matter to me if it lasts that long. Technology is always getting cheaper and better anyway.

I already had a wifi access point inside the back of my garage. I had to move it slightly so it pointed right at the camera, which is at the front corner of my house. My garage door is wood so it doesn't interfere with WiFi signals, which is another thing to consider. A metal garage door might interfere if the access point is inside the garage. Same thing if there's brick or concrete walls between the garage and the house. Wifi does go through dry wall.

The easiest way to test how far the wifi reaches is to put a ladder where you want the camera to go. Use your phone to try to connect to WiFi then do an Internet speed test to see how well it works.

Can I assume you use a TP link repeater?TP Repeater link

Jenesis · Apr 1, 2024

Jubee said:
So hardwired is the way to go, since batteries by default (science really) just don't perform well in cold.

Now the question is, which security cameras are "good" and "reliable".

Hard wired IP HD and NV is the top shelf. Gives you WIFI and is hard wired. Accessible on your DVR or app on your phone. WatchNET is a popular one. If getting a DVR get one with at least 10 ports. Most only need 4-6 but gives you room to grow if need be or if you move and need more, you can add.

And If you really want it done right you go to a security company and have them install.

Ring works good but get the hardwired one if able. The rechargeable works ok. The yearly subscription is pretty cheap. If you are willing to pay monthly and not pay for a system out of pocket you can go to Rogers for their smart home monitoring which is pretty good and they have outside cameras now as well.

explorerzip · Apr 1, 2024

Jubee said:
Expo' what brand wifi

Can I assume you use a TP link repeater?TP Repeater link

I don't use a wifi repeater in my garage because it was built after my home and has brick walls all around.

I ran an Ethernet cable from the router in my basement to another access point in the garage. I got lucky that I didn't run into max cable length. The AP points at my camera on the outside of my house through the wooden garage door. I think I have a Ubiquiti access point, but TP Link also makes them.

Dirkpit · Apr 1, 2024

I have the Google nest cameras. They are wireless and seem to work okay as long as you have a stable internet connection. They are sensitive to the winter temperatures, but only below -10 or so. Very flexible as you can move them around anywhere. Could be stolen if they are within reach….you would still have a video of them stealing them, but if they have masks might not help much. Costs me $9/month for storage of videos…. I think video is deleted after 4 hours if you don’t subscribe….depending on your needs this might be sufficient. Fairly expensive at around $350 a pair if I remember right. Can be a bit of hassle with technical issues, but they have a help line that has always solved my issues so far. I think wired would be a more robust and probably cheaper solution. Nest was very quick to set up and I had a situation where I needed them immediately.

Mythos · Apr 1, 2024

I've tried a few camera brands (HiKVision, Foscam, ReoLink) over a mixed POE, WiFi network, and the ReoLink is the most impressive.
It has excellent colour night vision, PTZ, POE, WiFi, Ethernet, audio, and a very clear picture.

All my cameras have their MAC addresses blocked at the router, so no internet access in or out for those.
Instead an OpenVPN server running on the router allows secure access from the Internet to the webcam or the surveillance software.
There are many free open source surveillance camera applications available.

Get very bright motion sensor LED security lights. You want to surprise the thieves as they approach, and when those suckers pop on. And it will trigger the camera.

Surveillance and Notification - All the surveillance in the world is useless if no one is watching. So setup your camera software to text, email or trigger a "siren".
Can be as simple as playing an audio file on your computer.

Good luck....cuz those guys will be back to finish the job.

explorerzip · Apr 1, 2024

Jenesis said:
Hard wired IP HD and NV is the top shelf. Gives you WIFI and is hard wired. Accessible on your DVR or app on your phone. WatchNET is a popular one. If getting a DVR get one with at least 10 ports. Most only need 4-6 but gives you room to grow if need be or if you move and need more, you can add.

And If you really want it done right you go to a security company and have them install.

Ring works good but get the hardwired one if able. The rechargeable works ok. The yearly subscription is pretty cheap. If you are willing to pay monthly and not pay for a system out of pocket you can go to Rogers for their smart home monitoring which is pretty good and they have outside cameras now as well.

WatchNET maybe popular, but it looks like you can only see the video feed using the Internet Explorer browser, which doesn't work well on Windows 10 and 11. I think there is a Mac version of the WatchNet software.

Loading…

watchnetinc.com

In order to view your cameras remotely, you'll need to setup port forwarding in your home router. This can be tricky to do if you're not an IT person. Also, some routers hide those settings from you.

It looks like WatchNET has mobile apps for Android and IOS too.

explorerzip · Apr 1, 2024

Mythos said:
Instead an OpenVPN server running on the router allows secure access from the Internet to the webcam or the surveillance software.
There are many free open source surveillance camera applications available.

You do you, but not eveyrone has the desire or skill to setup a VPN server, mess with router settings or try to find open source software that works with their security setup.

Jenesis · Apr 1, 2024

explorerzip said:
WatchNET maybe popular, but it looks like you can only see the video feed using the Internet Explorer browser, which doesn't work well on Windows 10 and 11. I think there is a Mac version of the WatchNet software.

Loading…

watchnetinc.com

In order to view your cameras remotely, you'll need to setup port forwarding in your home router. This can be tricky to do if you're not an IT person. Also, some routers hide those settings from you.

It looks like WatchNET has mobile apps for Android and IOS too.

I have no problem viewing on my phone, tablet or DVR of course. I don’t know about a computer because I don’t use it. I don’t need too, but I have a Mac so would be no issue.

Also - as I mentioned - a security company is best to handle this stuff. We have a great one here in Durham.

explorerzip · Apr 1, 2024

Jenesis said:
I have no problem viewing on my phone, tablet or DVR of course. I don’t know about a computer because I don’t use it. I don’t need too, but I have a Mac so would be no issue.

Also - as I mentioned - a security company is best to handle this stuff. We have a great one here in Durham.

Just depends on what you're comfortable with. There are lots of very good consumer level camera options that are quite easy to work with if you have base level tech knowledge.

SchlongConery · Apr 1, 2024

explorerzip said:
WatchNET maybe popular, but it looks like you can only see the video feed using the Internet Explorer browser, which doesn't work well on Windows 10 and 11. I think there is a Mac version of the WatchNet software.

Loading…

watchnetinc.com

In order to view your cameras remotely, you'll need to setup port forwarding in your home router. This can be tricky to do if you're not an IT person. Also, some routers hide those settings from you.

It looks like WatchNET has mobile apps for Android and IOS too.

Try HikVision. It works on most of the generic HDD based DVRs. They have browser based links and smartphone Apps

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