I need an affordable home security/camera set up, advice needed.

Celt

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Im looking for a camera system that connects to my wifi. Something like the Ring doorbell would be great. I like the idea of the doorbell camera along with maybe one other exterior camera and a couple interior cams that I can link to through my phone. Im not looking to link up with any security company with this system, just something fairly simple.

Decent video would be nice, not some grainy vid that you cant tell the difference between a dog or a raccoon.

Id appreciate any insight, advice, and options. Id like to keep the cost below a few hundred bucks ideally.
 
TEOTWAWKI inc.

TEOTWAWKI inc.

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Hardwired, due to power requirements and not dependent on internet.

Fuck Ring, etc.

I knew a lot of people that were very happy with Nest. They would set them up strategically inside the house, and on window sills looking outside. No internet = no video though.

4MP is more than enough for most applications. HikVision has cheap bundles with great video quality. You just need to run wires.
 
cgrutt

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My nephew has three ring floodlight cameras set up at entrances of house I was working under his carport the other day and he started talking to me clear as day. I asked him to come out and he said he couldn't because he was stuck in traffic somewhere lol. The cameras alerted his phone I was on property. He said you can use it without subscription but he pays $100 per year, they store videos for 60 days and warranty unit for as long as he keeps subscription. I saw video it is very clear. He said each light/camera was about $250.
 
Celt

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TEOTWAWKI inc. said:
Hardwired, due to power requirements and not dependent on internet.

Fuck Ring, etc.

I knew a lot of people that were very happy with Nest. They would set them up strategically inside the house, and on window sills looking outside. No internet = no video though.

4MP is more than enough for most applications. HikVision has cheap bundles with great video quality. You just need to run wires.
Click to expand...
I hear you, but I really dont want to get into something hardwired yet. And Im not a fan of Ring, but something "like" that would be great. Although I havent completely ruled out ring yet, but I need to do more homework on privacy. I dont want to connect to any network at this point.
 
Blimey

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Celt said:
I hear you, but I really dont want to get into something hardwired yet. And Im not a fan of Ring, but something "like" that would be great. Although I havent completely ruled out ring yet, but I need to do more homework on privacy. I dont want to connect to any network at this point.
Click to expand...
I have five cams all wired in and second their superiority but the effort involved is probably 50x that of a wifi cam. Some money at Best Buy or amazon and you can be up and running fast and securely although I don’t know which brands are best these days. Id avoid the battery powered if you can though they get well reviewed for what they are.
 
Cooolone

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Hahaha, no endorsement... But use your old cell phone as a door am/security cam, lmao

alfred.camera

AlfredCamera | Simple Security at Your Fingertips

Turn your old phone into a wireless security camera with this top-rated app, trusted by 70,000,000 worldwide. The AlfredCamera app is compatible with Android and iOS devices, as well as PCs with webcams. It also works seamlessly with AlfredCam, our first indoor security camera.
alfred.camera alfred.camera
 
Toecutter

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I have a blink camera and an older nest camera. The blink came free with an echo show I bought.
The blink is better, in my opinion, the software is better and the blink is cheaper.
Both work; both need a subscription if you want it to record events. This is good because it records tons cloud and can not be tampered with. I know there are also cameras out there with similar cards to record .
They also both integrate with smart home software . I'm using the echo show.
 
phatfarmerbob

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There’s a huge thread on that here. I didn’t want to hardwire either but I’m glad I did. All the info is on there @NYGuns is a guru!
 
phatfarmerbob

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Security Camera Thread - Home Solution Write Up

I have seen this topic come up a few times on the forum so figured I would create a thread since I have several years of professional experience in the security camera world. Today's best bet for easy, cost effective home security cameras are IP Cameras. These run over your home network and are...
nygunforum.com nygunforum.com
 
cgrutt

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My buddy used Luxriot software down in the hotel we worked on in Miami. Enterprise level software very sophisticated with lots of capabilities. There is a version for small business/home that is completely free. I think it's this Luxriot Evo is new-generation of Video Management System you would need a dedicated computer with good sized hard-drive to set up server and a switch that supports POE to run up to 9 cameras. Could probably get away for a few hundred with one or two cameras if you have an old computer lying around and it would provide free storage and allow system to expand in future. Cameras would need to be wired though. I know you said no wire but just throwing out another option.
 
R

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SomeSoldier said:

SimpliSafe Home Security Systems | Wireless Home Security Alarms

Shop award-winning home security systems from SimpliSafe. Professional monitoring, protection from break-ins and hazards, and no contracts.
simplisafe.com simplisafe.com
Click to expand...
I second this*^^^^^*. I have SimpliSafe and have no complaints . Cheap and easy to install. You can build your system as elaborate or simple as you want with or without monitoring. All WI-FI / wireless with batteries, except for the home base and cameras. They are wired but with back-up batteries in case of a power outage. Just my 2 cents
 
kev74

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I have a couple of Wyze cameras. They work.

I don't know anything about how secure they are.
 
Cavalry

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I have had a couple systems over the years. My latest is a wired Reolink with a NVR(DVR) I have been running it for well over a year with half a dozen cameras and its been pretty stout. Software is a little buggy but not bad for chinese. The only downside I see is to use the monitoring side of it you need to have a wifi connection so you should assume that whatever you are recording has zero privacy. I can monitor from my phone, get alerts that are pretty tailored to minimize false alarms, I set up a PA horn so I can yell at anyone that shouldn't be there.
Only advise I can give. Go wired (POE), dont get a service like ring, nest, etc, own your own recording device.
 
dwa12479

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I've had the Blink system from Amazon for a few years. It is perfect for my needs. You can customize how many different cameras you want, there are doorbell ones, they all hook up to a sync module, wifi, easy to setup and customize. It's a good system on a budget. The sound and video that you get is very good, and I can talk through any of the cameras as well.
 
TEOTWAWKI inc.

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Cavalry

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TEOTWAWKI inc. said:
Everything without a local recorder: NO INTERNET = NO VIDEO

It's easy enough to run some cables.

I would go with this (not familiar with brand) before any wifi, subscription, cloud stuff. $340 - NVR/4cams.

Click to expand...
Likely a good system, appears to be the same NVR I am running. I piece-mealed my own as I wanted bullet cameras, they have better IR light range.
Probably not applicable to most people out there, but if you have a network where you cameras are you can pipe camera feeds on that network without cabling back to the NVR. I have my NVR in my shop with a 55" TV as a head unit. Since I already had a wired connection the 150' to the shop, I was able to just plug in to my main switch at the house with a POE injector for cams there.
Cabling can scare people off quickly. While keeping everything inside is best, If you have a house with vinyl siding its pretty easy to pop some siding and run your cat5 to were you want.
 
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SomeSoldier

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If you want something local that has great features Ubiquiti is your answer. Wide range of cameras.

www.ui.com

UniFi Camera Security - Ubiquiti

A license-free camera security platform with an AI-centric management experience, lightning-fast local storage, and cameras designed for every deployment.
www.ui.com www.ui.com
 
F

FLA45fan

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Another vote for SimpliSafe! Easy set up, indoor cams are $100 each and they just came out with outdoor cams that are battery operated, solar recharge capable. Got an email from them recently that says as long as you go with a monitoring plan (now up to $27 per month) your equipment is covered by replacement warranty.
Runs on the internet and has cellular backup.
When our girl dog unexpectedly died last year the boy dog howled like a baby when we left. Very stressed out. We we able to watch and talk to him via the Mic/speaker and calm him down. Took a bit but it was comforting to him (and my wife). We access through our phones in seconds when we are out.
I think that you're just looking for cams now but it's a hell of a system if you ever need security.
 
SomeSoldier

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Celt said:
I have a pretty simple thought process about stuff like this. I feel that the most qualified person should be the person who gets the job. When someone has to say a race or a gender is going to fill a certain position that person will always be looked at as if they were given something they didn't deserve.
Click to expand...

Camera systems have gender and race? Damn learning something new everyday.
 
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