OT: Security Cameras

[notoriousD_O_G]

Anyone have good recommendations for a camera system? I need 3 or 4 cameras to watch the outside of my house. Thanks

 

[Longtime Lurker]

Following

 

[jethreauxdawg]

HikVision

Research them. We use them at work and I'm seeing them around a lot. Easy/inexpensive to install or have someone else install.

 

[benatmsu]

I installed Arlo at my house and Hikvision at my office.
The Arlo appealed to me for home use because it's completely wireless - WiFi and battery-operated.
Problem is the batteries can run down fast if you don't have the settings fine tuned or if they're in a high traffic area. And also they are ridiculously expensive.
I have one over my garage, pointing at my driveway, and it always seems to pick up every car that drives down the street, so it runs down fairly often. You get one week free cloud storage for your cameras here, but the longer you record/better picture/sound/ etc., etc. the faster the cameras' batteries run down. I saw in Bestbuy the other day they make a solar charger for it now, which, in theory, would make it not ever need to be taken down and recharged...would also allow to run the record time a little longer. So that's a positive change.
Overall I like what it provides, but given a re-do, I'd probably go another route there so I could get more than the 3 cameras I currently have at a reasonable price.

I liked the Hikvision at work because I didn't care about drilling holes in the side of the building/ceiling and running cat6 to the cameras. They can be powered from the cat6 running to a poe switch.
We started with 8 cameras there and I just added two more last week to our breakroom because we kept having someone break into the drink machines... Super clear HD. I like these because they continuously record and the NVR has plenty of room for probably a month of solid recording on those 10 cameras.

Anyone have good recommendations for a camera system? I need 3 or 4 cameras to watch the outside of my house. Thanks

 

[RivaDawg]

Anyone have good recommendations for a camera system? I need 3 or 4 cameras to watch the outside of my house. Thanks

I've been looking at Blink cameras. Anyone tried them?

 

[xxxWalkTheDawg]

I have a couple of the Ring cameras

One doorbell camera and one floodlight camera. They work pretty good. You can adjust the distance and the area that motion covers. Also, you can set the times you want the motion to be active. They are of course WIFI. When the motion trips or the doorbell is pressed, they record and the video is stored.

 

[HumpDawgy]

I just have a sticker on my window of some fake security monitoring company and a loop track of a rottweiler barking.

 

[aTotal360]

I went with a "Beware of Owner" sign.

 

[JackShephard]

I installed Arlo at my house and Hikvision at my office.
The Arlo appealed to me for home use because it's completely wireless - WiFi and battery-operated.
Problem is the batteries can run down fast if you don't have the settings fine tuned or if they're in a high traffic area. And also they are ridiculously expensive.
I have one over my garage, pointing at my driveway, and it always seems to pick up every car that drives down the street, so it runs down fairly often. You get one week free cloud storage for your cameras here, but the longer you record/better picture/sound/ etc., etc. the faster the cameras' batteries run down. I saw in Bestbuy the other day they make a solar charger for it now, which, in theory, would make it not ever need to be taken down and recharged...would also allow to run the record time a little longer. So that's a positive change.
Overall I like what it provides, but given a re-do, I'd probably go another route there so I could get more than the 3 cameras I currently have at a reasonable price.

I liked the Hikvision at work because I didn't care about drilling holes in the side of the building/ceiling and running cat6 to the cameras. They can be powered from the cat6 running to a poe switch.
We started with 8 cameras there and I just added two more last week to our breakroom because we kept having someone break into the drink machines... Super clear HD. I like these because they continuously record and the NVR has plenty of room for probably a month of solid recording on those 10 cameras.

I have the Arlo Pro series cameras at my house. Put them up a little over a month ago. Couldn't be happier. Yes, they are a little more expensive, but I was not able to find a cheaper camera with comparable specs that didn't charge you to store more than a day's worth of recordings. Most other cameras charge you $15/mo to expand to over a day's worth of recordings. With Arlo, you get more than you will ever need for free. So you pay a little more up-front, but it's an extremely short payback period. Also, on the batteries, after 5 or 6 weeks, I finally just charged my first camera. It's the high traffic one on the front porch. The other one still has 50% battery (on the back porch). It's easy to play with the settings for the first week or so and find something that works. Also, installation is very simple. It's literally plugging the base in, pushing a button to sync each camera, and then installing one screw per camera. They're not perfect, but I've yet to see anything I would trade them for. I researched for a long time before I bought, and I kept coming back to these.

 

[randystewart]

Add me to the Arlo Pro crowd. Put them up about two months ago and couldn't be happier. The one over the garage I just had to recharge yesterday, but the other two in a lower traffic area still have over 50% battery two months in.

 

[benatmsu]

Agreed - the one I have at my front door usually goes about 4-5 months between charging. I've had it for over a year now, and I've only charged it 3 times I think. I've got one on the side of my house, that I sill haven't charged, as it only goes off when I cut the grass or someone is over there - which is rare. The only issue I have, is with the one above the garage. It's hard to get to, and no matter how I change the sensitivity settings it seems to always record. The other day it recorded almost every minute for about 3 solid hours. Part of the problem is, due to where it's placed, I think it picks up a lot of background movement - trees, birds, etc. I've been charging every 2 weeks it seems lately. For that reason alone, I say I would look at another option. I do think I am going to look into the solar charger option. If that works, I won't care how often it triggers. And I'll likely increase the recording length which will make it even more useful.

However, for the front door the Arlo Pro is perfect. I get full audio, hd recordings and can even have a conversation with whomever is standing at the door.

 

[WilCoDawg]

I concur with Arlie being good, but annoying. I’m constantly changing those daggum bat’tries. It also keeps being triggered by the wind which I find to be weird.
To add a little Halloween element, one camera is daily triggered around 3am, give or take 15min. DAILY! Nothing is ever there. Weird and creepy and annoying given that I get the alerts on my phone.

 

[WrapItDog]

Part of the problem is, due to where it's placed, I think it picks up a lot of background movement - trees, birds, etc.

It's a black panther**

 

[The Peeper]

Is it looking downward toward the driveway? Could be tree shadows blowing around on the driveway, I've had that happen.

 

[ShrubDog]

Ezviz

 

[mstateglfr]

Good Jeez- what the hell is happening around all of you to warrant entire camera 'systems' on your property?!

The day I legitimately consider cameras to guard my half acre is the day I instead google REALTOR.

 

[ShrubDog]

Do you have locks on your doors?

 

[ababyatemydingo]

don't care what neighborhood you live in or move to. if you have ****, some people will want to steal it

 

[bulldogcountry1]

Good Jeez- what the hell is happening around all of you to warrant entire camera 'systems' on your property?!

The day I legitimately consider cameras to guard my half acre is the day I instead google REALTOR.

Let me guess...Madison, right?

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

Good Jeez- what the hell is happening around all of you to warrant entire camera 'systems' on your property?!

The day I legitimately consider cameras to guard my half acre is the day I instead google REALTOR.

People are driving into my part of town, parking their cars, and then they take off walking and pulling in door handles. My neighbor had his truck stolen, they stole guns, tools, etc. It's a lot cheaper to buy cameras than move.

 

[benatmsu]

I actually live in a very safe neighborhood with little crime.
I do however live at the end of a cul-de-sac in an area with a lot of new construction.
Somebody kept using my freshly sodded front yard as a turnaround.
I also kept coming home during the day and finding my water hose running down my driveway.
I was able to use the video to catch the contractors in both instances to put a stop to it and have them come back and re-sod part of my yard.

Good Jeez- what the hell is happening around all of you to warrant entire camera 'systems' on your property?!

The day I legitimately consider cameras to guard my half acre is the day I instead google REALTOR.

 

[Dawgbite]

I installed the 8 camera Samsung unit that SAMs Club sells

I read several reviews and did not like what I saw about the wireless units and I'm not charging or changing batteries. Been happy so far, the instructions were not really helpful for the technology challenged but it wasn't too hard to figure out. You would be amazed at what happens at your house when you aren't home. Within the first two weeks after installation , a couple of female Jehovas Witness came to my house and knocked on the front door. After no answer they walked around back, went in my screened porch, went in my garage, and peeked in my kitchen door. I live in a rural area and my house and shop are not visible from the road so it may not prevent a robbery but it may help catch a meth head looking for something to pawn.

 

[pDigital32Dawg]

I would not recommend wireless. Also, avoid the brand Canary, if they have any outdoor solutions. My 2 cents

 

[pDigital32Dawg]

I have a similar issue with a motion sensor. I placed one of my motion sensors in the guest bedroom and when tripped it would turn on the room's lights. After I initially got it all setup, the first night the sensor kept getting tripped, and the lights from the bedroom were lighting up the hallway. Pretty creepy waking up at 2 am and every light in one room was magically on. Come to find out, I've got a defective sensor. I've got it placed in the front of the house, and now when it trips, a light turns on in the front door hallway (simulating someone being home). Turns out a defective sensor is good for home security after all.

 

[ShrubDog]

Research them. We use them at work and I'm seeing them around a lot. Easy/inexpensive to install or have someone else install.

The HikVision-Ezviz app works well. Crystal clear images, instant alerts and easy interface. The camera manager station, operated by the terminal and mouse, is easy to use with enough options. The event history shows up as green, and normal is blue. This makes it easy to go back and review it on a big monitor.

One thing the app is lacking is a green event history marker. Also, if cell service is lacking so will the playback. Anyway, I can recommend these systems and the best part they are affordable. Pull some cable and you're good to go.

 

[dorndawg]

People are driving into my part of town, parking their cars, and then they take off walking and pulling in door handles. My neighbor had his truck stolen, they stole guns, tools, etc. It's a lot cheaper to buy cameras than move.

It's even cheaper to lock your truck

 

[AssEndDawg]

The HikVision-Ezviz app works well. Crystal clear images, instant alerts and easy interface. The camera manager station, operated by the terminal and mouse, is easy to use with enough options. The event history shows up as green, and normal is blue. This makes it easy to go back and review it on a big monitor.

One thing the app is lacking is a green event history marker. Also, if cell service is lacking so will the playback. Anyway, I can recommend these systems and the best part they are affordable. Pull some cable and you're good to go.

Do you use Power over Ethernet? Does it work well?

 

[ShrubDog]

Works well

 

[mstateglfr]

People are driving into my part of town, parking their cars, and then they take off walking and pulling in door handles. My neighbor had his truck stolen, they stole guns, tools, etc. It's a lot cheaper to buy cameras than move.

Cheaper? Yes.
Better? Debatable. If I lived where you do, I would probably be looking to see how to remove my family from such a situation. Im guessing cameras would come first or be a bandaid delay to the inevitable- leaving that area as life with such worry isnt appealing.

Let me guess...Madison, right?

Close. Just a scant 800mi off.

Do you have locks on your doors?

I do. And if I need more than locks and feel like cameras are required, we would look at not living where we live as I dont want such fear and hassle to become mainstream in life.

 

[ShrubDog]

Some people get cameras because they want them, not out of fear. Some people have deadbolts and some people don't.

I know some people who live in very nice gated communities and they have cameras along with alarm systems. Why? Most really nice houses have alarm systems. Why? My godfather owns an alarm company and most of his business is high end residential. Why? Some folks would rather be safe than sorry. Most burglaries happen when people are at work. Also, cameras are a great tool to keep an eye on the kids in the yard.

Fear is not part of my everyday life, being prepared is a regular occurrence.


There is a neighborhood in a city not far from Starkville where all the rich people live. Guess which neighborhood has been targeted by burglars consistently for 25 years, you guessed it. They never catch anyone, but if they had cams the odds would be turned. Most of the burglaries happen in the middle of the day, and folks leave their houses unlocked and alarms off all the time. If they trip an alarm they just leave. And everyone one of these houses have security signs/stickers but it doesn't stop a crook.

Point is not everyone is lucky like you to live in a nice place where there is no possibility of crime. Must be nice man.

 

[mstateglfr]

Point is not everyone is lucky like you to live in a nice place where there is no possibility of crime. Must be nice man.

Yeah, I figured there was a good chance of getting an absurd comment like this after my couple of posts in the thread. At least I figured there was a better chance of getting such a comment when compared to my chances of needing security cameras. View attachment 8265


I get that higher end homes are targeted because they presumably have **** worth taking. Perhaps I dont live in a nice place with no possibility of crime and instead just live in a home that isnt worth breaking into.
...or perhaps as you backhandingly suggest- I may just live in an area that is both comfortable and safe. It really isnt heaven, its just a suburb in Iowa.
View attachment 8266

 

[bulldogcountry1]

For all those that have security cameras, did you try to hide the cameras or are they in plain sight?

I'm leaning towards the plain sight strategy. I'd rather try discourage anyone than to be secretive and have to deal with it legally. I've never had any problems, but it only takes one event to ruin that comfort level you should have at your own home.

 

[ShrubDog]

Plain sight like a spot light. Heck the bullets look like spot lights.

 

[ShrubDog]

Glfr you should change your purple man with this new character, its funny.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

Cheaper? Yes.
Better? Debatable. If I lived where you do, I would probably be looking to see how to remove my family from such a situation. Im guessing cameras would come first or be a bandaid delay to the inevitable- leaving that area as life with such worry isnt appealing.

So I should just up and leave the town my family has lived in for 4 generations because a group of teenagers are stealing ****? Not sure where you live that everything is all sunshine and rainbows but I am not going to be run out of my house by a few ********.

And my family is very content and happy with where we live.