Camera Security Systems
For those of you that have camera security systems, I have questions.
-
- What system did you buy?
- Do you like it?
- What do you wish it had now that you've owned it for a while?
- Did you do a wire- in system, solar rechargeable, simply battery operated?
- How much did you invest?
I'm looking into getting a camera security system for the front of my house. Last night, at about 2 am, someone threw a fist-sized chunk of concrete at my front window. While it didn't break the window, it took a small chip out of it and it ripped my screen. I took photos and video of how we found it. If it had broken the window, it would've likely hit the adopted one in the head.
I don't know if any of you remember a little while ago when I mentioned a guy that was sitting in front of my house, saying that he wanted to kill himself, so I called 911. A lot of action seems to occur after dark in front of my house. We live on a main through-way from a state highway to a hospital. It's a side-street and it's not really a dangerous street, it's just one that is a straight shot from one main road to another and the second one has a hospital on it.
The thing is, we really don't know if this was a targeted event or just some jackasses doing stupid shit for the sake of doing stupid shit. Someone might be pissed at the adopted one or my daughter or me or my husband... and that's the reason... who knows? The only things out in our yard that can be seen from the street are two flag poles, one with an American flag at the top and the smaller one under it is a French flag. The other has a Native American healing flag on top and the smaller one under that is a Wyandotte, MI flag. So, nothing that could really be deemed controversial or offensive. I mean, most of you have seen the front of my house from a past article and no one seemed offended by anything.
I wouldn't want to think that anyone that lives around me would do that, because we've gotten along with everyone. It just sucks that we have to look into camera security systems. This is a pretty quiet neighborhood with a lot of retirees. The youngest people on the block are in their 40s (me and the woman across the street from me). I know our retired neighbors had some kids vandalize their Christmas decorations, but the suspects moved away.
Any advice regarding camera security systems is welcome. NO POLITICS, NO PRESIDENTS PAST OR PRESENT.
NO POLITICS, NO PRESIDENTS PAST OR PRESENT.
What a sad story it is about where humanity has gone. When I was a kid, people didn't even bother locking their doors, let alone having a security system. Please, Scotty, beam me back to the early 1950s.
Ironically, there's only one break-in that I'm aware of in my neighborhood since I've lived here (more than 14 years now) and that was someone two doors down and her husband had just overdosed (heroin) a week before and I suspect that he owed his drug dealers money, because that was the only home broken into; she was NOT at home at the time either. She was staying with family for a couple weeks.
I have a Wyze camera, but it's not for "security". I have it pointed at the dog's kennel. Wyze is a cheaper brand that many people like. The only downside I know of is that you can only see video through a smart phone app. I can't look in on my dog while I'm at work on my computer.
Good to know. I'm working from home still... and I don't know if that's going to change or not. It's not really during the day that I'm worried about things happening. I can put the app on my husband's phone which stays in our bedroom at night. The only reason mine doesn't is because I have my work MS Teams and Outlook linked to my phone and I work for a global company, in IT... which means, if someone in India has an issue and they "ping" me, it comes through my phone... and at all hours of the night. So, my phone stays in the basement when it's sleep time.
Does Wyze have multiple camera systems and do they record if you need them to?
So do I. I put my Teams phone on voice mail when I leave work and then put my phone in "do not disturb" mode from 9pm to 6am.
They have 14 day free cloud storage.
I put mine in "Do not disturb" from 10:30 pm to 5:30 am. I know I could have it in my room, but it's out of habit anymore to leave it in the basement.
And good to know about the free cloud storage. Thanks for the info!
Anyone else have security cameras...
Anyone?
Bueller...
I looked into them. The only ones I would get would be hard wired. I would want one that I could link to the home computer as well as the phone and record and see playback.
Some sounded good and then would say, needs a memory card to record and only hold a couple of hours before recording over.
The wireless need to be recharged, no thanks.
I even looked into just a doorbell cam yet with the placement of the doorbell, it is smashed between the bricks and the screen door and would not fit. I would have to replace the screen door.
My brother inlaw has a bunch of them installed. He can look on an app and see every camera in real time. I don't think his records though, which it kinda sounds like you need. Something that you could go back and look.
You can get a wired system that records on a DVR. My son has a system that does that. I don't know the make though.
That kinda sounds like what she would need. Something to where if something happened in the middle of the night she can go back and look.
It may not be needed most of the time but would be a great option if something did happen.
That's exactly what I thought too.
I'm looking at a wired system with a DVR with a 2TB storage capacity. 8 cameras.
Do you use iPhones? If so, consider using Homekit (app comes with Apple products). It is a nicely integrated technology and Logitech Circle cameras are designed to work superbly with it. I am currently wiring up a vacation rental with Homekit and Logitech cameras.
If you want a less expensive option, consider Arlo. I have used them for years.
Also, go to your local Home Depot, Lowes, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, etc. and see which of those cameras best fits your desired price range, aesthetics, etc. Nowadays (unless one buys a cheap off-brand crap camera online) all the cameras are good and offer cloud storage options.
Everyone in my house except my husband.
Yeah, I'm still looking. My husband got all weird about the options I found. I don't know what the hell he's expecting at this point.
Oh... and we have Alexa. There's a lot of camera systems that work with Alexa.
I have Swann Security System. Cameras. Hardwired. 1080P HD resolution and night vision essential. Or you will have "grainy" viewing and no change for night vision - do not even consider less than 1080P or you will be sorry! (Smile.)
Also consider getting as much night vision (feet out from source) as you can afford. That is, you will want night vision to extend as far into the night as across the street.
My 1080P cameras are durable for "uncountable" years. Hassle-free. 30 days storage DVR. App for online viewing. A thing about the mobile app:
Great customer service and tech support. Free. And I can call them for assistance some ten or so years later on my products!
Some people love to have pivoting cameras and audio (I am considering that for the 'next' level don't have yet.)
Also, self-installable. Outdoor cameras are rain-proof.
The system I was considering has night vision (NV) for up to 50 ft. and day vision for up to 75 ft. and all of the reviews stated they were crystal clear day and night, some included photos.
The ones I'm considering are above 1080P.
How many cameras did you wire in?
I have three cameras wired (had to verify spot in walls as safe to drill into first) .
Point of clarification. I have two cameras that I bought first as a set - that are due to be changed out (720p version for which I have/had to use two outside night lights in assist - so I know from experience how poor those 720p are at seeing into the dark. And the pics at all time is 'grainy.')
That said, both 720p cameras lasted a pretty long time (I lost track of the many years of service.) My 1080P night vision camera is still jammin away, nevertheless. It is nearly as 'old' as the other two cameras . It is over the garage and street-side.
I said all that to keep my mind straight on what I am sharing with you/another.
In conclusion, I, too, am in the market for (at least) two more cameras!
And boy old boy, the choices are 'many.' Pivoting? Audio? Doorbell? Vinint? Ring? Xfinity? I have to get on 'it' soon!
I do think I like owning my own gear versus the many services out there!
Yeah, I don't want to pay for monthly services. The system I'm looking at has fixed cameras, but there are several of them. The ones with 355 degree rotate and 90 degree tilt are great and all, but I would need to buy two and they're more expensive... WITHOUT the DVR and storage. Those want me to pay for cloud storage.
True. There is one dilemma amassing and I will share it with you (others) in hopes of some suggestion (may be):
RING FLOODLIGHT has a notification app that "dings" my phone. I love hearing from it during the night.
I am seeing an upcoming issue of "mixing and matching" staring me in the face, nevertheless. And am meditating on a way to avoid it! (Smile.)
I truly hope I am not overwhelming you at this point. If so, just tell me to pause! Mostly, I think that is all, nevertheless.
Nah. Not overwhelming.
I'm trying to research the best method to wire in these things so I don't have to run 60 ft. of electrical from the front to the back of my house... before I buy.
I will have to have the HDD near my computer desk, which is 1/2 way between front and back of my house, but that doesn't help for the opposing side of the house.
I've nearly convinced my husband of getting two single-camera systems that have 355 degree rotational capabilities (horizontal), with 90 degree vertical capabilities, which means 2 HDD (one for front and one for back) and less wiring needs to be ran.
I understand that the HDDs are wireless, but explaining that to my tech-inept husband is like teaching an 80 year old how to operate their brand new Lincoln after having a 20 year old Grand Marquis. Sorry... that's a real life example. I know there are plenty of 80 year old's that understand tech... and more than my husband.
A better analogy might be, trying to herd cats is easier than teaching / explaining tech things to my husband.
(Smile.) I don't know how old your husband is (not needful for this comment), but I am 'worried all day' by eighty plus year olds who forget how to answer calls on a cordless phone! And, herding cats is notoriously 'wicked' to accomplish! So, from experiences with "grannies and gramps" and cats tucked into bushes around my immediate neighborhood—I know your 'frustration'. . . and concern.
HDD wireless convenience for purposes of installing; how do you plan to compensate for whatever (gaps) may occur in your viewing at a random critical moment of internet down-time?
My husband is not as old as one might think considering his tech-ineptitude.
Internet down time is quite rare where I am.
The city I live in has their own cable / internet company [as well as water and electricity] and the moment anyone has an issue, there's someone out in a truck to fix it. It's not like going through a huge company like Comcast or AT&T that has a huge amount of ground to cover. Moreover, considering so many people are working from home still, they're on it like flies on poo on the rare occasion internet in the area does go down.
The other thing is, my neighbors are awesome and we all have each other's WiFi passwords in case one of ours goes down [for example, a router takes a dump], we can use our adjacent neighbor's WiFi. We've all been doing that for years. When my 15 year old went kaput, my neighbor said, "Just use my WiFi and if your PC won't connect from your house, you have a key to mine."
Good point! Trusty neighbors. Swell!
Most of my neighbors are in their 60s or older. I love my neighborhood.
I hear there’s an Israeli system that offers unrivaled and discrete access to cameras and microphones through hundreds of millions of private cellphones. Unfortunately you need to be a high ranking government official with access to OPM to have it.
I don't particularly find this humorous.
I was actually looking for answers from those that have outdoor camera systems and their take on the camera systems they own.
That’s what the internet is for.
I've been doing a TON of research. It doesn't really help. There's SO MANY options available, so I thought I would ask people their personal experiences.
And in that vein, Ring Floodlight (without the alarm and audio [Caution: You will need a separate purchase of a Ring Bridge device to connect its floodlight to internet.] even has a "local" neighborhood where I can see what other people post from their ring cameras! It is very useful information and its even sharable from my phone.