Home Security Cameras - insight from other FTers appreciated
Aug 9, 2022, 1:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LHR, SEA, ZRH
Posts: 707
Home Security Cameras - insight from other FTers appreciated
Hi all
I'm looking to get a home security camera that will be mounted outside. Doing several searches for reviews/etc and there are many options but wanted to get some feedback here.
Basically I'm looking for one security camera for the outside of the house
- Wide view with great night time quality and flood lights - Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro for example looks good here
- Prefer not to pay for cloud services but acknowledge I'll need it for video playback and history - Arlo Pro 4 seems ok at $3/mo, Google Next is at $6/mo.
- Needs to be accessible by 3 different accounts - as I have other family members who need access to the video/photo feed/alerts/etc
- Integration with Google/Siri etc is not super important
- Reliability - want a wired option as do not want to have to deal with batteries, that I can basically have installed and will run
Any other suggestions would be appreciated!
I'm looking to get a home security camera that will be mounted outside. Doing several searches for reviews/etc and there are many options but wanted to get some feedback here.
Basically I'm looking for one security camera for the outside of the house
- Wide view with great night time quality and flood lights - Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro for example looks good here
- Prefer not to pay for cloud services but acknowledge I'll need it for video playback and history - Arlo Pro 4 seems ok at $3/mo, Google Next is at $6/mo.
- Needs to be accessible by 3 different accounts - as I have other family members who need access to the video/photo feed/alerts/etc
- Integration with Google/Siri etc is not super important
- Reliability - want a wired option as do not want to have to deal with batteries, that I can basically have installed and will run
Any other suggestions would be appreciated!
Aug 9, 2022, 2:05 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,320
I have a Eufycam system which meets all of your requirements except mine is wireless. But, the batteries last 6 months before they need a charge, and they charge in about 6 hours. I have them set to record a 20-second video when motion is sensed. You can change that duration and motion sensitivity and get longer/shorter battery life.
https://us.eufy.com/
https://us.eufy.com/
Aug 9, 2022, 2:17 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LHR, SEA, ZRH
Posts: 707
Thanks - this is for a vacation home so we may not be there or in the area to charge the batteries hence need no maintenance. Also saw the Arlo cams with solar power but not sure if that's more of a faff than just getting the wired version?
Aug 9, 2022, 3:07 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LHR, SEA, ZRH
Posts: 707
I have a Eufycam system which meets all of your requirements except mine is wireless. But, the batteries last 6 months before they need a charge, and they charge in about 6 hours. I have them set to record a 20-second video when motion is sensed. You can change that duration and motion sensitivity and get longer/shorter battery life.
https://us.eufy.com/
https://us.eufy.com/
Interesting this records video locally - so no cloud service / ongoing payments required. How do you access the video/photos when not on the local wifi? is it possible to access remotely? this is key for me thx
Aug 9, 2022, 5:27 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,785
You could also check out Wyze camera. They have wireless and wired versions. The battery version only last like 4 months but they do offer solar panel addition. The quality of the video is good and you don't have to pay monthly sub. And the cameras are really cheap. I still have the v1 of the original Wyze working great even though I have professionally installed cameras now.
Aug 9, 2022, 8:40 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,320
Actually looking at this option as its wired: Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro https://us.eufy.com/collections/smar...products/t8423
Interesting this records video locally - so no cloud service / ongoing payments required. How do you access the video/photos when not on the local wifi? is it possible to access remotely? this is key for me thx
Interesting this records video locally - so no cloud service / ongoing payments required. How do you access the video/photos when not on the local wifi? is it possible to access remotely? this is key for me thx
I access the video via iOS app or through their webpage. The iOS app works over any WiFi or cellular network. From the app, I can talk back through the cameras, activate a loud alarm, etc. My wife has the same app on her phone and can see the same videos, receive the same notifications, etc. Very easy to share access amongst others.
I get push notifications to my phone anytime the cameras sense motion and start recording. From the app, I can download videos and photos to my device and share them as needed.
Their tech support has been very helpful on the rare occasion I’ve had to reach out.
Aug 9, 2022, 9:36 pm
#7
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Eufy cameras, TP Kasa/Tapa cameras, and Asus ZenEye are retail security camera products which are sold in the UK and other European markets with a “local” storage option that works to provide online alerts even without use of any paid subscription plans. And remote access to the “locally” stored videos is done via the internet. The TP cameras store locally on MicroSDs in the individual cameras, so if someone swipes the camera or memory card, there goes any footage that wasn’t already recorded/downloaded on another device that remains accessible to the security camera owners/users.
Ring Pro also has a local storage option, but Ring is hooked to hooking customers with subscription fees.
Having a separate motion-detection driven floodlight — which doesn’t require an internet or intranet option of its own — may have its place even in conjunction with an online security camera.
The more sensitive the motion detection, the more you may wish you had a hardwired electric connection. There can be an upside to the battery cameras with a solar panel recharge; but when the power or the connection for the internet or intranet drops, the video capture goes down with it.
Ring Pro also has a local storage option, but Ring is hooked to hooking customers with subscription fees.
Having a separate motion-detection driven floodlight — which doesn’t require an internet or intranet option of its own — may have its place even in conjunction with an online security camera.
The more sensitive the motion detection, the more you may wish you had a hardwired electric connection. There can be an upside to the battery cameras with a solar panel recharge; but when the power or the connection for the internet or intranet drops, the video capture goes down with it.
Last edited by GUWonder; Aug 9, 2022 at 9:47 pm
Aug 10, 2022, 4:40 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LHR, SEA, ZRH
Posts: 707
Thanks all for the continued insight.
I like the idea of non-subscription camera services (I too like to keep subscriptions to a minimum) however I'm leaning towards the subscription service as this is for a vacation home which we sometimes rent out - if someone steals the camera and/or its homebase then the video evidence is gone. Rather it be in the cloud. Furthermore, as the home isn't always owner occupied, the homebase could also be stolen. Unless it's easy to have the content auto sync with a Dropbox or something similar?
I like the idea of non-subscription camera services (I too like to keep subscriptions to a minimum) however I'm leaning towards the subscription service as this is for a vacation home which we sometimes rent out - if someone steals the camera and/or its homebase then the video evidence is gone. Rather it be in the cloud. Furthermore, as the home isn't always owner occupied, the homebase could also be stolen. Unless it's easy to have the content auto sync with a Dropbox or something similar?
Aug 10, 2022, 5:54 am
#9
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The local storage camera providers mentioned in my earlier post also provide for a cloud storage option under a subscription plan — at least in some countries. If having access to a US bank card and billing address for payment, it can work elsewhere too.
Aug 10, 2022, 6:28 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LHR, SEA, ZRH
Posts: 707
Thank you - I see it now - specified here https://support.eufylife.com/s/artic...C-2-Pro-2C-Pro
OK, looks like the Eufy is in the lead. Aesthetically it doesn't look so great (kind of will be an eyesore especially mounted at the front of the house) but believe quality/picture wise this is the best one that is wired and more like a set-it-and-forget-it setup. any others to consider?
OK, looks like the Eufy is in the lead. Aesthetically it doesn't look so great (kind of will be an eyesore especially mounted at the front of the house) but believe quality/picture wise this is the best one that is wired and more like a set-it-and-forget-it setup. any others to consider?
Aug 10, 2022, 12:35 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Mississauga Ontario
Posts: 4,103
I use the EZViz line of cameras, and link them to a Mac running Sighthound (also available for Windows) via RTSP ... basically, a home based cloud system .... full motion detection, clips saved for detection. Each camera (I've got about 20 at home and at my chalet) also has a memory card recording clips. To top it off, redundancy happens via software (free) from https://kerberos.io .... on a relatively modest Linux system.
Aug 15, 2022, 8:04 am
#12
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I used to be a big fan of Hikvision cameras and have one of their NVRs, but ever since China passed the security law (2015ish) where Chinese manufacturers have to provide their source code to the gov't, I won't buy them. I specifically went with them because I preferred to keep everything onsite, but times they are a changing. I put all the HIkvision stuff I still have on a VLAN with no internet access. It sucks, because their cameras were unbeatable for the price.
For now, we have a few Ring cams and I just have to tolerate that the stuff is stored in the cloud. What I really don't like is that they (and most other customer cams) only record on motion. With my old "recording all the time" hikvision cameras I was able to capture a hit and run on the street in front of my old house, even though it wasn't in my motion zone.
Our network HW is all Ubiquity, and their cameras look nice, but they are super expensive, and most are completely out of stock. I may try them next. I'd be interested to know if anyone here has tried them.
For now, we have a few Ring cams and I just have to tolerate that the stuff is stored in the cloud. What I really don't like is that they (and most other customer cams) only record on motion. With my old "recording all the time" hikvision cameras I was able to capture a hit and run on the street in front of my old house, even though it wasn't in my motion zone.
Our network HW is all Ubiquity, and their cameras look nice, but they are super expensive, and most are completely out of stock. I may try them next. I'd be interested to know if anyone here has tried them.
Aug 15, 2022, 1:38 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,320
I used to be a big fan of Hikvision cameras and have one of their NVRs, but ever since China passed the security law (2015ish) where Chinese manufacturers have to provide their source code to the gov't, I won't buy them. I specifically went with them because I preferred to keep everything onsite, but times they are a changing. I put all the HIkvision stuff I still have on a VLAN with no internet access. It sucks, because their cameras were unbeatable for the price.
For now, we have a few Ring cams and I just have to tolerate that the stuff is stored in the cloud. What I really don't like is that they (and most other customer cams) only record on motion. With my old "recording all the time" hikvision cameras I was able to capture a hit and run on the street in front of my old house, even though it wasn't in my motion zone.
Our network HW is all Ubiquity, and their cameras look nice, but they are super expensive, and most are completely out of stock. I may try them next. I'd be interested to know if anyone here has tried them.
For now, we have a few Ring cams and I just have to tolerate that the stuff is stored in the cloud. What I really don't like is that they (and most other customer cams) only record on motion. With my old "recording all the time" hikvision cameras I was able to capture a hit and run on the street in front of my old house, even though it wasn't in my motion zone.
Our network HW is all Ubiquity, and their cameras look nice, but they are super expensive, and most are completely out of stock. I may try them next. I'd be interested to know if anyone here has tried them.
We've switched to Optiview and have been pleased. My IT department doesn't have any immediate concerns.
https://optiviewusa.com/
Aug 15, 2022, 1:59 pm
#14
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I used to be a big fan of Hikvision cameras and have one of their NVRs, but ever since China passed the security law (2015ish) where Chinese manufacturers have to provide their source code to the gov't, I won't buy them. I specifically went with them because I preferred to keep everything onsite, but times they are a changing. I put all the HIkvision stuff I still have on a VLAN with no internet access. It sucks, because their cameras were unbeatable for the price.
For now, we have a few Ring cams and I just have to tolerate that the stuff is stored in the cloud. What I really don't like is that they (and most other customer cams) only record on motion. With my old "recording all the time" hikvision cameras I was able to capture a hit and run on the street in front of my old house, even though it wasn't in my motion zone.
Our network HW is all Ubiquity, and their cameras look nice, but they are super expensive, and most are completely out of stock. I may try them next. I'd be interested to know if anyone here has tried them.
For now, we have a few Ring cams and I just have to tolerate that the stuff is stored in the cloud. What I really don't like is that they (and most other customer cams) only record on motion. With my old "recording all the time" hikvision cameras I was able to capture a hit and run on the street in front of my old house, even though it wasn't in my motion zone.
Our network HW is all Ubiquity, and their cameras look nice, but they are super expensive, and most are completely out of stock. I may try them next. I'd be interested to know if anyone here has tried them.