Posted: 9/18/2015 6:34:21 PM EDT
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Looking to purchase an indoor wireless security camera system that has 6 cameras and can also be viewed remotely through an app on my phone or computer.
What would you recommend? Would like to stay at around $500 |
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For simplicity look at the Netgear Arlo
ETA Arf thread, there are a couple others |
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The main problem with Arlo is the cost of batteries. I'm looking into setting up a video system for a family member at their summer home, and while the Arlo is attractive, the cost of the batteries (four per camera) that get replaced two or even three times a year becomes cost prohibitive versus the couple of extra hours (or a day at most) it will take us to run wires (vid/power) to the cameras. Somewhere someone claimed the Arlo cameras were no longer being manufactured. Don't know if that claim was true. Once one starts to immerse themselves into learning about video security systems they'll see that almost anyone who is an expert on these systems will recommend running wired cameras for best picture clarity. |
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Looks nice except the cameras will be used in a high traffic enviroment |
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Quoted:
Looking to purchase an indoor wireless security camera system that has 6 cameras and can also be viewed remotely through an app on my phone or computer. What would you recommend? Would like to stay at around $500 A few questions so you get a better answer: What is your level of networking expertise? What is the limitation that causes you to want to go wireless? What are you trying to look at and do you need to see it in both day and night conditions? |
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Quoted:
A few questions so you get a better answer: What is your level of networking expertise? What is the limitation that causes you to want to go wireless? What are you trying to look at and do you need to see it in both day and night conditions? Quoted:
Quoted:
Looking to purchase an indoor wireless security camera system that has 6 cameras and can also be viewed remotely through an app on my phone or computer. What would you recommend? Would like to stay at around $500 A few questions so you get a better answer: What is your level of networking expertise? What is the limitation that causes you to want to go wireless? What are you trying to look at and do you need to see it in both day and night conditions? Will be set up in a retail store and back room. Level of networking... so so. Port number stuff, no... other general stuff sure no problem. Want to go wireless because of walls and distance of running cable. shop is about 100' long. would like to see at night but shop lights will be left on. only need to monitor inside of building |
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Quoted:
Looks nice except the cameras will be used in a high traffic enviroment Quoted:
Looks nice except the cameras will be used in a high traffic enviroment Then it probably is a bad choice, it is a great system with a number of limitations that are situation dependent. |
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I've been using the arlo netgear for about 3 months now and so far I'm happy with it.
Prior to this I had a logical camera system that would use your home electrical wiring to network the system. Had good results there as well. Switched to the arlo so I could put a couple cameras farther out in the yard with no wiring in place. |
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Wireless isn't the way to go, at least at this point in time with the battery technology as it is (i.e. not a good idea in my opinion when you consider the battery drain problems if you have it set for constant record or the camera is set on something that inherently has natural motion from trees, cars going by, etc. as well as wireless clarity issues unless you are really close to your router). Get wired TRUE HD cameras that are powered via ethernet. Not the 'hybrid' HD ones you see at Costco or Amazon that aren't even true HD. Here is what I suggest:
1) Get a Laview 8 channel NVR system with six IP POE cameras included. Amazon and Newegg constantly have it on sale for $599. This is a rebranded Hikvision NVR with six 3mp POE cameras included (but no hard drive). It has very limited instructions included, but is a really good bang for the buck and you can figure out most questions on configuration via Google searches. 2) Buy a 4tb SURVEILLANCE hard drive. Either the Seagate or WD will do. Should run you just under $160 from one of several different on line stores. 3) You can get extra two cameras on EBay if you want to utilize all 8 channels. Specifically look for Hikvision IP POE cameras that are the RETAIL version in a regular colored box, not the brown box 'gray market' version. Each camera will run you $100-120 on Amazon or EBay....make sure again to NOT get the brown box/international/multi-language ones. You could spend more money for some dome cameras or PTZ as well and really make it a kick ass system. With this system you can remotely access it anywhere in the world for free using the free Hikvision software for your desktop (has all of the configuration settings to basically set up anything on your cameras from brightness to motion detection) and their mobil app (Android and Apple friendly) which is great to do a basic live view of your cameras when not at home (to see if a package is on your doorstep or review a motion detection alert). Setup of the remote viewing feature involves you changing your router settings to forward a few ports and then incorporating your IP address and user name/password into the remote viewing software. The picture quality is awesome and you can run all eight cameras in record mode for three weeks straight in high quality mode until it overwrites. If you had it set for motion record only, it would go much much longer. Total cost is under $1,000 Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |