Finally cleared to close on my first home!!!!!!

I want to install some security cams, mainly exterior but maybe interior as well. There is an existing ADT system already in place. Any thoughts? Preferably not landline based security.... Any and all thoughts appreciated!!!


I know my buddy uses a ring doorbell that he loves...

Thanks

I hear Amazon just bought Ring, i like some of the Rings motion camera lights. I have been thinking of getting some myself.

I'm also looking into adding some security cameras to my home. I was looking at the Blink line of cameras, as they are wireless. That might be an option for you if you aren't interested in wiring. Reviews on Amazon are all over the board, and one of my concerns is the lack of customer service that people are repeatedly reporting.

I have one of the cheap Funlux eBay systems installed at my house. Just using four cameras right now but have the option to add four more. Installed my own 1TB HD.
I do not agree that they provide the 1080p resolution they claim but the resolution is still very good, both day and at night via IR.
From what I have seen, the user interface among all of the cheaper systems is similar and pretty straightforward to use. Of course it likely doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a more expensive system, but for the price, its a good bargain. Just make sure you understand how to set up the new system with your home network so that it is not easily hack able.

I originally looked into wireless but you will still have to run power to each camera. So unless you have easy access to power somewhere close to the camera locations, you do not really save much installation effort using wireless.

I had blink, but they are trash for outdoor use. I went with Amcrest. They are web based, easy to configure and depending on the model, can work wirelessly. For recording, you can use their cloud base solution which the free version records up to an hour, paid versions can keep up to 30 days. They also have a DVR which I don't recommend, or you can build your own DVR/PC, stick some hefty drives and keep/record as much as you'd like.

All cameras can be controlled from a browser remotely. Or you can download their app from itunes or google play.

I have a bunch of smart home stuff setup, most of it with Samsung Smart Things - automated light switches and outlets, motorized dead bolts, entry sensors, motion sensors, exterior cameras, video door bell, even a water sensor in the sump pump well. The garage door is on Chamberlain MYQ technology, and there’s Nest products for the thermostat and smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.

I know right. Every time I read a review and I see something I like I go to Amazon to buy it and it has like 3 stars.....

So these are on all the time or motion detected? How much footage does 1TB hold? Is it app driven or you need to be physically at the unit to control things? Just so I'm understanding it, you ran ethernet cables from each camera to base?

I do commercial Fire and Burg......but I tell Homeowners to go to Costco and get a Samsung or similar 1 or 2 TB system because they can't be beat for the price and function. The resolution both night and day is just so good on an IP Cam compared to the old analog crap we used to use. It is really plug and play for the most part. On the Security side I will say ADT is liquid Evil in my opinion! Get a Honeywell 20P or 21IP and a cellular radio and chuck the proprietary ADT equipment in the trash! (I guess I should say I have wired and installed over 8000 systems, Residential and Commercial to date)

Costco.

Simplisafe is what i use...relatively cheap and super easy to install. Bad? It does not integrate into Apple Home.

I went with the wired Lorex system. "They" say the best camera system are the systems put together by the end user. I don't have the spare time to run everything down. Went with a Lorex system from Costco. I considered the 4k system. Wasn't sure if I would use the extra capability. I went with last years tech, 2K system. I upgraded the hard drive on my own. Many security systems use the Western Digital Purple Drive. Purple is designed for excessive read/write. Purple drives are not the fastest. My NVR can handle upto 12TB. I bought two 6TB drives on Amazon. I installed two of the same system. One at my house. 2nd at Mother in law house. I previously had an old analog Lorex system. My NVR's are capable of 16channels.

There are definitely better systems on the market. Cost goes up almost exponentially. Set a budget. Go shopping. Then add a few hundred dollars to your budget. I did not want the monthly cloud payments like Ring or Blink. I still might add a Ring on the free tier to layer my security. A fully wired system allows you to easily go back in time to any point (hard drive space permitting). Wife ordered something. Company claimed USPS delivered. I went back one week to USPS mail drop off. No package. Offered to upload the video to Youtube. Company somehow found the package. I can easily check on the dog, house, whatever.

Night vision is the magic. Any camera can take decent daytime video. Night vision is where it counts. I try to have my cameras night vision complement each other when possible. This helps both cameras see better. I flood the side yards with infrared. Bugs love the heat from infrared. Expect weird bug activity at weird times. Bugs, Birds, pets, wind, sun can all setoff motion alerts. I leave motion alerts off. The best quality video is that which is transferred to a memory stick, uploaded to Youtube then shared. I typically leave security footage as Unlisted. I can send the link. It can not be searched for on Youtube.

Looking at Ring, Blink and competition the night vision is limited. If you are looking at a small porch area should work great. Larger areas will be challenging. If you go wired, Go Ethernet. Avoid the RCA style cords. Easier to upgrade later with Ethernet. My cameras record in 2k. I view in 1080p.

The Lorex Costco system I purchased was normally $1k. I bought it on sale. Then bought upgraded hard drives. Having Lorex upgrade the hard drive is expensive. It's also very easy to accomplish. There are better systems. If you "know a guy" who can purchase/install a better system at a cheaper price then do that. There is some work to install a wired camera system. I prefer not to directly staple Cat5 ethernet cable. I used a staple gun on the house siding. Then snuggly ziptied the ethernet cable to the staples about every 4". It's time consuming. This also means the copper pairs are not pinched. Some security system cooling fans are loud. My current Lorex is fine in the entertainment cabinet.

Be sure your systems mobile app works with your preferred cellphone. Some systems do not play nice with Apple (IOS 11). I have Android.

Posting a link to an Alleged Car Thief. His trial is scheduled soon. I'm not sure who's vehicle he is alleged to have stolen. Camera starts off Black and White. Then switched to Color Night vision. Color Night Vision occurs when enough light is present. Most of the time expect B&W. During the B&W you can see the mole hills in mother in law side yard. Immediate vehicles in the video belong to the neighbor. Neighbor also has security cameras. As a courtesy, I showed my neighbors on my cellphone what I was able to see of their house. My neighbors were happy I was recording. Your results will vary.

Lorex night vision video

I also agree Costco. Their website contains more options. I have a QSEE system. It has 9 1080p cameras and it came with a 3TB HD I added another 3TB and a 4TB so I can record all cameras continuously for about a month before it starts recording over old stuff.

If I was to buy today I would get a 4K system. You can never say damn the quality on my cameras is too high I wish I would have bought a worse system.

IP wired cameras are superior to wifi. You have to run the CAT5 cables but it's worth it in the end unless it's not possible in your situation.

Get a 1500mah or larger battery backup system to go with it so it will still record if you lose or someone cuts your power.


I had an analog system before and a runaway moving truck crashed into my garage. I was glad I had that at the time. It made the insurance claim a no brainer.

You are drilling a hole for the cat5 right near the camera and then running the wire inside? Or running the wire outside?

I'm not even sure I'll get the master code for the ADT on the house swap. I can just rip it out? On the net it says sometimes it'll start beeping like crazy... Let me know. Same wiring question. Internal wiring right?

USPS is the worst... Super simple to upgrade hard drives? Plug and play or some hard drive cloning involved?

They can be set to be on all the time, only on a certain times or motion activated. I just let them run all the time though. I have it set to record 35 days before it begins to overwrite stored video. I never tried to let it run unlimited and see how many days I would get before it began overwriting materials.

You can control from an app or via the base unit itself.

As for the hook up, the cables that came with my kit and I assume are the norm for these types of systems are a two in one type cable. There is one bundle of wire with two connectors coming out each end. One connector is for the video cable and one is for the power. This way you essentially run one cable to each camera but it serves two separate functions. The cables run into the back of the base for easy connection.

Both Lorex systems I installed were in single story Rambler homes. To get outside I used two GloRods (flexible fiberglass rods) from the outside going into the attic. I cut a hole big enough in the wire mesh vent/bug guard for the Ethernet cable to fit through. Once complete I used Spray foam to seal up the individual wire mesh to keep out bugs/bees. In a few places I used a hole saw through the wood to place a camera directly outside on the siding. I recall I needed to use the next size up from 3/4" hole saw. Spray foamed when done to seal the house from bugs/bees/water.

Placed GloRods into the attic. Then went into the attic, used 2" vinyl tape to attach Ethernet cable. Back outside to gently fish the Ethernet cable outside. I also used a simple Dot and Dash with Black Sharpie combo to number both sides of every Ethernet cable. Helped keep everything straight at the NVR. I had a few locations with two cameras pointing at different locations.

Try not to point cameras directly at house siding. Siding ok off to the sides of the shot. Otherwise the night vision can blind the camera. At a few locations I had to bring Ethernet outside, then attach to the house for about 15'. I used a staple gun ( maybe T39 staples). Then used small zip ties on the Ethernet cable. Staples were every 4". It's not recommended to directly staple the Ethernet cable. Direct staple also increases the chance of puncturing the cable.

Hard Drive was very simple. No cloning. The system will format the drives. I think one 6TB drive took 5minutes to reformat? Since I did two systems at the same time. I have one system with 12TB. The second has 6TB. Bought two Western Digital Purple drives on Amazon. I bought 16channel NVR systems. I have the option of adding at any time. System one currently has 11 cameras. System two has 7 cameras. Recently decided to add some more to both systems.

At my house I fished 16 Ethernet cables through the wall. Only using 11 right now. The extra 5 were for just in case. It's a job I don't care to repeat. At Mother In Law, I drilled and placed 3" conduit through the ceiling in a closet. I fished 14 Ethernet cables for future expansion, only using 7 right now. Then sealed the conduit. The wall in the closet used to be an outside wall. Not really possible to fish the wall. Went straight up.

At both houses, the system is connected to the primary TV with HDMI. Both houses have computer monitors also attached. At my house I have a 23" 1080p computer monitor. At Mother in Law, computer monitor is 720p. You could use a spare TV for same monitor function.

4K system not a bad idea. Going with Ethernet allows me to upgrade later when 4k prices come down. Get more channels than you think you need. You may decide to install inside cameras to watch the dog or monitor while on vacation. Be sure your desired system works with your smartphone for remote monitoring.