Security Camera / Security System Thread - Wired or wireless? That is the question.

[Lord of the Large Pants]

Is there a better SW solution you can recommend? Even a tip on what features you think are good to consider I'd appreciate.

Honestly I have yet to find one I'm happy with, but here's a few you can try.

Frigate
Shinobi
ZoneMinder
HomeAssistant (not mainly for cameras but has support for them)

Features mostly depends what you're doing. All should support the basics of recording and playback. Some things people look for are the motion detection features, face recognition, notification methods, interface with PTZ (if relevant), and etc. For me privacy is a big one, and that's why I've been trying to find something open source.

Amcrest cameras have cloud features, but they're optional, which is one of the reasons I like them. Their app/DVR can also work without cloud... it's just not very good in general. Clunky interface and not very reliable.

 

[lil sleepy]

Thread bros that know, in your opinion, is it easier to get a system up and running by buying pre-built cameras (maybe even WiFi ones) or would it be worth the time and effort to buy the parts and assemble my own cameras/enclosures? As I said before, my primary considerations are reliability and ease of use.

If you win the lotto, definitely check out Axis cameras. Very feature-rich, premium quality, crazy exspensive though.

 

[Dean Pentel]

If you win the lotto, definitely check out Axis cameras. Very feature-rich, premium quality, crazy exspensive though.

Definitely not lotto-level rich but I can afford the 4 I'd want from this company (the installation, PC, and monitor/speaker/mic combo may make that much more painful to my wallet). No joke, this is likely exactly what I'm looking for. Appreciate it, sir.

 

[lil sleepy]

Definitely not lotto-level rich but I can afford the 4 I'd want from this company (the installation, PC, and monitor/speaker/mic combo may make that much more painful to my wallet). No joke, this is likely exactly what I'm looking for. Appreciate it, sir.

No worries. lmk if you have questions on them, they're part of my day job.

 

[The_Red_Man]

Anybody have any experience with Ubiquiti's NVR stuff on their gateways?

I'm planning to set my cameras back up once I get moved into my new house and was planning on getting Gig internet and ubiquiti hardware for the house, but instead of replacing my Reolink system (I like the app and I'm pretty sure I need their NVR for the auto-PTZ and talk back), I was going to keep it and try to RTP stream to the Dream Machine with a 10TB drive in the slot that's provided. Wondering how feasible this might be or if it's not worth.

 

[Dean Pentel]

Hey folks, wanted to revive this thread to ask about doorbell cameras. What are some thoughts and experiences with doorbell cameras? I'm interested in what you all know and open to any recommendations.

 

[lil sleepy]

Hey folks, wanted to revive this thread to ask about doorbell cameras. What are some thoughts and experiences with doorbell cameras? I'm interested in what you all know and open to any recommendations.

I highly recommend them. Useful for tracking package deliveries, and answering the door without opening it or even being home.

I installed mine myself, and anyone with a screwdriver, some needlenose pliers, and a positive attitude can make it happen.

Typically doorbell cams are part of a bigger security system, and there's a million ways to skin the cat, but yes as a concept doorbell cams are great.

 

[Lord of the Large Pants]

I have yet to find a battery powered doorbell camera that can work without some kind of cloud connection or app. It seems like ONVIF/RTSP/etc just DEMANDS an always on connection rather than motion activated, which battery powered cameras can't handle.

 

[Dean Pentel]

I was thinking of getting a TP-Link Tapo D225, running it wired and using the largest microSD card I could get in it for storage. Any idea of the quality of these or if they can operate reliably without a cloud connection? I'm just talking a doorbell camera. For a the 3 other cameras I want on my property I'm going Axis.

 

[Lord of the Large Pants]

I was thinking of getting a TP-Link Tapo D225, running it wired and using the largest microSD card I could get in it for storage. Any idea of the quality of these or if they can operate reliably without a cloud connection? I'm just talking a doorbell camera. For a the 3 other cameras I want on my property I'm going Axis.

I can tell you that I recently tried a Tapo 230 and I found out it hard requires a matching proprietary hub. It depends exactly what you're trying to do. Without cloud? Maybe. To an open-ish NVR? Probably not.

 

[Dean Pentel]

I can tell you that I recently tried a Tapo 230 and I found out it hard requires a matching proprietary hub. It depends exactly what you're trying to do. Without cloud? Maybe. To an open-ish NVR? Probably not.

I want to be able to see and speak to people at my door without having to answer my door or even be at home. The way my house and front door are constructed means that I have to open the front door to speak to people. I don't want to have to do that anymore and I definitely don't want my wife to have to do that when I'm not home. Recording capability is a bonus but definitely not as important as the previously mentioned stuff.

 

[lil sleepy]

I was thinking of getting a TP-Link Tapo D225, running it wired and using the largest microSD card I could get in it for storage. Any idea of the quality of these or if they can operate reliably without a cloud connection? I'm just talking a doorbell camera. For a the 3 other cameras I want on my property I'm going Axis.

If you're already in the Axis world, check the AXIS I8116-E. Supports SIM and is nice, but gets energized PoE so eh.

 

[DavidS877]

I have a Reolink, as a powered Ethernet connected doorbell, but I don't use any of the cloud stuff it just records motion to an SFTP server(really) and goes "ding" when someone pushes it. But apparently can have all the other fancy features if you use their software.

 

[Jotch]

No business should be using Ring cameras when companies like Ubiqiti have more reliable, reasonably-priced network cameras that are actually made to work securely and without the cloud being needed.

@Samuel Fuller poking you in this thread about this post in the IT thread.
I've been interested in getting a doorbell camera because they are really nice to know if someone is at my door if I am away and are a really good deterrent to casual criminals. I'm interested in high privacy high security options that I could access over the Internet. I'm interested if you know any Ubiqiti solutions for this, since I like their network equipment.

Based on my own assumptions, any recommendation for something accessible over the wider Internet that doesn't depend on cloud services? My IPv6 isn't behind a NAT and I could theoretically connect a phone app to a service I'm running from my network over mobile data.

 

[Samuel Fuller]

@Samuel Fuller poking you in this thread about this post in the IT thread.
I've been interested in getting a doorbell camera because they are really nice to know if someone is at my door if I am away and are a really good deterrent to casual criminals. I'm interested in high privacy high security options that I could access over the Internet. I'm interested if you know any Ubiqiti solutions for this, since I like their network equipment.

Based on my own assumptions, any recommendation for something accessible over the wider Internet that doesn't depend on cloud services? My IPv6 isn't behind a NAT and I could theoretically connect a phone app to a service I'm running from my network over mobile data.

I’m away from my office for a while, but the Ubiqiti stuff is not consumer priced. I can ask some of the guys what they’d recommend, one of my co-workers is deep into that stuff. I’ll get back about it after the holidays.

 

[lil sleepy]

@Samuel Fuller poking you in this thread about this post in the IT thread.
I've been interested in getting a doorbell camera because they are really nice to know if someone is at my door if I am away and are a really good deterrent to casual criminals. I'm interested in high privacy high security options that I could access over the Internet. I'm interested if you know any Ubiqiti solutions for this, since I like their network equipment.

Based on my own assumptions, any recommendation for something accessible over the wider Internet that doesn't depend on cloud services? My IPv6 isn't behind a NAT and I could theoretically connect a phone app to a service I'm running from my network over mobile data.

Do you have a particular budget? there are a couple 'intercom' units that can function as de-facto doorbells. I'm prone to reccommending the Axis brand stuff, but it's higher on the price range than other brands.

 

[Jotch]

Do you have a particular budget? there are a couple 'intercom' units that can function as de-facto doorbells. I'm prone to reccommending the Axis brand stuff, but it's higher on the price range than other brands.

I'd prefer $200 or less, but I'm willing to do $400 or less if it very high quality and lasts a long time. Thanks for looking into this! I can find stuff on my own of course but it's always good to ask and avoid pitfalls.

I also really like those ones that you can replace a normal doorbell with so they can power off the doorbell lines with battery for backup only.

 

[Samuel Fuller]

I'd prefer $200 or less, but I'm willing to do $400 or less if it very high quality and lasts a long time. Thanks for looking into this! I can find stuff on my own of course but it's always good to ask and avoid pitfalls.

I also really like those ones that you can replace a normal doorbell with so they can power off the doorbell lines with battery for backup only.

Your budget might not allow for everything you want, just being honest.

 

[Jotch]

Your budget might not allow for everything you want, just being honest.

I should have specified, that self hosting is a nice to have. If there is one with cloud services that have a good privacy record I would also be interested in it.
I also already have a self hosting box running Debian.

 

[Samuel Fuller]

I should have specified, that self hosting is a nice to have. If there is one with cloud services that have a good privacy record I would also be interested in it.
I also already have a self hosting box running Debian.

Unless you are going commercial-grade, cloud is never secure.