I've been browsing these threads a bit throughout the morning and I'm finding myself unusually confused. I'm not the most tech-savvy person, though I used to build my own computers and know how to set up a sexy machine for a very low price. Unfortunately, I've discovered that the CCTV world is quite a bit more complicated than that.
While I generally know what my needs are, the price points seem to vary greatly and I can't yet differentiate between the rip-off and the quality buy.
We would really appreciate if some of you experts can provide me with some suggestions on what type of cameras to buy and whether or not it's smarter to buy separate parts across various websites or to buy a bundle. Any suggestion or help that could keep the price down while assuring a good quality for residential use would be much appreciated.
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ABOUT US / OUR NEEDS
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My husband and I are pretty young. We're both victims of the current climate in the Bay Area's internet social gaming industry, so we're recently unemployed and trying to manage a very tight budget, especially with our first baby coming. However, we'd like to make sure that the CCTV system we invest in will be of quality since this is more of a one-time long term investment.
A little background on where we live/our circumstances:
- Recently moved into Oakland, CA (crime central, our neighborhood's a prime target for burglars, we know a few people who've been robbed here)
- 36 weeks pregnant and expecting our first baby sometime within the next 2 weeks.
- 3000sq ft property w/5 doors leading into the house
- In a hilly area with plenty of trees.
What we think we need:
- 6 indoor color cameras
- 4 outdoor color cameras
- At least 720p. (not sure if this is how CCTV resolution is measured, but we'd like crisp images)
- Password-protected remote access. (ability to see through iphone/ipad/android/pc/tv at home)
- Ability to back-up onto a USB or external hard-drives. (We already have a few Western Digital 1TB hard drives.)
- Low lux (we'd like to be able to see a clear image under low light conditions)
Some questions:
- Is the price difference between a wired and wireless network really significant? (Our Comcast modem is a bit unreliable, will that be an issue? My husband was a bit uncomfortable with drilling holes and setting up wiring for the cameras in the house, so he's been asking if wireless cameras were similarly priced.)
- If in a few years home automation becomes more affordable, will a typical CCTV system be compatible?
