Camera/DVR recommendations please!!

[anthony713 0]

Hey guys thanks for taking the time to read this and possibly help me out. I'm looking to get a multiple camera surveillance system (wireless 2-4 cameras). I would like it to have night vision and good picture quality. The only other major concern is I would also like to be able to view it from my smartphone (Android Galaxy S3). I believe I would need a DVR for it to record too? I have my Xfinity DVR, I dont know if that would work. I really don't know anything about this stuff, and am quite overwhelmed..my price range goes up to $700, but preferably not that much. Again thanks for reading and for your help if you can!!

[Kawboy12R 0]

Your cable tv DVR is no good for CCTV recording. You'll need one designed for CCTV. Why do you want wireless cameras? Common experience (mine included) with relatively inexpensive quality wireless analog cameras is that there seems to be no such thing. Much better to run wires, especially considering that you have to get a power wire to the cameras somehow. There are good reasons to go wireless between buildings, but you'd most likely be happier using wifi and network IP cameras than analog gear. As for smartphone viewing, just about every system nowadays supports Android phones.

[anthony713 0]

Your cable tv DVR is no good for CCTV recording. You'll need one designed for CCTV.

Why do you want wireless cameras?

Common experience (mine included) with relatively inexpensive quality wireless analog cameras is that there seems to be no such thing. Much better to run wires, especially considering that you have to get a power wire to the cameras somehow. There are good reasons to go wireless between buildings, but you'd most likely be happier using wifi and network IP cameras than analog gear. As for smartphone viewing, just about every system nowadays supports Android phones.

 

 

I suppose I was thinking wireless because it seemed like easiest installation. Wires through walls and all that seems like a headache, I would definitely need to hire someone to install it. Do you have any brand or model recommendations for cameras or DVRs? Should I go with an all-in-one package or buy my cameras and DVR separate? Thanks for responding!

[Kawboy12R 0]

It depends on what you need the system for. I'm assuming your home? Package systems tend to have cookie-cutter cameras with wide-angle lenses- good for overview and situational awareness uses, but not so good for clear ID of strangers 40' away. You're in the US and getting your feet wet, so why not start with a kit from Costco, set it up somewhere simple on a weekend, and run some wires out your windows and doors and hang the cams where you think you want them. Adjust the angles, check out the field of view with the cctv monitor on your coffee table (or wherever), and have someone start walking around outside where you want to be able to ID people. Do under different lighting conditions the first day or so- morning, afternoon, evening, and night. If it gives you what you want, then pay an electrician to run your cables after you decide where you want your DVR. You might want to get TWO systems (say an analog QSee package and one of the Swann, Lorex, or QSee network camera bundles with an NVR) to play with that first weekend or week and see if you're happy with the cheaper analog system or really fall in love with the hi-def picture of the IP camera setup. Take back the one you don't like or can't afford. Make sure you compare the saved video quality of the analog and IP systems. Most analog systems give acceptable live quality under most lighting conditions but lose a lot of detail when digitizing it and saving it to the HD, so the evidence isn't as good as live. The network stuff is as good saved as live. Analog systems are easier to add a different camera to if you want to, say, add a dome or camera with more zoom from a different manufacturer. A 10,000 word essay wouldn't begin to cover every strength and weakness, especially if you want to start talking about systems from scratch and mixing and matching cameras, but if you're a first-timer, I'll just say that I regret sinking money into analog when I could've started with IP cameras. At the very least, if your budget insists on analog at the start, get the electrician to run cat 5 cable to your camera locations and use baluns so you can easily remove the analog cams and baluns and just plug in network cams in the future. Re-running wires will make you a slave to your original system, especially if you have an easy return policy from Costco but find you can't take advantage of it because you invested a lot of money burying the kit wires in the wall.

[anthony713 0]

Thanks a lot I really appreciate all the info, I'm definitely going to IP cameras as it sounds like they're best. Once again, thanks for your time and knowledge!

[anthony713 0]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16881377072

 

I really like this, good deal?

[smanicks28 0]

" title="Applause" /> Yeah better to move with the technology. GO ahead for IP cam .also you want to operate it through your smartphone so its the best way to install an IP cam so that you can use it through an app via wi-fi connection.

 

Thank you.

[Kawboy12R 0]

I didn't see anything that said "true day/night" (TDN) or mentioned a removable mechanical IR cut filter (ICR) so it's hard to tell if the cams have a real removable filter. The few reviews on there aren't bad but I have no experience with those cams. Newegg does have a decent return policy, so you could probably get it, try it out, and return it if you aren't satisfied. They sometimes have different return policies on different items though, so read the small print before ordering. Hard to beat Costco for a good return policy though.

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