kcm805 0 Posted December 12, 2014 I am looking for some advice on my camera setup. I already have an alarm system on the house but recently wanted cameras as there have been a string of burglaries and i want to watch over the garage doors that are not visible from the house. I really only need 2 or 3 cameras total. I bought the http://www.costco.com/Lorex-4-Channel-HD-720p-Security-System-with-500GB-HDD-and-4-720p-Cameras.product.100140528.html from costco because it was on sale and had 720p cameras. I figured that would be good enough for what i needed but after having it setup for the past month i am having second thoughts. It uses coax cables so that could be part of the problem and the cameras are also only 1mp. They work ok in the day and get a decent picture if you are within 10-20ft, anything beyond it would be hard to recognize someone. The other problem is that i want to read license plate of people in my drive. This becomes an issue because in order to mount the camera out of the rain and under the eves it needs to be ~13ft off the ground. So it is nearly impossible to read a plate unless the person is parked almost directly under it. If the vehicle is moving then it is worse (even watching frame by frame). At night forget about it. By time you get close enough the camera blinds itself with the IR so no reading. Facial recognition drops to less than 10 ft too. I have played with all the settings but i am now starting to think that they are just not high enough resolution, not to mention analog cameras. I read a bunch on this site and decided to go with standalone DVR since it was smaller and quieter than a normal PC (important due to hiding spot). I also found out after i bought it that the DVR only accepts these specific cameras so no upgrades. I am not too impressed with the interface either. I am pretty good with computers and networking and i hate not having control of the files the crappy interface. Making me reconsider a small form factor PC. I came across these the other day. I am trying to stay around $500-$600 budget with a little wiggle room which makes it tough but not impossible as i can get by with as little as 2 cameras. 1080p IP (2MP) would this be much of an improvement? http://www.costco.com/Q-See-4-Channel-HD-NVR-Security-System-with-1TB-HDD-and-4-1080p-Cameras.product.100149972.html 1080p IP (3MP) but it is a little pricier but i could wait to see if they go on sale anytime soon http://www.costco.com/Lorex-8-Channel-Stratus-HD-NVR-Security-System-with-2TB-HDD-and-4-1080p-Cameras.product.100087431.html 1080p IP (5MP) never heard of the brand and a little worried it might be Chinese junk but the camera description really caught my eye (5mp with adjustable zoom) http://www.amazon.com/GW-Security-2-8-12mm-Varifocal-Pre-Installed/dp/B00N32FESA/ref=sr_1_16?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1418237737&sr=1-16&keywords=1080p+nvr+security+system Any thoughts on whether it is worth exchange or not? A different complete system? Or maybe i would be better off building my own setup with a PC and getting some 3mp ebay cams? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Ken Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boogieman 1 Posted December 12, 2014 No camera is going to help improper mounting...lower the cameras...they are weather proof and dont need to be under eves.. Dont get the 5mp...it will have poor nightvision..although they seem to only be 1080p.. The 1080p is fine.. You will not be able to read a plate at night with ir on...you need ambient light, or alter the camera settings so that it will only catch the plate and nothing else..lots of posts on plate capture.. Dont expect any system to perform miracles unless you are willing to spend serious money... There are tons of sample captures online.. network camera critic has a bunch of good video.. This might be a good option if it stays on sale for 499 http://www.homedepot.com/p/Q-SEE-Platinum-Series-4-Channel-1080p-2TB-NVR-Surveillance-System-with-4-1080p-Cameras-100-ft-Night-Vision-QC824-4C9-2/204907708 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kcm805 0 Posted December 12, 2014 How big of a difference are we talking between the 2mp cams and 3mp? Enough to warrant the additional couple hundred bucks? I will check out the comparisons too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boogieman 1 Posted December 12, 2014 How big of a difference are we talking between the 2mp cams and 3mp? Enough to warrant the additional couple hundred bucks? I will check out the comparisons too. No, in fact i run my hikvision 3mp cameras in 2mp mode (because it provides a wider field of view, this is not the case in all cams)..also a 2mp sensor will often have better nightvision than 3mp..its not a hard and fast rule.... Your problem is your mounting location and your expectations... regardless, the price went back up to 799.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kcm805 0 Posted December 12, 2014 Costco has that same system for 499 right now as well. I might give it a shot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boogieman 1 Posted December 12, 2014 Good call, you cant really go wrong with costco...if it doesnt work, just return it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
