Need help setting up a last minute CCTV system for my home

[riley3245 0]

Hello,

 

I have recently started a renovation project and I am gutting my entire home room by room. I started with my study where I plan to have all me internet and ethernet connects setup. I just realized that now is the best time to set up a security system, but I don't know anything about this topic. I was hoping some people here could steer me in the right direction.

 

- I need 4 cameras outside. I need to have them wireless because I already drywalled the 2nd floor.

- I need 4 interior and these can be POE because I am just starting to gut downstairs. This is an apartment building and my apartment will be the only one with interior cameras.

 

I'm looking for cameras that have:

- POE (inside) and wireless battery options (outside)

- 1080p

-nightvision

- PTZ

- streaming option to view over iPhone/ipad while away

-2 way audio

 

My budget is about 2500. I was looking at Lorex, but I keep reading on here that they are trash. I just need some suggesting on brand and model cameras. Any help would be much appreciated since this is a last minute thing.

 

EDIT: I was looking for a system that is "smart home" capable. I saw fair cameras on apple site that said home kit will work with it. Again it is Flir which I think is Lorex, so I am worried about quality.

[mattaggie 0]

The only aspect you really need to do during your remodel is the wiring (cat5 or cat6). You can pick cameras and DVR/NVR later. Just run wires from where your recorder will be to where you want the cameras.

 

You can read through reviews to see if you like a battery powered camera. Personally, I'd somehow get wires to where I wanted cameras. Otherwise, you will always be beholden to battery life. Wired is just better and more stable.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Arlo-Smart-Home-Wire-Free-VMS3130-100NAS/dp/B00QH0Q8J4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458529401&sr=8-1&keywords=wireless+battery+camera+outdoor

[riley3245 0]

Thanks Mattaggie. I'm getting a gigabit ethernet switch with POE connections and plan on running my interior cameras on that. I wanted to do the same for the outside cameras, but the drywall is already installed and painted up stairs so I can either go wireless for the outside cameras and have them places near the roof on the 2nd floor or have them wired, but place them lower on the walls between the 1st and 2nd floor.

 

I have never done this before, but I'm assuming that the higher the placement the better. It gives a better FOV and more secure from someone trying to mess with them.

 

I like the netgear, but just wondering if a ptz would be better for outdoors.

 

Thanks again

[mattaggie 0]

Higher cameras do give you a bigger field of view, but the downside is the angle of viewing. You may not be able to make out a face or license plate. You just have to experiment.

[Boogieman 1]

Do not buy the netgear battery operated cameras. They are JUNK and cannot be integrated with any other system. PAY someone to properly run ethernet outdoors.

[zr1 0]

If I'm understanding the options for the outside cameras:

a) wireless & battery powered

b) cut into the recent 2nd floor drywall and run Cat5 cable

 

Option B is much less hassle.

 

In 2016, wireless is still...not...there...yet.

We like our security cameras to run much higher than 99.9% of the time. Because at 99.9%, they will disconnect once a week where you'll have to manually get them reconnected again. My customers would be calling me (all sorts of names ) if their security cameras went offline even once a month.

 

Batteries

Security cameras aren't giant wattage-hogs, but they do run 24/7. It might be $30 in batteries for a single camera to run for 1 day. Then you gotta either:

* recharge the battery

* replace the battery

Plus there's battery care so the battery doesn't get wonky and won't hold a charge, etc.

 

+1 on running a wire to the outdoor cameras then re-patching the drywall.

A good installer works with that kind of thing anyway leaving no trace afterward.

[stevestream 0]

Hi Zr1,

 

Trouble i think your going to have with the outdoor wireless camera's is they will most likely still need power of some sort which will need a cable (unless your planning on going outside every time with a ladder to change the batteries every couple of days etc (not so practical specially in winter months). So if you are running a power lead, may as well run an ethernet cable too, the packet dropping will be much less this way as well.

 

You could run all your camera feeds to your NVR and then encode the NVR display (or VMS display) with something like an IES-500 ( http://ieslive.com/products/ies-500/ ) and stream it into a H.264 compressed codec stream, if you port forward it you can access its feed anywhere with VLC player (Smart phone, PC, MAC etc) i think it also has the ability to stream to Youtube which might be something to look into for private viewing, but probably not as ideal.

[riley3245 0]

Hey everyone sorry for being MIA. I had some family issues. I contacted one of the only people I could find that do the security cameras and for $3500 he said he can install 5 bullet cameras, 1 PTZ, an NVR, and a monitor. The problem I have is he said he uses Univision cameras and I can't find any info on them at all.

 

A buddy of mine came over today and helped me drill the holes I need for my cameras and lights. I decided to make it easy on myself and take your advise and drilled on the top of the 1st floor. I have one set of holes for the ethernet cables for POE and a set of holes about 6 inches below that for motion detector flood lights.

 

I priced out a system myself and her is what I came up with:

 

(1) AXIS P5515-E PTZ

http://www.axis.com/rs/en/products/axis-p5515-e

 

(5) Axis 0547-001 M3026-VE

http://www.axis.com/sa/en/products/axis-m3026-ve

 

This is still around the 3500 mark and I think these cameras will be way better. Only thing is I have to install it myself and get an NVR. I can use my computer monitors and living room TV to view the cameras or just get a cheap monitor and mount it in the living room near my couch.

 

So do you guys think I should go with Univision and have it install by the expert or go with Axis cameras and install myself. I will run the Cat6 cables myself either way tomorrow. If I mess up the connectors I can always have that guy come out an fix my mistakes.

[Boogieman 1]

Hey everyone sorry for being MIA. I had some family issues. I contacted one of the only people I could find that do the security cameras and for $3500 he said he can install 5 bullet cameras, 1 PTZ, an NVR, and a monitor. The problem I have is he said he uses Univision cameras and I can't find any info on them at all.

 

A buddy of mine came over today and helped me drill the holes I need for my cameras and lights. I decided to make it easy on myself and take your advise and drilled on the top of the 1st floor. I have one set of holes for the ethernet cables for POE and a set of holes about 6 inches below that for motion detector flood lights.

 

I priced out a system myself and her is what I came up with:

 

(1) AXIS P5515-E PTZ

http://www.axis.com/rs/en/products/axis-p5515-e

 

(5) Axis 0547-001 M3026-VE

http://www.axis.com/sa/en/products/axis-m3026-ve

 

This is still around the 3500 mark and I think these cameras will be way better. Only thing is I have to install it myself and get an NVR. I can use my computer monitors and living room TV to view the cameras or just get a cheap monitor and mount it in the living room near my couch.

 

So do you guys think I should go with Univision and have it install by the expert or go with Axis cameras and install myself. I will run the Cat6 cables myself either way tomorrow. If I mess up the connectors I can always have that guy come out an fix my mistakes.

way overpriced for a home install...look at hikvision and dahua cameras.

[riley3245 0]

Hello Boogieman. Thanks for the reply. I was checking those out, but the price looked too good and was afraid they would crap out after a couple years. So did you ever hear of Univision cameras? Are they better than Axis?

 

I don't mind spending around $3500 so long as I can view and control cameras over ipad/phone, get good clear picture, good night vision, and some audio. I'll take another look at Hikivision.

[riley3245 0]

I just took another look at Hikivision and if they are as good as they look I'm sold.

 

I can get 2 PTZ. One for front and one for back.

 

http://www.hikvision.com/us/Products_1_10566_i8498.html

 

Than get four of these for the rest.

 

http://www.hikvision.com/us/Products_1_10531_i7563.html

 

Would that be a good set up for a duplex?

 

Also, Which NVR would you recommend

 

http://www.hikvision.com/us/Products_1_10649_i8726.html

http://www.hikvision.com/us/Products_1_10649_i8725.html

 

Sorry for the rookie questions. I just have so much to do and zero time to do it. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the help.

[Boogieman 1]

I just took another look at Hikivision and if they are as good as they look I'm sold.

 

I can get 2 PTZ. One for front and one for back.

 

http://www.hikvision.com/us/Products_1_10566_i8498.html

 

Than get four of these for the rest.

 

http://www.hikvision.com/us/Products_1_10531_i7563.html

 

Would that be a good set up for a duplex?

 

Also, Which NVR would you recommend

 

http://www.hikvision.com/us/Products_1_10649_i8726.html

http://www.hikvision.com/us/Products_1_10649_i8725.html

 

Sorry for the rookie questions. I just have so much to do and zero time to do it. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the help.

Its important to buy from a US retailer who sells US region cameras...many sellers sell china region cameras that are in english but will brick if you update firmware. Look at B and H photo.

[riley3245 0]

Thanks a bunch

[jeromephone 6]

look into using a couple of fixed cameras instead of PTZ if you have an area covered with fixed cameras it is always covered with PTZ you can be looking the wrong way or the camera will be in the wrong position if using a tour. PTZ seems to work best when someone is monitoring the camera at all times and wants to look at a specific area. For instance a security guard looking over a parking lot and sees something in the far corner and needs a better view.

[riley3245 0]

Thanks Jerome. The reason I want a PTZ is because there have been a few shootings in the area. Last time is was right on the corner. I figured I could use the PTZ to track and zoom in if another group of people walk in the area. That way I can have the dome cameras for general coverage and a PTZ to focus on a certain area if needed. Also form what I can tell I can program the PTZ to scan a area.

[Boogieman 1]

Thanks Jerome. The reason I want a PTZ is because there have been a few shootings in the area. Last time is was right on the corner. I figured I could use the PTZ to track and zoom in if another group of people walk in the area. That way I can have the dome cameras for general coverage and a PTZ to focus on a certain area if needed. Also form what I can tell I can program the PTZ to scan a area.

Are you going to sit there and manipulate the ptz? Scanning is useless, now you have random partial shots...useless, and likely cause the failure of the ptz mechanism.

[riley3245 0]

If I'm home or using my phone and see something that I want to record that is out of the set area than I thought a PTZ would be useful. At the very least I could set it to act like a bullet cam and cover a certain area. If I needed it to zoom in on the corner or focus on a certain group I thought the ability to change direction of the cam would be helpful. Maybe I'm missing something.