Need advice on building a budget system

[vipera_berus]

Hello from the wild east of the EU
After a burglary attempt and some trespassing incidents I decided to install a simple surveillance system around my house. I'm planing to buy 4-5 cameras, probably cheap bullet cams with wide-lenses like IPC-HFW1320S for well lit front of the house and street, a turret for installation on terrace roof in moderately lit area (probably IPC-HDW4431C-A) and a starlight bullet cam (IPC-HFW4231E-SE?) for backyard where it gets really dark.
When it comes to NVR I'm leaning against using a NAS due to motion detection problems or PC due to unacceptably high power consumption of i5 system running 24/7. Probably I'll buy something from Dahua and WD Purple 3-4 TB HDD.

Questions:
1. Most important: is the camera selection correct or there is a better solution for similar price? Unfortunately I can't afford to buy 5 most recommended starlights now and there aren't many opinions on cheaper cams here. What I need is reasonable night vision to see what's going around and motion detection with e-mail or push notifications, I don't count much on recognizing somebodies face because while working for few years for judiciary I've seen only once or twice a recording of unmasked burglar.
2. Is there any performance difference between NVR4108HS-xx (black box) and NVR4108-xx (smaller white box) and are there sufficient for my system?
3. Would you recommend one of the above NVRs in PoE version or a separate PoE switch (thinking about Netgear GS108PE)? Will I be able to easily separate cams from the internet using non-PoE version and ASUS-WRT based router? If i get non-PoE version because I can place NVR under my TV and don't have extra 5 ugly cables in my living room.
4. Will I get better results using two cheaper cams installed 10 meters apart or one starlight to monitor dark backyard?
5. Is there any PC NVR software, preferably linux one, which can run on machines with power consumption significantly lower than i5 system? Bluecherry maybe? I've read somewhere somebody running it on some old junk with less power than modern 10W Apollo Lake CPU.

 

[mat200]

Hello from the wild east of the EU
After a burglary attempt and some trespassing incidents I decided to install a simple surveillance system around my house. I'm planing to buy 4-5 cameras, probably cheap bullet cams with wide-lenses like IPC-HFW1320S for well lit front of the house and street, a turret for installation on terrace roof in moderately lit area (probably IPC-HDW4431C-A) and a starlight bullet cam (IPC-HFW4231E-SE?) for backyard where it gets really dark.
When it comes to NVR I'm leaning against using a NAS due to motion detection problems or PC due to unacceptably high power consumption of i5 system running 24/7. Probably I'll buy something from Dahua and WD Purple 3-4 TB HDD.

Questions:
1. Most important: is the camera selection correct or there is a better solution for similar price? Unfortunately I can't afford to buy 5 most recommended starlights now and there aren't many opinions on cheaper cams here. What I need is reasonable night vision to see what's going around and motion detection with e-mail or push notifications, I don't count much on recognizing somebodies face because while working for few years for judiciary I've seen only once or twice a recording of unmasked burglar.
2. Is there any performance difference between NVR4108HS-xx (black box) and NVR4108-xx (smaller white box) and are there sufficient for my system?
3. Would you recommend one of the above NVRs in PoE version or a separate PoE switch (thinking about Netgear GS108PE)? Will I be able to easily separate cams from the internet using non-PoE version and ASUS-WRT based router? If i get non-PoE version because I can place NVR under my TV and don't have extra 5 ugly cables in my living room.
4. Will I get better results using two cheaper cams installed 10 meters apart or one starlight to monitor dark backyard?
5. Is there any PC NVR software, preferably linux one, which can run on machines with power consumption significantly lower than i5 system? Bluecherry maybe? I've read somewhere somebody running it on some old junk with less power than modern 10W Apollo Lake CPU.

Welcome Vipera_Berus

Thanks for posting your first post.

If you are absolutely on a very tight budget, the bullets 1320s work fine, however they are older models and their night time mode will not be as sharp as you like and the form factor is not as nice as a turret.
Remember also 11.11 day is coming and there maybe some additional cost savings on Aliexpress that day.

Remember the most important thing is to properly wire up your home and position the cameras - you can always upgrade cameras fairly easily as your budget permits if you've done a good wiring job.

Also remember, especially with HDW4431C-A that is a Chinese model thus you'll want to take some extra time to properly secure your cameras and NVRs from virii and cyber attacks.

It's easy to get swamped with information here, so I wanted to share some notes with you

Please check out @giomania 's notes:
Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z)

I have also made notes which are a summary of a lot of the reading I've been doing here,:
Looking for some advice and direction!

Have fun joining us here.

 

[vipera_berus]

Thanks for your reply. Could You recommend something better than 1320s and non chinese-market-only in 60-80$ range? It' not important for me whether those are bullet or turret cams, because I'll have to install them on walls, except of only one location.
Fortunately wiring won't be a big problem because I can run cables trough low attic which is unusable otherwise, it's also quite easy to chose camera positions- house is a plain rectangle only with a terrace in one corner.

 

[mat200]

Thanks for your reply. Could You recommend something better than 1320s and non chinese-market-only in 60-80$ range? It' not important for me whether there are bullet or turret cams, because I'll have to install them on walls, except of only one location.
Fortunately wiring won't be a big problem because I can run cables trough low attic which is unusable otherwise, it's also quite easy to chose camera positions- house is a plain rectangle only with a terrace in one corner.

Hi Vipera_berus,

It is hard to recommend other cameras as your budget is very tight.

Here is what I have seen from the posts here:

1) Some people are buying the IPC-HDW4231EM-AS - very nice turret starlight, does a great job at night
If the budget is too tight, buying only a few cameras today, and getting more later. A lot of people like this model as a more affordable starlight model.

2) Some people are buying Chinese model IPC-HDW4431C-A

3) Some people are also buying other Chinese models...

Remember with Chinese models you have more issues with software updates and security settings.

 

[vipera_berus]

IPC-HDW4231EM-AS looks nice, I'll buy this one at least for darker parts of my garden.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

IPC-HDW4231EM-AS looks nice, I'll buy this one at least for darker parts of my garden.

Have enough stock ,lol .

 

[vipera_berus]

I've ordered first cams and the NVR, but I'm still thinking what's the best way to install them in my backyard. Is it better to install them as close to each other as it's possible facing outwards (option 1) or to mount them facing each other, so they're both covered (option 2).
This is basicly what I'm thinking about:

I like the first option because it gives me better coverage of fence on the left side, which is where a burglar have crossed in the past and it's probably still the easiest way to get into my garden, but I'm afraid of dead zone between cams, even if it's relatively small.
Option 2 gives better coverage of house, but I don't know if cameras' IR LEDs close to each other won't affect image quality.
Which one would you chose? If option 2 is better, than what is minimal distance between two cams, both angled 45 degrees relative to wall, facing each other? They will be both 3,6 mm IPC-HDW4231EM-AS.

 

[mat200]

I've ordered first cams and the NVR, but I'm still thinking what's the best way to install them in my backyard. Is it better to install them as close to each other as it's possible facing outwards (option 1) or to mount them facing each other, so they're both covered (option 2).
This is basicly what I'm thinking about:
View attachment 23599
I like the first option because it gives me better coverage of fence on the left side, which is where a burglar have crossed in the past and it's probably still the easiest way to get into my garden, but I'm afraid of dead zone between cams, even if it's relatively small.
Option 2 gives better coverage of house, but I don't know if cameras' IR LEDs close to each other won't affect image quality.
Which one would you chose? If option 2 is better, than what is minimal distance between two cams, both angled 45 degrees relative to wall, facing each other? They will be both 3,6 mm IPC-HDW4231EM-AS.

Good question.

I think I like to have them facing each other, as that way I can see if someone decides to attack either of the cameras.

In your layout, I would perhaps move them further away from the middle line of the building.

 

[vipera_berus]

Thanks. How far from each other should I mount them to avoid flare and other problems caused by IR illumination? I want to install cams as close as possible in order to keep as much coverage on fence side as I can get without buying extra cam.

 

[looney2ns]

Number 2 should work.
Make two test stands with a 8x2x4, 5gal bucket, and rocks. Test your locations for at least 24hrs.
Real world testing tells the tale.

 

[Fastb]

vipera_berus,

Welcome to the forum!
You diagram shows cameras with 87 degree FOV. (maybe you've picked a 2.8mm lens?)
That wide FOV may desirable, since you get to "see everything". However, you won't see detail at a distaance. To identify a person, they'd have to be within 3 or 4 meters.

Try this camera calculator: IPVM Camera Calculator V3

Enter you adddress, and google maps will show your house. Then place the camera. The cameera calculator will give you an idea for the image (PPF)
Check this: Camera Coverage Question

Fastb

And as looney2ns said, use a test rig.