Overwhelmed and need Advice on a good system

chris70cuda

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I have read a lot of posts and sticky post but I am overwhelmed with all the information. I am looking for a NVR that has a built in Poe and is plug and play. Also, looking for good day and night cameras. Basically, want them to watch over my parked cars in my driveway and my back-deck area. I plan not playing with this system but only using it when something happens.


Can anyone recommend specific cameras with model number and NVR model. Also, a specific place to buy the items. Looking to spend between $500-1000.00 Looking to have 4-6 cameras on this setup


Thanks!
 

Mjminino

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I too am overwhelmed. There is just SO MUCH information it's surreal.
 

Securitas

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For home cameras you have a huge amount of options, depending where in the world you are. Here in North America you could go to Costco and get a decent Lorex system with 4 cameras and a recorder for under $500. You can even get a wireless system for a couple of hundred more. I work in the security industry and have access to a large amount of products, but I can't beat their prices. If I want to buy cheaper I would have to go to eBay or Aliexpress. But then you'd have very limited warranty and support.
 

BubbaJoe

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If you are looking at IP cameras you can't go wrong with talking to Andy. He has a aliexpress store and is a member here. Rock solid when it comes to backing his cameras. Super fast shipping. Good prices to boot.

I have used at least a dozen different camera brands over the last 8 years. So far Dahua is leading the pack in performance and durability. They just work and rarely give me problems. They also have great night performance. Just work horses.

To summit it up. Talk to Andy and use Dahua you won't go wrong or waste money.
 

hebronep

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There is a lot of information but a very good summary is Cliff Notes.

I stumbled on ipcamtalk in January 2018 and "WoW' - fantastic sharings which greatly help me finalize what I wanted to install for my home in Malaysia :- 14 IP Cameras ( 10 Dahua HDW5231R-Z, 2 Dahua HFW8232E-Z, and 2 PTZ (either SD49225T-HN or SD59225U-HNI), Blue Iris, Intel i7-7700 (16 GB RAM, 128 SSD, 10 TB WD Purple, Windows 10), POE Switch, Cat6 .......

Just follows the few Gurus postings (Nayr (Dahua Cameras reviews is a Must Read)), Fenderman, mat200, Giomania (Cliff Notes Author),Looney2ns, .... is sufficient for me.

I just emailed the famous Andy to ship one unit of Dahua HDW5231R-Z, Dahua junctions boxes PFA130-A,PFA121 & PFB203W, .. to experiment in my Singapore home before ordering the rest after I completed the Cat6 wiring
in my Malaysia home ...

My current setup is 4 cameras using coaxial cables provided by the builder of the home with one NVR installed in 2011. Videos recorded are effectively useless as we can barely see which cat stops over and use my garden as toilet stopover ....

Wish I could go back in time to 2011 and stumbled upon ipcamtalk which will have helped us make better decisions in the choice of cameras, network, switch, .....

Keep up the invaluable sharing of cameras reviews ......
 

looney2ns

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mat200

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I have read a lot of posts and sticky post but I am overwhelmed with all the information. I am looking for a NVR that has a built in Poe and is plug and play. Also, looking for good day and night cameras. Basically, want them to watch over my parked cars in my driveway and my back-deck area. I plan not playing with this system but only using it when something happens.


Can anyone recommend specific cameras with model number and NVR model. Also, a specific place to buy the items. Looking to spend between $500-1000.00 Looking to have 4-6 cameras on this setup


Thanks!
I too am overwhelmed. There is just SO MUCH information it's surreal.
HI Chris, Mjminino,

Completely understand, that's exactly how I felt when I first started going through all the great posts here.

Don't worry, mark ( giomania ) has gathered a lot of great notes from all of us and included it in his cliff notes.
Use it as a guide, and do let us know if something is not clear enough or there are typos in the notes.

Nayr indeed has been one to the great resources here - so do take a look at the sample videos he has posted here.

If you are not under an immediate threat, PLEASE do take a little time to look at the notes.

Remember, just as if you are shopping for a car - each of us has different needs and budget - so while I can say get a Toyota Camry - you may actually want something a little different.

Thus why a number of us want to encourage you to better understand your needs and match yourself up with something which works better for you.

The key word is better - NONE of the security / surveillance kits out there are as amazing as we imagine from watching those CSI / other Hollywood shows. The reality of LPR at night, of the ability to ID suspects has been a real eye opener for me - I did not imagine that the ID distances / ranges would be so short.

This stated, do take a close look at the notes and decide what you want to accomplish, once you figure that out decide how much you can afford to invest into this. Chances are you will have to compromise a little once you determine what is possible.

If you plan to go with Dahua or Hikvision, please look at these links before you decide. Dahuasecurity : Security vulnerabilities

Hacked Hikvision IP Camera Map USA And Europe
Indeed a concern Securitas,

Thus why we recommend setting up a VPN and appropriately securing your kit.

Personally I recommend not connecting to the internet if you do not have the time to setup a VPN and secure your setup.
 

Securitas

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Indeed a concern Securitas,

Thus why we recommend setting up a VPN and appropriately securing your kit.

Personally I recommend not connecting to the internet if you do not have the time to setup a VPN and secure your setup.

True, it's called Closed Circuit for a reason. It is fairly easy to block external access from even the most basic routers. But a lot of ppl do not bother doing this. And many users want to access their NVR/DVR remotely via their smart phone apps, meaning they will leave certain ports open on the router.
 

mat200

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True, it's called Closed Circuit for a reason. It is fairly easy to block external access from even the most basic routers. But a lot of ppl do not bother doing this. And many users want to access their NVR/DVR remotely via their smart phone apps, meaning they will leave certain ports open on the router.
Indeed, and thus the numerous IoT / IP camera bots... to think the terminator movies got it wrong, it's not the humanoid thing, but the IoT lights and toaster that get us...
 

chris70cuda

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For home cameras you have a huge amount of options, depending where in the world you are. Here in North America you could go to Costco and get a decent Lorex system with 4 cameras and a recorder for under $500. You can even get a wireless system for a couple of hundred more. I work in the security industry and have access to a large amount of products, but I can't beat their prices. If I want to buy cheaper I would have to go to eBay or Aliexpress. But then you'd have very limited warranty and support.
I do have a costco membership. Is there a certain model number that you recommend from them? I don't want something that will have a crappy night picture. Thanks for the help
 

mat200

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I do have a costco membership. Is there a certain model number that you recommend from them? I don't want something that will have a crappy night picture. Thanks for the help
Hi Chris

If low light performance is critical then you need to look at the Dahua OEM starlights. You will not find those cameras in a Costco Kit. You can however add them and thus augment a costco kit ( lorex or Q-see - as both are Dahua OEM products ).
 
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