First timer looking for opinions

Dainius56 · Jan 21, 2017

Hello all! Been reading through forum and lots of good info but is very overwhelming. Wife and I are looking to get this ball rolling with probably 2 cameras to start with options to add more (probably 8 max, reading buy a 16ch regardless). Been eyeing the Hikvision nvr and concerned if this is a good option for brand. Dahua seems most recommended?

With so many it seems it's either hikvision, reolink, armcrest, dahua? I have a very beefy pc (6700k at 4.5, 16 ram, room for HD's) so Blue Iris may also be an option but this initial purchase is to expand later with at least 8 cameras possibly, inside and out. My PC is also used for gaming and running Plex, but there shouldn't be a concern right? Will be running wiring through attic to a central location.

I am quite tech savvy but looking for expert opinions. No WiFi, looking to start with front door and over driveway for now. Any information is greatly appreciated as I'm just started researching this info. We already have a sub alarm company for doors/windows, but no cameras so its time to expand!

fenderman · Jan 21, 2017

Dainius56 said:
With so many it seems it's either hikvision, reolink, armcrest, dahua? I have a very beefy pc (6700k at 4.5, 16 ram, room for HD's) so Blue Iris may also be an option but this initial purchase is to expand later with at least 8 cameras possibly, inside and out. My PC is also used for gaming and running Plex, but there shouldn't be a concern right?

A vms should be run on a dedicated pc....8 cams at 1080p or 3mp can easily be run in a 300 dollar i5 haswell/skylake...you also want to use intel hd not a high power power hog graphics card..blue iris supports hardware acceleration only on intel hd with quicksync

looney2ns · Jan 21, 2017

use this to help decide cam locations and fov: Camera Calculator / Design Software Keep PPF >100

Purchase these cams: Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z)

Or look at this list: Dahua 2MP Starlight Lineup

If you purchase an NVR, be sure it's the same brand as the cams. That saves lots of heartburn.

Did I mention Dahua?

Dainius56 · Jan 21, 2017

Good information. Sooooo Dahua! lol and NVR for simplicity TYVM for the links I will read through and learn more about this process. Question, when running cat6 through attic, what conduit is rec for future routes? Standard PVC work fine?

Fastb · Jan 21, 2017

Dainuius56,

Welcome to the forum.

Dainius56 said:
Question, when running cat6 through attic, what conduit is rec for future routes? Standard PVC work fine?

Not sure of the question.
You're thinking of putting PVC conduit in the attic, to simply pull cat6 though at some future time?
Me, I'd just put in the future cat 6 now, instead of the hassle of putting in pvc now. Gluing, joints, cutting, etc....
If the cat 6 has to be relocated in the future, because you've learned about good & bad camera locations, adjusting where the cat6 terminates is easy (as compared to moving pvc)

A trip to the attic in the future is probably inevitable.

Other option:
Put cable puller's twine in the attic. You may be able to pull cat6 in the future, w/o climbing to the furthest recesses of the attic...

Fast

Dainius56 · Jan 21, 2017

Fastb said:
Dainuius56,

Welcome to the forum.

Not sure of the question.
You're thinking of putting PVC conduit in the attic, to simply pull cat6 though at some future time?
Me, I'd just put in the future cat 6 now, instead of the hassle of putting in pvc now. Gluing, joints, cutting, etc....
If the cat 6 has to be relocated in the future, because you've learned about good & bad camera locations, adjusting where the cat6 terminates is easy (as compared to moving pvc)

A trip to the attic in the future is probably inevitable.

Other option:
Put cable puller's twine in the attic. You may be able to pull cat6 in the future, w/o climbing to the furthest recesses of the attic...

Fast

This is actually a great answer. Ive been in the attic multiple times since we bought this house in April, mainly for better air sealing and installing soffit vents for better circulation. I just see during my research some people us some type of conduit for cable runs. Not really necessary for low voltage, But I am trying to best determine how to "organize" cables for future use as we also plan on blowing more insulation in down the road. Ive read about these hook or loop things that can attach to framing and follow a nice line, but unable to find them online if anyone knows the correct name for them.

Dainius56 · Jan 21, 2017

Also, please forgive the question as I'm still learning but very much a diy'er. What is terminating the cable specifically mean?

looney2ns · Jan 21, 2017

PVC conduit is fine. Or something like this works too. Amazon.com: J-HOOK,2in, 90\xb0, 25 PK: Home & Kitchen

looney2ns · Jan 21, 2017

Dainius56 said:
Also, please forgive the question as I'm still learning but very much a diy'er. What is terminating the cable specifically mean?

In this case, installing Rj45 Connectors on the cable ends

looney2ns · Jan 21, 2017

Fastb · Jan 21, 2017

If me, and knowing I might blow in more insulation:
use "funny pipe" to protect cable and provide a way to pull wire later (assuming you leave a pull string inside)

It's flexible and resists strikes from a shovel. And it can be moved easily later, to adjust for where you'll tweak cam locations in the future. And cheaper than PVC, no gluing, joints, yadda, yadda.

I've lived through remodels and also new technology that emerges. My plans to "future proof" and accomodate what I might want to do later have been 50% successful. But I've still come out ahead. Sure, I have cat5 I buried in walls thinking it might be useful later. And it's "dark" cable, unused. But the cables I have used save me a bunch of headaches.

Wire is cheap. The labor to snake & fish a new run is high (and to patch sheetrock)

My advice: Put a fat pvc from your NVR location to the attic. 2" if you can manage. Leave a fish string in there. Then any future cable to the attic for a new cam in tbd location is greatly simplified. ie: once the cable is in the attic, just pull it to the cam location as the wire is pulled from the spool downstairs near the nvr

Fastb.

Fastb · Jan 21, 2017

Dainius56 said:
What is terminating the cable specifically mean?

Generally, it means you'll buy raw cat6 on a long roll. No RJ45. You don't know the lenght of wire needed to run from point A to pt B. (You don't pull pre-fabricated patch cords, only to learn you mis-estimated the lenght by a few ft)

Then ya crimp on the RJ45 as looney2ns described.

Fastb

Dainius56 · Jan 21, 2017

This is great information you all have provided. I am very thankful. I was planning on buying 1000ft cat 6 and the conduit was for future improvements (usb, hdmi, etc) to make life easier. Terminating the cable term helps lot.

Is there a problem running a poe switch in the attic, then only a single line to nvr I closet? Heard this is quite common. Loving in central.tx with brutal heats at times

fenderman · Jan 21, 2017

Dainius56 said:
This is great information you all have provided. I am very thankful. I was planning on buying 1000ft cat 6 and the conduit was for future improvements (usb, hdmi, etc) to make life easier. Terminating the cable term helps lot.

Is there a problem running a poe switch in the attic, then only a single line to nvr I closet? Heard this is quite common. Loving in central.tx with brutal heats at times

If you buy cable you MUST buy from a reliable source/brand...ensure its not copper clad aluminum/CCA garbage...the cheap price is enticing but you WILL have issues.

Dainius56 · Jan 21, 2017

I was looking at monoprice, not CCA, as I also hear bad things. Any recommendations will be noted from experts!

hmjgriffon · Jan 21, 2017

Dainius56 said:
This is actually a great answer. Ive been in the attic multiple times since we bought this house in April, mainly for better air sealing and installing soffit vents for better circulation. I just see during my research some people us some type of conduit for cable runs. Not really necessary for low voltage, But I am trying to best determine how to "organize" cables for future use as we also plan on blowing more insulation in down the road. Ive read about these hook or loop things that can attach to framing and follow a nice line, but unable to find them online if anyone knows the correct name for them.

bundle the wire together with bag ties every so often, zip ties, velcro, something, no need for conduit.

looney2ns · Jan 22, 2017

Dainius56 said:
This is great information you all have provided. I am very thankful. I was planning on buying 1000ft cat 6 and the conduit was for future improvements (usb, hdmi, etc) to make life easier. Terminating the cable term helps lot.

Is there a problem running a poe switch in the attic, then only a single line to nvr I closet? Heard this is quite common. Loving in central.tx with brutal heats at times

I wouldn't put a poe switch in the attic, but that's me. Mine lives on a shelf in the attached garage. Attic is a very hostile environment for electronics.

hmjgriffon · Jan 22, 2017

looney2ns said:
I wouldn't put a poe switch in the attic, but that's me. Mine lives on a shelf in the attached garage. Attic is a very hostile environment for electronics.

Who knows, get a z-wave temp sensor and throw it up there and see what it's like. probably better off putting the stuff in a cage or small mini server rack and bolting it to some studs in a closet though, maybe one with a metal grid on the sides and a plexi glass front so you can't eff with the wires all run in the back.

Bryan · Jan 22, 2017

Dainius56 said:
Hello all! Been reading through forum and lots of good info but is very overwhelming. Wife and I are looking to get this ball rolling with probably 2 cameras to start with options to add more (probably 8 max, reading buy a 16ch regardless). Been eyeing the Hikvision nvr and concerned if this is a good option for brand. Dahua seems most recommended?

With so many it seems it's either hikvision, reolink, armcrest, dahua? I have a very beefy pc (6700k at 4.5, 16 ram, room for HD's) so Blue Iris may also be an option but this initial purchase is to expand later with at least 8 cameras possibly, inside and out. My PC is also used for gaming and running Plex, but there shouldn't be a concern right? Will be running wiring through attic to a central location.

I am quite tech savvy but looking for expert opinions. No WiFi, looking to start with front door and over driveway for now. Any information is greatly appreciated as I'm just started researching this info. We already have a sub alarm company for doors/windows, but no cameras so its time to expand!

My Dahua 5216 NVR works well but the user manual is poorly written. It needs more explanation on "how" to do stuff instead of just stating what a menu item does. Stick to the same brand cameras as the NVR, make sure the cameras have IVS (pure motion doesn't cut it, unless you like 100 email alarms an hour during a rainstorm), check for good low lux ratings on cameras (mostly 2 MP), plan for separate IR lights (bugs can see IR and motion detection counts bugs also), flat 32 AWG Cat6 cable does not do POE, don't use dome cameras outside....learned a lot.

mat200 · Jan 27, 2017

Dainius56 said:
This is great information you all have provided. I am very thankful. I was planning on buying 1000ft cat 6 and the conduit was for future improvements (usb, hdmi, etc) to make life easier. Terminating the cable term helps lot.

Is there a problem running a poe switch in the attic, then only a single line to nvr I closet? Heard this is quite common. Loving in central.tx with brutal heats at times

Suggestions:
Run quality Cat6 cable now to all suspected areas before you add more insulation, leave a little extra slack in the cable. ( as others mentioned avoid CCA - Copper Clad Alum. - go solid copper. )
Wire is cheap compared to your time, and if you plan to keep the house, I would run n+1 cables. ( example think you need one drop? pull 2 wires .. )
Conduit helps in tight areas - I used EMT 90 deg angles for helping to get down or up into outer walls.
Do not run equipment in the attic - it will burn up. IF you have enough room in the attic you can make a little AC cooled "data center closet" for your network equipment.
Suggesting looking at radiant shields and attic installations - some very interesting videos on youtube - this will help reduce the heat in the attic.
Remember the holes you create in the walls to run cables will also allow airflow, I would recommend sealing them again to make your home energy efficient again.
( checkout the following at 2:00 to get an idea of what I am talking about 0

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