Hey from Los Angeles

Awemazing

n3wb
Aug 12, 2025
2
6
Los Angeles
Hey All! Very happy to be here.

I just bought my first house and I want to make my own outdoor camera setup. I'm generally pretty serious about security, and I want to do this right. That being said, I'm pretty much a beginner when it comes to security cameras. I'm planning on laying cat6 in a few weeks and could seriously use advice on cameras and placement, as well as floodlight placement and configuration. I also want to put in window and door sensors, window break sensors, and an alarm. And whatever else you guys recommend. Hoping to meet some good people and get some good advice on where to go from here.

A
 
Welcome to IPCT! :wave:
 
Hey All! Very happy to be here.

I just bought my first house and I want to make my own outdoor camera setup. I'm generally pretty serious about security, and I want to do this right. That being said, I'm pretty much a beginner when it comes to security cameras. I'm planning on laying cat6 in a few weeks and could seriously use advice on cameras and placement, as well as floodlight placement and configuration. I also want to put in window and door sensors, window break sensors, and an alarm. And whatever else you guys recommend. Hoping to meet some good people and get some good advice on where to go from here.

A

Welcome @Awemazing

Lots of good folks here with experience to get you started with a good setup.

Los Angeles, plan to cover your driveway / street parking and frontdoor / package drop areas well.
 
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Welcome!

This thread is used as the go to for the new person here outlining the commonly recommended cameras (along with Amazon links) based on distance to IDENTIFY that represent the overall best value/best bang for the buck in terms of price and performance day and night. It might be a 2MP camera in some instances. Many here feel 4MP is the current sweet spot for these cameras.

The Importance of Focal Length over MP in camera selection

And coupled with that thread is this great thread which will show why all of the same 2.8 or 3.6mm cameras is the wrong choice (these are the common focal lengths consumer brands sell):

i-want-2-8mm-cameras-everywhere-to-see-everything-this-is-why-you-need-specific-fovs-with-purposeful-focal-lengths.70053/

We would encourage you to look at those threads in detail.

It will probably raise more questions than answers LOL
 
Welcome!

This thread is used as the go to for the new person here outlining the commonly recommended cameras (along with Amazon links) based on distance to IDENTIFY that represent the overall best value/best bang for the buck in terms of price and performance day and night. It might be a 2MP camera in some instances. Many here feel 4MP is the current sweet spot for these cameras.

The Importance of Focal Length over MP in camera selection

And coupled with that thread is this great thread which will show why all of the same 2.8 or 3.6mm cameras is the wrong choice (these are the common focal lengths consumer brands sell):

i-want-2-8mm-cameras-everywhere-to-see-everything-this-is-why-you-need-specific-fovs-with-purposeful-focal-lengths.70053/ connections game

We would encourage you to look at those threads in detail.

It will probably raise more questions than answers LOL
thanks for your advice
 
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