CCTV Newbie looking for some advice

[bob2611]

Hi Everyone

I have had a recent intruder so I am looking to install a CCTV system. I am quite a handy person but I don't know where to start so I will explain what I am looking for and what I am thinking of getting and wanted to know if anyone had any thoughts.

My initial thought is to try dahua but I am open to advice if others can advise a better option.


NVRahua : NVR4208

DVR that records motion
access live and recorded footage from the app from anywhere (I am told all DVR's don't do that).
keep 30 days of footage... (2 tb enough... as the dahua has 2 sata connections. Thinking about using 2 x 1tb drives ?).
Thought POE is easier - just run cat6 cable and plug rj45 in to cam and straight in to the box (that's how it works right ?)

Have my eye on the following
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dahua-5MP...134684?hash=item2ef254ba9c:g:dmMAAOSw-YVXmaj4


Camera Reqs.
need 3 cameras for the outside. Fro nt, back and side alley.
Later add 2 x internal camera for hallways

which camera ? BUllet cameras or dome cameras ? Any difference apart from someone can't tamper with Dome ?

Looking for verifocal lense 30m with night vision. Driveway length is 6m x 8m wide. I want to be able to read car registrations. I am not sure to have one in covering the front or two (one point one way and one pointing the other).
I am stumped at what camera to get for the outside. I need to cover a 20m drive and 20m garden.
Looking at this one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DaHua-HDB...061388?hash=item3ac15adfcc:g:Tv4AAOSwJQdXC7WJ

My budget was £250 but since researching this I have expanded it to £400. Ideally, if I can get it back down, that would be good.

Thank you in advance and I appreciate any advice I can get.

 

[Del Boy]

That DVR has zero feedback on eBay and is shipped from abroad. You will get some charge for that. It is a good model

Camera also from abroad but at least some decent feedback.

You can't get 30m night vision. £250 isn't enough, in fact £400 isn't really enough either. £300 for NVR with 2x 1TB HDD. That leaves less than £100 for 3 cameras.

 

[bob2611]

Thanks Del boy. I already have the 1 tb drives.

When you say there will be some charge on that. I assume I will be hit with some import duty ?

Is there an NVR that you recommend ?

 

[Del Boy]

Import Duty, VAT and quite kind of Parcelforce a minimum £12.50 charge for handling irrespective of the first two amounts.

4208 is a good NVR with 2x HDD slots, otherwise I would recommend a 4104/4108 and a 2TB HDD to save a bit of cash. Don't buy just yet, spend another week to research and fully decide.

I think you are looking at closer £500.

dahua dh-ipc-hdw4300c / dh-ipc-hdw4421C is better than those domes.

 

[bob2611]

Thanks Del Boy

I have actually decided to take a different route.

Stage 1
I have a Qnap TS509-Pro - So I want to setup 2 cameras front and back of the house. QNAP give me 2 licenses for free and I have a 1 TB of space on that drive and a spare bay
https://www.qnap.com/en/compatibility-surveillance/?brand=Dahua
The dh-ipc-hdw4300c is listed.
I had a look on ebay, and it is listed as a 3.6MM(2.8mm optional)fixed lens. How much difference does that make compared to verifocal.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dahua-IPC...828507?hash=item3ac1480fdb:g:DsIAAOSwkl5XfQtX

Also use the following POE switch
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Port-PO...515187?hash=item41afcff2f3:g:UdQAAOSw8-tWbUjE


Stage 2.

As I expand, I either buy more licenses for the current Qnap box (£50 per license) or buy the following Hikvision NVR and throw in a 1 TB drive.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-HIKVIS...hash=item5d64bd16bb:m:mCIUlb5d0TXKcbwhjqmHKEg


Any thoughts ?

 

[Del Boy]

Yes is a good idea. Use Aliexpress not ebay.co.uk which is using international listings.

 

[bob2611]

Yes is a good idea. Use Aliexpress not ebay.co.uk which is using international listings.

Thanks Delboy. I have never used aliexpress. What is the advantage\difference between the two ? Do they offer buyer protection ?

Also can you offer any advice on the fixed vs varifocal cameras.

 

[bbarenz]

I used to purchase my cameras from ebay but started using AliExpress in the past year. I've had much better luck with consistency of the products and I've been really happy with the quality. I run IP cameras with Blue Iris and a desktop PC server, you can build a server with Blue Iris, 1TB AV hard drive, network switch, router cables and cameras for under $700 USD. I purchased a used business PC for the server, they are usually less than 2 years old, good quality, built for the demands of a CCTV NVR and they sell for a couple hundred bucks. If you have a local PC reseller that's probably your best bet for the server then add a 1 or 2TB AV hard drive and you should be set. Make sure the hard drive is made for video recording otherwise it will burn up in a few months. Here are some links to equipment and a view from one of the cameras I purchased recently.

Use the Blue Iris recommended requirements for a server, here is a list on ebay
Blue Iris minimum requirements:
Asus Router ( Asus routers have a free DDNS built into the router, makes it really easy to access your CCTV from the internet)
Network Switch ( look for a used 24 port switch at a local reseller or online. For a 10/100 network you can get an old business switch for a few bucks or even free. I run a 16 year old HP managed switch I got for free and it works great)
Ali Fixed 2MP Cameras: ( See the view below, these are great in the daytime but the IR isn't the best, plastic case but easy to adjust, no tools)

 

[Del Boy]

There is protection. There is a guide on here. I personally don't trust eBay even though they almost always side with the buyer there are a few ways sellers can screw you. The amount of new stuff I've bought which has turned out to be used is crazy.

Edit: big shout out for bbarenz for those links.

You're getting your first full system so stick to Dahua NVR and Dahua cameras.

 

[XSellize]

Hi guys, I am new to this thread/forum/website. Can you guys help me out? I think i'm lost.. :/ Couldn't Find the answer in the INTERNET. LoL I don't know how to post a question or anything. I'll just ask here though.. The topic seems to be relatable to my question.So here goes.After months of researching I finally decided to get a NVR with built-in POE - 4CH (Hikvision DS-2CD7104NI-S/P 4 Channel POE NVR)My question is:-Do NVR w/ POE need constant internet connection to record and view it in real-time through monitor? Will it work without internet connection connected? (Except for Mobile Viewing of course)-Can i set this up in my home without constant internet since i always try to turn off our internet at night. Will it change the settings and do i have to manually set the settings again or what?

 

[bob2611]

Hi guys, I am new to this thread/forum/website. Can you guys help me out? I think i'm lost.. :/ Couldn't Find the answer in the INTERNET. LoL I don't know how to post a question or anything. I'll just ask here though.. The topic seems to be relatable to my question.So here goes.After months of researching I finally decided to get a NVR with built-in POE - 4CH (Hikvision DS-2CD7104NI-S/P 4 Channel POE NVR)My question is:-Do NVR w/ POE need constant internet connection to record and view it in real-time through monitor? Will it work without internet connection connected? (Except for Mobile Viewing of course)-Can i set this up in my home without constant internet since i always try to turn off our internet at night. Will it change the settings and do i have to manually set the settings again or what?

I am a newbie but here is what I know. If you plug the cameras directly in to the back of the NVR, the NVR will issue each cam with a DHCP address on it's own private LAN. That's not directly contactable over IP but the NVR however is . If you turn off the router, the NVR and cameras will still work as they are a private LAN\router inside the NVR but you will not be able to contact the NVR from the apps\webpage.

 

[bob2611]

I have set my heart on the following camera

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Dahu..._4&btsid=b070f802-7d1b-4661-a08e-7cc1bd971939

It's giving me some options.

Sensor: 1/3" .... I assume that's correct

TVL: should I get 600tvl or 800tvl ....but lower down it says 3.6mm (2.8mm, 6mm, 8mm optional) and 600TVL=6mm lens 800TVL=8mm lens ... so does that mean I have 3 choices of lens ?

Also... this next post it's been replaced by HDW4431C-A... so should I be going for the newer model or older model ?

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Original-Dahua-IPC-HDW4300C-1080p-IP-Camera-Built-in-MIC-IR-leds-3MP-Network-IR-security/2036167325.html?spm=2114.01020208.3.10.IDn2px&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_0,searchweb201602_3_10057_10056_10055_10054_10059_10058_10017_107_10060_10061_10052_414_10062_10053_413_10050_10051,searchweb201603_4&btsid=b070f802-7d1b-4661-a08e-7cc1bd971939

Also seen a POE switch that seems to look ok

[url]http://www.aliexpress.com/item/4-Port-10-100M-PoE-Net-Switch-Power-Over-Ethernet-PoE-Optical-Transmission-For-IP-Camera/32687534190.html?spm=2114.01020208.3.360.LiJ85f&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_0,searchweb201602_3_10057_10056_10065_10055_10054_10059_10058_10017_107_10060_10061_10052_414_10062_10053_10050_10051,searchweb201603_4&btsid=b9d4d8b7-43d5-4adc-858c-3b1d4f018fb8

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[fenderman]

Dont buy a no name poe switch on ali...they are garbage. You can get a tplink for 45 on amazon.

 

[bob2611]

Dont buy a no name poe switch on ali...they are garbage. You can get a tplink for 45 on amazon.

Thanks. Fenderman. Appreciate the advice.

 

[Del Boy]

Don't believe any Chinese or eBay seller saying replaced by xxxx model. It's 99% untrue.

Having said that the HDW4431C-A appears to be the 4MP version of this but I haven't tried that yet. The 4300C is still one of the best night-vision cameras I've ever had, on-par with the 2MP Dahua with the Sony Exmor sensor.

If you're ordering from Aliexpress, why not just order one now and try it? Then order another once you are happy.

 

[bob2611]

Thanks delboy. going to order 1 x HDW4431C-A.

Ok! stupid question 1 . Ordering a 100m cat 5 roll (not cat6 as I don't need gb speeds and a bit cheaper). Terminating with standard rj45 connectors. I assume where the connector goes in to the camera is waterproof and I don't need to worry about the waterproofing issues. I cannot see any unboxings on you tube of this camera so hard to see what it actually looks like.

This post shows two cables sticking out. If that is the case, where I connect the cat 5 to that cable, I guess I wind it up and keep it inside the housing before screwing to the wall.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...ini-Camera-POE-Built/2222045_32680986661.html

stupid question 2. Does it come with the wall mount (as it doesn't say so) ? Should I be looking for some other add on that I missed ?

 

[Del Boy]

It's not waterproof. It comes in a waterproof connector but it's not waterproof trust me. You need to wrap it up with Coax Seal or put it in a junction box.

Doesn't come with a big wall mount no, but can be mounted directly to the wall.

 

[bob2611]

Thanks Mate. I appreciate the help.

 

[bob2611]

So i have held off on ordering the camera. The camera is going on the wall next to a bay window, See pic.

The 3.6mm lens appears to give me less view than the 2.8mm

Secondly, to get around bay window, does it make sense to get a bullet camera which is off the wall by a few inches rather than a dome on the wall, hence I would get more view and less of the bay window?





I was thinking about getting this one instead.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Dahu...2463829371.html?spm=2114.13010308.0.44.kHLzlg

Sorry for all the questions, but I really appreciate the help.

 

[bob2611]

Has anyone had any experience buying from aliexpress and the item works for while e.g. 6 months and becomes faulty ? Is there a warranty on dahua cameras ? Is it international so I can take it to a local vendor for a swap out or is it simply a case of sucking it up and buying another.