Hello from Nicaragua

[G. Belli]

Hello,

The roof of my house needed changing, so I decided I would install network cable for every room and cabling for PoE cameras.

I had 3 D-Link WiFi cameras (2xDSC-932L, 1xDCS-5010L) that have been kinda problematic, mostly because of bad wireless reception and the kids disconnecting the power brick. Time to install newer better cameras, especially because the local political situation has made the country very insecure.

Local vendors only sell crappy Chinese DVR kits with crappy analog cameras, so I decided to look for PoE cameras on the internet.

I'm an IT guy, got a lot of experience with network equipment but almost zero security cameras knowledge. I read a lot, and decided to get some Hikvision cameras.

I managed to get 2 DS-2CD2122FWD-IS (1 2.8mm lens and three other 4mm) new from eBay for under $50 each. I also got a DS-2CD2135FWD-I for ~$70.

To power the cams I bought a used Brocade ICX-6430-24P PoE+ managed switch for $65. Not bad.

For storage I'll use one of my virtualization servers in my homelab with one or two dedicated 2TB WD REDs, depending on need.

I used to use Dlink's DVR software, but I never liked it much and it looks like something designed over 20 years ago. Also I prefer a non-Windows solution. I just managed to install ZoneMinder with the Dlink cams as a test, but will probably go for Shinobi.

I'll see how the cameras work and order additional ones later.

Hopefully everything arrives this week.

 

[mat200]

Welcome @G. Belli

Remember to check out the cliff notes and definitely drop in a few cat5e/6 lines now that you're doing that roof work.

 

[bigredfish]

Welcome to the forum!

Might consider the WD Purple drives as they're apparently better for continuous recording.

 

[G. Belli]

Welcome @G. Belli
Remember to check out the cliff notes and definitely drop in a few cat5e/6 lines now that you're doing that roof work.

The cable has already been laid out about three weeks ago. The rest of the notes are interesting and useful nonetheless. I settled for Cat5e as Cat6(a) is morbidly expensive here.

Welcome to the forum!

Might consider the WD Purple drives as they're apparently better for continuous recording.

I have a couple of 2TB REDs because I recently migrated my server to all-flash storage. I also have a pile of (not so) old 500GB-1TB drives that I might use as well.

 

[SouthernYankee]

My standard welcome to the forum message.

Please read the cliff notes and other items in the wiki. The wiki is in the blue bar at the top of the page.

Read How to Secure Your Network (Don't Get Hacked!) in the wiki also.

Quick start
1) Use Dahua starlight cameras or Hikvision darkfighter cameras or ICPT Night eye cameras (https://store.ipcamtalk.com/) if you need good low light cameras.
2) use a VPN to access home network (openVPN)
3) Do not use wifi cameras.
4) Do not use cloud storage
5) Do Not use uPNP, P2P, QR, do not open ports,
6) More megapixel is not necessarily better.
7) Avoid chinese hacked cameras (most ebay, amazon, aliexpress cameras(not all, but most))
8) Do not use reolink, ring, nest cameras (they are junk)
9) If possible use a turret camera , bullet collect spiders, dome collect dirt and reflect light (IR)
10) Use only solid copper, AWG 23 or 24 ethernet wire. , no CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum)

Read,study,plan before spending money ..... plan plan plan