Hello...new to security camera systems...trying to get up to speed

[Sybertiger]

Hey y'all...I've only been thinking about adding security cameras on the outside of my house for 10 years. Every once in a while the last decade I'd check in on the technology to see if it addressed my requirements. I feel that technology has now progressed to the point where the features versus cost now make it viable for my needs. My requirements include: (1) a networked solution allowing access from a computer device both inside and outside the house (cell phone, tablet, laptop, etc.), (2) high resolution both daytime and night to be able to identify vehicles and persons, (3) excellent user interface to quickly review captured video especially motion sensor triggered marker points.

My requirements point me in the direction of a NVR that supports POE, records 4K 8MP and cameras that start off at a minimum 2K 4MP and have minimum night vision "range" of 100 feet. I've figured that a minimum of 6 to 8 cameras will adequately cover the exterior of my modest 2,000 sq-ft single story home. Along the front of the house I prefer to have "color" night vision. I'm not opposed to a solution that utilizes a dedicated PC plus Blue Iris software but keep in mind that even though I use computers all day long and my background is the computer/technology industry I'm looking for 24/7 recording and review of content only when I feel that circumstances dictate. In other words, I'm not trying to make this a hobby where time is spent "playing with", "tweaking" or "evaluating" technology in a hobby capacity.

To start my education (only 1 week into it) on capabilities of current cost effective solution that align with my requirements I've have joined this forum to read up on current and past posts by the experts as well as noobs. In addition, I've gone through the cliff notes. To truly understand the limitations of a modest NVR system (SKU # LV968V4W42D4-T2) I am currently evaluating a system I picked up at Sam's Club for $599.99 includes/described as:

(1) LaView 8 Channel 4K 8MP IP NVR (LV-N9608C8E-2TB) w/ 2TB Hard Drive
(4) 2K 4MP Bullet Cameras (LV-PB3040WC)
(2) 2K 4MP Dome Cameras (LV-PD514028C)
100' Night Vision

I understand that many "experts" here will consider this system to be utter garbage but consider it's an evaluation system that allows me to take a look at the pro's and con's within a 90-day return period. Thus far,I can confirm what most say about dome cameras...the negatives are too high with regard to reflections on the plastic dome in daylight and at night, reflections from the IR LEDs within the dome. With regard to the bullet cameras I clearly envision the problems with spider webs and bird nests these devices invite. Lastly, I can envision the controversy created by the "in your face" appearance of a bullet cam that neighbors will surely claim are pointing into their windows even though it would not be the case.

I should go ahead and state that I'm less than impressed with the user interface provided by the purchased LaView system. The menus and feature content of the onscreen interface (HDTV hooked up and using the provided mouse) stinks. And, the user interface accessing the NVR from a networked laptop also stinks. Adequate, yes...but painful from the viewpoint of expectations in the year 2018...probably awesome if this was the decade of the 1990's.

I'll post some photos of the exterior of my house and invite opinion and discussion on a recommendation for location of the 6 to 8 exterior cameras I would like to deploy.

p.s. I'm a member of a lot of other forums not related to this subject and always appreciate the time and effort that members put into helping out others. Thanks to everyone who contributes to this forum and the effort you put into it especially since it takes your valuable time you could spend elsewhere. Special thanks to those to put together documentation, wrote evaluations or pointed out products that excel for their price/performance.

 

[Sybertiger]

In the following pictures of the exterior of my house I try to identify the locations of at least 6 security cameras. The blue circles identify possible locations while red circles indicate places where I may have liked to locate a camera but have concerns about the house design blocking the camera view. The nighttime light levels are minimal at best with regard to street lighting. However, I do low voltage lighting in the front of the house. The low voltage uplighting may be helpful but then again it might be hurtful as they uplight the house from the ground upward towards the location of the proposed security cameras. Hopefully, they do not create tantrums for the cameras as I have yet to experiment with actually mounting a camera.

Camera #1 is soffit mounted on the rear corner of the right side of the house and pointed toward the street.

 

[SouthernYankee]

Read the WIKI completely. The fourth item in the blue bar at the top of the page.

 

[Sybertiger]

Camera #2 is soffit mounted on the rear corner of the left side of the house and pointed toward the right side. This camera is meant to cover the backyard. It points from the left side to the right side since there are no houses on my right side, only vacant land.

 

[Sybertiger]

Camera #3 is soffit mounted on the rear corner of the left side of the house and pointed toward the street.

 

[Sybertiger]

Camera #4 is soffit mounted at the front of the house and pointed toward the street.

 

[Sybertiger]

Camera #5 is soffit mounted somewhere in position A, B or C. Really don't know what is optimal but understand cameras usually have a field of view of 75 to 85 degrees. Note the red circles would likely be ideal since they are corner positions but it's possible the top of the columns on either side may block the camera view.

 

[Sybertiger]

Camera #6 is meant to cover the front porch. The easiest location to mount a camera would be on the ceiling of the porch. The reason for this is simply because the house is constructed of concrete CMU block and stucco meaning that it's much more difficult to run POE cable though the exterior walls. Ideally, I'd like the camera to see people standing at the front door but something tells me I'd be looking at the tops of their heads because the ceiling is probably 12 feet up.

Point down toward the front door. Would not be visible from the street.

 

[Sybertiger]

You can see that at the front door I have this useless Nutone doorbell with two-way speaker. Too bad I cannot easily run POE to this location...or ideally where the house numbers are above the doors.

 

[Sybertiger]

On the left front side of the house I don't know if this is a good location for another camera. The architecture of the house columns and corners make it less than ideal.

 

[Sybertiger]

The three oak trees on the right side of the house have low voltage LED uplighting on them that increase light levels on the right side of the house at night. I'll post some night pics once it gets dark to show what I'm talking about.

The two columns on the left side of the house and the two columns on the front porch and the two columns on either side of the garage also have low voltage LED uplighting that increase visible light at night. Hopefully the uplighting does not interfere with the security cameras or cause glare.

 

[Sybertiger]

My arm could probably be twisted into getting a dedicated PC with Blue Iris but for now I'm thinking about an NVR but with a much better user interface than the LaView system I'm evaluating. I'm already convinced that turret cameras are the way to go. Maybe someone who has looked at my proposed cameras sights can provide a suggestion on if a vari-focal camera should be utilized at any of the locations. Also, where a PTZ camera would be more appropriate at one of the locations.

 

[mat200]

Hey y'all...I've only been thinking about adding security cameras on the outside of my house for 10 years.....
Special thanks to those to put together documentation, wrote evaluations or pointed out products that excel for their price/performance.

Welcome Sybertiger, Happy 4th of July, thanks.

Some of your positions for the cameras you are looking at are TOO high.

I highly recommend testing the positions you are considering, get a friend wearing a hoodie and hat to play prowler during both day and night times.

Ask your wife or girl friend if you have one to help and ask her to review the video captures and HELP ID this crazy suspect who is running around your house attempting to peep in!!

Do take some time to get the placement as good as possible - that and the cabling will be the MOST import thing you do, as you can always fairly easily upgrade the NVR and cameras.

Do review the issues with dome cameras used outdoors.

You have a nice home, and nice yard, plan for a couple more cameras than what came in that kit.

I like 2 cameras covering my driveway area.

 

[mat200]

Oh, and also remember not to use the cables that came in the kit ...

Why?
1) Normally cheaper poor quality CCA cables - better to use quality bulk cable.
2) Also, you may want to return the kit - sometimes they want all the cabling back.. until you are certain you plan to keep the kit, you should not install the cables. You can use them for testing.
3) With bulk cabling you can make smaller holes and thus often a nicer installation job.

 

[Sybertiger]

The soffit mount point on the front of the house is 7 feet off the ground. Easy for someone to screw with them but I assume most people don't mess with them because they are video captured in the process of vandalizing. At the rear of the house the soffit is 9 feet off the ground. Agree that the front porch ceiling is very high...gonna take a lot of work to mount cameras lower.

 

[mat200]

The soffit mount point on the front of the house is 7 feet off the ground. Easy for someone to screw with them but I assume most people don't mess with them because they are video captured in the process of vandalizing. At the rear of the house the soffit is 9 feet off the ground. Agree that the front porch ceiling is very high...gonna take a lot of work to mount cameras lower.

HI Sybertiger,

The front door area concerns me the most - and yes, it is typically the most challenging one to get wires to unless your garage is right next to the front door.

If you're going to pull wires to that area I would also do a 3 ( N+1 ) cable runs down by the door for a new doorbell / video doorbell and a camera at face level, and an extra cable just because stuff happens so good to have another cable there in case a rat crews on or something happens to one of the drops.

 

[Sybertiger]

Oh, and also remember not to use the cables that came in the kit ...

Why?
1) Normally cheaper poor quality CCA cables - better to use quality bulk cable.
2) Also, you may want to return the kit - sometimes they want all the cabling back.. until you are certain you plan to keep the kit, you should not install the cables. You can use them for testing.
3) With bulk cabling you can make smaller holes and thus often a nicer installation job.

Agreed...I pretty much have the LaView NVR sitting in the family room with the Cat5e cables running around the inside of the house. Haven't tried the cameras outside yet but will rig something temporary and probably leave the cable on the ground and run them into the garage where the NVR will be for the evaluation period. Gonna try Homeplug AV2 to connect the NVR to the router (not Homeplug camera to NVR).

I was looking at 1,000 ft rolls of Cat6 that are solid copper....about $110 if I recall correctly.

 

[mat200]

Agreed...I pretty much have the LaView NVR sitting in the family room with the Cat5e cables running around the inside of the house. Haven't tried the cameras outside yet but will rig something temporary and probably leave the cable on the ground and run them into the garage where the NVR will be for the evaluation period. Gonna try Homeplug AV2 to connect the NVR to the router (not Homeplug camera to NVR).

I was looking a 1,000 ft rolls of Cat6 that are solid copper....about $110 if I recall correctly.

Hi Syber.. yes about that price.

Last ones I got I sourced from monoprice for $90 - 10-20% discount code for a weekend sale + shipping.

They're west coast, so maybe a bit to ship - see what other vendors are recommended closer to you.

 

[Sybertiger]

Here's what I meant about uplighting. It creates extra visible light around the property that would not normally be there. I'm curious to know if anyone has any experience to know if these lights will actually cause fits for the cameras in night vision mode since they are directed up towards where the cameras would mount. Also, curious to know if there will be enough light to get some level of color vision at night with the right cameras.

Right side of house next to open field.

 

[mat200]

@Sybertiger

Looks really cool, however imho I would expect it to affect your image capture.

I do not recall seeing others use it here - so you'll probably need to test it.

For low light conditions you may want to reconsider your camera selection and get some which are better for low light.
( Hikvision Darkfigther line of 2MP cameras or Dahua OEM starlights 2MP )