If you had this set up what would you use ?

[flyoverfred]

Hi folks

This house was pre-wired to 4 positions, not overly ideal from the previous owners but hey ho. You can see from my perfectly drawn world leading diagram where the POE positions are located. All are at 8ft. The back yard is small but we want to be able to see whoever jumps over the wall (if they are stupid), at present there is no illumination but we are considering a floodlight which we would likely place in the middle. I am open to not putting a floodlight up if that makes it very difficult for the cameras. There are two positions in the back yard

We have one option for one side of the house so that would need to do well in low light.
Lastly the front, this is actually near a dusk till dawn light that isn't that powerful but would obviously make a difference to camera choice - ideally we want something to identify anyone coming up the driveway or read a plate if it parks outside.

It's a shame they didn't pre-wire a few other places but it's still better than nothing.

I'm pretty sure at this point I've been convinced to give B.I a try.
We live in Nevada, so summer is HOT and the one at the front would be in direct sunlight all day so it's going to need to work in high temps.
Ideally I would prefer turret cameras.

As a complete noob it's a touch overwhelming, like others I was going down the Reolink path but I stumbled across this wonderful forum and you've changed my mind !!!
Please can you guys help with some options and recommendations to narrow down the field for me
Thanks

 

[flyoverfred]

Did I post this in the wrong part of the forum ?

 

[factor01]

On your drawing can you add entry doors.

Also is a one story. In Vegas I assume it stucco exterior? Is the attic accessible?

 

[flyoverfred]

On your drawing can you add entry doors.

Also is a one story. In Vegas I assume it stucco exterior? Is the attic accessible?

Hi Factor

Cannot add doors, we have the standard one at the back one at the front. The house is actually 3 floors and yes Stucco

 

[bigredfish]

Its just one of those posts that can get far more involved than you think. It can be a lot of work for free

Bottom line as you've already decided on BI, I would recommend you go with the Dahua 5442 series varifocal 4MP cameras. These are the current go-to choice of most here.
Being variable focus, you can set them to the FOV you need for each location.

A favorite seller here is Andy Wang with Empire Tech who resells Dahua equipment. He's honest, reliable and has great support.

EmpireTech IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3 1/1.8" CMOS 4MP IR Starlight 2.7mm–12mm Var

The EmpireTech IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3 offers advanced features such as a 4MP 1/1.8" CMOS image sensor, 40 m max. illumination distance with integrated IR LED, deep learning algorithms for face and object recognition, 512GB Micro SD card slot, built-in microphone, IP67 rating, and SMD 3.0 support.

empiretech01.com

Pictures of the house would help, but bottom line is you have to decide how much and what type coverage you want. Simply "seeing something happened vs that Overview PLUS additional cameras at choke points for ID. I have a small 1100sq ft home currently and have 10 cameras. I could do away with 1 that monitors boats passing on the canal, otherwise I'm just about right. Many here will tell you the same.

You aren't going to do license plate capture without another dedicated specialty camera that only sees a small area where the plate is. Its also going to be a black picture at night with just the IR reflection off the plate showing.

Biggest problem we see from Newbs is trying to do too many things and see too much with too few cameras.

Example
There's a guy in the street


Here's the ID shot for police from another camera



Another example of two cameras:
Vehicle
View attachment HOAEntranceP2P_ch2_20241230115840_20241230115847.mp4

View attachment HOAEntranceP2P_ch2_20250118012006_20250118012014.mp4

Vehicle Plate from a dedicated plate camera.

 

[flyoverfred]

Its just one of those posts that can get far more involved than you think. It can be a lot of work for free

Bottom line as you've already decided on BI, I would recommend you go with the Dahua 5442 series varifocal 4MP cameras. These are the current go-to choice of most here.
Being variable focus, you can set them to the FOV you need for each location.

A favorite seller here is Andy Wang with Empire Tech who resells Dahua equipment. He's honest, reliable and has great support.

EmpireTech IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3 1/1.8" CMOS 4MP IR Starlight 2.7mm–12mm Var

The EmpireTech IPC-T54IR-ZE-S3 offers advanced features such as a 4MP 1/1.8" CMOS image sensor, 40 m max. illumination distance with integrated IR LED, deep learning algorithms for face and object recognition, 512GB Micro SD card slot, built-in microphone, IP67 rating, and SMD 3.0 support.

empiretech01.com

Pictures of the house would help, but bottom line is you have to decide how much and what type coverage you want. Simply "seeing something happened vs that Overview PLUS additional cameras at choke points for ID. I have a small 1100sq ft home currently and have 10 cameras. I could do away with 1 that monitors boats passing on the canal, otherwise I'm just about right. Many here will tell you the same.

You aren't going to do license plate capture without another dedicated specialty camera that only sees a small area where the plate is. Its also going to be a black picture at night with just the IR reflection off the plate showing.

Biggest problem we see from Newbs is trying to do too many things and see too much with too few cameras.

Example
There's a guy in the street
View attachment 214332

Here's the ID shot for police from another camera
View attachment 214333


Another example of two cameras:
Vehicle
View attachment 214334

View attachment 214337

Vehicle Plate from a dedicated plate camera.
View attachment 214335 View attachment 214336

Yep, appreciate and am aware of the restrictions I have with the set-up tbh. Running more cabling up 3 floors is not something I can do so I'm trying to make the best of what I have available. Trust me, I've spent hours reading the wiki pages on here and have learned lots and it does seem that the camera you recommend is somewhat of a go to. The maximum distance to the middle of the street would be about 30ft so I don't really need to see 60ft for example. Out of interest, what camera did you use to get the plate ? I'd rather learn for an extra week, ask questions and get the best for the situation that I have. Appreciate your reply and input.

 

[bigredfish]

Thats a Z12 variant of the same 5442 series camera. The capture point is 100-120ft

You have to have an angle good enough to get the plate. So straight on at 30 ft isnt going to cut it. More likely and angle and 60ft. They make a Z4 model that would be ok to 60ft

And remember thats TWO cameras, an Overview one like I suggested to you PLUS the Z12 for the plate

Forget plates. With only 4 cameras you will need them to cover your home/yard

 

[flyoverfred]

Thats a Z12 variant of the same 5442 series camera. The capture point is 100-120ft

You have to have an angle good enough to get the plate. So straight on at 30 ft isnt going to cut it. More likely and angle and 60ft. They make a Z4 model that would be ok to 60ft

And remember thats TWO cameras, an Overview one like I suggested to you PLUS the Z12 for the plate

Forget plates. With only 4 cameras you will need them to cover your home/yard

Yes I was just interested in what the camera was . I don't really need the plate id tbh, it's a gated community that has cameras reading every plate that comes in - but lets face it, most criminals (at least here in Vegas) are either taking plates off or using fake ones. I need to maximise what you said really - the identify part especially in the back yard where I have two positions wired. The one down the side of the house is in a very dark area so that would need to be one that works well in those conditions. I just read that Wittaj's recommended list from 2019 is kept up to date so that is very helpful

 

[bigredfish]

Unless you have a shit ton of white light, you'll be running in B&W with IR which can run in complete black

 

[wittaj]

Many of us have made the mistake of not enough cables LOL.

Fortunately things like this exist and you can daisy chain them.

https://www.amazon.com/Loryta-Extender-Repeater-Ethernet-Splitter/dp/B07RQ569MF?ref_=ast_sto_dp

And yes without any light, you will want to stay away from any camera labeled as full color as they don't see infrared.

 

[factor01]

the Reolink path

For a doorbell its a good choice but nothing else

I stumbled across this wonderful forum

Yes its great.

I would start here and learn about DORI.

The drawing does not denote front or back. I assume the narrow part is the front or back.

Like @bigredfish said the T54IR aka 5442 is a great overall choice its a turret as well. You can learn more about them on the link.

 

[flyoverfred]

For a doorbell its a good choice but nothing else

Yes its great.

I would start here and learn about DORI.

The drawing does not denote front or back. I assume the narrow part is the front or back.

Like @bigredfish said the T54IR aka 5442 is a great overall choice its a turret as well. You can learn more about them on the link.

my driveway is at the front ! Thanks for the link, more reading to do

 

[flyoverfred]

Many of us have made the mistake of not enough cables LOL.

Fortunately things like this exist and you can daisy chain them.

https://www.amazon.com/Loryta-Extender-Repeater-Ethernet-Splitter/dp/B07RQ569MF?ref_=ast_sto_dp

And yes without any light, you will want to stay away from any camera labeled as full color as they don't see infrared.

I was looking at similar on the forum earlier and in the post I read someone mentioned they run hot. I'm assuming these are for the camera end of the chain and you split there ? - Vegas gets hot, like we hit over 120 degrees last summer hot so I have to take that into consideration too

 

[flyoverfred]

Unless you have a shit ton of white light, you'll be running in B&W with IR which can run in complete black

What you just said there in turns of complete black I didn't know but I had read about the color situation - so this is the point of this thread really, you guys have experience and knowledge I'm not going to get to grips with or learn in just a few days or weeks. In this circumstance and given what you've said what camera WOULD you recommend so I can get a good result ?

 

[factor01]

turns of complete black I didn't know

He means the Dark black of night time with out any other light.

 

[wittaj]

I was looking at similar on the forum earlier and in the post I read someone mentioned they run hot. I'm assuming these are for the camera end of the chain and you split there ? - Vegas gets hot, like we hit over 120 degrees last summer hot so I have to take that into consideration too

Yeah these are on the camera end.

Cameras get hot too LOL. People have recorded 140-150 temps on their cams.

 

[bigredfish]

Same one we suggested. There is no magic like on TV. Cameras need light. Either white or IR.

In order to run a camera at night in color, effectively, you need a LOT of light. So just resign yourself to the fact that like most of us (me 7 out of 10) most of your cameras will be in B&W with IR light at night. If you happen to add white light and can get a good image of MOVING objects in color, Great! That camera can do both

 

[factor01]

given what you've said what camera WOULD you recommend so I can get a good result ?

A 5442 (54IR) ZE like bigredfish said

 

[flyoverfred]

He means the Dark black of night time with out any other light.

ah, I read it wrongly doh!

 

[flyoverfred]

Same one we suggested. There is no magic like on TV. Cameras need light. Either white or IR.

In order to run a camera at night in color, effectively, you need a LOT of light. So just resign yourself to the fact that like most of us (me 7 out of 10) most of your cameras will be in B&W with IR light at night. If you happen to add white light and can get a good image of MOVING objects in color, Great! That camera can do both



View attachment 214340 View attachment 214341 View attachment 214342

absolutely, I'm not fussed about colour tbh especially not down the side of the house ! This is all really helpful, thank you.