I wasn't expecting this level of learning and sophistication to be required when I got started with all of this, either.
I just thought it would be nice to have a couple of security cameras so my wife could see who was at the door without needing to answer it. Several years ago, I'd read some about security camera systems, and from reading that, I knew I wanted to go with IP cameras and a program running on a PC. I just couldn't remember what that program was!
I also knew I wanted POE cameras rather than analog video so that I could use that PC-based software in large part because by using that program on a PC, I would not be tied into any one brand or model of camera.
Then I found these Reolink 410s on sale at Amazon, and figured I'd give a couple a try. When I got them, I simply installed the software that they come with and they worked fine. Then I got some more of those same cameras and only after that did I find this site and realize that the Reolinks were likely a mistake. But I also found out that
Blue Iris was the program I'd remembered reading about those years back.
Further reading here showed me all of the security concerns, and all about the better cameras, etc. So over some months, I got a refurbished PC to run Blue Iris, and a new router that would make setting up a VPN easy, and on and on.
Don't do this the way I did it!
Read up here first, and get comfortable with what's necessary to set up a proper, good from the start, (and safe) system. It'll save you some money and a lot of time.
It is NO HARDER to properly secure a Blue Iris system than it will be to properly secure any NVR. It's the same. Either way, you want to block the cameras and any NVR from being able to directly access the internet.
This is because the cameras and the NVRs are very vulnerable, easily hackable, and often have built-in back doors. They are not only ripe, and attractive targets for hackers, and very insecure, but many have been shown to have built-in "back doors" that allow people to enter your network without even knowing any of your passwords. Not Good!
By default, the NVRs and cameras are made to communicate with remote servers, usually in China, in order to let you view your cameras when you're not at home. They have to get that video, audio, etc., out onto the internet somehow so you can view and hear it from your smart phone, etc., when you're out and about. And because they are constantly communicating with those remote servers, your entire network is now open for attack.
Remember that each IP camera and each NVR is, effectively, a computer. You'd run security software and set up a good firewall for your PCs. But there's no way to do this for your cameras or NVRs when they're allowed to talk to china by default! And once someone commandeers your camera or NVR, they've got a "man on the inside", who can then intercept and do whatever they want with any traffic on your entire network! And, of course, they can now use that camera to not only spy on your network, but also help launch attacks on other sites, etc., using them as "bots" to do their bidding. People like to amass armies of bots all over the internet so they can attack websites, etc. You don't want to be hosting someone's evil army on your network.
So I'd encourage you to set up a PC with Blue Iris. It's far better than any NVR I'm aware of in terms of flexibility and features. Just make sure your PC is truly up to the task!
Shop for better cameras. Get a router that will make it easy to implement a VPN (it's not that hard, and worth it for many other uses as well). Get a good POE switch (and plan on about 16 cameras from the get-go). Two cameras sounds like what you think you want now. But I assure you, you'll end up with a lot more over time.
Reading on this site has taught me a lot that I needed to know anyhow. Some I already knew, some I did not. Some I still don't. But I know where to find out now.
And by reading
@fenderman's advice, I was able to find several great deals on fast PCs that he recommended for running Blue Iris. One I got is now running BI for me. Another has replaced an older PC is was needing to upgrade because I run Photoshop, which is a total P.I.G. pig! In fact, having the Intel processor with Quick Synch (recommended for speeding up Blue Iris) is a real benefit for running Photoshop. PS lets you offload some of its image processing to that graphics processor (part of the main CPU), and it really makes a difference in how fast this system can do a lot of tasks in Photoshop.
So I've benefited from all of my learning from this site, not only for security camera issues, but for a lot more.
A lot of the people here have an enormous amount of experience and knowledge. Sometimes they're very curt or even mean. But it's sort of a tough-love kind of thing, I guess. They probably just get tired of answering the same questions hundreds of times, over and over. But that doesn't mean they aren't extremely helpful.
My advice is do NOT buy an NVR. Set up Blue Iris on your PC.
Get an internal Western Digital Purple hard drive to install inside of that PC. That will be better for Blue Iris to use than an external drive. Hopefully you've got some physical space and the connections, power supply, etc., to install another internal drive.
If not, seriously consider getting another PC that's more suited to running Blue Iris. Again, don't imagine for a minute that you're going to be satisfied with only two cameras! Believe me, you're very likely to end up with a lot more of them as you start playing with all of this. Might as well start out right and save yourself accumulating a closet full of too-small switches, poor cameras, a PC that's not powerful enough, etc.
This site is as bad as the firearms and camera sites for "enabling" your addictions!
