Looking for advice/guidance

[det2]

Hello all, have been lurking and reading a lot trying to learn for awhile before pulling the trigger to order anything
I am trying to just finalize my plans for my first camera and actual networking gear.

currently my internet goes from a modem to a nighthawk router, I'm eyeing the Unifi Pro Max 16 Poe to add between the two and add 6 cameras to be connected to it on a vlan amongst other household wired items
I have seen the recommendations to have them physically segregated but the cost for 2 switches seems to make the unifi a better choice since they can be separated via vlan. is this accurate?

I plan to repurpose an unused computer I have to run BI and serve as my DVR

I would love to get andy's dahua modeled cameras, but cost wise cannot so I am looking at these to be used as overview cameras, does anybody have experience or concerns with these?

https://a.co/d/0KcDYmt

edit: now that I'm looking back at what I saved from amazon that switch/cost wasn't for the poe version so will need a different option lol

 

[wittaj]

Welcome!

Why not dual NIC the BI computer? A 2nd NIC card is a lot cheaper than a managed switch.

Don't know if you are getting a great deal on a used Unifi Pro Max POE or buying new, but if buying new, I would go with a cheaper POE switch and get better cameras.

Amcrest is the consumer line of Dahua and thus it is cheaper parts and components and sensors.

A 2MP would do better at night as this 5MP you are looking at is on the same sensor as the 2MP.

Here is a real world example with a deer. Even with a floodlight, there simply wasn't enough light to make the 4MP on the sensor designed for 2MP to go into color. Imagine how much darker trying to squeeze 5MP on it will be and without a floodlight, forget about it.

And a 4MP on the proper 1/1.8" sensor camera (different deer LOL but same field of view when the camera was replaced to a better camera) that the camera was able to go to color based on the larger sensor (this is just the regular 5442 camera that I forced into color instead of using infrared):

Which do you think is the better image? The same thing applies whether it is a 4MP versus 5MP or 8MP on the sensor sized for 2MP.


Most of us here have boxes full of used cheap cameras. Wasted money. Many of us started replacing within the year.

As someone says here "Buy once, cry once".

 

[det2]

I actually was looking at the non POE unifi by accident so that's out because the right version is way more

Why not dual NIC the BI computer? A 2nd NIC card is a lot cheaper than a managed switch.

I'm not opposed to this at all, and I thought a managed switch was needed for proper VLAN settup. is there something I am missing with that? as the unmanaged switches are way cheaper that would be great if theres a way to have that work


this is a great example with the 2 deer, is this the older 5442 or the newer version?
I am definitely looking at these camera choices now

Thanks for the reply!

As someone says here "Buy once, cry once".

my wallet is already crying just researching all of the options lol

 

[Gimmons]

Look on ebay for a good used gigabit poe switch. Managed. They go for almost nothing as businesses and governments shed them to get faster units. Even fast ethernet with gigabit uplinks will serve you fine. I see an Alcatel os6450 -p10 on ebay right now for $40 or best offer.

Whatever you get make sure it’s made to live with people (an “edge unit”, not server room stuff) or the fans will scream.

 

[wittaj]

I actually was looking at the non POE unifi by accident so that's out because the right version is way more


I'm not opposed to this at all, and I thought a managed switch was needed for proper VLAN settup. is there something I am missing with that? as the unmanaged switches are way cheaper that would be great if theres a way to have that work


this is a great example with the 2 deer, is this the older 5442 or the newer version?
I am definitely looking at these camera choices now

Thanks for the reply!


my wallet is already crying just researching all of the options lol

That deer is the older 5442 - the newer S3 would be even better!

A dual NIC is far simpler in many instances and then just unmanaged POE switches are needed.

Basically you run all the cameras to the POE switch and connect that POE switch to one of the ethernet ports of the BI computer.

You then connect the internet to the 2nd ethernet port.

As dual NIC, the computer then acts as a managed switch/firewall of sorts and doesn't let the two subnets talk to one another.

 

[det2]

That deer is the older 5442 - the newer S3 would be even better!

A dual NIC is far simpler in many instances and then just unmanaged POE switches are needed.

Basically you run all the cameras to the POE switch and connect that POE switch to one of the ethernet ports of the BI computer.

You then connect the internet to the 2nd ethernet port.

As dual NIC, the computer then acts as a managed switch/firewall of sorts and doesn't let the two subnets talk to one another.

View attachment 212275

alright so I think these will do for overview, originally wanted 6 just due to increased cost ill start with the 4 minimum.

https://a.co/d/cIGIati

and I found this switch,

https://a.co/d/enXVMhV

24port managed poe+ renewed for $170 is a decent price. I have seen that they are loud but I'm not concerned with that as I can put it where noise isn't an issue. I originally wanted to avoid Tp-Link with issues around them currently but since it will essentially be used offline with the dual NiC I think there shouldn't be an issue.

again, thank you for the reply!

 

[mat200]

alright so I think these will do for overview, originally wanted 6 just due to increased cost ill start with the 4 minimum.

https://a.co/d/cIGIati

and I found this switch,

https://a.co/d/enXVMhV

24port managed poe+ renewed for $170 is a decent price. I have seen that they are loud but I'm not concerned with that as I can put it where noise isn't an issue. I originally wanted to avoid Tp-Link with issues around them currently but since it will essentially be used offline with the dual NiC I think there shouldn't be an issue.

again, thank you for the reply!

FYI - posting for future reference ..