New Home Camera Install Questions

U

upside

n3wb
Oct 31, 2024
3
2
seattle
Moved into a new home and a bit overwhelmed at the camera choices. After lurking I have come to the conclusion to use Blue Iris and Dahua cameras from EmpireTech. I got excited and bought two cameras before knowing what I am doing, the IPC-Color4K-T180 and the PC-T54IR-ZE from his amazon store.
I really just want some basic surveillance of the perimeter and identification near entrances. Rambler with high ceilings, lots of room in the attic to run wires. Can someone help me with camera selection and location to watch the driveway and entrances?
Here is the house. We live on a dead end with only 6 or so houses so not tons of traffic. We are backing a public golf course so I would also like a recommendation for a camera pointed down the path that leads to the course. (you can see the path on top of the overview picture.)
Thanks in advance this is a lot to take in,
Jeff


house front - Copy.JPG
home overview - Copy.jpg
 
Here are some of my posts that I usually share when people first join and are looking for information. You've already made good choices with BI and the Empiretech cameras, now it's just figuring out how many and where.

Ri22o

Thread '"I want 2.8mm cameras everywhere to see everything..." - This is why you need specific FOVs with purposeful focal lengths.'

I have gained a lot of knowledge since I signed up and wanted to share my experience and examples of improvements and changes for others who are coming from a "I want 2.8mm cameras everywhere to see everything" system mentality.

My ongoing "build/looking for advice" thread can be found here.

The post includes the original Dahua model numbers, but I have edited to add the updated Loryta/Empiretech model number and link where necessary.

Immediately below are images from my Lorex system with 2.8mm cameras. I had a mix of 1080p analogs and 2K POEs. I thought I had a good system...
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Ri22o

Thread 'Stranger Danger: Side-by-side captures of Ring/Arlo/Nest vs Better Cameras'

This post is a combination of the Typical Ring/Arlo/Nest Captures thread and the Captures from Better Cameras thread.

It's not too often we have side-by-side images of the crappy, consumer grade cameras with the same subject as better cameras that have been installed with a purpose.


It started with this post from a parent in our neighborhood.
1687223102973.png

Her post lead to neighbors sharing these photos from their Ring and Nest doorbells.
354551167_10160824225559082_5629304619790178659_n.jpg 355025987_10111244039227258_3744059679921630554_n.jpg

While this was all firing up, I was trying to get an idea of time frame so I could review my footage.
I ended...
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Ri22o

Thread 'Looking for advice on my install locations.'

After posting my thread on where/whether to install the 4K-X I realized I may need to adjust the locations of some of my cameras and with Andy's sale coming up I wanted to get some opinions so I can buy any new hardware I may need.

A little about where I live:
My street is lit primarily by coach lights on houses; it has some light but I am not fortunate enough to have a street light in front of my house. I am not in a "bad" part of town and it's usually pretty quiet. We don't really have many issues in my neighborhood but I am of the mindset of better now, than later. There...
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Take that PC-T54IR-ZE, place it on a test rig as talked about in the WIKI, and test out some views with it. It is a varifocal so you can adjust the FOV to see what it can capture. I would start at the garage and the front door with it. Set it up and walk it day and night to see what the video looks like. You need to get an idea on what the coverage really means to you. While overview cams are good to have, I have a few, they will not give you information on who did it, only how and when they did it, if you are lucky. Rarely will you be observing the cams when something happens. You need to be able to ID someone after the fact.

@Ri22o has given you some good threads to look at.

See these others to get a feel of what the thought process is on trying to set up a cam plan.

samplenhold

Thread 'Why I Like Redundant Views/Multiple Cam Views'

A lot of newbies ask for help with their camera setups and most think that they can get by with a single cam to cover quite a bit of area. While that is possible if all you are interested in is a wide-angle overview, it usually will not give you a great chance of getting a face shot good enough for police to act upon. There are numerous threads here where people have an incident but their cams did not capture good enough footage to give to the police to get an arrest. They then ask what they should have done to get a better shot. Usually the answer is more cams, closer FOV, and more light...
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samplenhold

Thread 'Why I like Continuous Recording (aka 24/7)'

So a guy came to the door yesterday, and while my wife did not open the door, it kind of spooked her out. She said he seem suspicious saying he found a driver's license on the lawn and wanted to know if it belonged to her. So when I got back from the range, I checked out the cams. This is one reason that continuously recording video, not just when triggered, is important. It helped us to understand the situation.

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Here is my test rig.

Test Rig.JPG
 
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samplenhold said:
Take that PC-T54IR-ZE, place it on a test rig as talked about in the WIKI, and test out some views with it. It is a varifocal so you can adjust the FOV to see what it can capture. I would start at the garage and the front door with it. Set it up and walk it day and night to see what the video looks like. You need to get an idea on what the coverage really means to you. While overview cams are good to have, I have a few, they will not give you information on who did it, only how and when they did it, if you are lucky. Rarely will you be observing the cams when something happens. You need to be able to ID someone after the fact.

@Ri22o has given you some good threads to look at.

See these others to get a feel of what the thought process is on trying to set up a cam plan.

samplenhold

Thread 'Why I Like Redundant Views/Multiple Cam Views'

A lot of newbies ask for help with their camera setups and most think that they can get by with a single cam to cover quite a bit of area. While that is possible if all you are interested in is a wide-angle overview, it usually will not give you a great chance of getting a face shot good enough for police to act upon. There are numerous threads here where people have an incident but their cams did not capture good enough footage to give to the police to get an arrest. They then ask what they should have done to get a better shot. Usually the answer is more cams, closer FOV, and more light...
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  • Wow

samplenhold

Thread 'Why I like Continuous Recording (aka 24/7)'

So a guy came to the door yesterday, and while my wife did not open the door, it kind of spooked her out. She said he seem suspicious saying he found a driver's license on the lawn and wanted to know if it belonged to her. So when I got back from the range, I checked out the cams. This is one reason that continuously recording video, not just when triggered, is important. It helped us to understand the situation.

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Here is my test rig.

View attachment 206326
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the picture of your test rig. That helps me on a bunch, will make one.
 
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