I have been using security cameras for years just found this forum. I'm an IP network admin for large electric utility so have lot of experience with that part but not much with the cameras. I understand how they work and such that's about it other people take care of that part. Most of my home cameras are hikvision cheap ones from amazon they have worked great for years when they go bad I just buy another one. I don't upgrade the firmware I know they are gray market that's okay inside my firewall I'm not concerned with them. I use sighthound for camera software I'm sure there is better but for the money it works good.