I looked through the forum first and only saw one member recommendation a few years back. I have a few friends in Queens and Brooklyn who asked me who I suggested both for homes and small offices for security systems so I figured why not ask the community besides looking through Yelp. I first contacted B&H for one person as it seemed the logical solution since they are a authorized reseller. What ended up happening when they first came to review the property it was around 300 and they failed to call or show up the first time. All one friend wanted was to add two Hikvision cameras to their existing 16 port Hikvision rebranded NVR which currently had 8 cameras and they were told after it would be at least $5000 to install a new system and they wouldn't install new cameras for the existing system after I provided the model number to them as my friend didn't know much about cameras. They weren't expecting it to cost nothing seeing Amazon services around 300 per camera for install plus materials to start but flat out saying no wasn't expected. Anyone here have experience with any installers both residential and for commercial properties in Queens/ Brooklyn they had a good experience with?
Recommended installers in Queens and Brooklyn New York.
- Thread starter Safetyfirst
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TL1096r
IPCT Contributor
- Jan 28, 2017
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You could build your own system for a lot less and better cams and better features with blue iris:
ipcamtalk.com
You can pay someone for drops if you are not comfortable running wires.
It would cost you all in $2500 with 10 new cameras that are worth installing.
Newbie Starter Guide to IP Cam System – VPN setup – Computer Hardware – Blue Iris – Dahua Cameras
This is an intermediate / newbie guide for people just starting out looking for a surveillance setup. I know this setup might not be for everyone and there are many options. You can find a lot of this information in the Wiki: IP Cam Talk Wiki | IP Cam Talk A great place to start in the Wiki...
You can pay someone for drops if you are not comfortable running wires.
It would cost you all in $2500 with 10 new cameras that are worth installing.
I don't see a issue with building a system based on the forum but it's more about not having to support them and like you said not having to do the runs/ drilling through a friend's house. Rather have someone else do it.
You could build your own system for a lot less and better cams and better features with blue iris:
Newbie Starter Guide to IP Cam System – VPN setup – Computer Hardware – Blue Iris – Dahua Cameras
This is an intermediate / newbie guide for people just starting out looking for a surveillance setup. I know this setup might not be for everyone and there are many options. You can find a lot of this information in the Wiki: IP Cam Talk Wiki | IP Cam Talk A great place to start in the Wiki...
You can pay someone for drops if you are not comfortable running wires.
It would cost you all in $2500 with 10 new cameras that are worth installing.
TL1096r
IPCT Contributor
- Jan 28, 2017
- 1,211
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What is friend's budget. In NY it is just expensive as you know. And you are most likely not going to get good cameras or a safe/secure system.
What cameras setup does he have now. It sounds like the other company didn't want to do it so they charged a very high amount even to consider being bothered. Find someone that wants to do it.
They have a rebranded Hikvision DS-7616NI-E2/16P along with some rebranded 3mp Hikvision Dome Cameras. Along with a few POE switches so additional runs or upgrades wouldn't be too long. The original company didn't check the camera models and took a picture of the model number of the NVR.
TL1096r
IPCT Contributor
- Jan 28, 2017
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If you just want to add a few other cameras why was it $5000? I feel they simply didn't want to bother with other people equipment? In my life experience when people charge you a lot of money their thought it always:
"I don't want to do this job but if they want to pay more for me to do it then I will."
bigredfish
Known around here
They didn't want to do it but should have just said no the first time they came. The old system even could have been kept and a additional 4/8 camera NVR would have been fine in my opinion if the throughput was maxed out on the old 16ch unit which they didn't check. For more background info they just said no to upgrading and instead wanted to replace it completely shown below. During the day cameras were fine overall just at night they weren't great in some areas, but they wanted a doorbell camera and better camera to overlook the front of the property with superior night vision. No camera models were listed as shown below. 300/ camera on B&H gets you some decent Hikvision Dark fighter cameras it appears or decent Dahua camera around that price point. I understand it's the support you are paying for, but if the cameras are plug and play and all old wires are good the quote still doesn't make sense to me as they didn't state the NVR used. I checked on the forum but maybe I missed it. Is there a sticky for what to ask a possible installer to cover yourself? The original installer disappeared and the phone lines, email etc don't work so they couldn't ask them to upgrade or add a additional NVR/ cameras. What type of liability insurance if applicable should I ask for?
Here's the email response.
Unfortunately the only way we would be able to help is to replace the entire system with all new cameras and a new recorder. The total for 8 cameras including labor and assuming we can reuse the existing wires is around $5,000.
- This does not include a “doorbell camera” as I am not sure what this means.
- Cameras are 4mp, day/night and vandal resistant
- The outdoor cameras can be upgraded to be “true” day/night which means dramatically better pictures however the price point per camera that has this feature nearly doubles closer to $350 each.
-
I wonder if there is one for camera / security installers if so I agree probably adds to the cost.
bigredfish
Known around here
TL1096r
IPCT Contributor
- Jan 28, 2017
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I cannot speak for everyone or their true intentions or mindset so my apologies if it sounded that way.
I am simply saying not many will want to install on top of an old system and rather replace their own. I think a blue iris machine with dark fighter tech or true color cams now will be much better than what others can offer as a complete kit especially for $5K. And everything in NY is more expensive.
My suggestion is pay someone to do network drops and install the same cam for that NVR that are compatible if you want to keep that system. How old is that system? The old installer is out of business or was it someone with just a phone #? I don't understand how they are unable to be reached.
Did the other people that quoted you $5000 give you camera models - it is rebranded Hikvision dark fighters? What is the vandal resistant? A dome that cannot be broken? Most cameras have a feature it will alert you if someone damages/spray paints it.
I hope you get this setup for your buddy and someone know more about how installers work.
That email was all we got back no details included for the type of cameras they would use etc. The original installer went out of business the business closed so the email, phone number etc don't work. The system I would say is 3-4 years old. The existing cameras are all dome cameras. I'll check the sadp tool to see what they come up as next time. I guess no one on this forum has ever used an installer besides one guy.
I figured around 300 to install each camera so your numbers sound correct. Anyone you recommend?