Starter camera help. What is needed, good choice?

[CamNewb]

I have been reading this forum as much as possible... but still have much to learn.

From what I know so far I think I want a varifocal starlight camera. Varifocal so I can try it and learn what fixed focal lengths are good.

And I love the idea of Starlight. This is what makes me willing to spend more.

So I am thinking the Dahua ipc-hdw5231r-ze would be a good starter camera. If that sounds OK, does it come with a power supply? I would like to keep it somewhat portable, so I can try different locations. I can power from an outlet, but would like to use Wi-Fi for testing until I find the right spots. Is it best to just get a water resistant router to connect to? Recommendations on which routers are small and water resistant? Anything else I need or should be aware of?

Money is tight, so low cost options are best. No problems shopping on Aliexpress.

Hope this is the right place to ask and get help.

Thanks

 

[Mr_D]

The cameras don't come with power supplies. Get a long Ethernet cable and run it from a POE switch to your test locations. That's what I've been doing. I use TinyCam Pro on my phone to see the live feed from the camera while I'm testing placement, then I take a snapshot in TinyCam so I can have a record of how the view looked from each location. I buy my cameras from Andy (empiretecandy) on the forum. Email him directly and pay via PayPal.

 

[TonyR]

@CamNewb , @Mr_D has already supplied some good & accurate advice, I just want to clarify some things so you'll head down the best path.

• Wi-Fi is not recommended for reliable, quality video.
• The cam you're looking at ( a GREAT one, BTW) is hard-wired Ethernet anyway. Is that why you asked about "....a water resistant router to connect to ?" If you mean a "wireless bridge", it can be done but you said "money is tight" and if you hardwire it, it'll be cheaper and more reliable.
• You can power the cam either with a 12VDC / 1 amp power supply or a POE switch (as Mr_D said) but not both...one or the other.
• If your current modem/router (I'm assuming you have DSL or cable) has 1 to 4 yellow 'LAN' jacks on it you can use that with a long CAT-5e Ethernet patch cable and that 12VDC power supply to try different locations.
• How to you plan to use / view your cam ?

 

[CamNewb]

The cameras don't come with power supplies. Get a long Ethernet cable and run it from a POE switch to your test locations. That's what I've been doing. I use TinyCam Pro on my phone to see the live feed from the camera while I'm testing placement, then I take a snapshot in TinyCam so I can have a record of how the view looked from each location. I buy my cameras from Andy (empiretecandy) on the forum. Email him directly and pay via PayPal.

Thanks. It wasn't clear from the ads if the included anything. I am looking at Andy's shop on Aliexpress. He seems to be highly rated on here.

@CamNewb , @Mr_D has already supplied some good & accurate advice, I just want to clarify some things so you'll head down the best path.

• Wi-Fi is not recommended for reliable, quality video.
• The cam you're looking at ( a GREAT one, BTW) is hard-wired Ethernet anyway. Is that why you asked about "....a water resistant router to connect to ?" If you mean a "wireless bridge", it can be done but you said "money is tight" and if you hardwire it, it'll be cheaper and more reliable.
• You can power the cam either with a 12VDC / 1 amp power supply or a POE switch (as Mr_D said) but not both...one or the other.
• If your current modem/router (I'm assuming you have DSL or cable) has 1 to 4 yellow 'LAN' jacks on it you can use that with a long CAT-5e Ethernet patch cable and that 12VDC power supply to try different locations.
• How to you plan to use / view your cam ?

Yes, I know Wi-Fi is not best for several reasons. But want to use Wi-Fi and this camera to test various camera locations. Later on I will hard wire it. So I want Wi-Fi for it while I try it in various temporary locations. I saw some wireless bridges (yes, that is what I meant) on aliexpress for around $16. Not water resistant, but might be OK for a while. Just hoping for better or cheaper options.

My current ISP cable modem comes in the back of the house. I could run cable, but wife wouldn't be happy having the cable run though the house. Especially as I want the camera to sit in each location for a day/night rotation.

Viewing will be on PC. I don't have a dedicated computer yet. So just thought I would try a onvif solution, like zoneminder or iSpy. Depending on how that goes, and if the wife likes it, I can see about expanding the network of cameras and getting a dedicated computer.

 

[Mr_D]

A wireless bridge can connect it to your LAN, but how do you plan on powering the camera and wifi at the temporary location?

 

[mat200]

Thanks. It wasn't clear from the ads if the included anything. I am looking at Andy's shop on Aliexpress. He seems to be highly rated on here.



Yes, I know Wi-Fi is not best for several reasons. But want to use Wi-Fi and this camera to test various camera locations. Later on I will hard wire it. So I want Wi-Fi for it while I try it in various temporary locations. I saw some wireless bridges (yes, that is what I meant) on aliexpress for around $16. Not water resistant, but might be OK for a while. Just hoping for better or cheaper options.

My current ISP cable modem comes in the back of the house. I could run cable, but wife wouldn't be happy having the cable run though the house. Especially as I want the camera to sit in each location for a day/night rotation.

Viewing will be on PC. I don't have a dedicated computer yet. So just thought I would try a onvif solution, like zoneminder or iSpy. Depending on how that goes, and if the wife likes it, I can see about expanding the network of cameras and getting a dedicated computer.

Welcome CamNewb,

Caution! Caution! - remember the WAF also applies to your Honey Do projects - wife will not notice the quality of the setup, only the aesthetics. IF it looks good - she will think you're done with the job and look for new jobs for you. Better to have a job that is obviously not done imho than a job that is not done BUT looks like it is done to the wife.

 

[CamNewb]

A wireless bridge can connect it to your LAN, but how do you plan on powering the camera and wifi at the temporary location?

I will run an extension cord out the window. We have windows close to all the points I might want to monitor. Or I could run Cat 5e out the window. Just for a day or two at each location.

Welcome CamNewb,

Caution! Caution! - remember the WAF also applies to your Honey Do projects - wife will not notice the quality of the setup, only the aesthetics. IF it looks good - she will think you're done with the job and look for new jobs for you. Better to have a job that is obviously not done imho than a job that is not done BUT looks like it is done to the wife.

This is more my proof of concept project. She doesn't know I want to do this. But you have a good point, better to not have it look too good. She may say we don't need anything since we live in a good neighborhood.

 

[TonyR]

She may say we don't need anything since we live in a good neighborhood.

(PSSSTT.....that's the kind of place they like to come rip off...where they live either they don't have diddly squat or some other low-life has ripped THEM off. It's not your 'good' neighbors you should worry about. Don't tell the wife, though.)

 

[Mr_D]

I will run an extension cord out the window. We have windows close to all the points I might want to monitor. Or I could run Cat 5e out the window. Just for a day or two at each location.

If you're able to leave a window cracked for an extension cord, you may as well use POE and not have to deal with wireless. I have about a 100' piece of Cat6 I've been dragging around the house for testing. It works great.

 

[CamNewb]

If you're able to leave a window cracked for an extension cord, you may as well use POE and not have to deal with wireless. I have about a 100' piece of Cat6 I've been dragging around the house for testing. It works great.

If I ran PoE for testing, I would have to run the cable all over the floor, and down our primary stairs as well. Wife would not be happy about that. Kind of hoping I can stealth it, capture something interesting, then show her the value in it. At that point I can tell her I can run the cable through the attic.

Seems no real suggestions about a wireless bridge. I guess most don't go that way. Maybe I should just run the RJ45 from the camera directly to the computer. I have a laptop, so I could move that around.

 

[TonyR]

If I ran PoE for testing, I would have to run the cable all over the floor, and down our primary stairs as well.

If the cam and existing wireless router are not on the same floor, it would likely have issues anyway. The wireless router's signal may be robust, but the cam's wireless is not.

Seems no real suggestions about a wireless bridge. I guess most don't go that way. Maybe I should just run the RJ45 from the camera directly to the computer. I have a laptop, so I could move that around.

Oh, I have a wireless bridge...but it's not $16 like your Aliexpress find, it's 2 Ubiquiti 5 GHz radios and comes to more like $100 total so I didn't even bring it up.

 

[CamNewb]

... Oh, I have a wireless bridge...but it's not $16 like your Aliexpress find, it's 2 Ubiquiti 5 GHz radios and comes to more like $100 total so I didn't even bring it up.

Interesting. Can I ask why you didn't go PoE for the install? But you are right, the $100 is more than my budget now.

 

[mat200]

Interesting. Can I ask why you didn't go PoE for the install? But you are right, the $100 is more than my budget now.

HI CamNewb,

If you're on a tight budget, better to get a better camera to test with that you will want to keep imho.

A small PoE switch, microSD card, and a IPC-HDW5231xx camera is what I would recommend picking up as a great starter and test system.

You can use the IPC-HDW5231xx varifocal lens to get an idea of the lens you may want to order with the more affordable fixed lens IPC-HDW42xx cameras.

 

[CamNewb]

HI CamNewb,

If you're on a tight budget, better to get a better camera to test with that you will want to keep imho.

A small PoE switch, microSD card, and a IPC-HDW5231xx camera is what I would recommend picking up as a great starter and test system.

You can use the IPC-HDW5231xx varifocal lens to get an idea of the lens you may want to order with the more affordable fixed lens IPC-HDW42xx cameras.

I was thinking the same thing. Start with the Dahua ipc-hdw5231r-ze. That way I can try it in various locations, and see if I can use fixed lens cameras, or even if I need panning. And that should be a camera I will always keep and make a center point of any system.

You mention the microSD, does motion tracking work well on the camera? So I can set it up, and the camera will just record "real" motion on the microSD?

 

[mat200]

I was thinking the same thing. Start with the Dahua ipc-hdw5231r-ze. That way I can try it in various locations, and see if I can use fixed lens cameras, or even if I need panning. And that should be a camera I will always keep and make a center point of any system.

You mention the microSD, does motion tracking work well on the camera? So I can set it up, and the camera will just record "real" motion on the microSD?

Hi CamNewb,

The ipc-hdw5231r-ze is not a PTZ, so it will not do motion tracking. It does have motion detection as well as the Dahua IVS features of tripwire and intrusion ( you draw a box and it will attempt to detect objects moving into the box - actually very cool tech there, not perfect - but really a nice feature ).

 

[TonyR]

Interesting. Can I ask why you didn't go PoE for the install? .

Why would I waste my time after reading your negative response to that very suggestion by other forum members?

 

[CamNewb]

Hi CamNewb,

The ipc-hdw5231r-ze is not a PTZ, so it will not do motion tracking. It does have motion detection as well as the Dahua IVS features of tripwire and intrusion ( you draw a box and it will attempt to detect objects moving into the box - actually very cool tech there, not perfect - but really a nice feature ).

Dahua ipc-hdw5231r-ze is not PTZ? I thought it was. Looking it up I thought varifocal meant zoom, but now I see you set it during install and leave it. Thanks for pointing that out, that would have been a mistake. What is the closest that is PTZ?

 

[CamNewb]

Why would I waste my time after reading your negative response to that very suggestion by other forum members?

Negative response? "Yes, I know Wi-Fi is not best for several reasons." If I came across negatively I didn't mean it that way.

For my test I need wireless, and as I understand it wireless can be jammed, has security issues, range issues, and bandwidth concerns. So I got the impression most use PoE for a final install. Obviously Wireless would make things easier. So I am very open to that route for a final install.

I am here to learn.

Anyway, thanks for your help, and everyone that has commented.

 

[Mr_D]

Negative response? "Yes, I know Wi-Fi is not best for several reasons." If I came across negatively I didn't mean it that way.

For my test I need wireless, and as I understand it wireless can be jammed, has security issues, range issues, and bandwidth concerns. So I got the impression most use PoE for a final install. Obviously Wireless would make things easier. So I am very open to that route for a final install.

I am here to learn.

Anyway, thanks for your help, and everyone that has commented.

Well, you're going to need a POE switch anyway, so why not buy it and use it for testing, rather than spending money on wifi gear which will get ditched at deployment? If you want to keep things as cheap as possible right now, you can get a single port POE injector for $15 on Amazon.

 

[mat200]

Dahua ipc-hdw5231r-ze is not PTZ? I thought it was. Looking it up I thought varifocal meant zoom, but now I see you set it during install and leave it. Thanks for pointing that out, that would have been a mistake. What is the closest that is PTZ?

Hi Cam,

I'm not current with the PTZ offerings, so you will want to search here for reviews and go to Andy's aliexpress store and see what he has in stock.