Which Computer Do I Buy To Run Blue Iris On? What Do You Use?

[Moonbeam68x]

Don't forget to consider adding UPS backup power. My entire camera system and network components have backup UPS power units so they'll still work even if the power goes out....at least for a while. The UPS units also have surge protection so it's a win-win.

Thank you for this tip.
Can you recommend one or does it need to be specific one for the computer?

 

[Moonbeam68x]

Probably need a Monster Laptop like the Dell Precision or a Gaming laptop, both have ( or they used to ) dual cooling fans.

Dell Precision - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I bought a monitor off Dell that was on sale today.

Dell Everyday Use Monitors

Discover Dell Monitors for your daily tasks. Elevate your computing experience with Dell quality PC monitors. View on Dell.com

www.dell.com

 

[Starglow]

Thank you for this tip.
Can you recommend one or does it need to be specific one for the computer?

Anything from APC is good....we have dozens of them at work and I have three of my own at home. Just make sure to size it correctly to handle the combined load of everything you intend to plug into it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005GZRUZW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[looney2ns]

Thank you for this tip.
Can you recommend one or does it need to be specific one for the computer?

This one has AVR "Automatic Voltage Regulation" this is a good option.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VY6FXMM/ref=syn_sd_onsite_desktop_0?ie=UTF8&pf_rd_p=440d6fd0-c026-415a-b337-b91e955ddf42&pf_rd_r=PTHG5RB1G54STA268SVZ&pd_rd_wg=PG4ul&pd_rd_w=7e7kn&pd_rd_r=83182350-75ae-460a-a437-64b511987969&th=1

 

[looney2ns]

This is the computer I bought, I feelmlike I got a good deal since tge guy added the Purple WD 8TB. Now it's all set when it arrives and I hope i won't have to pop the hood..

Dell OptiPlex 7060 SFF Computer Core i5-8500 8th Gen 16GB Ram 250GB SSD 8TB WD | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Dell OptiPlex 7060 SFF Computer Core i5-8500 8th Gen 16GB Ram 250GB SSD 8TB WD at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

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You guys have been great, I wouldn't have been able to do this without your help!

I did purchase a couple Reolink 811A cameras and I was reading on their website that the POE needs to be active whatever that means. The website said that the cameras will not work on a passive POE. I went with reolink because I did read some good things about 811A cameras. I actually bought them before I knew about BI, so later on I will get a couple doorbell cameras and 1 or 2 more cameras.


I also Which PoE Injector/Switch Can I Use for Reolink PoE Cameras

Sorry, you fell for the Reolink marketing machine.
If you've got time still, I suggest you return them for something that actually works as advertised.
https://ipcamtalk.com/threads/is-there-a-such-thing-as-a-camera-system-that-is-not-complete-trash-suggestions.65181/#post-692706

Reolink: Deconstruction of a dangerous misleading youtube review "Finding the BEST 4K Security Camera NVR Package (Reolink vs Amcrest vs Swann)"

Executive Summary: DO NOT be a sheep. Ask what a reviewer can be missing, ask if a reviewer is using hype words to sell the cheapest product. Test your cameras and kits right away. Just do a bench test. Test real world conditions. Test moving suspects. Test at night, test at day. Use a test rig...

ipcamtalk.com

The Importance of Focal Length over MP in camera selection | IP Cam Talk

 

[Starglow]

This one has AVR "Automatic Voltage Regulation" this is a good option.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VY6FXMM/ref=syn_sd_onsite_desktop_0?ie=UTF8&pf_rd_p=440d6fd0-c026-415a-b337-b91e955ddf42&pf_rd_r=PTHG5RB1G54STA268SVZ&pd_rd_wg=PG4ul&pd_rd_w=7e7kn&pd_rd_r=83182350-75ae-460a-a437-64b511987969&th=1

Yes....that is actually one of my three UPS units and it's been flawless. I got it for $99 a few years ago so they've gone up in price.

 

[TahoeJeff]

This is the computer I bought, I feelmlike I got a good deal since tge guy added the Purple WD 8TB. Now it's all set when it arrives and I hope i won't have to pop the hood..

Dell OptiPlex 7060 SFF Computer Core i5-8500 8th Gen 16GB Ram 250GB SSD 8TB WD | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Dell OptiPlex 7060 SFF Computer Core i5-8500 8th Gen 16GB Ram 250GB SSD 8TB WD at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

You guys have been great, I wouldn't have been able to do this without your help!

I did purchase a couple Reolink 811A cameras and I was reading on their website that the POE needs to be active whatever that means. The website said that the cameras will not work on a passive POE. I went with reolink because I did read some good things about 811A cameras. I actually bought them before I knew about BI, so later on I will get a couple doorbell cameras and 1 or 2 more cameras.


I also Which PoE Injector/Switch Can I Use for Reolink PoE Cameras

If you have trouble getting the Reolink cameras to play consistently in Blue Iris, write to Reolink support and tell them they are not working right in BI. They will likely send you a special firmware for the camera. I have 2 reolink cameras that kept freezing in BI. With the updated firmware they are working great! Reboot the camera twice after installing the firmware. I have the poe doorbell cam and the rlc-823a.

 

[Moonbeam68x]

If you have trouble getting the Reolink cameras to play consistently in Blue Iris, write to Reolink support and tell them they are not working right in BI. They will likely send you a special firmware for the camera. I have 2 reolink cameras that kept freezing in BI. With the updated firmware they are working great! Reboot the camera twice after installing the firmware. I have the poe doorbell cam and the rlc-823a.

Which POE are you using for the Reolinks?

 

[TahoeJeff]

Which POE are you using for the Reolinks?

This is what I added when I installed the doorbell a couple weeks ago:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQHHR32M?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

This is what I've been using for the 823a since last summer. Will eventually add the 823a to the Moker:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016PYKX3S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[Moonbeam68x]

This is what I added when I installed the doorbell a couple weeks ago:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQHHR32M?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

This is what I've been using for the 823a since last summer. Will eventually add the 823a to the Moker:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016PYKX3S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

So if I use a switch like that do I still need a POE?

 

[TahoeJeff]

So if I use a switch like that do I still need a POE?

Either of those devices will supply power to a poe camera. The Moker device will supply power to multiple poe cameras.

 

[Moonbeam68x]

Sorry, you fell for the Reolink marketing machine.
If you've got time still, I suggest you return them for something that actually works as advertised.
https://ipcamtalk.com/threads/is-there-a-such-thing-as-a-camera-system-that-is-not-complete-trash-suggestions.65181/#post-692706

Reolink: Deconstruction of a dangerous misleading youtube review "Finding the BEST 4K Security Camera NVR Package (Reolink vs Amcrest vs Swann)"

Executive Summary: DO NOT be a sheep. Ask what a reviewer can be missing, ask if a reviewer is using hype words to sell the cheapest product. Test your cameras and kits right away. Just do a bench test. Test real world conditions. Test moving suspects. Test at night, test at day. Use a test rig...

ipcamtalk.com

The Importance of Focal Length over MP in camera selection | IP Cam Talk

What cameras would be a good choice that won't break the bank?

 

[Moonbeam68x]

Sorry, you fell for the Reolink marketing machine.
If you've got time still, I suggest you return them for something that actually works as advertised.
https://ipcamtalk.com/threads/is-there-a-such-thing-as-a-camera-system-that-is-not-complete-trash-suggestions.65181/#post-692706

Reolink: Deconstruction of a dangerous misleading youtube review "Finding the BEST 4K Security Camera NVR Package (Reolink vs Amcrest vs Swann)"

Executive Summary: DO NOT be a sheep. Ask what a reviewer can be missing, ask if a reviewer is using hype words to sell the cheapest product. Test your cameras and kits right away. Just do a bench test. Test real world conditions. Test moving suspects. Test at night, test at day. Use a test rig...

ipcamtalk.com

The Importance of Focal Length over MP in camera selection | IP Cam Talk

Which camera do you recommend that won't break the bank? That first link in your comment wouldn't let me pull the page up.

 

[Moonbeam68x]

Either of those devices will supply power to a poe camera. The Moker device will supply power to multiple poe cameras.

So can I use both of them at the same time? I'm sorry I don't know anything about POE switches or poe injectors, I just know or I think I know I need one to hook up the cameras to the computer.

I am going to purchase a couple new cameras and then I will still have a reolink 811A camera I'm going to place on my patio under the roof. I'm having a little bit of a hard time wonder on which POE switch to buy .. I need something that will hold up to 8 cameras or more.

 

[Moonbeam68x]

This one has AVR "Automatic Voltage Regulation" this is a good option.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VY6FXMM/ref=syn_sd_onsite_desktop_0?ie=UTF8&pf_rd_p=440d6fd0-c026-415a-b337-b91e955ddf42&pf_rd_r=PTHG5RB1G54STA268SVZ&pd_rd_wg=PG4ul&pd_rd_w=7e7kn&pd_rd_r=83182350-75ae-460a-a437-64b511987969&th=1

I found one on Ebay thars used but that might not be a good idea to purchase a used one, I may end up having to buy a battery for it in the end. I'm going now to purchase this off Amazon.

 

[TahoeJeff]

So can I use both of them at the same time? I'm sorry I don't know anything about POE switches or poe injectors, I just know or I think I know I need one to hook up the cameras to the computer.

I am going to purchase a couple new cameras and then I will still have a reolink 811A camera I'm going to place on my patio under the roof. I'm having a little bit of a hard time wonder on which POE switch to buy .. I need something that will hold up to 8 cameras or more.

All of your 8 cameras will be poe? As of today, I have only powered one poe camera with the Moker switch. It does have 8 poe ports listed at 30w, but also says 120w total poe power budget. I'll assume that's the max poe power it can supply. Maybe someone more knowledgeable in poe can comment on this?

 

[Moonbeam68x]

All of your 8 cameras will be poe? As of today, I have only powered one poe camera with the Moker switch. It does have 8 poe ports listed at 30w, but also says 120w total poe power budget. I'll assume that's the max poe power it can supply. Maybe someone more knowledgeable in poe can comment on this?

Right now I will only have 3 cameras I'm going to put up and I want to get 2/3doorbells for all my doors. So that will be 5 and yes they will all be POE.

 

[looney2ns]

I recommend this camera for an all around good choice.

https://www.amazon.com/EmpireTech-IPC-T5442T-ZE-Vari-Focal-Eyeball-Starlight/dp/B08C77TNY9/ref=sr_1_2?m=A329YQ83EBQGJF&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1691255625&redirect=true&s=merchant-items&sr=1-2&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&th=1

I would suggest you purchase a Netgear switch, such as this one.
The Mokerlink switch's have proven to be unreliable.

 

[wittaj]

This is the computer I bought, I feelmlike I got a good deal since tge guy added the Purple WD 8TB. Now it's all set when it arrives and I hope i won't have to pop the hood..

Dell OptiPlex 7060 SFF Computer Core i5-8500 8th Gen 16GB Ram 250GB SSD 8TB WD | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Dell OptiPlex 7060 SFF Computer Core i5-8500 8th Gen 16GB Ram 250GB SSD 8TB WD at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

You guys have been great, I wouldn't have been able to do this without your help!

I did purchase a couple Reolink 811A cameras and I was reading on their website that the POE needs to be active whatever that means. The website said that the cameras will not work on a passive POE. I went with reolink because I did read some good things about 811A cameras. I actually bought them before I knew about BI, so later on I will get a couple doorbell cameras and 1 or 2 more cameras.


I also Which PoE Injector/Switch Can I Use for Reolink PoE Cameras

Is it too late to return the Reolinks? In addition to not playing well with BI, they are not known for night time performance with motion. Yes they give a great static image, but motion is horrible at night.

 

[TahoeJeff]

I recommend this camera for an all around good choice.

https://www.amazon.com/EmpireTech-IPC-T5442T-ZE-Vari-Focal-Eyeball-Starlight/dp/B08C77TNY9/ref=sr_1_2?m=A329YQ83EBQGJF&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1691255625&redirect=true&s=merchant-items&sr=1-2&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&th=1

I would suggest you purchase a Netgear switch, such as this one.
The Mokerlink switch's have proven to be unreliable.

If you can afford the extra $$, I would agree to go with the Netgear. I have only been running the Moker for a couple weeks. I chose to go budget for my setup. That may end up costing me in the long run. We'll see.