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Started By
Message
Been a little while - Would y'all please indulge me on the newest Home Camera Systems?
Posted on 7/2/24 at 9:23 am
Posted on 7/2/24 at 9:23 am
I know this thread gets kicked around a lot, but it's been awhile since I've seen it updated.
Please share though. What's your favorite home security cam system and how have you upgraded it through the years?
I'm in the market for some new cameras. I have one on the driveway and one in the house we use as a nanny-cam. They're all Nest Gen 1 cams and I still use the original Nest app for thermostats, Nest Protect (carbon monoxide/smoke), and camera monitoring. About 2 years ago I bought a battery powered Nest cam (Gen 2) for the front of the house but it does NOT work with the original app. Instead, it uses Google Home's abortion of an app and I absolutely loathe it.
The Gen 1 app is still so slick though. In particular, I love it's ability to scroll through the timeline and there's no lag or load or anything. It's always seamless and you can swipe through it and the footage just rolls instantly. However, in Google's wisdom, I fear that support of the original Nest app is likely on the verge of overhaul and discontinuation. I guess it just works too well.
I've used systems that have choppy playback and are absolute dogshit when it comes to playing back video. Which ones do you use? I'm desperately looking for something simple and effective that works, and can playback video in an app and PC setting.
What's your go-to? Let me know what you like/dislike, what your favorites are that have never let you down, and what you may have purchased/set up that you hated so that I may avoid it.
Please feel free to share your thoughts. I need to move on this soon but want to make sure I'm not getting some kind of garbage.
Please share though. What's your favorite home security cam system and how have you upgraded it through the years?
I'm in the market for some new cameras. I have one on the driveway and one in the house we use as a nanny-cam. They're all Nest Gen 1 cams and I still use the original Nest app for thermostats, Nest Protect (carbon monoxide/smoke), and camera monitoring. About 2 years ago I bought a battery powered Nest cam (Gen 2) for the front of the house but it does NOT work with the original app. Instead, it uses Google Home's abortion of an app and I absolutely loathe it.
The Gen 1 app is still so slick though. In particular, I love it's ability to scroll through the timeline and there's no lag or load or anything. It's always seamless and you can swipe through it and the footage just rolls instantly. However, in Google's wisdom, I fear that support of the original Nest app is likely on the verge of overhaul and discontinuation. I guess it just works too well.
I've used systems that have choppy playback and are absolute dogshit when it comes to playing back video. Which ones do you use? I'm desperately looking for something simple and effective that works, and can playback video in an app and PC setting.
What's your go-to? Let me know what you like/dislike, what your favorites are that have never let you down, and what you may have purchased/set up that you hated so that I may avoid it.
Please feel free to share your thoughts. I need to move on this soon but want to make sure I'm not getting some kind of garbage.
2
Posted on 7/2/24 at 9:51 am to Giantkiller
quote:The only system I've used that works similarly is UniFi Protect. I'll try to outline the major differences going from Nest to Protect.
The Gen 1 app is still so slick though. In particular, I love it's ability to scroll through the timeline and there's no lag or load or anything. It's always seamless and you can swipe through it and the footage just rolls instantly. However, in Google's wisdom, I fear that support of the original Nest app is likely on the verge of overhaul and discontinuation. I guess it just works too well.
1. While there are wifi cameras for Protect, and they work well, I always recommend having cables run for PoE cameras. Better video quality, more reliable, more camera options, etc. This is of course more expensive on average, though if you need cameras where there is no power already then running ethernet is cheaper than having an electrician run 110v.
2. Your footage is stored on a recorder in your home. The pros are you won't pay monthly for cloud storage, the video is higher quality, and you can store more video. I believe the only con is since your video is not stored in the cloud, if you are away from home then viewing video can sometimes be laggy, but this is mostly dependent on your home internet speed (upstream bandwidth is important and not prominently advertised). That said, I have relatively slow internet and using the app remotely is not at all a problem. The system scales the video down to keep things snappy (or of course you can force higher quality if you absolutely need it and are willing to wait on it).
I guess that's mostly it. If you'd rather avoid running cables, and if you need/want cameras where there is no 110v already, and if you're not strongly averse to battery/solar and wifi cameras and their limitations like I am, then maybe look into Reolink. They have a very wide selection of cameras and features with pretty good quality, and their prices are insanely cheap. The downside is the app experience is not as good as you're used to (but not too bad).
Posted on 7/2/24 at 10:09 am to Korkstand
quote:
I always recommend having cables run for PoE cameras.
I would most definitely entertain this. However, I use the mobile Nest app literally several times a day when at work, traveling, etc. If mobile playback is choppy, that would be a negative.
Honestly the original Nest app is still so slick, I'm massively irritated that Google wants to migrate Nest into their bullshite HOME app. It's one of the shittiest things they've ever designed and for whatever reason, they're just hellbent on moving everything they own into it.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 10:10 am to Korkstand
i like the peace of mind of reolink for 4 reasons:
1. PoE means video is crisp and clear and never an accidental 'wifi hiccup'
2. free local NVR means no game playing by Our Tech Overlords who may decide to change the rules/costs/etc for their Cloud storage. google has taught me NEVER to depend on anything staying the same *cough google play music" *cough google unlimited photo/video storage*.
3. my internet connect is GIG so accessing videos from anywhere is never a problem
4. reolink doesn't require you to purchase anything if you don't want. the 'buy up' price is just some cloud nonsense which i don't want anyway.
in short, this is a nice, robust, solid product with tons of features and it keeps this old man from yelling at clouds.
1. PoE means video is crisp and clear and never an accidental 'wifi hiccup'
2. free local NVR means no game playing by Our Tech Overlords who may decide to change the rules/costs/etc for their Cloud storage. google has taught me NEVER to depend on anything staying the same *cough google play music" *cough google unlimited photo/video storage*.
3. my internet connect is GIG so accessing videos from anywhere is never a problem
4. reolink doesn't require you to purchase anything if you don't want. the 'buy up' price is just some cloud nonsense which i don't want anyway.
in short, this is a nice, robust, solid product with tons of features and it keeps this old man from yelling at clouds.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 10:11 am to Giantkiller
quote:
Honestly the original Nest app is still so slick, I'm massively irritated that Google wants to migrate Nest into their bullshite HOME app. It's one of the shittiest things they've ever designed and for whatever reason, they're just hellbent on moving everything they own into it.
Google Play Music and Unlimited Google Photos say "hi".
Posted on 7/2/24 at 10:36 am to CAD703X
quote:
Google Play Music and Unlimited Google Photos say "hi".
Oh I've been there as well, sir. Now using Youtube Music and paying my Google One bill to look at my former UNLIMITED photos as a cautious reminder.
I'm gonna check out Reolink. Do you (and Corky) think they have staying power? Knowing my luck, Google will announce they've acquired them within a few months of me installing their system.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 10:44 am to Giantkiller
quote:Likewise I use the Protect app several times per day while away from home, and it's never what I would call "choppy". At worst there can be a slight delay (maybe 2-3 seconds) while the app buffers frames for timeline scrolling. Again this is heavily dependent on your home internet upload speed, and it's just the tradeoff that's necessary to store your video at higher quality, much more of it, and at no monthly charge.
However, I use the mobile Nest app literally several times a day when at work, traveling, etc. If mobile playback is choppy, that would be a negative.
To put it in perspective, I am looking at a test system that I have running with 5 cameras recording 24/7. They are older cameras with lower resolution than I would buy today, and still in total they are storing 10 mbps of video. If I tried that with cloud storage like Nest, that would eat up the entirety of my upstream bandwidth and my internet would slow to a crawl if it even works at all. That is also the average rate over 40 days. During times of motion (the important stuff) the bitrate will be much higher and the upload will fail and I would be missing that section of video.
But since my video is stored on-site, I can get new cameras that quadruple the bitrate, add more cameras to 10x or 20x my bitrate, and my local network will hardly break a sweat handling it all. My internet service only comes into play when I am viewing remotely, which again my 10mbps upstream bandwidth handles quite well IMO.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 10:48 am to Giantkiller
quote:They started in 2009 and have grown massively popular. They come out with new products regularly, and as far as I can see they aren't going anywhere anytime soon. They are Chinese though so I don't know how you feel about that.
I'm gonna check out Reolink. Do you (and Corky) think they have staying power?
quote:
Knowing my luck, Google will announce they've acquired them within a few months of me installing their system.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 11:07 am to Giantkiller
quote:
I'm gonna check out Reolink. Do you (and Corky) think they have staying power? Knowing my luck, Google will announce they've acquired them within a few months of me installing their system.
this is the part where i shut up. every time i go out on a limb for a technology company it crashes and burns in spectacular fashion Posted on 7/2/24 at 11:21 am to CAD703X
The fact that CAD has bought in is my main hesitation with Reolink
Posted on 7/2/24 at 11:56 am to Korkstand
I also have Reolink POE cameras, and I've been very happy with the cameras and NVR.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 11:59 am to VABCHTIGER
Re: Reolink POE cams...
Did y'all all install it yourself? Or did you hire a pro install?
Did y'all all install it yourself? Or did you hire a pro install?
Posted on 7/2/24 at 1:03 pm to Giantkiller
I have a side hustle doing installs so I did it myself.
It's not that hard if you're handy, have the tools, and don't mind getting in the attic. If you get a Reolink kit they'll send pre-terminated cables with it (I think). You can also buy pre-terminated cables on Amazon. I have spools of cable and the tools to terminate myself.
Aside from terminating cables (if necessary), the hardest part will be deciding where your cables will home run to, and then drilling through the top plate, lining it up with the hole you put in the wall, and fishing the cables down. Alternatively, you could pop through the ceiling and put your gear in an enclosure/rack up there.
It's not that hard if you're handy, have the tools, and don't mind getting in the attic. If you get a Reolink kit they'll send pre-terminated cables with it (I think). You can also buy pre-terminated cables on Amazon. I have spools of cable and the tools to terminate myself.
Aside from terminating cables (if necessary), the hardest part will be deciding where your cables will home run to, and then drilling through the top plate, lining it up with the hole you put in the wall, and fishing the cables down. Alternatively, you could pop through the ceiling and put your gear in an enclosure/rack up there.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 1:16 pm to Giantkiller
quote:invest in a cable puller. that thing is worth its weight in gold.
Did y'all all install it yourself?
i pulled it myself; if you can screw a couple of screws in and don't mind hanging off a ladder, its not hard.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 1:25 pm to Korkstand
quote:
Aside from terminating cables (if necessary), the hardest part will be deciding where your cables will home run to, and then drilling through the top plate, lining it up with the hole you put in the wall, and fishing the cables down. Alternatively, you could pop through the ceiling and put your gear in an enclosure/rack up there.
i have the world's weirdest house.
i put the server rack including NVR in a closet in the laundry room and cut a hole in the wall for a 6-outlet ethernet plate.
we pushed that wire into the crawl space and took one of those really nice 100' cables provided by reolink through a hole in the cinderblock to the garage..up the corner (tacked into place against a stud) and through the ceiling which came out in a side attic on the second floor. BONUS - used one of the ports on the switch to run ethernet to aanother non PoE switch for multiple devices.
we then installed a 4-port PoE switch inside a cabinet on the other side of the attic and ran 2 cables back out under the soffit along the eave to the 2 corners of that side of the house.
the other 100' cable went the other way in the crawlspace to the den ending in a second PoE switch that also connects a couple of devices and outside to the other 2 cameras.
none of this is hard...its just a matter of sweat and figuring out where to pull cables. with a concrete slab, you would probably just run the cables up the wall into the attic in opposite directions and then down into the rooms, instead of up.
just take your time, think and rethink how you want things laid out and then by the time you're ready to go, it will go alot smoother.
eta forgot to mention, one of those PoE runs was for the Reolink doorbell. *DEFINITELY* get the doorbell as well if you're going to run the cameras in your house. very nice and great software.
This post was edited on 7/2/24 at 1:27 pm
Posted on 7/2/24 at 1:53 pm to Giantkiller
I used to own part of a security company, so I had experience running wires through houses. Depending on the house layout and where you want the cameras, it might not be too bad to run the wires or it might be darn near impossible unless you have some specialized tools.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 2:02 pm to VABCHTIGER
quote:Nothing is impossible if you don't care about looks, just ask the cable guys who will drill through and through a wall any-fricking-where and strap cable all around the house.
Depending on the house layout and where you want the cameras, it might not be too bad to run the wires or it might be darn near impossible unless you have some specialized tools.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 6:29 pm to Korkstand
quote:
Nothing is impossible if you don't care about looks, just ask the cable guys who will drill through and through a wall any-fricking-where and strap cable all around the house.
preach. We painted our house after moving and I swear I had them pull about 1000' of coax off the house from externally run cables clipped to the exterior so they could drill a hole into every room wall.. Then satellite came along and ran even more coax.
I was rabid about all that shite being yanked off and the holes filled before painting. It was god awful.
This post was edited on 7/2/24 at 6:31 pm
Posted on 7/2/24 at 8:43 pm to CAD703X
I second reolink poe
Posted on 7/3/24 at 5:30 pm to GrizzlyAlloy
I bought a Reolink DVR to replace my Blue Iris setup, and can’t fine tune so that I don’t have a ton of false triggers (like clouds passing under the sun). Did you Reolink guys buy the AI version of the cameras that can detect people/cars? Thinking I’m going to have to go that route if I want to use push notifications.
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