Security cameras

[CindyE]

We were looking at the Blink before we bought the Arlos, but they went away from the free storage to having to pay for it. Some people hear have them and I'm not sure but some may have been able to keep the free storage. The Arlo we get 7 days of storage I think.

We had a wired setup at our old house and I liked them more, but the install was more involved and almost impossible for our layout here.

i think I'd like wired better, but husband recently had hip replacement and doesn't want to be in the attic, etc. I'm just picturing the wifi dropping a lot, and me having to mess with it.

 

[Jaybird1980]

i think I'd like wired better, but husband recently had hip replacement and doesn't want to be in the attic, etc. I'm just picturing the wifi dropping a lot, and me having to mess with it.

Our Arlos also stop working sometimes when it gets really cold, haven't had it happen above 10°

 

[Cameramonkey]

The Swann system? We are researching wireless surveillance/security systems. It is very hard to make a decision! Husband is sold on wireless, wants audio, smart-phone compatible.

Beware wireless. They have to get power somehow. And that means batteries. Which have to be changed or recharged. Also you want IP cameras. They can be much higher resolution, as well as easier to pull the cables. Analog cameras require each camera wire to be pulled all the way back to then NVR. With Ethernet cameras, you can pull all nearby camera network cables to a common point and connect them to a Power over Ethernet switch. Then you just have to run one wire from that switch back to where the NVR is.

 

[Gd999]

Any wireless aka battery camera will be a pain in the winter. I moved my arlo setup inside where the batteries last forever. And installed a 12 camera Amcrest setup. All wired with my own dvr. Records 24/7 and rewrites after 5 days or so. No cloud monthly spending. I can access recorded files from my phone and export to an iPhone friendly format. Was about $1200 for that setup and then the cat6. But I am able to do all the wiring myself.

 

[JTScribe]

I put one of these up on my garage to cover an angle our Ring doorbell didn't. The phone app is free and includes motion alerts. I have been VERY happy with it.

https://www.menards.com/main/electrical/alarms-security-systems/security-cameras/feit-electric-1080p-hd-wi-fi-wireless-security-camera/pwifioutdoorwiredcam/p-12148367796309037-c-1530022081634.htm?tid=-2042735473136200776&ipos=4

 

[dudley0]

I ran electric but not network cable. Now I have over 20" of insulation in the attic that I really don't want to wade thru. Considering pulling siding off and running ethernet cable that way, then maybe I can have an easier way to get it where I need it.

Wish I had run cat5 when I pulled the electric to the corners for lighting. Guess I couldn't think of everything.

Have cameras set up now, but they are picture only, and each is stand alone.

 

[jspy5]

Does anybody have the Arlo Pro 3 currently ? I've been considering this set but have some reservations about battery life. From what I'm reading these can chew up battery life pretty quickly so I wondered if adding the solar panels for a couple of the cameras would eliminate the pain in ass process of charging the batteries every few days. Should I be looking at a different set up altogether ?

 

[J Galt]

Does anybody have the Arlo Pro 3 currently ? I've been considering this set but have some reservations about battery life. From what I'm reading these can chew up battery life pretty quickly so I wondered if adding the solar panels for a couple of the cameras would eliminate the pain in ass process of charging the batteries every few days. Should I be looking at a different set up altogether ?

Battery life depends on how much activity triggers the camera. I am running a solar panel on an Arlo and it works as advertised. I don't change that battery at all. Just make sure the panel faces south to maximize sun exposure if you can.

Take a look at the Wasserstein accessories. They are a fraction of the cost of Arlo. Their mounts are metal, not plastic. They also make a solar panel.

 

[jspy5]

Good to know & I will take your experience into consideration. I know the Pro 3's rank high on recommended lists but from reading many reviews there seems to be a lot of unhappy users as well, especially considering the over-all costs.

 

[J Galt]

For what it's worth you may consider the ultra. 4K will let you see facial features in more detail and actually get a license plate. More so than the lower-resolution cameras.