I know it’s been asked but what’s the latest recommendation for a home security camera. The doorbell cam isn’t the best option because of the narrow entrance. I want to install a couple of simple cameras on each side of the house without wiring.
Thanks.

We just installed 3 Ring stick up cameras with a rain gutter mount for each. Very easy to set-up and install and the app is slick. It will cost about $99 a year to keep video so they are cheap to run.

What we learned is that you will need more cameras than you think. We also have a Ring doorbell but to get true 360° coverage of our home and shed/trailer, I'll need a couple more cameras.

I wouldn't worry about the spotlight cameras unless you have no light at all in the area. The night vision is pretty good.

I need to be get solar panels for each camera to save having to pull the batteries every 2-3 months to recharge them. For reference, after nearly 30 days, the batteries read 71-88% depending on location/camera use.

I’ve been very happy with my Arlo Ultra cams. Easy setup and even at the most battery hungry settings, I don’t have to swap them out more than every 3 months or so.

-Rob

I have the amazon blink system. It works well and basically just hook it up to your wifi and stick it on a nail outside.

I initially bought Arlo but returned them. Battery life was too short and a PIA to take down and recharge.

Next I bought 5 Eufy S40 WiFi, solar powered cameras. Local storage with no fees. Good app and about $110 each on an Amazon sale. No complaints after 3 months. All cameras are still charged to 100%.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mcrimm,

We have the Wyze cameras at our lake house and Arlo at our home.

Arlo requires frequent battery changes and the Wyse are power connected. Both use wifi and cloud storage of events, linked to my phone and computer.

Wyse also has a light bulb charger for connecting to existing outdoor light and their spot light with motion sensor/camera if almost cheaper than a modest spotlight.

We are happy with both systems.

I have been using Nest Cameras for about 6 years washout issue. The downside to them is: 1. A Bit expensive 2. Require 110 V 3. Part of Google eco-system.

Before you start ensure you have a robust wi-fi system. This type of camera is perfect to supplement my existing wired system. The set-up is quite easy.

I've got several Reolink wireless cameras both inside and outside the house. They each send an alert to my cell phone when they detect someone moving. I can turn this off or on for each individual camera.

I can listen to what's happening as the cameras have a microphone and I can talk to whoever's there as they also have a speaker.

Plus there's siren I can turn on if I want so that it goes off if the camera spots someone.

There's a cloud that I can send the videos to but since the cameras hold around 3 weeks worth of video which I can download onto my cell phone I haven't used it.

I get the alerts even if I'm thousands of miles away so I'm good with that.

I have the Wyze outdoor cam (I think it's the V2 model) and it seems to have a reliable connection and good video. Priced right too. Battery life is several months for me and they charge in a few hours.
My business also has the camera on the LED flood light at the front door that they sell. That has a sensor for day/night so you just leave the power on.
Very easy to set up although like most others it helps to speak Chinglish when you first read the instructions.

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Originally posted by BB61:

I need to be get solar panels for each camera to save having to pull the batteries every 2-3 months to recharge them. For reference, after nearly 30 days, the batteries read 71-88% depending on location/camera use.

Ring solar isn't that great. I have the solar mount on a Ring doorbell. It does not eliminate the need to put the battery on a charger, it just stretches the interval. The battery charge level still goes down, but slowly.

Mine is in an ideal location for solar charge. Central Florida, the doorbell faces directly east, no obstructions (no trees, etc.) to block the bright sun during the first half of the day, but solar panel still does not maintain the charge, just slows down the rate of discharge.

I bought google nest camera/floodlight to replace 2 flood lights. They work great and I was able to have power to them easily. I also have a nest cam that needs charging now and then but it lasts a super long time between charges. If you can mount it near a high window that would work. It uses a strong magnet to attach to mounting bracket so removing is easy.

I have had my Blink for about a year, I am happy with it without the subscription service. I have four battery cameras and two wired to power

Batteries, wireless. It's all messy. All glorified toys. Funny, where I work they had cams professionally put in and none use batteries and none use WiFi. There's a reason for that.

At home, I got tired of the low resolution wireless types and the higher resolution wireless types drop out now and again.

So I bought a spool of Cat5e and an RJ-45 Crimper, and went PoE wired cams everywhere. A ton of effort and can't be done easily if you rent, but you get what you pay for with your $ and effort. I still consider mine a mid grade hobby system, but I'm happy with it. I built the system up over a couple of years to get everything just the way I want it.

Otherwise you get low resolution battery things which generally only record upon temperamental motion detection, and marginal night (low light) performance.

Once you see really good low light performance, you can never go back to sub-standard. The combo of low light and things that are moving is not easy. But for a good camera, it's like the difference between night and day (I guess that was a pun )

I've had a couple of Arlo PRO cameras for 2 years and at this time I would NOT recommend for the following reasons:

• One battery completely failed (will not charge) at 14 months - just outside of the warranty.
  
• Due to the type of battery, the cameras will not operate in temperatures below 10F
  
• A monthly subscription is required for anything useful other than a live view.
  
• There's a speaker on the camera- it's a gimmick. The considerable delay with live video and audio make it painful to communicate with someone who's in front of the camera.
  

The other Arlo camera I have setup uses a solar panel to charge - that just gave me a notification that it isn't accepting a charge either (it's sitting at 10%). I haven't pulled it down yet, but suspect that battery is bad on that now too.


Maybe I was expecting too much, but at $500+ for the 2 cameras and solar charging + $9/mo subscription I expected better.

I have 7 external Blink cameras and 2 internal Blink Mini's. They have been up for 11 months on the same batteries.

I was leery of them as I work with security cameras at work.

I have been happy with them.

This coming from a person that supports over 1100 hi-res CAT6 wired cameras storing video on 8 servers.

I thought about installing CAT6/ip cameras at home but came across a good Black Friday deal on Blink 5-pack external last year so gave them a try. I am pleased so far. Bought the 2 minis later and 2 more wifi external earlier this month.

Make sure you put them on their own network, separate from your normal residential computer network. You can also setup a VLAN or put them on the Guest account.

These are considered IOT (Internet of Things) devices and have numerous vulnerabilities well above anything your home computer or cell phone will have. Also, use a VERY STRONG password.

Of the wireless cameras out there, I would lean towards BLINK. However, always do your homework and I would stay away from anything pushed by Amazon, Google or the like...spyware.

quote:

Of the wireless cameras out there, I would lean towards BLINK. However, always do your homework and I would stay away from anything pushed by Amazon,

Blink is an Amazon company.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by BB61:

I need to be get solar panels for each camera to save having to pull the batteries every 2-3 months to recharge them. For reference, after nearly 30 days, the batteries read 71-88% depending on location/camera use.

Ring solar isn't that great. I have the solar mount on a Ring doorbell. It does not eliminate the need to put the battery on a charger, it just stretches the interval. The battery charge level still goes down, but slowly.

Mine is in an ideal location for solar charge. Central Florida, the doorbell faces directly east, no obstructions (no trees, etc.) to block the bright sun during the first half of the day, but solar panel still does not maintain the charge, just slows down the rate of discharge.

Do you have the smaller panel or the larger one?

Two of my Reolink cameras are on solar and have been for several years with no problems.