Outdoor security cameras without breaking the bank?

[Sibley]

I need outdoor security cameras with microphones. Yes, this is a need. I really wish it was a want, cause then I could just not bother. (Please, if you, friends, family members, etc have a mental illness - DO NOT IGNORE IT. Like my neighbor's friends and family do. I will likely end up having to get a restraining order against my next door neighbor. She sprayed her hose through my kitchen window last night!)

Problem is, I suck at A/V anything and everything. I've been researching and don't understand any of this stuff. And I'm cheap, so I'm not happy about needing to buy these things anyway.

Need:
2-3 outdoor cameras
really good night vision - most of the worst shit seems to be happening at night, under trees. Very dark.
record audio (2 way isn't needed) - need to record neighbor's rants/etc.
Withstand midwest weather, so -10F up to 100F, rain, snow, etc
wired power is preferable, I don't wanna have to deal with changing or charging batteries, since this will be up pretty high.
budget is flexible, obviously less is better since I'm bitter about needing to get cameras at all.


I found this one, it seems like it'll work except for no audio:
https://www.amazon.com/Amcrest-Outdoor-3-Megapixel-Wireless-Security/dp/B01I01QLTE/ref=as_at/?creativeASIN=B01I01QLTE&imprToken=K.TJUrHArZlWxi4UvXxFZQ&slotNum=19&ie=UTF8&qid=1518074788&sr=8-4&keywords=amcrest*&prohd*&outdoor*&3-megapixel&linkCode=w61&tag=reviewsorg-20&linkId=b5fddf5368f42ecf5468bdb88b3d81e5

Anyone actually understand this stuff who can help me out? Basically, cameras for dummies, step by step. And I really need something quickly at this point.

[india dark ale]

I have ‘blink’ cameras that I mounted outside in several locations around my home. They are battery operated and hook up via your home router WiFi. Very simple to install. You can buy the outdoor models which have weather resistance, infrared, sound recording. It’s only a couple hundred bucks for a 3 camera system. Good luck.

[Scrapr]

We just put in Ring doorbell & outdoor camera. We like them a lot. We did battery on the cam. But it's down low and easy to reach. They have a solar power option. Or you can hard wire it too.

Go to Best Buy and look it over

[Sibley]

So, an internet stranger pointed me to a forum all about cameras. I don't understand most of it, but they're like MMM and money, only for videos.

In case someone else needs it:
https://ipcamtalk.com/

FYI - problem with Ring is you have to pay an ongoing cost for cloud. and I'm going to need a ladder to get at these things, so batteries aren't ideal for me. Once I buy everything and get it setup, I'm only paying electricity.

[jeromedawg]

Blink is pretty good but you're tied to their cloud. Currently it's "free" but who knows for how long. I really like the idea of the fully wireless operation that the Blinks offer but yea they are battery operated. Although, there is a Micro USB port on them so you could probably jerry-rig for them to be fully solar-powered *or* you could just run cabling (and ultimately terminating with MicroUSB) to supply power.

If you want a fully extensible solution though, you'll need to go with a DVR/NVR solution like BlueIris or Zoneminder and supported or ONVIF cameras. LaView and Hikvision are recurring names you'll probably see often especially on IPCamtalk. There is an element of technical DIY that you may have to immerse yourself into but that's why you're at ipcamtalk.com :)

[NextTime]

Are you wanting continuous recording or just motion capture? Sounds like you want continuous. If that's the case, I'm pretty sure Blink is out the window.  And you will pay monthly/yearly fees for Arlo, Nest, and Ring.

If you are thinking about using the cloud for storage, you need to make sure you don't have a data cap on your internet service. Mind does so those got eliminated pretty quickly. I would think the best option (after installing) is to go wired cameras with an onsite dvr.

The link below was for Black Friday deals last year, but the guy put a TON of awesome information on security cameras in it. I suggest you look through it and make sure you read the FAQ's in the wiki

https://slickdeals.net/f/10731663-security-camera-security-camera-system-black-friday-2017-master-list

[jeromedawg]

Are you wanting continuous recording or just motion capture? Sounds like you want continuous. If that's the case, I'm pretty sure Blink is out the window.  And you will pay monthly/yearly fees for Arlo, Nest, and Ring.

If you are thinking about using the cloud for storage, you need to make sure you don't have a data cap on your internet service. Mind does so those got eliminated pretty quickly. I would think the best option (after installing) is to go wired cameras with an onsite dvr.

The link below was for Black Friday deals last year, but the guy put a TON of awesome information on security cameras in it. I suggest you look through it and make sure you read the FAQ's in the wiki

https://slickdeals.net/f/10731663-security-camera-security-camera-system-black-friday-2017-master-list

If continuous for sure a NVR/DVR is going to be the way to go. Wired I agree, and POE too. Just pay an electrician to run all the wiring and then DIY install the actual cameras.

[Milkshake]

I asked about this same topic a couple months ago:
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/home-security-camera-system/

After a lot of research and deliberation, I decided to go with this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BGTYY4G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071WLPRHN/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's a 4 camera PoE system (no hard drive, hence the second link)

Run wires in your attic to a central NVR and install the cameras under the eaves of your house. IP67 rated weatherproof, so they can be fully submerged and still operate. I am in the midwest as well.

These 4 cameras do not have audio, but it (supposedly) supports cameras that do, and it supports a total of 8 cameras. So you could buy a 5th camera with audio recording function and you're done.

Our neighbors have had their car broken into twice in the past 3 months, so I've decided to get in front of the crime wave, instead of behind it.

I haven't gotten it from Amazon yet, as I just ordered it. If you are still looking after I get it installed, I'll give an update on how well it works.

[JustInStarting]

ptf

[WinningIt]

I think it's one of the downsides of these security cameras nowadays. They're good to be honest, we've been using it for over a year now, I have the arlo pro and the talk back to the camera feature is great. but the cloud storage is a bit of a hassle. I found this and hope can help. We can save 7 days worth of recordings for free but we eventually needed more, which forced us to get the subscription.

[Rosy]

Just wondering which system @Sibley decided to install and why, since we're looking into a system soon.
Thanks everyone for the great links!:)

[SnackDog]

How about just use the video on your smart phone? 

[Sibley]

Bat signal received. I built a system from scratch. Desktop computer, cameras, hub, cables, software, hard drive. About $1500 total. It's not connected to the internet, which is both good and bad.

The people who helped:
https://ipcamtalk.com/

Here's the list of equipment (except for the cable, I didn't buy it in bulk, I just bought the lengths I needed)
 PoE switch - https://www.amazon.com/BV-Tech-Switch-Ethernet-Uplink-Function/dp/B075G2PM17/ref=as_at/?creativeASIN=B075G2PM17&linkCode=w61&imprToken=IVwHLB8R3pcv7O1CwhWyQA&slotNum=0&tag=ipctk-20&s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1535259448&sr=1-5&keywords=poe+switch
· Dahua 5231 ZE 2MP Starlight Turret camera - Ahttps://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B07B7K1P28/ref=as_at/?creativeASIN=B07B7K1P28&linkCode=w61&imprToken=IVwHLB8R3pcv7O1CwhWyQA&slotNum=1&tag=ipctk-20&ie=UTF8&condition=all&qid=1535259602&sr=8-1
· Blue Iris - http://blueirissoftware.com/purchase/
· Western Digital Purple 4TB Surveillance HDD - https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822231535&cm_re=surveillance_hard_drive-
· Bulk Cat6 Solid Ethernet Bulk Cable - Mhttps://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10234&cs_id=1023403&p_id=9482&seq=1&format=2
Plus a refurbished desktop computer off ebay.
Got speakers, monitor, mouse, and keyboard free from my parents. Bought an IKEA desk to hold it all.

My needs were specific: 24/7 monitoring of my property line shared with neighbor from hell (now in the process of suing them for property damage, luckily it's all on video), including audio. I wanted to retain full control of the footage. didn't care about internet access.

This setup allows for 4 cameras. I couldn't fit the hard drive into the desktop I got (dumb design), so I got an 8TB external drive. Internal is preferred. With different hubs, you could fit more cameras. I have barely scratched the surface of what the software can do. That forum can get a little purist/enthusiastic in the video area, which is fine but some of them have a hard time understanding that I don't have a security system for fun and thus don't care if something's not ideal as long as it works.

I'm not using the Blue Iris app, my camera computer isn't even on the internet. Can't be hacked. However, if you want to have it on internet, you may have a problem because the hub connects via coax, and that's the same connection for wired network. so you may need to solve that.

Install for me was fairly easy. I had some help. Biggest problem was drilling the hole to the outside large enough to fit 3 cables. But I had a pretty straight forward layout of what I wanted to do, nothing was crazy. FYI, if you don't want to get the cable clamps that screw in, the command hooks designed for christmas lights will fit 1 cable, and so far at least they're sticking to the house.

Ongoing usage is pretty simple. There's a series of youtube videos with instructions on the software, highly recommend you watch those.