Hi, I am hoping that someone knowledgeable and experienced in the field of security cameras and systems can help me out. I am looking for a good but cost effective system for my house, when I say cost effective I don't mean so cheap that image clarity and performance is compromised. I'm sure even really good security cameras in this day and age are available for a reasonable cost due to the competition and a plethora of companies out there offering solutions. Ok, so let me break it down in terms of my needs:-
1.) It would be good to have a wireless system to prevent running cables (802.11n minimum). However, I would have to setup a separate wireless network so that my current one does not slow down from the extra bandwidth needs.
2.) Ideally I need 2 or 3 outdoor cameras only in order to monitor the front and back entrance and associated vicinities.
3.) I'd like to invest in Cams that provide clear video footage so that faces and number plates etc can be recognised without effort. So a minimum resolution of 720p would be nice. 1080p would be great if the price difference is not huge.
4.) I need cams with excellent night vision ability. About 30 to 50 metres clear visibility at night would be great.
5.) Lenses should be good glass with a practical wide-angle for proper coverage. I don't want a PTZ but I don't want a fish-eye lens either, if you know what I mean.
6.) I need to be able to mark out areas or boundaries in easy to use software for each camera. If any movement is detected in those marked areas then I should be notified immediately through my iPhone or iPad. A text message is not practical but raising an alarm through some smart software on my idevice would be better.
7.) I should be able to monitor all cameras on my iPad constantly and whenever required. Software should be free of subscriptions and should be very smart, intuitive, powerful and east to use.
8.) I should be able to record footage continuously on a standard hard drive or NAS drive. High capacity NAS drives (2TB to 4TB) are now available for reasonable prices.
In conclusion, I need something good that has excellent performance for a reasonable price. I don't really want products ridden with hundreds of features that I will never use.
I have had a look at many cost-effective solutions (e.g. Lorex is offering 8 HD cams and a DVR for US$ 500) but I am really not sure of their real world performance and cannot fully trust the testimonials that various providers post on their web sites as part of their marketing initiative. Some other person mentions FOSCAM cams, saying they have very good price to performance ratios. Again, I have no idea about this brand.
Any help in the matter will be highly appreciated, I'm sure there are security experts on this forum or people who have already invested considerable time in researching the matter.
1.) It would be good to have a wireless system to prevent running cables (802.11n minimum). However, I would have to setup a separate wireless network so that my current one does not slow down from the extra bandwidth needs.
2.) Ideally I need 2 or 3 outdoor cameras only in order to monitor the front and back entrance and associated vicinities.
3.) I'd like to invest in Cams that provide clear video footage so that faces and number plates etc can be recognised without effort. So a minimum resolution of 720p would be nice. 1080p would be great if the price difference is not huge.
4.) I need cams with excellent night vision ability. About 30 to 50 metres clear visibility at night would be great.
5.) Lenses should be good glass with a practical wide-angle for proper coverage. I don't want a PTZ but I don't want a fish-eye lens either, if you know what I mean.
6.) I need to be able to mark out areas or boundaries in easy to use software for each camera. If any movement is detected in those marked areas then I should be notified immediately through my iPhone or iPad. A text message is not practical but raising an alarm through some smart software on my idevice would be better.
7.) I should be able to monitor all cameras on my iPad constantly and whenever required. Software should be free of subscriptions and should be very smart, intuitive, powerful and east to use.
8.) I should be able to record footage continuously on a standard hard drive or NAS drive. High capacity NAS drives (2TB to 4TB) are now available for reasonable prices.
In conclusion, I need something good that has excellent performance for a reasonable price. I don't really want products ridden with hundreds of features that I will never use.
I have had a look at many cost-effective solutions (e.g. Lorex is offering 8 HD cams and a DVR for US$ 500) but I am really not sure of their real world performance and cannot fully trust the testimonials that various providers post on their web sites as part of their marketing initiative. Some other person mentions FOSCAM cams, saying they have very good price to performance ratios. Again, I have no idea about this brand.
Any help in the matter will be highly appreciated, I'm sure there are security experts on this forum or people who have already invested considerable time in researching the matter.
