CCTV recommendation

PeteW

Hi,

I am looking for a CCTV system, but am confused by all the different options, and I'm not sure what it is I need.

I want videos to be stored locally on my network, not just on the cloud. I've no interest in paying for a monthly subscription. Ideally, would be stored on my existing NAS but if I need a separate DVR, that's fine. Videos should be viewable by a decent app and if I can also view them on my TV somehow, that's a bonus.

Must support Power Over Ethernet cameras, connecting to the existing network, rather than plugging something directly into a DVR. Wifi support a bonus.

Ideally no limit on the number of cameras and will work with a variety of cameras.

Any recommendations? Most things I see either store in the cloud (for a fee), or an SD card, or to a DVR via a BNC connector.

Thanks

Pete

silverwhistle

I'll ask my best friend who does installations in the Hampshire area. She's not working at the moment apart from call outs so has time to spare!

silverwhistle

Just had one of our social isolation chats! You'll need a a DVR or NVR. The former will use cheaper cameras connected by co-ax, the latter IP based cameras, more expensive but more options. 4 megapixel cameras are available and she recommends a hard drive of 4 terabytes which will store 3 weeks video, good for holiday absences. She recommends looking at the Dahua range which has a decent app and allows for notifications if set up correctly. Hope that helps in some way.

PeteW

Thank you (and your friend)! It sounds like an NVR is what I'm looking for.
If you wouldn't mind asking your friend one more question… looking at NVRs, they all seem to have a set number of channel/ports on the back of the NVR. Is that the only way to connect a camera, or if the camera is connected to an existing switch/router, will that still work?

I've already got ethernet run around my home and have various ethernet sockets conveniently located ready to plug camera into, so don't want to wire all the cameras directly to the NVR.

tiggerbodhi

Hi, I install HIK Vision CCTV for a living, the Dahua range are good as well, the HIK has everything you need and is a good commercial quality set up, you need to look at lens quality rather than pixels, with compression for four cameras 2TB would store a months worth with Motion detection only enabled.
The NVR's have a port sizing, HIK have built in POE for up to 24 Ports (starting at 4) cameras don't need to be connected directly to the NVR for IP cameras, they can be elsewhere on your LAN and as long as the NVR is on your LAN can be configured to be on the NVR, but you will still be in the port limit for the NVR, so a 4 port will support 4 cameras, for example 2 direct to the NVR, 2 remotely on the LAN (or WAN if you want to get a bit smart with VPN's or port forwarding!) 
There is a vast range of cameras from both suppliers, both in resolution, range and type, personally the "average" system I install is a 4MP camera system using the Turret style camera, look like little pig noses! reliable, not to in your face and don't suffer misting or spiders like the dome ones.
Feel free to ask anymore questions!

silverwhistle

Spiders, there speaks the voice of experience. Slugs too, I am told!

tiggerbodhi

Slugs on the cheap stuff, some are not fully water tight and they can get in or slime across the lens, problem is spiders like the IR LED's to keep them warm, the "Pig Nose" cameras mean they sit away from the lens.
Get the cameras as low as you dare, about 2.5m is ideal as you will get face shots rather than top of heads or hoodies, its worth losing a camera for a close up, the recordings are on the NVR anyway, I have cases of a numpty looking directly into a camera from about half a metre away as he checked if his beating it with a stick had broken it, it hadn't!
All cameras have a connection lead coming out of them so if you cannot thread the join back into the wall/ceiling you need the mounting boxes.
On cloud storage systems, good for back up, but to many scrotes now cut broadband lines before breaking in, being more prevalent because of Ring door bells, personally put SD cards in the cameras as well as an NVR hidden away, the cameras will then store last 20 minutes or so of footage, rarely will someone steal the NVR and all the cameras.