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harshness said:

I note that my surveillance system is entirely wired and that takes a huge load off Wi-fi (and eliminates the need for batteries or solar panels). I have a standalone PTZ camera that is wired for weather assessment.

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navychop said:

I would be interested in your setup, or "improved" versions because I am considering installing cameras around my home.

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arlo said:

Not name dropping. Avermedia makes a range of DVR surveillance products that are surprisingly not that expensive.
I personally believe using wired (coax and power cables to the cameras) would be the better way to put a system together. Some of their packages allow the use of IP cameras also. PTZ is no problem. It's been awhile.

I put 3 pc based camera systems together in Florida from the ground up using Avermedia pci cards. No holds barred.
The 3 cities had 12-13 HD cameras with several of them PTZ. The BBM (big boss man) could monitor the whole operation from his office on a big screen TV.
Bandwidth was the issue. At the time the company just didn't have the oopmh of Internet speed to provide what the boss expected. Live frame video of every camera. In house on the LAN, sure. Combined with the 36 all piping into the plant. Sacrifices had to be made and frame rates had to be reduced.
When I went on vacation a few years afterwards he had ADT come in to each location and install their own DVR systems. I think I strung 4200 feet of cable in the main plant. They used that coax and power wiring for their cameras.
Man was he pissed! I tried and tried to explain that until more bandwidth was purchased or a dedicated service purchased. No how, no way will you get live video unless you shut down a mess of cameras. At least I got paid the bonus I demanded.

Anyway. A greenhouse owner here asked me if I could put a camera system together. On the weekends when the place was closed folks were helping themselves to plants and stuff. He said 5 grand losses in 3 years estimated.

I put a quote together. $1500. Too much. No Internet at the greenhouse. $1200. Still too much. He said he was thinking around $500. Installed. He is a close friend, Off to YouTube land and up came Annke.
I was skeptical. A DVR and 8 IR cameras and all cabling for $250 or so.
I told him "There, you get what you get". "And I don't know what two-fifty will get you". Cuz I didn't.
Plus a point to point wifi connection to the house way across the yard. I mean like Way!

My neighbor has Ring cameras. He goes to Florida for the winter. Seems happy with them. Sent me a few shots of a bear messing around and he got a motion detection phone notification. So. Those work. I guess.

POE works. For the greenhouse I supplied the DD-WRT router in client bridge mode with power using the unused two pair CAT cable wires. Remember. We were on a tight budget. A pair of Alfa flat panel directional router antennas gave pretty acceptable signal strength and therefore link speed. That worked.

I got a call one Monday morning. I had to rush down to the greenhouse. "I got 'em, I got those <expletive>"
"The Staties are coming and I nee you to show me how to get some pictures".
I blew over. Transferred the video and some still frames to a USB.
A PSP Officer was taking a report for retail theft. Sent the content to his phone.
Then. He called his wife. Asking if the stuff was good enough to post on social media to help identify them.
An older couple. Meandering around the greenhouses and the lady picking out a few potted plants.
They put them in the car. Went over to the "honor box". Where you're supposed to fill out a sticky back with what you got and how much. And slip your cash in the door slot with it.
The lady fiddled around for a few seconds. Then they both went to the car. Closed the trunk. And drove away without paying. Clear as day on the video. And the sills showed the plate number.
The cop's wife. On speakerphone. Blurted out something like. "Well heck yeah they're good enough. But you don't have to post it on FB. They live 3 houses down from us.

Small town. The couple were busted. Had a history of shoplifting and stuff I guess from what I heard.
And there were no more help-yourself potted plants taken.
I guess his daughter forgot there were night vision cameras there. Because she and her boyfriend decided to play some heated kissy-face over a 6 pack of beer one late hot summer night. Busted!

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