Home security lights/cameras, Ring, Nest Etc

[champ222]

Hi All

I'm in the process of updating the home security a bit. New anti-snap locks, though i need to actually choose a brand of lock and stop deliberating, and i'm now looking into lights etc.

We have an outdoor light with PIR out the back that hasnt worked in ages, so that needs replacing. I wondered if its worth getting something like the ring "floodlight Cam Wired Plus"?

https://en-uk.ring.com/products/floodlight-cam-wired-plus?variant=39326901272669

Its pretty dark out the front too, so i could also get one for the front. There isnt mains there at the moment, but i could probably get some to it without tooooo much hassle.

Lots of waffle and not much technical info on how you wire them in, which is typical for these types of products.

There is a battery powered one here:

https://en-uk.ring.com/products/spotlight-cam-battery

though no info on how you charge the thing.

We dont have a doorbell either, but is there any point in having a fancy doorbell with the front light/camera thing? i guess its a point of notification for delivery drivers etc... though there is a reasonably long path to the door, so the camera should be able to be set to trigger only on people within the garden.

Google Nest have similar products, though they look to be more expensive.

I dont mind a small monthly cloud fee if i get a benefit from it.

Anyone been through all this recently?

Thanks

 

[b0rn2sk8]

My view on these products is that the ‘small monthly cloud fee’ isn’t small.

It’s £100 a year which adds up very quickly, the total cost of ownership of these systems is expensive. The main benefit is that they are simple.

You can get proper CCTV equipment for similar money that has better picture quality and local recording so no cloud subs needed

 

[Bug One]

I've got Ring cameras all round.

The floodlight cam is wired exactly the same as any exterior PIR style light. So, no wiring is included with it. You remove the face plate and there's a 3 pin terminal block to wire into.

The spotlight cameras come in two versions - wired and battery. I've got a couple of the wired ones. The led lights on the sides are surprisingly bright. I've got one covering my driveway and it's plenty bright enough for that area.

The battery versions are obviously a lot easier to fit - but you do have to charge them (you get a notification in the app when you need to do this) and they have more aggressive power management than the wired ones.


The downside of any camera like this is Wifi. You need a good Wifi signal in any area you intend to have a camera and a decent upload speed. I've have to use dedicated powerline adapters to cover them all.

 

[Bug One]

My view on these products is that the ‘small monthly cloud fee’ isn’t small.

It’s £100 a year which adds up very quickly, the total cost of ownership of these systems is expensive. The main benefit is that they are simple.

You can get proper CCTV equipment for similar money that has better picture quality and local recording so no cloud subs needed

That's the plus and the negative. I'm happy for the convenience of the off site storage and view from anywhere capabilities.

For two cameras it's not a great deal - but I've got 6, so it starts to work out a bit more competitive when you factor more cameras in.

 

[Bug One]

Also, Ring being an Amazon company - have great deals on Black Friday or similar events. I've not bought a single camera full price.

 

[champ222]

Thanks Guys.

Also, Ring being an Amazon company - have great deals on Black Friday or similar events. I've not bought a single camera full price.

Thats what i thought, some deals might be about.

That's the plus and the negative. I'm happy for the convenience of the off site storage and view from anywhere capabilities.

For two cameras it's not a great deal - but I've got 6, so it starts to work out a bit more competitive when you factor more cameras in.

Being able the see the video on my phone i think is more beneficial to me than storing the data locally... if the systems prove to be reliable enough. and dont need constant messing around with. my patiance has worn pretty thin after ive had a couple of kids.

I've got Ring cameras all round.

The floodlight cam is wired exactly the same as any exterior PIR style light. So, no wiring is included with it. You remove the face plate and there's a 3 pin terminal block to wire into.

The spotlight cameras come in two versions - wired and battery. I've got a couple of the wired ones. The led lights on the sides are surprisingly bright. I've got one covering my driveway and it's plenty bright enough for that area.

The battery versions are obviously a lot easier to fit - but you do have to charge them (you get a notification in the app when you need to do this) and they have more aggressive power management than the wired ones.


The downside of any camera like this is Wifi. You need a good Wifi signal in any area you intend to have a camera and a decent upload speed. I've have to use dedicated powerline adapters to cover them all.

I'm with Virgin and have pretty decent upload speed around 18 Mbps. I'm using the "superhub" which seems to throw out a decent signal.

The current PIR is wired to a light switch in the kitchen, i assume this is fine, but naturally would only work if no-one switches it off.

The wired spotlight looks ideal for the front, is that also wired as per a standard outside light? or is there some sort of AC adpater in use? do you have that wired to a light circuit?

Thanks

 

[Buffman]

I've got a eufy doorbell which has no monthly fees (and you can watch it online as its uploaded from your home etc). Works well for me, and can silence it for when the dogs at home and we're out.

With regards to cameras/lights/PIRs etc I don't really like having cameras attached to house so I can't help you much there but eufy also have options in these.

 

[Bug One]

Being able the see the video on my phone i think is more beneficial to me than storing the data locally... if the systems prove to be reliable enough. and dont need constant messing around with. my patiance has worn pretty thin after ive had a couple of kids.

It's a piece of complex tech. There's a few times I'd had to fiddle around to get it back up and running. I think more down to my powerline adapters than the ring itself. Not enough for me to consider changing them though.

I'm with Virgin and have pretty decent upload speed around 18 Mbps. I'm using the "superhub" which seems to throw out a decent signal.

Test the signal using your phone in the spot the camera would be. Depends on how thick your walls are.

The current PIR is wired to a light switch in the kitchen, i assume this is fine, but naturally would only work if no-one switches it off.

A floodlight cam would use identical wiring. It's a straight swap for the current PIR. Just leave the switch on (or change the switch so that circuit is always on).

The wired spotlight looks ideal for the front, is that also wired as per a standard outside light? or is there some sort of AC adpater in use? do you have that wired to a light circuit?

The wired spotlight comes with a wire and a 3 pin plug. They're not designed to be opened and re-wired - however it's possible with a screwdriver. I opened both mine to get the wire cleanly through holes in the walls. They're both plugged into 3 pin sockets.

 

[champ222]

It's a piece of complex tech. There's a few times I'd had to fiddle around to get it back up and running. I think more down to my powerline adapters than the ring itself. Not enough for me to consider changing them though.
Test the signal using your phone in the spot the camera would be. Depends on how thick your walls are.

A floodlight cam would use identical wiring. It's a straight swap for the current PIR. Just leave the switch on (or change the switch so that circuit is always on).

The wired spotlight comes with a wire and a 3 pin plug. They're not designed to be opened and re-wired - however it's possible with a screwdriver. I opened both mine to get the wire cleanly through holes in the walls. They're both plugged into 3 pin sockets.

I'll test the wifi in the locations, but it should be ok. Having a three pin plug that isnt really designed to be removed is a bit odd, but i'm sure i can sort it, hopefully its got some length to it.

Do you have the doorbell too? or just the cameras?

Thanks

 

[champ222]

I've got a eufy doorbell which has no monthly fees (and you can watch it online as its uploaded from your home etc). Works well for me, and can silence it for when the dogs at home and we're out.

With regards to cameras/lights/PIRs etc I don't really like having cameras attached to house so I can't help you much there but eufy also have options in these.

Thanks, it looks like they do a flood light, but dont seem to do a wired smaller light. Although i could fit the doorbell for camera duty, and just have a regular outside light...

 

[b0rn2sk8]

Pretty much all modern camera systems can be viewed remotely on a device, it doesn’t matter if it’s local storage or not. Even the proper Hikvision or Duah CCTV systems.

As someone above suggested there are other systems to consider outside of Ring and Nest which are more consumer focussed and don’t have subscriptions like Eufy, Netatmo etc.

 

[champ222]

Pretty much all modern camera systems can be viewed remotely on a device, it doesn’t matter if it’s local storage or not. Even the proper Hikvision or Duah CCTV systems.

As someone above suggested there are other systems to consider outside of Ring and Nest which are more consumer focussed and don’t have subscriptions like Eufy, Netatmo etc.

I'm considering all options at the moment. Eufy looks like an option. I'll check out Netatmo.

 

[Bug One]

I'll test the wifi in the locations, but it should be ok. Having a three pin plug that isnt really designed to be removed is a bit odd, but i'm sure i can sort it, hopefully its got some length to it.

Do you have the doorbell too? or just the cameras?

Thanks

Yes. I started with the Doorbell.

 

[champ222]

Yes. I started with the Doorbell.

If i had the battery spot light camera out the front, can you see a point in having the door bell too? other than having a button to push, they seem to do the same thing that i can see.

The alternative is a wireless doorbell at the front, and a generic outdoor battery powered/solar light. that might be a bit cheaper, but not by much.

Thanks

 

[Bug One]

Not really. The doorbell covers the front door area and is a lot cheaper than the other cameras. My driveway is by the side of the house, so needed another camera there. Only thing you miss out on with the doorbell is the lighting.

 

[Holst1981]

I have a ring mains powered spotlight camera at the front and a battery cam at the rear with a solar panel to charge it.

The front spotlight and camera works well, although the speaker is a bit rubbish if you want to talk to anybody (I don't)

The rear solar panel charger was a bit expensive but it's kept the camera fully charged for a couple of years and it's been no trouble.
If you are using the light or camera a lot the solar option might not be as good, but it's worked well for me.

I did consider going the HK vision route but I just couldn't be bothered, the ring was installed in a day and does the job.

 

[413x]

Anyone else getting unlimited nest aware trials?

I thought it might be as I bought multiple devices (doorbell, 3 cams)
But I'm now on trial number 6.
Soon as one ends I just start another!

Lucky glitch or do others have this.