Thanks @Simon42, the local council have just changed to LED street lighting outside my house so the ColorVu/IR argument isn't as relevant as previously been, what would be your personal recommendation for a dome camera?
Spec me a CCTV System
- Thread starter Sirrel Squirrel
- Start date
Associate
I am looking at the various options that you have kindly recommended and have a couple of questions if you can please help?
What is the difference between the "Lite" series and the "Non Lite" series?
Is it that "Lite" are lesser specified and more suitable to domestic and small business needs with the "Non Lite" being for a more commercial or heavy load domestic use?
I notice there are some used units on the auction site. How robust are the Dahua units and would a second hand Dahua within my model range be suitable or should I buy brand new?
Apart from the HDD I cant see what can go wrong with these NVR's unless there are known circuitry or overheating issues etc?
Thank You
Soldato
I downloaded the app and tried to add my camera to it but it could not conect/find it?I figured it out -- you need to download the Reolink windows client:
App & Client - Reolink
Reolink App and Client help you to keep an eye on your home and business whenever and wherever you are.reolink.com
Add your camera using IP address and then click the settings icon NEXT TO THE CAMERA ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. Not the other identical cog on the right hand side, lol.
You can then go to Settings -> Network -> Advanced -> Server Settings and enable RTSP, ONVIF, etc etc. Just enable them all apart from HTTP TBH.
HA can then add it.
Strange because i am able to connect to it on the reolink android app!
Odd --- mine was instant. Do you have a DHCP reservation for it, to rule out any IP issues? Don't set a static IP on the camera itself as it causes issues.
Soldato
Ahh ok I did set it as a static ip
Yeah it's odd but some chap was adamant Reolink ip stack is broken and if you configure it with a static it still creates DHCP traffic and can confuse the hell out of networking devices...
I wouldn't use domes outdoors. They get dirty too easily (rain, dust, spiders crawling over them) and suffer excess sunlight glare in the day and for an IR camera any dirt/marks cause IR glow at night.
Turrets and bullets are the best type outside, and if you're after a more subtle look on darker bricks then there are a number of dark grey models.
Soldato
Lite units have a plastic casing, the others are metal. That’s pretty much it.
I would not personally buy a second-hand unit because there are a lot of Chinese import units that you cannot upgrade the firmware on, and anything before 2017 you can’t update the firmware even on UK stock without allowing Dahua to remote into your box and manually update the firmware. And even then they’ll only update your firmware if you bought the unit from an approved Dahua installer. And they actually have a list of every serial number officially sold in the UK and who sold it. They really don’t want you buying outside their walled garden of approved installers.
Associate
Tempted by this, 8mp £485 12mp £620...
m.reolink.com
Go for it or something else? Definitely want PoE dome cams for fitting to soffits.
Reolink RLK8-1200D4-A – 12MP UHD Video Surveillance System with Intelligent Detection | Reolink Official
Reolink RLK8-1200D4-A – 8-channel PoE security system with incredible 12MP UHD, person/vehicle detection, and color night vision. 4 dome cameras and a 2TB NVR for continuous recording are included.
m.reolink.com
Go for it or something else? Definitely want PoE dome cams for fitting to soffits.
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Soldato
Finally got access to it. i had to connect to it via the uiid....I figured it out -- you need to download the Reolink windows client:
App & Client - Reolink
Reolink App and Client help you to keep an eye on your home and business whenever and wherever you are.
Add your camera using IP address and then click the settings icon NEXT TO THE CAMERA ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. Not the other identical cog on the right hand side, lol.
You can then go to Settings -> Network -> Advanced -> Server Settings and enable RTSP, ONVIF, etc etc. Just enable them all apart from HTTP TBH.
HA can then add it.
Still no joy. i cant add it to home assistant
Soldato
Woke up to a notification from the doorbell camera, to see the neighbours coming in with a couple of bikes at 4am. Thinking "random time to go out for a ride", until they popped over this morning and told me some local darlings had hopped their fence and tried to nick their girls' bikes...
Have been thinking of adding a couple of extra cameras for a while, so now seems a good time to actually get on with it.
We currently have:
Eufy 2k doorbell camera
"SV3C" branded (basically some generic Chinese brand) standalone camera overlooking the drive (see photo below).
I picked up a couple of additional Eufy cameras in the Prime Day sales - an outdoor cam pro, and a floodlight cam. The idea being to replace the existing dumb PIR floodlight and generic camera with the floodlight cam, and put the outdoor cam under the eaves for 24/7 recording (which the floodlight doesn't do
), unfortunately the car blocks a lot of the view from the doorbell. However I've been "um"-ing and "ah"-ing about whether this is the right solution, so they haven't yet been opened and so can still be returned for another 2 weeks.
This is the front of the house, where you can see the existing position of the camera & floodlight. The doorbell is mounted to the left (the bay window side) of the door angled towards the right - so it doesn't cover anything on the left hand side.
The new floodlight cam was going to go where the grey junction box is below the existing camera, and the 24/7 outdoor cam in one of the red squiggles.
What we can see currently:
From the camera (as you can see, the quality isn't great):
Doorbell in daylight:
Doorbell at night with floodlight on:
Doorbell at night with floodlight off:
=============
What are we looking for?
ideally a floodlight camera with 24/7 recording + motion detection alerts to cover the drive
+
1 (maybe 2 or even 3) cameras to cover the back garden, again with 24/7 recording and motion detection (see below).
+
Possibly another floodlight for the back?
+
Maybe an NVR - currently the camera records to an internal MicroSD card and the doorbell records to a MicroSD on the chime.
I like the Eufy app so far - it's easy to navigate, the person detection seems pretty good, picture quality is decent, both day and night (particularly when the floodlight switches on). So it's tempting to grab the Homebase 3 kit with the 2x solar cameras for ~£450-500. This gives the extra cameras for the back, along with centralised storage and some extra AI functions.
The other option I've been looking at is a Reolink NVR (should be able to set this up in the attic), with the floodlight camera, and either a couple of 8mp cameras or the trackmix PTZ for the back ( I can grab the NVR + 4 bullet cameras + Spotlight for £528, or £670 including the PTZ, send the Eufy cams back - net cost £380/£522). Only problem is they have no battery doorbell so would need to either have the 2 apps (annoying!) or pick up a doorbell and figure out how to run wiring.
Am I looking along the right lines here, or is there a better option?
Edit: 5mp vs 8mp cameras - seems 8mp are better during the day, worse at night? (£70 extra for 4x 8mp)
Bullets vs turrets (basically same price)?
=========
Possible camera positions for back garden.
Lime green shows the boundaries.
On the right/NE side, the fence is ~7ft tall (this is the neighbour whose bikes got nicked).
On the left/SW side, the fence is ~4ft tall, about half way along (within the blue arc), and past that point there is a huge bush (no way anyone could get through it).
At the back, the fences are ~4ft tall - this is probably the easiest access point.
At the apex of the blue arc, there is the back gate, and the square you can see below that is a flat-roofed shed - probably climbable, so another potential access point.
Have been thinking of adding a couple of extra cameras for a while, so now seems a good time to actually get on with it.
We currently have:
Eufy 2k doorbell camera
"SV3C" branded (basically some generic Chinese brand) standalone camera overlooking the drive (see photo below).
I picked up a couple of additional Eufy cameras in the Prime Day sales - an outdoor cam pro, and a floodlight cam. The idea being to replace the existing dumb PIR floodlight and generic camera with the floodlight cam, and put the outdoor cam under the eaves for 24/7 recording (which the floodlight doesn't do
), unfortunately the car blocks a lot of the view from the doorbell. However I've been "um"-ing and "ah"-ing about whether this is the right solution, so they haven't yet been opened and so can still be returned for another 2 weeks.This is the front of the house, where you can see the existing position of the camera & floodlight. The doorbell is mounted to the left (the bay window side) of the door angled towards the right - so it doesn't cover anything on the left hand side.
The new floodlight cam was going to go where the grey junction box is below the existing camera, and the 24/7 outdoor cam in one of the red squiggles.
What we can see currently:
From the camera (as you can see, the quality isn't great):
Doorbell in daylight:
Doorbell at night with floodlight on:
Doorbell at night with floodlight off:
=============
What are we looking for?
ideally a floodlight camera with 24/7 recording + motion detection alerts to cover the drive
+
1 (maybe 2 or even 3) cameras to cover the back garden, again with 24/7 recording and motion detection (see below).
+
Possibly another floodlight for the back?
+
Maybe an NVR - currently the camera records to an internal MicroSD card and the doorbell records to a MicroSD on the chime.
I like the Eufy app so far - it's easy to navigate, the person detection seems pretty good, picture quality is decent, both day and night (particularly when the floodlight switches on). So it's tempting to grab the Homebase 3 kit with the 2x solar cameras for ~£450-500. This gives the extra cameras for the back, along with centralised storage and some extra AI functions.
The other option I've been looking at is a Reolink NVR (should be able to set this up in the attic), with the floodlight camera, and either a couple of 8mp cameras or the trackmix PTZ for the back ( I can grab the NVR + 4 bullet cameras + Spotlight for £528, or £670 including the PTZ, send the Eufy cams back - net cost £380/£522). Only problem is they have no battery doorbell so would need to either have the 2 apps (annoying!) or pick up a doorbell and figure out how to run wiring.
Am I looking along the right lines here, or is there a better option?
Edit: 5mp vs 8mp cameras - seems 8mp are better during the day, worse at night? (£70 extra for 4x 8mp)
Bullets vs turrets (basically same price)?
=========
Possible camera positions for back garden.
Lime green shows the boundaries.
On the right/NE side, the fence is ~7ft tall (this is the neighbour whose bikes got nicked).
On the left/SW side, the fence is ~4ft tall, about half way along (within the blue arc), and past that point there is a huge bush (no way anyone could get through it).
At the back, the fences are ~4ft tall - this is probably the easiest access point.
At the apex of the blue arc, there is the back gate, and the square you can see below that is a flat-roofed shed - probably climbable, so another potential access point.
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Soldato
I have a 10 year old Hikvision NVR that has seen better days so looking to replace. I have 5 Hikvision cameras which are also about 10 year old and jsut wondering if they are likely to be ONVIF would work with the above? I can get specific model numbers to check if need be although not sure if its worth changing the cameras too? They are fine in the day but poor at night.
Associate
I have tried to read as much as I can in this thread but honestly still confused what would be best (Or where to buy from), I am looking to setup CCTV in my work/yard area and would appreciate any advice.
Rough idea of what I may need:
5/6 outdoor cameras, night time the light isnt the best so would I need extra outside lights or are there good cameras for night?
2 or 3 indoor cameras
Ideally able to be alerted if any motion is detected as we have been broken into several times over the past few years with fuel stolen
Not sure if cameras are wireless now or need to be wired, we can run wiring but the runs maybe 50 - 100m depending on where I put the storage/cameras
Ideally need to give a good enough picture to be able to detect faces/number plates day or night
Would constant recording need a lot of HDD space over 6 - 10 cameras?
Budget is roughly £800 - £1000 but I may be way off and wouldn't get anything good for this amount?
Hopefully that gives an idea, thanks for any help given.
Rough idea of what I may need:
5/6 outdoor cameras, night time the light isnt the best so would I need extra outside lights or are there good cameras for night?
2 or 3 indoor cameras
Ideally able to be alerted if any motion is detected as we have been broken into several times over the past few years with fuel stolen
Not sure if cameras are wireless now or need to be wired, we can run wiring but the runs maybe 50 - 100m depending on where I put the storage/cameras
Ideally need to give a good enough picture to be able to detect faces/number plates day or night
Would constant recording need a lot of HDD space over 6 - 10 cameras?
Budget is roughly £800 - £1000 but I may be way off and wouldn't get anything good for this amount?
Hopefully that gives an idea, thanks for any help given.
Soldato
Well, further research hasn't really helped, if anything it's confused and frustrated me further!
(I think) I've narrowed it down to a couple of options:
Eufy:
Front of house:
Pros:
Front of house:
Pros:
Front of house:
Pros:
Edit: Reolink Option C:
Front of house:
Pros:
==============
I guess looking at the above, Eufy seems a clear winner, but the lack of 24/7 coverage on the main cameras is bugging me :S
Edit: Reolink option C is looking a bit more tempting, with the option to add the NVR at a later date if I decide I want it
(I think) I've narrowed it down to a couple of options:
Eufy:
Front of house:
- Floodlight cam in current position for floodlight and motion tracking
- OutdoorCam Pro under eaves for 24/7 recording/birds eye view
- Floodlight cam pro for full coverage of the garden
- Homebase 3 with spare 500GB HDD I have lying around
Pros:
- Single app to integrate with current doorbell cam
- Easy to install, can use existing power at front of house, run a USB under the eaves from attic power socket, and spur off a socket at the back of the house.
- App is supposedly better
- Floodlight in back garden would be handy as there are currently no lights at all.
- Junction boxes included with cameras for easier install
- Easy to add additional cameras later (e.g. wireless ones)
- 24/7 recording only on OutdoorCam, so only in front (unless I grab another for the back)
Front of house:
- Dual Lens Floodlight cam in current position for floodlight and motion tracking
- Trackmix camera
- NVR with 2TB hdd
Pros:
- 24/7 recording on all cams
- Trackmix quality is better than Eufy pro floodlight due to dual lenses
- POE vs Wifi
- Separate doorbell app or need to replace doorbell
- Need to run POE to all locations - possible, but could be somewhat awkward and possibly involve lifting floorboards, or running external cat 5/6
- If I want additional cameras at a later date then need to run more POE (or guess where I want them in advance and run it while the floor is up).
- No junction boxes - either need to creatively route cables or an extra £25/camera
Front of house:
- Dual Lens Floodlight cam in current position for floodlight and motion tracking
- Trackmix camera
- 4x5mp dome
- NVR with 2TB hdd
Pros:
- 24/7 recording on all cams
- Trackmix quality is better than Eufy pro floodlight due to dual lenses
- Additional cameras for more coverage
- POE vs Wifi
- Separate doorbell app or need to replace doorbell
- Need to run POE to all locations - possible, but could be somewhat awkward and possibly involve lifting floorboards, or running external cat 5/6
- No junction boxes - either need to creatively route cables or an extra £25/camera
- Possibly (probably!) don't need that many cameras
Edit: Reolink Option C:
Front of house:
- Dual Lens Floodlight cam in current position for floodlight and motion tracking
- Trackmix camera
- Reolink Wifi
- On camera MicroSD
- POE switch
Pros:
- Single App
- 24/7 recording on all cams
- Trackmix quality is better than Eufy pro floodlight due to dual lenses
- Need to run POE to all locations - possible, but could be somewhat awkward and possibly involve lifting floorboards, or running external cat 5/6
- If I want additional cameras at a later date then need to run more POE (or guess where I want them in advance and run it while the floor is up).
- No junction boxes - either need to creatively route cables or an extra £25/camera
==============
I guess looking at the above, Eufy seems a clear winner, but the lack of 24/7 coverage on the main cameras is bugging me :S
Edit: Reolink option C is looking a bit more tempting, with the option to add the NVR at a later date if I decide I want it
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Soldato
- Joined
- 19 May 2005
- Posts
- 6,891
Any idea why one of my hikvision camera has stopped sending events to the app?
All settings seem to match my other camera which is fine.
All settings seem to match my other camera which is fine.
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Just bumping this to see if anyone has an opinion on it..still can't really decide!Tempted by this, 8mp £485 12mp £620...
Reolink RLK8-1200D4-A – 12MP UHD Video Surveillance System with Intelligent Detection | Reolink Official
Reolink RLK8-1200D4-A – 8-channel PoE security system with incredible 12MP UHD, person/vehicle detection, and color night vision. 4 dome cameras and a 2TB NVR for continuous recording are included.
Go for it or something else? Definitely want PoE dome cams for fitting to soffits.
Soldato
One thing to bear in mind is that a higher resolution with the same sensor size will give you worse night vision, Reolink have a new camera coming out soon - the CX410, which from what I can tell has really good NV, but is only 4MP.
I'm really not impressed with Eufy's person detection. I got the floodlight cam pro in the back garden, and I'm getting loads of false alerts, which makes it pretty useless unfortunately. The hardware is nice, and I've hooked it up to a frigate docker to test, and the difference is huge (I got 16 false alerts from Eufy yesterday, none from Frigate!).
Unfortunately the camera doesn't support 24/7 recording, so I think I'm going to send it back, have got a Reolink trackmix turned up this morning, so will give that a go instead
I'm really not impressed with Eufy's person detection. I got the floodlight cam pro in the back garden, and I'm getting loads of false alerts, which makes it pretty useless unfortunately. The hardware is nice, and I've hooked it up to a frigate docker to test, and the difference is huge (I got 16 false alerts from Eufy yesterday, none from Frigate!).
Unfortunately the camera doesn't support 24/7 recording, so I think I'm going to send it back, have got a Reolink trackmix turned up this morning, so will give that a go instead
I didn't know this, thanks. I'm going to keep looking for the moment I think, no need to rush in to it but would be nice if I could find a 4x dome cam with NVR setup the majority would recommend!
Soldato
Any particular reason you want domes rather than turrets? From what I've read, unless you particularly need them to be vandal proof, turrets are better as the dome ones need cleaning periodically since the dome gets quite dirty.
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