Spec me an IP Camera, please!

Marakith

Marakith

Marakith

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Hello

I've a part of my property I want to be able to keep an eye on when I'm at work, so I'm looking for recommendations for an IP camera (or maybe a few) to do this with. Ideally these would be cameras that have an app (I'm on Android) that I can just open up when I'm away and see what's going on.
My constraints are:
- Ideally it'd have a USB power lead so that I can extend the cable easily
- It shouldn't need a subscription plan to be able to remotely view
- (Optional) - would be great if I can plug in an SD card to record video for a limited time

I'm not looking for a complete CCTV system at this stage (that might come later) - this is just to solve an immediate problem for now

Many thanks!
 
Huge thread:

Spec me a CCTV System

What's a good CCTV system to go for, I need a couple of cameras outside the house with good IR coverage and up to 14 days storage capacity. I've seen systems from Securix, Swann and Storage Options and they all look pretty similar but range from around £150-£250. Would one of these be the...
forums.overclockers.co.uk forums.overclockers.co.uk
 
I've been using Reolink cameras myself for years and I can open the app on my phone anytime to view them live for free. Most camera suppliers should offer this via P2P streaming. Their cloud service isn't available here yet as I assume they can't be arsed with the GDPR malarkey which is a pity.

All mine are PoE via the Ethernet cable but most of their cameras are either rechargeable or powered by a 3.5 mm din connector but you can buy extensions with the cameras. Wireless or wired and usually SD cards as well.

Basic camera like the RLC-410W should be more than good enough picture wise for example.
 
Marakith said:
Hello

I've a part of my property I want to be able to keep an eye on when I'm at work, so I'm looking for recommendations for an IP camera (or maybe a few) to do this with. Ideally these would be cameras that have an app (I'm on Android) that I can just open up when I'm away and see what's going on.
My constraints are:
- Ideally it'd have a USB power lead so that I can extend the cable easily
- It shouldn't need a subscription plan to be able to remotely view
- (Optional) - would be great if I can plug in an SD card to record video for a limited time

I'm not looking for a complete CCTV system at this stage (that might come later) - this is just to solve an immediate problem for now

Many thanks!
Click to expand...
Instead of USB would you accept the camera being powered from a PoE injector? If so, any IP camera will do what you need. literally you can have a network cable as long as you want (upto 100m) to the camera. Much easier than USB.

As for being on an APP and recording to an SD card, pretty much everything from all major IP camera suppliers will do that.

Do you need it to be outdoors (IP6x rated?), do you need night vision? Do you need colour night vision? Do you want any smart features eg. If someone parks in your space or hangs around outside your front door?
 
Thanks, both!
Reolink looks good, @bimbleuk - I'm looking into that brand now. They also have some nice looking exterior solar powered cameras, should I decide to go that route.

@WJA96 - thanks for the query. TBH I didn't know what a PoE injector was until you suggested it. Yes - the point about the USB was so that I could extend the cable to go to a high up window. I don't need this particular camera to be waterproof (it's going in a window overlooking a space I'm worried about). Not fussed about night vision as [1] it's behind glass and [2] it's overlooking a space with an automatic floodlight. Also not worried about special features on that particular unit.

Good to know that the App is ubiquitous. It seems that the subscription isn't usually to view but only to cloud store.
 
Marakith said:
Thanks, both!
Reolink looks good, @bimbleuk - I'm looking into that brand now. They also have some nice looking exterior solar powered cameras, should I decide to go that route.

@WJA96 - thanks for the query. TBH I didn't know what a PoE injector was until you suggested it. Yes - the point about the USB was so that I could extend the cable to go to a high up window. I don't need this particular camera to be waterproof (it's going in a window overlooking a space I'm worried about). Not fussed about night vision as [1] it's behind glass and [2] it's overlooking a space with an automatic floodlight. Also not worried about special features on that particular unit.

Good to know that the App is ubiquitous. It seems that the subscription isn't usually to view but only to cloud store.
Click to expand...
Camera behind glass will be a disaster with reflections.
 
I've just bought a Reolink Argus Pro 3 that fits your requirements.

Argus 3 Pro on the right, Reolink E1 Outdoor on the left which also follows cars/pedestrians.
Also works with Android APP.

reolink2.jpg



Argus 3 Pro powered by a solar panel and it's always on 100%

reolink3.jpg
 
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Marakith said:
Reolink looks really useful - I'm going to go for that. Thanks for the advice, all!
Click to expand...

Just be aware that all the cameras obviously work with the Reolink PC software and Android App however the battery/solar panel cameras won't work with something like Synology Surveillance Software.
My powered E1 Outdoor can play back at 32x on the Reolink software and Synology but my Argus 3 Pro will only playback at 1x.
The E1 Outdoor can upload the video to 3rd party but the battery Argus 3 Pro can't and the video can only be played from the memory cards.
For me this isn't a problem and I'm adding this next week which doesn't have to be that good because it's just looking out on my garden - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reolink-Re...1663850932&sprefix=,aps,113&sr=8-1-spons&th=1

Next month I'm hoping to get the Reolink Doorbell to replace my Ring, that will also be powered, WiFi and will work with Synology etc.
 
I use Reolink E1 Pro's (mains powered) for indoor usage and will extend this to my parents house soon too. Whilst Reolink is mostly closed source stuff, the app does the job well enough.
 
Kainz said:
I use Reolink E1 Pro's (mains powered) for indoor usage and will extend this to my parents house soon too. Whilst Reolink is mostly closed source stuff, the app does the job well enough.
Click to expand...

The E1s definitely work with Synology, my E1 Outdoor is on the E1 Pro setting in Synology.
 
SexyGreyFox said:
The E1s definitely work with Synology, my E1 Outdoor is on the E1 Pro setting in Synology.
Click to expand...
That’s good to know. I haven’t tried it on my Qnap NAS really so I’m just using good a very secure SD card setup. :o

I wish Reolink would open up to apple HomeKit though.
 
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Thanks, all!

I really like the look/ price of the Argus ECO as well. Then of course went down the rabbit hole of looking at the Reolink recorders. OMG.

So I've installed the E1 - easy enough to setup. What's I've noticed is that my phone (on wifi) won't connect to the camera (on wifi). My network is on a Linksys Velop mesh.

If I disconnect the phone from the wifi and try to access the camera over the cellular network, it works.

Has anyone else had/ solved this?

Thanks!
 
I used blue iris for 10 years but recently binned it all for a Reolink NVR with 4 (now 5) cameras. I really rate the Reolink for simply working and working well. The power usage is great - the NVR + 4 PoE cameras only pulls 30 watts.

I added a 5th wireless indoor camera (looking out a window) to the NVR as well - all nice and easy.

I have full remote access over the internet without having to do any port forwarding or UPnP, and no need to subscribe to anything. The remote access doesn't involve China - in Europe its theres a server in the Microsoft or Amazon cloud in Ireland I believe that acts as a man-in-the-middle server between your NVR and your remote client. Its very clear how to disable this as well - nothing is hidden.

The final thing I like is they support their products ! I emailed them a question and got a response next day, and their Reddit has active staff input with people testing new stuff etc. Its not some no-name Chinese stuff that gets abandoned when its sold. There are periodic firmware upgrades etc and no-worries about grey-market stuff.

Sure you can get higher spec cameras elsewhere, but as a package solution for the home or small business I really rate them.
 
I’ve posted several times in the past that companies like Reolink are great until part of the system goes wrong and the new stuff is incompatible so if you’re buying a complete system you need to replace the complete system on a warranty claim. No issue with them honouring warranty claims, they just send you a complete new system.

Obviously if you’re only buying individual cameras that’s not an issue.
 
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