(Part 2) Best products from r/homesecurity

Thanks for the information.

I thought Zigbee/Z-Wave wireless sensors were generally compatible with any transceiver (as long as they're the same protocol)? So if I had (for example) a Z-Wave USB dongle that provided a generic virtual serial port or some other interface, I could send and receive messages from a computer to Z-Wave sensors that were paired to the wireless network? (Note: I just randomly selected those two links from Google for examples -- I have no idea if they're compatible or anything, I'm totally new to these technologies and this is what I'm researching.)

I don't have a Raspberry Pi, but I read a few articles talking about modules that could communicate with Zigbee and ZWave, so that's why I mentioned it. I'd rather just use a USB dongle transceiver/antenna with my existing Linux server.

My NVR is just a basic Python application I wrote that's running on the Linux server that records my camera streams to disk with a web interface to view them live or from recordings. It'd be easy to additionally listen to wireless sensor messages, and then log them, tag the recordings and send an alert. That's what I want to do, but I don't know what kind of hardware to look at.

I could set up a motion detection zone on each camera and capture ONVIF events but I feel like a simple door is open or closed sensor would have less false positives. Plus, I want to learn about wireless sensor tech. :)

So many variables I don't normally deal with. I've never had moths be attracted to IR, maybe these are cheap and use too wide of a spectrum? Also smart motion detection definitely is not just watching for pixel changes. What I install will surround a face with one color a car with another etc. This can't just be a pixel change.

I think you have realistic requirements but have cheaped out a bit on the cameras.

If you want something budget friendly that will actually work id start with LTS Platinum 4.1MP Matrix IR Turret IP Camera: 2.8mm, 100 ft Infrared, PoE/12v DC, IP66, DWDR, Onvif, 3yr https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0163AOH18/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SMGozbQHHHJ8P

Also, What NVR are you using? Or PC setup?

                    My own **PERSONAL** recommendations<br />

My Camera being used outside---

https://www.amazon.com/Foscam-Audio-Wireless-Ultra-Camera/dp/B01F4RJV3K/





Recommended Systems---







NVR: http://www.amazon.com/Amcrest-NV1104-1080p-Network-Recorder/dp/B00X4UDCYE/



Low budget OK all in one: https://www.amazon.com/Security-Systems-Outdoor-Weatherproof-Smartphone/dp/B00HJYVJ1E

Midrange budget Decent all in one with some limitations: https://www.amazon.com/EZVIZ-Security-Weatherproof-Cameras-Channel/dp/B015121KH8/







Recommended Good Cost Minded Cameras---









Budget “Indoor” PTZ Dome Camera (with MIC+SOUND) 2MP ~$98.60 https://www.amazon.com/Amcrest-ProHD-Wireless-Security-Camera/dp/B0145OQXCK/ (black also available)

Top End “Indoor” PTZ Dome Camera (with MIC+SOUND) 4MP ~$199.99 https://www.amazon.com/Foscam-Ultra-HD-Wireless-Security-Superior/dp/B01F4RJV3K (black also available)

“Indoor” PTZ Dome Camera [some limitations - Chinese] (with MIC+SOUND) 4MP ~$111.56 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Chinese-Firmware-DS-2DC2402IW-D3-4MP-IP-Camera-Mini-PTZ-Camera-With-IR-30M-Support-ONVIF/32623907200.html



Budget Indoor/Outdoor PTZ Dome Camera (no audio?) 2MP ~$188.00 https://www.amazon.com/ANRAN-Onvif-Vision-Network-Camera/dp/B00LXVU9NI

Top End Indoor/Outdoor PTZ Dome Camera (SOUND Only) 4MP ~$249.99 https://reolink.com/shop/rlc423-4mp-4x-optical-zoom-ptz-poe-ip-camera/





Budget & Top End Indoor/Outdoor Fixed Dome Camera (SOUND Only) 4MP ~$73.99 https://www.amazon.com/Reolink-RLC-420-2560x1440P-Outdoor-Detection/dp/B0147XLVIU/





Budget Indoor/Outdoor Fixed Bullet Camera (no audio?) 4MP ~$74.99 https://www.amazon.com/Reolink-RLC-410-Megapixel-Monitoring-Waterproof/dp/B010LH48F4 (wireless option available for $25 more)

Top End Indoor/Outdoor Fixed Bullet Camera (no audio?) 5MP ~$129.00 https://www.amazon.com/GW-Security-Megapixel-Resolution-Varifocal/dp/B01ATUAOTM

Indoor/Outdoor Fixed Bullet Cam Coming soon (with MIC+SOUND) 4MP ~? http://www.foscam.com/FI9901EP.html





Terms---

PTZ = Camera moves/adjusts with a motor and remotely,
Fixed = Camera must be moved/adjusted manually,
MIC = Talk to bystanders,
SOUND = Hear bystanders,
Budget = Decent camera, great price,
Top End = Great camera, reasonably priced but more than budget

you'll spend like 4x the cost of the equipment to have them installed.

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i think i'm over-complicating things. i thought you meant you didn't want them on your network, you just want them to not be able to put your video on the cloud.

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if you want to not have the camera talking to the cloud, you just log into your wifi router and under the LAN or firewall settings you forbid the MAC address of the camera to have access to the internet. you'll still be able to log onto the cameras from your own network, to view recordings etc, but they won't be able to reach out to the cloud. most wifi cameras have local storage (meaning a SD card you plug into the thing). so you'll have the local storage and be cloud free :)

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but keep in mind, if you block the camera from the internet, you also lose all the alert messaging and remote ptz features. are you sure you can't just "disable" the cloud storage on the Arlo? of course, how to you know if it really isn't pushing video to the cloud.

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if you don't want any cloud features, i think you'll be overpaying if you go with the Arlo, a lot of the price is for the remote control and cloud service features. you can probably get a cheaper model, like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G6Z4Z3K/.

Assuming a solid core door. If a hollow core door, first replace with a good metal exterior solid core door and then see below.

1. Remove the screws which hold your hinges into the frame. They are most likely 1 1/4" long. Replace them with 3" deck screws. Also replace the screws that hold the hinges to the door with 2 1/2" deck screws.
   
   
2. install a deadbolt if you don't already have one. Best is if it's offset from the lock set by 12". If you have the tools and skills install another deadbolt. If the first is 12" above the lock put the second one 12" below. Use GOOD locks! There is a difference.
   
   
3. Install a deadbolt and lock reinforcent plates according to the directions. Here's an example : https://www.amazon.com/Reinforcement-Deadbolt-Reinforcer-Security-Strengthen/dp/B005KP0YGU/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=5JNSTA45S9KH&keywords=deadbolt+reinforcement+plate&qid=1572125361&sprefix=deadbolt+re%2Caps%2C240&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzTDE2VFdKMFhQTjdSJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzM3MDY1QUhNTEs0OEs5TVdZJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3Mzc0NjAxOUZCUDgyTkdaQzFTJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
   
   
4. Same for the door lock: https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-Products-9551-Reinforcer-Stainless/dp/B000OFTIL8/ref=pd_sim_b2b_7?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000OFTIL8&pd_rd_r=d5b3c5aa-c731-4c87-9b90-b887a522107f&pd_rd_w=bsuv6&pd_rd_wg=gwiAR&pf_rd_p=a07701e4-f565-442a-b97f-93ab23cbb7ef&pf_rd_r=64PRKZYD4KQJF99M3NNS&psc=1&refRID=64PRKZYD4KQJF99M3NNS
   
   
   
5. as the other poster alluded to the key is to make your house entry less attractive than others. Cameras and lights do wonders. Remove anything that can mask an intruders actions such as shrubs. Also remove items that can be thrown through windows.

Okay, few quick things:

To get around the "no adhesive on door" you could get an over the door hanger, and attach things to that. Just measure your door width to get the right size. Like these, they come in various sizes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MAWLU1L

There are peephole cameras, or "endoscope cameras" that have a thin fiber optic lens that you could snake through the door gap.

For when you're home, get a "burglar bar"/"apartment door security bar" - that is a brace that you set on your side that will make it harder to force the door open.

Also you can have a handyman or locksmith install one of these, which makes the door harder to pry or kick open but could possibly be installed without requiring any actual modification to the door (if there's enough gap). Just measure and make sure you get the right size (or get one from the locksmith): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006GDULOK

Ed: okay that last one would help more on a wood door, I see you have a metal door, so probably not much additional security.

Can you install things on the inside as long as they don't attach to the door? You could put holders for bars on either side of the door, assuming the jambs are reasonably sturdy.

Also internal camera and motion detector, check it before you go home so you don't walk into an intrusion.

Netatmo Presence. Absolute beauty. Works really well and the light is strong.

If its a kit that comes with a NVR recorder the ports on the NVR are usually POE ports. If your going to record with a pc and blue iris software or something then get a poe switch.

The cameras only need 100mbit but you will want gigabit to connect the computer/recorder, so you can find a cheaper one with 8 poe 10/100 ports as long as it has a gigabit uplink port. Also make sure it has more then enough power, cameras are usually around 7.5w so 8x would be 60w. I would get a switch that has at least 80w or so for some buffer. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QMJZZJZ (havn't used this brand just a example). Or a switch with all gigabit ports will work as well, it just usually costs more and the camera ports don't need gigabit.

$3895 is a lot too much.

I would go with the 2MP Starlights. These (x6 = 1061.94) are what I would recommend. The seller is extremely reputable, and I've bought a significant amount from him over the years.

I would go with this NVR, with a large WD Purple hard drive. $500-520 Go with the 16 channel, as you can always add more cameras, and not need to get a new NVR.

You can get a 8 Port POE switch for around $160.

I'd go with a bigger screen, 32" minimum.

the regular solar floodlights are pretty good.. normally they are 12v configuration the way they wire up the batteries. maybe you can use a larger solar panel or a second one to capture more light.. you can also extend the wire pretty easy to move the panel to a different side of the shed if it gets more light.

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I would either go with this two pack .. this is the model i have

https://www.amazon.com/ANKO-Waterproof-Security-Suitable-Driveway/dp/B06WGYZYCV

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or better is

https://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-82153-Detection-Distance-resistant/dp/B01IU74FQO/

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solar light output is notoriously over rated in product descriptions and you have to remember that a 60watt indoor led light is only putting out as much as that second larger floodlight.. it won't be like you are mounting a huge arc light to the side of the shed that can grow plants at night.. it will probably be just enough to see .. but because it has three heads you can point the other two wider and cover a larger area.

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Tough to get a quality outdoor-rated camera at around $100. For decent night vision, I've been playing around with a Dahua starlight camera, but that comes out to closer to $200.

One of the few non-cloud-tethered cameras in the $100 price range that I actually like is TriVision, though you'll want to add a MicroSD card for local recording.

Neither of these requires a proprietary viewer app, can be viewed with TinyCam Monitor on Android or from any web browser (assuming you're on the same network or have an incoming VPN or (risky) port forwarding.

Take a look at the Two Post Strike Plate to reinforce your doors. It is very easy to install, much more affordable and will protect your door from being kicked in.

www.tuffstrike.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KP0YGU/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_.BcECbG54KGGH

You should replace the strike plate screws with longer ones. Your landlord won't notice or care.

You could also get something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Mbangde-Upgrade-Wedge-Door-Alarm/dp/B01LWYYCSA/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=door+security+upgrade&qid=1563548418&s=gateway&sr=8-5

I have no idea how well it would work but it's cheap and it's something.

On top of that the best thing you could do is get a weapon and have it staged so you can access it quickly. If you can get a gun do that, but you mentioned you're not in the US so that might be out of the question. The next best weapon to a gun is a sword or machete. Get one and get some training if possible. A real that won't break off the handle as soon as you swing it.

$1000 is probably workable though may still be a little tight. Here is just a random build I tossed together off the top of my head - dollars rounded:

6x https://smile.amazon.com/Reolink-Security-Surveillance-Detection-RLC-410/dp/B010LH48F4/ ($300)

1x https://smile.amazon.com/TRENDnet-GREENnet-Switching-Protection-TPE-TG82G/dp/B074PXNRFH/ ($100)

1x https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Z230-Workstation-SFF-Intel-Core-i5-4590-3-30GHz-16GB-128GB-SSD-500GB-Win10/183511257970?hash=item2aba1f9372:g:8qcAAOSw9y1b2IJ1:rk:3:pf:1&frcectupt=true (or similar ~$250)

1x https://smile.amazon.com/Purple-Surveillance-Hard-Disk-Drive/dp/B00IMPO5MO/ ($75)

1x http://blueirissoftware.com/purchase/ ($60)

That puts you right around $800 which leaves some space for cable and such. You could go cheaper on the PC, I picked that to give you some additional wiggle room if you wanted to add more cameras. Just get something with 8GB of RAM (or more) and a good Intel CPU. https://ipcamtalk.com/wiki/choosing-hardware-for-blue-iris/

I've started to work towards that as well. I just added a Dahua PoE camera on my porch with audio but I still want the motion+button+intercom features of a doorbell as well.

I bought this nonbranded camera system and really enjoy it. Sorry I can't offer feedback on the system but maybe just the knowledge that someone else has an off brand that worked will be enough for you. It's been running for 1 year now.

As a side note i got the Ezviz because it offers IFTTT support so i can create a script to turn on motion alerts when my house is empty.

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This will notify you if it senses sound and or audio. It can also start recording when that occurs. Their iOS app is called babycam I think, but lots of apps are out there that will work.

Amcrest ProHD 1080P WiFi Wireless IP Security Camera - 1080P (1920TVL), IP2M-841W (White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0145OQXCK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_4Xc1cGNTf1CGc

Very cool. I'd still need a hub though, correct? Or maybe this would work? Sorry, I don't know anything about this world.

I can adjust the sensitivity, I can adjust the motion grid. Software motion detection is terrible outdoors. All it does is watch pixel changes. There are too many variables. Imagine a moth being attracted to the IR LEDS. It will eventually fly and cover the entire lens. The sensitivity adjustment has no worthwhile effect. Either you miss everything or get everything.


https://www.amazon.com/Security-Megapixels-2560x1440-Detection-RLC-410/dp/B010LH48F4

That is what I have installed, great quality. Just worthless outdoor motion detection. I even have it under a porch... the sunlight coming through the clouds will change the pixels quickly enough to trigger it no matter the grid or sensitivity.