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I now have three of these $120usd 'Jennov' branded (hik-vision bits and pieces) PTZ cameras:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K9XXP69/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I purchased the first on a whim just to see how bad it was both from a functional point of view and a network security perspective. I was pretty certain it would be junk compared to the Reolink system I have.

I was pleasantly surprised, functionally it works rather well even if the 5MP claim is technically true but mostly useless. They do however do a great job at 4MP and the PTZ functionality is awesome and scriptable with a few curl tricks. The low light capability is as good if not better then the Reolink systems, which makes sense since it is running on a generic M400 board camera. It is so good in low light I've used it to refine satellite orbits via observations. The camera can detect mag 2.5 - 3.0 satellites easily (3.5 or dimmer not so much).

Here's a sample from a 4MP source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGUQjnNpaWI

Here's a more recent sample recorded at 1080P in h.264 since editing h265 at 4MP is a royal PITA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKHi9dwBHzo

Also, because rockets are cool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKHi9dwBHzo :)

When I first put it online it went into a network alone with just a single 4 port switch and a spare laptop running Kali Linux from an image. I monitored, poked, and probed it for several days and didn't find anything concerning. No telnet, no SSH, no P2P attempts (once I turned it off), no unusual open ports, no attempts at uPNP, or any strangeness. The ports that were opened were secure enough, with the exception of the ONVIF port, it would accept incoming PTZ commands w/o authenticating, but I couldn't find a way to exploit it.

I also got a copy of the firmware and used binwalk to unpack it and I'm exploring the contents to see what I can see, so far nothing obvious. https://i.imgur.com/FUdxxUa.png I actually would like to enable SSH so I can poke at its internals on live platform, which seems doable I just need to work up the courage to flash my version of the firmware to it! :)

And because I could, here's a horribly produced tear down video where I ramble on way to long as I tear it apart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEbvl-GoE8I

Also Also, not a shill, this is a hobby and I was pleasantly surprised at how decent this silly thing is. It is as good or better than the Reolink camera and I find its ability to not need an NVR and to instead dump the video onto an NFS share to be much simpler. Don't get me wrong, I like my Reolink NVR and Cameras as they just work and setting them up was painless.

$2K is a bit steep.

Four IP cameras, like Hikvision DS-2CD2032F (3MP nightvision HD bullet POE camera) will cost around $425 total. (about $100/camera, plus shipping)

A Hikvision NVR like DS-7608NI-E2/8P goes for $275

https://www.amazon.com/HIKVISION-DS-7608NI-E2-8P-Network-Recorder/dp/B00VMNRZS4

Note, although there are 4-channel recorders, it is always better to go up a model, both for future growth, and the higher model is faster.

Add:

• Hard drive for NVR: WD 1T 'purple' (Hard drive made for video recorders) $60
  
  
• Four 150-foot CAT-5E patch cables: $100 total
  
  
• APC Back UPS 450: $75
  
  
• All the above is all you need., and you're at about $900 for parts.
  
  
• Hikvision has all sorts of features, email alerts, etc.
  
  You need four cables run to a central place where you can put NVR and UPS, ideally where there is an ethernet port as well.
  
  It will take about two-three hours to install drive, configure NVR, setup port forwarding in firewall, hang/adjust cams, run cables. I would think a competent installer could do all that for $250-300.
  
  
• License plate recognition:
  
  LPR is based on the number of pixels-per-foot, the distance, and lighting/speed of car.
  
  
• As a general guide, if you hang a Hikvision 4mm 3MP camera, you can read a license plate clearly at about 30 feet.
  There are all sorts of calculations that go into the number of PPF (pixels-per-foot) based on the field of view (FOV) of the camera, etc. If you need to read license plates for sure, potentially you may need to go higher than 3MP cameras, and use a longer lens than 4mm. A 4MP or 5MP camera could read a plate, (with ideal angle, lighting, speed, etc) at around 50 feet. For longer distances, need a longer lens, and of course YMMV depending on angle, light conditions, speed of car, etc.
  
  
• For most cameras, 4mm lens is the most common.
  
  
• 2.8mm is VERY handy for around the house, as 2.8 has nearly 90 degree view angle, vs around 70 degrees for 4mm.
  
  
• if you had one camera with a better view of the street, then going to a 6mm or 12mm lens may help (keep in mind it's a trade off, since a camera setup to grab license plates won't have a wide-angle view of the whole area.
  
  
  

> R720xd

Thank you for the response. I certainly agree that there are some better alternatives out there but I work for a local government and there are contracts, warranties and such in place for a couple more years and I know the powers that be aren't going to be to be open on buying another server or spending tons of money on a DAS shelf even thought I would love to do that. After all our warranties and contracts are up with Avigilon and the Integrators in a couple years I think think that would be a great option. In the mean time I'm hoping for a less expensive option and seeing if a SATA III HD working through eSATA would be sufficient for secondary storage and continuous archiving in Avigilon. This is the drive I have been looking at. I would have to get a powered enclosure for it. A lot of people on Amazon reviews talk about using it in their NVR's. We have 26 camera connections most are 4k. Thanks for any feedback!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H55KMFH/?coliid=I3DTRBF87NYII0&colid=1OQ1YT8VRM275&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Are you able to run Ethernet cable yourself to the spots you want the cameras? Do you have a desktop PC that has half decent performance?

I just setup a 3 IP camera Power over Ethernet system (4MP cameras) with incredible motion detection and alerting to phones for $500. I paid twice the price for one of the cameras as well through an authorized reseller, you could get 4 cameras for close to $500 total with materials.

Not sure how deep you’ve researched yet so I’ll recap how my system works.

PoE IP cameras each have a single Ethernet cable which powers them and transmits the video stream back. Those Ethernet cables go to a PoE Switch. A single Ethernet cable goes from the PoE switch to my router. Router connects to PC.

My PC is running Blue Iris software for video recording/motion detection/alerting. This software is highly customizable. You can get very advanced and change settings on each individual camera for alerts/recording/motion sensitivity, etc. I can’t recommend this setup any more over standalone WiFi cameras which lock you into expensive services that offer half the features.

Cost breakdown:

• Cameras: you can get “unauthorized” versions of professional grade cameras off Amazon. Lookup Dahua 4MP IP PoE cameras. They’re around $80 each.
  
• PoE switch ($75-80) https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00F6DL2FS?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_pd_title
  
• 100 ft cat 6 Ethernet cable ($16/each Amazon)
  
• Blue Iris PC software: $60
  
• Blue Iris Phone app $10
  
  Assuming you’ve got a half decent desktop and a router that should be about it for costs.
  
  

• Unauthorized cameras are cameras originally
  Manufactured by the name brand company themselves but the firmware was originally meant for a different region. The amazon reseller has manually added the English version of the firmware to the camera. For this reason you can never upgrade the firmware on these cameras. To me, this isn’t a big deal but to each his own. I’d rather pay half for a camera and save the rest to buy a better camera in the future with improved lenses once they come out at decent prices. In my experience as well I ordered 3 unauthorized versions and had to send 1 back. So whenever you order from make sure they have a good return policy.

You'll need the camera side, base side, and the power brick for the base side. No need for poe from the switch.
VERACITY VPSU-57V-800-US HIGHWIRE POWERSTAR OPTIONAL 57V DC POWER SUPPLY (US)

Cat-6 over 1000 ft.? I'm not sure.
The cable I used was only 1000ft. Maybe you can splice, but every time you break or slice you can loose some signal strength.

This cable did well but is intended for areal poll mounting since it has the messenger cable for support. Vertical Cable Cat6, Shielded, UV Jacket, Outdoor, CMX, Messenger, 1000ft, Black, Bulk Ethernet Cable, Wooden Spool

Cameras? I've found dahua to be a good bang for my buck if I order from China through aliexpress. The IPCamera site is great but the Cliff notes are a great resource to start.
I would say for night vision 2mp with a large image sensor:

Dahua high end 2mp

Midrange that I currently use.

thank you for the list

I am still researching DORI and differences between cameras, but from what I gathered so far here is what I need:

• blue iris $70 (with a phone app)
  
• pc (since it only supports windows) likely i7-6700 something like this
  
• PoE switch: something like this
  
• router, I have an old lynksys with dd-wrt which should do it
  
• several very long ethernet cables with some couplers
  
• most likely also a UPS
  
• ONVIF, PoE cameras
  
  the last bit I am still looking at. I am not ready to spend several hundred dollars per camera (one of your examples is Dahua 2MP Starlight which seems to be super expensive). While I understand it might be much better than the rest, I'd like to see if I can be in a $50 to $100 dollar range per camera. Is there any such cameras you can recommend?
  
  I can see some (ONVIF, PoE): Hikvision 4MP, ONWOTE 5MP, ONWOTE, 4X Optical Zoom Autofocus, Amcrest ProHD, GW Security 5, JideTech PTZ, etc. but I am not sure how to gauge the quality.

I have no experience with the EZVIZ brand, but the system you linked is an old-school analog - I would steer clear of it. Their "good" PoE digital system with 8 cameras runs over $1,300... a bit overpriced in my opinion:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016CY2YYC

Working within your budget, I would instead start with something like LaView's 16-channel 8-camera 1080p PoE system - I have installed LaView systems and they work fantastically. They give you everything you need including all the cables for $950 with FREE shipping on Amazon (see link below). This is a highly expandable system - it comes with a 3TB HD but you can add three additional hard drives in the future if you want. It comes with 8 cameras, but has capacity to add 8 more in the future for a total of 16. If you have a tight budget, it's much better to invest in a true digital PoE system and expand it as you go, rather than get locked into one based on a cheaper but obsolete technology.

https://www.amazon.com/LaView-Camera-Security-Channel-Surveillance/dp/B00KXB6E9C/

https://www.amazon.com/LaView-Outdoor-Weatherproof-100ftCables-Included/dp/B014K5WPA8/

WDR is great for certain situations sadly not this one, what you need is more IR lighting.
Here’s a quick video about WDR
https://www.axis.com/en-ca/technologies/forensic-wdr .
There are some cameras that will work in very low light conditions the Axis cameras with their lightfinder technology is great or the starlight cameras are amazing failing that something like https://www.amazon.com/Univivi-Infrared-Illuminator-Waterproof-Security/dp/B01G6K407Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=ir+illuminator&qid=1568064140&s=gateway&sr=8-4 would help a lot , try a magazine with a face on it put it on your vehicle so you can see how good it looks. Though you don’t seem to have a definition problem just a lighting issue. Hope this is some help to you.

Look for a stand-alone LaView Camera, which is actually a rebranded Hikvision with decent firmware and US based support and warranty. You could also get similar Dahua or Hikvision on Amazon but beware of knockoffs and unauthorized reseller shipping those with Chinese firmware. These cameras support recording to FTP and NAS, are outdoor proof either bullet or dome, do motion detection. You will have to come up with a power solution, these use 12v 1Amp or 2Amps tops.

​

https://www.amazon.com/LaView-Bullet-Outdoor-MicroSD-Weather/dp/B06ZYRZSW7/

Check the FDT line of cameras out.

They have built in ability to record to an SD card. And they have a pretty good recording setup.

But if you want motion detection i would highly suggest something like Blue Iris.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GF5M42A/

That's 50 bucks, for 10 bucks more you can get the 1080p version.

I'm not sure what these might go for in £, however, the BV Tech PoE switches are pretty solid in the case you want to go that way.

In my experience - having a PoE switch makes choosing and adding good quality IP cams much easier that messing around with injectors and wall-wart power adapters.

install an inexpensiveish Hikvision camera

plug it into your power outlet (probably secure this in a steel box)

if you have line of site from the neighborhood entrance to your house or the community office then install a pair of these to create a wireless bridge (like an invisible ethernet line up to a half mile distance. you can now monitor the camera as often as you want from just entering its ip address. let me know if this is a route your interested in and I can provide more info if needed

Posted once before:

• $35 PoE switch - https://www.amazon.com/BV-Tech-Switch-Ethernet-Uplink-Function/dp/B075G2PM17/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1535259448&sr=1-5&keywords=poe+switch
  
  
• (2) $175 Dahua 5231 ZE 2MP Starlight Turret camera - https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B07B7K1P28/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all&qid=1535259602&sr=8-1
  
  
• $60 Blue Iris - http://blueirissoftware.com/purchase/
  
  

• $10 Blue Iris Mobile App - iOS - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blue-iris/id585350145
  
• $10 Blue Iris Mobile App - Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blueirissoftware.blueiris&hl=en
  
  

• $380 Dell OptiPlex 7040 from eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-OptiPlex-7040-Desktop-Intel-6th-Gen-i5-6500-1TB-HDD-8GB-RAM-Windows-7-Pro/223117631628?hash=item33f2d8e08c:g:YEAAAOSwfZta91xQ
  

• Don't need graphics card, just use Intel HW acceleration
  
  

• $118 Western Digital Purple 4TB Surveillance HDD - https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822231535&cm_re=surveillance_hard_drive-_-22-231-535-_-Product
  
  
• $230 Bulk Cat6 Solid Ethernet Bulk Cable - https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10234&cs_id=1023403&p_id=9482&seq=1&format=2
  
  Total = $1,183
  
  You can either get more cameras, save some money, or spend the rest on misc installation stuff.
  
  
  
  
  

Edit - I've done a little more research and PoE is certainly the way I'm looking to go.

So, as a hypothetical, if I were to purchase this system (or a system similar to it) -
https://www.amazon.com/ZOSI-Security-Surveillance-Megapixel-Weatherproof/dp/B07CVB292L

Would I be able to purchase a different camera entirely, one that is wifi enabled and has a solar power source, and hook it up to it? What would that functionality be called? I would imagine it is an IP camera, could something like that be connected to this NVR?

Thanks

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012IE4GNC?m=A3127SC7U3N05Z&ref_=v_sp_widget_detail_page
one of these should do it. 4MP resolution is going to be great for forensic footage. Just grab a 64gb SD card for local recording.

Nobody's mentioned this but the IR LEDs of the camera do not seem to be aimed at the center point of the image as I would have expected it to be. This is how most cameras are designed. It almost looks as if the IR light is coming from another source and not the camera that created the image you posted.

If pointing the camera to the right is not an option, go with additional IR lights such as this one: https://www.amazon.com/Univivi-U06R-WideAngle-Lights-Illuminator/dp/B00M3O5ERK/

VueVille.com

There are tons of IR spotlights available on Amazon.. I bought a few 12v mini stand alone IR lights, and put them at different locations then the camera illuminating its field of view. It works great, but keep the IR light from looking towards the camera or actually being in it's field of view.

Examples: (both of which I have used)

JC Infrared illuminator

Univivi wide angle/long range IR light

Not very discreet, however you can place it somewhere less conspicuous than on top of your door... price is right though.

https://www.amazon.com/Wyze-Indoor-Wireless-Camera-Vision/dp/B076H3SRXG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1527702300&sr=8-3&keywords=WyzeCam+1080p+HD

Hello - I am looking for a similar product. However, some of the amazon reviews have scared me away.

https://www.amazon.com/Wyze-Indoor-Wireless-Camera-Vision/dp/B076H3SRXG/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1526423778&sr=1-2&keywords=wyze

People are reporting data from their camera is being sent to China, Germany, and other countries.

Is there any reason a security camera should do this?

I believe I can help you on this one. That's actually my company's PoE Switch. Like u/securitytech said, realistically each cam only is using 3-4Mbps. Even if you overestimated to 10Mbps per cam x8 (80 total), the 100Mbps uplink is adequate. We also do sell an 8 port ALL gigabit switch POE-SW800G that's only $10 more, however, it does not have a dedicated uplink port, but you can use any of 8 for an uplink back to the network. The downside is then you can only attach up to 7 PoE devices this way. Let me know if you have any questions.