Reddit mentions of Amcrest 960P Wireless IP Camera 1.3MP Indoor WiFi Security Camera, Home Video Surveillance System with IR Night Vision, Two-Way Talk for Pet, Nanny Cam Baby Monitor IPM-HX1W (White)

First, I own an e-commerce company with a warehouse/distribution center but we also have a small showroom in the front of our facility, and I’m not always there so I like to be able to keep an eye on things.

I have tested the Nest Cam system, had a 4 camera D-Link system with several 2132L and a 5222L camera with the DNR-202L recorder, and now have a custom system comprised of a cheap PC, Blue Iris software, and 5 Amcrest ProHD wireless cameras.

Here are my thoughts on the various systems we have tried...

Nest Cam - BY FAR the easiest to setup. Just create an account, add each camera, and you’re done. The software is fantastic. So easy to use. Really top notch. But it’s expensive. To keep any kind of recording and not just have live video feed, you need a subscription to their web service. A 30 day history costs $300 a year for the first camera, with discounts for additional cameras. With 5 cameras, we’d be looking at close to $1k a year and would only be able to store 30 days worth of video. That was just too expensive for me.

D-Link - This system worked pretty well for about two years. I really liked that it recorded to hard drives locally, was accessible from anywhere using the website or mobile apps, and had no long-term costs. But ultimately, the system’s 4 camera limit (with this particular recorder) and the frustrating glitches and nonexistent technical support of D-Link forced me to consider other options, and I’m so glad I did.

I had a cheap PC that wasn’t being used, so I wondered if I could just install some software and control cameras with it. I tried this when I still had the D-link cameras, and tested several different software packages. When I came across the Blue Iris software, I knew I had found the winner within minutes. It is easy to setup, works extremely well, and was pretty inexpensive ($50-60 I think). The mobile app was another $10 if I remember correctly. I already had the computer, but ordered 5 new HD cameras (linked above) for about $50 each, so my total investment was a little over $300, less than half what I spent on a 4 camera D-Link system.

The system works great, is expandable to as many cameras as I want to add, and can use virtually any IP camera you can find online. Their list of supported cameras is impressive.

If money isn’t an issue at all, then I’d recommend the Nest Cam. It’s the best out there, really. But if spending several hundred dollars a year per camera, for 30 days of recording retention, seems crazy, find a decent PC, buy some IP cameras and install Blue Iris software. Or find a geek to do it for you. You’ll thank me.

Amcrest isn't foscam. Foscam US was reselling Foscam in the US till Foscam decided to do it themselves. So after Foscam US built up the brand, they got booted. Foscam US then started Amcrest.

I've owned about 6 Foscams, dating back about 6 years ago. I now own 5 Amcrest cameras, 3 different models, and they are better than Foscam of the past.

edit: for op, besides the one you linked, I also own these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZHOILC/ ... really nice wide angle of view, and the camera is cheap. Zero issues with 2 of these units so far, and they come with a magnetic base, so you can mount it on the wall or upside down.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HZZW3IE/ ... outdoor unit, I use it indoors, but for areas that have heat or humidity (like a garage). Its also been working flawlessly so far.

I bought some of these Amcrest cameras (here is the 1080p version) and installed BlueIris on a spare computer I had at home. Works just fine.

I also installed TinyCam Monitor Pro (android) for my phone, and setup a webpage in BlueIris to watch my cameras remotely.

You could get 2 cams and the software for less than $200.

Setup took me a little while, but it wasn't too bad.

The only "gotcha" I ran into was that since I have 8 cameras, and they are all wifi, they saturated my wifi router and slowed everything else down. I pulled an old second router out and connected them all to that one, and then my original router handles my phones, laptops, TVs, etc., just fine.