Quick question regarding POE cameras. I want to install a poe system and have the dvr unit in the living room at the tv but I don’t want to have to run every cat5 cable down the wall from the attic. Can a single cat5 run be used from the dvr up to something like a switch and then cables to each camera or am I going to have to bring each cameras cable down the wall to the unit? It would be a lot easier if I can run a single line.

Yes - You can get a POE Switch (That is powerful enough to power all the cams) and put it between the NVR and the cams...

I am looking at this Reolink system:

Reolink

What 8 slot switch would you recommend? Or should I be looking at a different system that would work better for my need?

And it should be cameras to switch, switch to router and router to NVR for the best config correct?

If your nerdy enough you can make it work with any 8 port poe switch that has atleast 100 watts of poe power output. The thing is all the cameras will have to be manually programmed for their IP addresses. The nvr will have to be programmed to receive those manual IP addresses. I don’t know if that system will do it. You will need to consult with others who have that. Some systems are easy to program and others are difficult.

The reason why you would have to manually program them is because the cameras are more than likely plug and play if directly plugged into the poe ports on the back of the nvr. When not directly plugged in, they will have to be programmed manually. I could do it but since I’m not there, I can’t explain it because I’m not good at instruction unless I had experience with that reolink system.

What may be easier is you install the nvr in a closet and have all the cables go back directly into the nvr. Then run 1 cat5e or cat6a cable from the nvr to the tv and then purchase a Vanco hdmi balun Kit. The balun kit will send the video signal from the hdmi output from the nvr to the TV.

Thank you. This might well be a workable option. If nothing else I could put the dvr unit in the attic and run a single down to the tv. I have easy accessible power there where I would have to wire an outlet into a closet.

Using the blaun way, I would need to run a separate Ethernet line from router to dvr box correct?

Heat is not your DVR's friend. Cool ambient temps and plenty of ventilation make for happy reliable DVR's.

That is what I was afraid of, that’s why I haven’t already done it that way. This should be fairly straightforward but man planning this out is a pain in the ass

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-16-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-JGS516PE/dp/B00GG1ACX2/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=netgear+poe+16&qid=1596397342&sr=8-4

I have a couple of those. One upstairs and one in the basement.

I have a POE Reolink system. I used a switch in between my nvr and cameras also. But i ran individual lines for each camera. 8 cameras all accessible are one time.

I ran cat6 while building so it was much easier.

So doing comparison, thoughts on these 2 systems

Reolink

Amcrest

You can plug the cameras to the POE switch then the NVR and router to the same switch.

From there your router will assign the IP address to the camera through DHCP and the NVR should be able to see these cameras.

I usually once I get access to the cameras I change their network configuration to have static IP this way they are set and easy to remeber which is which.

I use address reservations in my DHCP server for all my cameras.

Hello, with the permission of the owner of the subject, I am also curious about this topic.

Head over to Ipcamtalk forums, you can read hundreds of threads on the subject.

I simply drilled a hole in the attic in the top plate of the wall and fed my cables down inside the wall and out of a "pass-through" faceplate.