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Posted: 3/21/2017 12:20:53 PM EDT
I volunteered to help a family member in planning a camera system for a new construction home. Here is what they want:
1. I advocated a POE system (future-proof and they already have a 8 port POE switch left over from another project) 2. Dome cameras (most likely non-PTZ due to costs) 3. Ability to see down the length of the house on all sides 4. Able direct the feed into a HDMI input on their TV (hit button on remote to switch over to camera) 5. Remote viewing (away from home) not necessary. Most of that seems pretty straight forward except for #4. Here is a very rough idea of layout: Attached File We spoke with the builder and he is going to pre-wire those 6 points with ethernet cables and run them back to a central point in a closet (I hate fishing cables). Now I'm trying to figure out the rest of it. Very low crime sub-urban area FWIW. So: 1. POE switch to old PC for a DVR (my original plan) or would a dedicated/IP camera specific device be better? I have an older desktop tower I was going to use but it may be lacking on CPU & RAM due to age. 2. Dome cameras the way to go? Suggestions on a dome camera (budget minded but not garbage)? 3. Any ideas on how to feed the input into a TV from across the house (network closet to TV)? Thus far the best I can come up with that doesn't require me to constantly troubleshoot it is to have more ethernet run to the TV locations and using "Monitors AnyWhere" (found via google). A bit pricey for the software & client box but I really don't want to constantly be asked to fix a glitchy system. 
Any other thoughts are greatly appreciated. The TV viewing has me scratching my head. They do not want a Desktop box in their living room. Maybe a dedicated POE DVR/System box (one that looks similar to a cable TV box??) next to their cable box and use the TV as the monitor? |
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I have used Dahua domes and Amcrest PoE non-dome outdoor cameras with BlueIris. The Dahua didn't have night vision, so I replaced with the Amcrest 1080p ProHD. I have a streetlight out front so I was ok without NV for a few years. As long as you don't expect anyone to try bashing them, the non domes work fine. Dome cameras with IR lights inside the domes have a reputation for poor night image quality. Don't put them so far out of reach in the eves that you can't clean them once in a while. Near a window is often good enough.
Any recent desktop running windows with blueiris should be able to handle 6 camera feeds with motion detection. Motion detection drives up the CPU utilization. Heck, even some business class laptops can likely handle this job just fine. I think putting the feeds on the TVs is sub-optimal. You will probably only get the live feed from all cameras, but won't have the ability to go back and look at history, focus on one cam, etc. without some method of input to the machine providing the feed. I'd recommend getting a couple of cheap tablets (Fire HD maybe?) and using the web browser to access the blueiris web interface for control and stored clips. It will be cheaper than that video distribution system and much more functional. |
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Been doing lots of reading since I haven't kept up with IP cams for a couple of years. Here is what I think I'm going to do:
All camera wires feedback to a network closet--already coordinated. Going to plug cameras into 8 port POE switch (left over equipment). Switch stays in closet. 6 cameras & 1 NVR leaves 1 extra port for another future camera. Ethernet line run to TV location from network closet during construction--already coordinated. Found a simple NVR that nellys folks recommended (read about them here). Place NVR near TV with other cable boxes and plug into POE switch. Nellys says that it should be plug & play. HDMI from NVR to TV input. Use the TV as the monitor. Plug in a USB mouse when needed. TV remote to change inputs from regular cable to camera display. POE switch in closet, NVR in other room next to TV. Separate locations should keep some of the heat down in the closet. I've already got 3 decent used dome cameras so going to just use those---not doing anything else with them. Will probably get 1 more dome camera (although I forgot that they don't do well with built in IR) and 2 bullet cams for under the porch, looking at front/back door. Pre-wiring is probably going to be the most expensive part but not my problem and I hate running lines. |
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Nelly's recommendation would work just fine. They are located here in Tulsa and I drive past their shop on a weekly basis although I've never been inside.
For anyone who cares.... There are many situations where a SPOT monitor is very very useful. I've setup many for my customers and myself using an "IP camera Decoder" Which is a purpose built device. generally they are pretty expensive and a little picky to setup if you are not familiar with IP cameras. If you are interested in looking them up Hikvision makes one and ACTI makes a pretty good one. |
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Harmony Ultimate for switching. I had my system set up with this. You set up everything in a closet or someplace you dont want anything to be seen. You get a home theater receiver and then you only need to run a single hdmi cable to your tv. the harmony remote allows you to switch between cable, security system, game systems, dvd/blu-ray players, and whatever else you have plugged into the receiver.
Only caveat is I promise it gets old really quickly switching between tv and security system. whenever the door rings or dogs bark or whatever happens, it gets old fast switching to the security screen. It is much nicer having a separate small tv that is a dedicated security tv. It is always on, even at night so all I have to do is glance over and see what is going on. Either way, the Harmony is nice becasue it allows for a wire-free look and only takes up one hdmi port on our tv. |
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