Camera Security Systems???

[Diggin It]

^^ I've got mixed feelings about 110 punch blocks/patch panels. It can be hard for a novice to lay down the right color codes. I prefer terminating cable runs on Keystone jacks (still 110) that lock into patch panels and then use patch cords from there to the switches or other devices (routers, POE injectors, etc.).

 

[dragoneggs]

Something I know a lot about. I have cameras all over my property, and I'm an IT guy by trade.. So, I've done a lot of research on it, and wound up with Ubiquiti. They are the leader in "commercial grade" but consumer priced gear. I'll warn you though, it's not "cheap". It works great, it lasts (I have installs that are over 5 years old still working great) and it is wildly configurable. So, that said, let's figure you what you need:

Cameras (get as many as you need):
UniFi Video G3-FLEX Camera






– Ubiquiti Networks
(There are other options too, these are just the most cost effective)

Location 1 (allows for up to 5 cameras, if you need more, get a bigger switch) :
Switch: UniFi Switch 8 (15W)






– Ubiquiti Networks
DVR/controller: UniFi Cloud Key Gen2 Plus






– Ubiquiti Networks
Signal transmitter to location 2: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078NN1J4K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Location 2 (allows for up to 7 cameras, if you need more, get a bigger switch):
Switch: UniFi Switch 8 (15W)






– Ubiquiti Networks
Signal transmitter to location 1: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078NN1J4K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

With this system, you'll need to run cat 5/6 cable to all the cameras. You may what to hire this done, making up Ethernet ends isn't hard, but, if you've never done it before, it could be frustrating. Terminate everything into a punch down block and then plug it all in. I can add pictures of my installation if you'd like to see it, I have 5 cameras on my barn and 5 cameras on my house. Still have some blind spots, but, it's pretty good. I can also point you at the right cable to use (DO NOT use the cheap alum with copper coating (CCA), you'll hate yourself for it, pay the extra, get real copper) and the racks/punch downs/etc. If you had all the equipment ready and called a guy to come do the cable runs for you, you're probably looking at a few hundred bucks (assuming there's no crazy attic/underground/etc work).

All in, I've probably spent about 2K on my setup. I also have WiFi in my barn too, it's real easy to add that to this setup, and it works as a mesh, so when I walk from the house to barn, I have WiFi the whole way and it hands off seamlessly. It's a very nice and very reliable system.

Quick look at the UniFi cameras but these don't appear to have close the same resolution at the Reolinks. 1080 vs 1440. That is important to me.

Question: Does one simply plug a PoE switch into an existing router?

 

[Diggin It]

Question: Does one simply plug a PoE switch into an existing router?

Generally, yes. There should be at least one non-POE port to use as an uplink port.

 

[dragoneggs]

Generally, yes. There should be at least one non-POE port to use as an uplink port.

Gonna have to look, hang on...

 

[Industrial Toys]

Unfortunately most people don't have the luxury of comparing video equipment side by side and I have found, that is often the only way you can compare. Like the old TV stores or departments.

I have had (security system) customers go out and buy big box CCTV systems, believe it or not pharmaceutical companies, to meet health canada requirements. Those cameras gradually degraded to zero performance. I have had cameras fail, but never degrade. Notwithstanding old vidicon tube cameras! There is some real junk out there.

 

[goeduck]

I picked up a bunch of Axis cameras off of a contractor liquidation for a prayer a few months back, most new still in boxes. No one knew what they were including one a PTZ with a 32x zoom. A number of 5 MP cameras, all POE. I have seen Axis cameras in commercial buildings so I know they are not cheap. A nice Vigitron Hi POE 24 port switch as well. Now I just need the head end and to pull the Ethernet cables. I might look at one of those Hikivison units.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Unfortunately a lot of that high end stuff is quite proprietary. I just put in some cameras (Hikvision) that provide 1080P over coax, but they only work on the new Hikvision Recorder. It was an Evil plan. One of two outside cameras had failed and when I replaced it with 1080P suddenly the customer didn't like the old cameras anymore and requested I replace them all.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Quick look at the UniFi cameras but these don't appear to have close the same resolution at the Reolinks. 1080 vs 1440. That is important to me.

Question: Does one simply plug a PoE switch into an existing router?

Yes, i have a couple poe switches. You can also buy a cheap poe injector for just one camera.

 

[dragoneggs]

Generally, yes. There should be at least one non-POE port to use as an uplink port.

Gonna have to look, hang on...

Well my router, Netgear GS108T seems to support PoE. Making progress.

Richard, the Lorex system worked okay for me out of the box but as I mentioned earlier in this thread, I regretted the proprietary cables. I want a system that uses Cat 5/6 so my options are open. I don't know if you can add other brand cameras to this system but maybe that isn't important to you. If you do go Lorex, check Costco.

 

[vvanders]

Any router will support PoE, it's all in the switch/pass-through that injects power into the final cable. I use the US-8-60W here Ubiquiti Networks - UniFi(R) Switch 8 that gives me 4 PoE ports. Two of them run my two access points and the third runs some other hardware that I have.

PoE is the way to go IMO. Brings power and data right to the camera which is hard to beat for simplicity.