Home Security?

[davidg4781]

I'm not sure if this is the best forum for this but I'm curious what y'all have to offer.

I'm looking to put in some cameras around my house. I have a few needs and some likes and was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction.

• Need - wireless, night vision/mode
• Want - local storage, can use a Mac
• Need - accessible through phone app, maybe HomeKit
• Want - No monthly fees
• Want - Scalable to add door sensors and other accessories

As for the Mac, I have a 2010 MBP I can use but it normally stays in sleep mode. I'm also looking to buy a newer MacBook Pro, but that would stay in sleep mode when no one's home. If needed, I could get an inexpensive mini. Although, from what I've seen, it looks like they normally send the video to a separate controller box that stores the video.

I'll probably post on Reddit also, unless someone else has any better websites. Since we're pretty much an Apple home, I was wondering mainly if there's anything geared towards Apple users.

 

[steve knight]

I would say arlo but it is not perfect. Cant get mine hocked up to HomeKit. it can be slow on alerts and sometimes misses people.

 

[Itinj24]

For a DIY security system, Aqara all the way. Fast under Zigbee 3.0 and reliable in HomeKit. You need a Hub but if you need cameras, theirs double as a hub. Only thing is, they only make indoor cameras. The cameras take an SD card for local storage or work with HomeKit Secure Video Video. The plug in Hub (M1S) has a speaker that makes sounds based on whatever automation you want (customizable in the Aqara app) like opening a door, tripping the alarm, etc and an LED ring that can flash with the alarm or be used as a night light …. Also, the many sensors you can add to the hub, that are also exposed in HomeKit, are very nicely priced. Contact, vibration, temp/humidity, Motion, VOC, etc… You can always slap some Eufy cams or Logitech Circle 2’s to fill the outdoor void. I believe the Eufy have local SD card storage but you’ll need an iCloud subscription for the Logitechs for recording.

 

[MuGeN PoWeR]

I am using Ring and I have added it to HomeKit using Homebridge and it works perfectly fine!

 

[cynics]

Cameras indoor or outdoor? When you say wireless do you mean battery or just wireless data transfer via wifi?

1. Pretty much every native HomeKit compatible camera will be wifi with IR night mode. The battery IP cameras I've used in the past were _ok_ at best with about 3-5 weeks of battery life. This sounds fine but charging it gets old fast. I replaced drilled a hole for the Logitech's Circle 2 cable.

2. Apples HomeKit solutions encrypt and transfer recordings off site in the cloud. Many cameras will offer SD storage however it will be SD storage OR iCloud with HomeKit. SD card recording would break the encryption between capture and upload.

3. Home app allows you to stream or download recordings/events from the iPhone. Typically you can also use it to communicate through the camera via a speaker as well.

4. You need Apples 1/2tb iCloud plan HomeKit security camera setup. While you get the storage space for iCloud AND the recordings from the cameras don't consume that storage there is an associated cost ($10 dollars per month I think). Might just want to consider some inexpensive Wyze cameras.

5. HomeKit has a couple solutions for door sensors. Since its an entire system you can often make your own solutions via automations. For example, a motion sensor sitting by the door that turns on all the lights and sets off an alarm that is armed by geofencing (when you aren't home it arms, when you are it disarms). And there are standard sensors too. Honeywell makes an adapter for their security systems to take and existing security system and have it communicate with HomeKit.

Everything I mentioned above is done by using Apple sponsored HomeKit accessories everything is compatible and setup its typically simple. However you can get more creative, like someone else mentioned they are using Homebridge which basically allows you go make any accessory HomeKit compatible so you can integrate it into your Home app.

 

[steve knight]

4. You need Apples 1/2tb iCloud plan HomeKit security camera setup. While you get the storage space for iCloud AND the recordings from the cameras don't consume that storage there is an associated cost ($10 dollars per month I think). Might just want to consider some inexpensive Wyze cameras.

no extra cost for at least one camera.