Home Security Cameras

[Ifti]

I use the Netgear Arlo system at home as its rated as one of the most secure available.
Live streaming video is great, with minimal lag. Audio passes through nicely, although trying to speak through the cameras is a little hit and miss.
Motion detection and recording works great, and the battery life for each camera is up to around 6 months, depending on how much they are used.
Ive set mine up so that when motion is detected on any of the 4 cameras they record to the cloud, but I have an additional mode whereby when motion is detected by the two ground floor cameras they sound the alarm as well as record. Its really quite flexible on how you want them set up.

Heres a video I created - albeit a year or so ago now...

I am aware there is a newer version available, but I don't want to upgrade since at the moment I get 10 days free cloud storage with the Arlo Pro. I believe with the new ones you have to pay a subscription!

 

[MacBH928]

I use the Netgear Arlo system at home as its rated as one of the most secure available.
Live streaming video is great, with minimal lag. Audio passes through nicely, although trying to speak through the cameras is a little hit and miss.
Motion detection and recording works great, and the battery life for each camera is up to around 6 months, depending on how much they are used.
Ive set mine up so that when motion is detected on any of the 4 cameras they record to the cloud, but I have an additional mode whereby when motion is detected by the two ground floor cameras they sound the alarm as well as record. Its really quite flexible on how you want them set up.

Heres a video I created - albeit a year or so ago now...

I am aware there is a newer version available, but I don't want to upgrade since at the moment I get 10 days free cloud storage with the Arlo Pro. I believe with the new ones you have to pay a subscription!

This one sounds like a good choice, but I have a few questions:-
1)If you choose to record locally, how do you access the footage? Is it over your wife network or does it go through the internet and back to you? I don't want anything to go over the internet.

2)If I choose to store it locally, do I still have to connect the base station to the internet? Why? Can't I just access the device directly?

3)How is the picture quality? I had one and it looked like 80's VHS homevideo recorded in stop motion. It was a pain to look at.

4)I hear the new ones Arlo Pro 2 have a flaw with them they constantly go "offline", what does that mean? Given the price of this kit I am not risking it.

5)What is the framerate? I see 20fps for many of them, but that seems low. I don't want to see motion blurs and ghosting.

Do you want to access just live feeds, or do you want a cloud recording service? Do you want it to be part of a home automation system or standalone? For example Simplisafe is a self contained security system. It is well reviewed, inexpensive compared to other services, and in most cases you can just install it yourself:

https://simplisafe.com/simplicam-security-camera


Will these be battery powered or wired? Constantly recording or just when movement is sensed? Do you have concerns about bad actors gaining access to the cameras?

well to answer your questions
1-I want to access recorded feeds and no I don't want cloud services
2-stand alone, no automation
3-Wired is preferable
4-Constantly, as the area will be busy anyways
5-No bad actors, its for in house use.

I once got a camera and i was very disappointed with the quality, I do not want to repeat that mistake.

 

[Ifti]

The Netgear Arlo is a cloud based system - so the base station with the built in siren needs to be activated and connected to the Internet - otherwise you will not have any remote access to the cameras, and no alerts when motion is detected on when the alarm is activated etc.

The base station has a USB port for local storage of video also - but this is more for secondary long term storage. The video will be saved to the cloud, and a copy also saved locally - the idea being the cloud version is available for up to 10 days, while the local version is available 'forever', ie until you choose to manually delete.

In your first post you mentioned you wanted battery powered cameras, but in the post above you say wired is preferred. Have requirements changed?

Seems like what you may need is a standard DVR based solution for local-only recording.....

 

[joaquinpr]

Can someone recommend a system of webcams for the security of my home? I have moved to another area and I need a camera system to be able to watch live what may happen, I have seen that they mention the brand eufyCam but with them I have not obtained very good results, I need the battery to be durable to be aware of the emissions. What do you recommend? thank you

 

[MacBH928]

The Netgear Arlo is a cloud based system - so the base station with the built in siren needs to be activated and connected to the Internet - otherwise you will not have any remote access to the cameras, and no alerts when motion is detected on when the alarm is activated etc.

The base station has a USB port for local storage of video also - but this is more for secondary long term storage. The video will be saved to the cloud, and a copy also saved locally - the idea being the cloud version is available for up to 10 days, while the local version is available 'forever', ie until you choose to manually delete.

In your first post you mentioned you wanted battery powered cameras, but in the post above you say wired is preferred. Have requirements changed?

Seems like what you may need is a standard DVR based solution for local-only recording.....

You must be confusing me with another poster, I didn't mention I want a battery powered camera.

Do you trust having your home 24hr recording stored in the cloud?

 

[Newtons Apple]

Any advantages to these over Nest? Besides Nest is wired for power?

I have 5 nest camera at my house and two at the office. The main advantage to a plug in powered camera is they are recording all the time. The battery powered units only record when they sense movement. I have found that would be inadequate at times.

 

[Ifti]

You must be confusing me with another poster, I didn't mention I want a battery powered camera.

Do you trust having your home 24hr recording stored in the cloud?

Apologies - I thought you were the OP of the thread!
I've been running my cameras for around 2 years or so now. Never had any issues, and yes I do trust them. Obviously use a strong password etc, but the Arlo's are known to be one of the most secure cloud based CCTV cameras available.

I have 5 nest camera at my house and two at the office. The main advantage to a plug in powered camera is they are recording all the time. The battery powered units only record when they sense movement. I have found that would be inadequate at times.

If you can live with a wired solution then they are much recommended - I just didn't want to run the wires around the house after it had just been redecorated. I should have thought about installing before decorating!
But you are correct, the only downside to the battery cameras is they record on motion, and so they can start recording a second after motion is detected. However, they do have large motion zones and I've always captured video with the subject perfectly fine.

Note though, that although CCTV cameras are handy, and can be a deterrent, I've also noticed most 'unwanted people' cover their faces or wear caps etc, so in a lot of cases CCTV evidence could be useless
I use mine as deterrents and as a trigger for the alarm to activate. I would never use a CCTV system without some kind of alarm linked to them.....

 

[AZhappyjack]

Apologies - I thought you were the OP of the thread!
I've been running my cameras for around 2 years or so now. Never had any issues, and yes I do trust them. Obviously use a strong password etc, but the Arlo's are known to be one of the most secure cloud based CCTV cameras available.

I use mine as deterrents and as a trigger for the alarm to activate. I would never use a CCTV system without some kind of alarm linked to them.....

I am curious about this - the alarm built into the Arlo base. Since the base unit is in my office, near the modem/router, I wonder how effective the alarm is. If motion is detected outside my front door, does the alarm even matter/a deterrent if it's 20 yards away inside my home?

I would love to hear how others have set their system up - specifically, the placement of the base unit relative to the camera placement.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Apologies - I thought you were the OP of the thread!
I've been running my cameras for around 2 years or so now. Never had any issues, and yes I do trust them. Obviously use a strong password etc, but the Arlo's are known to be one of the most secure cloud based CCTV cameras available.



If you can live with a wired solution then they are much recommended - I just didn't want to run the wires around the house after it had just been redecorated. I should have thought about installing before decorating!
But you are correct, the only downside to the battery cameras is they record on motion, and so they can start recording a second after motion is detected. However, they do have large motion zones and I've always captured video with the subject perfectly fine.

Note though, that although CCTV cameras are handy, and can be a deterrent, I've also noticed most 'unwanted people' cover their faces or wear caps etc, so in a lot of cases CCTV evidence could be useless
I use mine as deterrents and as a trigger for the alarm to activate. I would never use a CCTV system without some kind of alarm linked to them.....

LOL! None of this is fool proof. One can cover their face with the battery units, too.

I do not want it to alarm the police as they could take hours to get there.

My iPhone and Watch alarm me when they drive down my driveway and again when they get to the front or back doors.

You use what works for you and I will use what works for me!

 

[Ifti]

I am curious about this - the alarm built into the Arlo base. Since the base unit is in my office, near the modem/router, I wonder how effective the alarm is. If motion is detected outside my front door, does the alarm even matter/a deterrent if it's 20 yards away inside my home?

My base station is also in the middle of my home, so not near the front or rear where I would expect an intruder to enter, but its a very loud piercing noise - so loud that when entering the front door if I forgotten to turn the system off when entering, the sound is VERY uncomfortable. Easily loud enough to alert neighbouring houses too.
I use the alarm with my internal cameras, so if someone were to break in the alarm would sound (as well as alerting family members via their phone apps). I don't have it activate for external cameras (I just have them set to record on motion alone).
Seems to work for me.

LOL! None of this is fool proof. One can cover their face with the battery units, too.
I do not want it to alarm the police as they could take hours to get there.
My iPhone and Watch alarm me when they drive down my driveway and again when they get to the front or back doors.
You use what works for you and I will use what works for me!

Not sure what I said for this response. The last paragraph of my previous post was directed to CCTV in general. I wasn't aiming it at wired-only systems.
What works well for me may be an awful setup for someone else. I'm not pushing the system on anyone. I have nothing to gain. I 'm just airing my experience with my system. I don't see the harm in that.

 

[AZhappyjack]

My base station is also in the middle of my home, so not near the front or rear where I would expect an intruder to enter, but its a very loud piercing noise - so loud that when entering the front door if I forgotten to turn the system off when entering, the sound is VERY uncomfortable. Easily loud enough to alert neighbouring houses too.
I use the alarm with my internal cameras, so if someone were to break in the alarm would sound (as well as alerting family members via their phone apps). I don't have it activate for external cameras (I just have them set to record on motion alone).
Seems to work for me.

Thanks. I appreciate the information.

 

[robert1693]

Hi. I am planing to buy a CCTV camera. I need the camera can work with wifi, and I don't need cloud service. And I can work with my Apple and Android phone. The camera can show clear picture at night. Have any recommend? Thank you

 

[steve knight]

Hi. I am planing to buy a CCTV camera. I need the camera can work with wifi, and I don't need cloud service. And I can work with my Apple and Android phone. The camera can show clear picture at night. Have any recommend? Thank you

Arlo does all that. it does have could service but its free.

 

[robert1693]

Arlo does all that. it does have could service but its free.

thank you

 

[marklemac]

If we're talking HomeKit, I've got the D-Link Omna 180's, Netatmo Welcome and the Logitech Circle 2.

Omna > nice compact camera, records to sd card, very good night vision. However, the playback of the sd card is slow, D-Link need to improve their software.

Welcome > again nice and compact, records to sd card and can also upload to dropbox/ftp. Night vision is amazing. Camera playback again is slow to load.

Circle 2 > By far the best cam. Only records to cloud, free for one day pay for more. play back is instant, quality is superb. haven't really tested night vision yet. The various mounts etc are very useful, plus it's an outdoor camera too.

Once the HomeKit secure video update is out, the circle 2 will be a kick ass camera.

 

[d.steve]

EufyCam 2 is starting to ship. They said it's HomeKit compatible now with HomeKit Secure Video by end of year, but first report indicates that it doesn't actually have HomeKit out of the box. So ????

I've got a couple of Circle 2 cameras, but in a holding pattern for more cameras until HomeKit Secure Video shows up. Race is on: Circle 2, EufyCam 2, Netatmo.

Arlo is a non-starter for me despite 4k. They won't do HomeKit Secure Video because it competes with their product marketing strategy of getting cloud subscription revenue.

 

[steve knight]

myself I wont depend on homekit it has just been too much of a hassle. half the time I cant get it it to work with ecobee. after having smartthigns for so long it is jsut too primitive.

 

[Itinj24]

EufyCam 2 is starting to ship. They said it's HomeKit compatible now with HomeKit Secure Video by end of year, but first report indicates that it doesn't actually have HomeKit out of the box. So ????

I've got a couple of Circle 2 cameras, but in a holding pattern for more cameras until HomeKit Secure Video shows up. Race is on: Circle 2, EufyCam 2, Netatmo.

Arlo is a non-starter for me despite 4k. They won't do HomeKit Secure Video because it competes with their product marketing strategy of getting cloud subscription revenue.

I bought the 4 pack of Arlo Pro 2 the same day HomeKit was announced. Hot garbage! The integration was awful after the 5 hours on each of three days I tried getting it to work with HomeKit. The recording and live stream was severely delayed (30 or more seconds). Returned on the 4th day in favor of more Logitech 2’s. That was back in August so I’m sure (I hope) they released updates to fix that since then. Wasn’t just me either. The Arlo forums blew up. Now the Arlo Ultra 4K? Gotta sell a kidney to finance those.

Circle 2’s are great and that 180 deg angle is huge. Was able to use one camera for full coverage where it would’ve taken 2 with the Arlos