ᐅ Looking for a bright exterior light with an Ethernet camera for the main entrance

Created on: 17 Feb 2020 09:14
A
annab377
Hello everyone,

From what I have read here, good lighting of the entire building activated by motion (using motion/infrared sensors) is very important for security and burglary prevention.

Some members of the housebuilding forum have also chosen to install a real or even dummy alarm system.

What I am considering now is a bright outdoor light at the main entrance (front door) that activates in the dark when it detects movement and also has a wide-angle camera. This camera could then display inside the house who is standing at the door. This way, you could avoid installing the smaller doorbell camera and at the same time gain an additional deterrent against burglars by having a better-quality camera. The intruder would not know if it is an internet-connected camera / if it is constantly recording or just shows whoever rings the doorbell.

What do you think about this, or do you have any experience with such outdoor light cameras?

Thanks.
Regards
Mycraft17 Feb 2020 14:01
I don’t recommend anything that isn’t genuinely good...

If you have money to spare, want to rely on a cloud service (a no-go in the security field), and don’t care about the appearance of the facade or entrance area, then you can take a look at Ring products. Otherwise, it’s more of a toy to satisfy curiosity.

I won’t even get into bitrate issues and other problems like permanent audio drops...
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annab377
17 Feb 2020 14:37
You are probably right, so I will definitely lean towards the following system:
- Good LED lights with motion sensors all around the house
- An IP camera at the entrance (I have checked the prices of the entry-level models from the three brands you mentioned. It will probably be a Hikvision or Axis, since Mobotix starts only at several hundred euros. For example, I was thinking of something like the Hikvision DS-2CD2142FWD-I(2.8mm) IP Dome Camera. Which entry-level models would you recommend?)
- The IP camera connected through the facade via PoE and an NVR on a NAS or other storage options inside the house
- A simple doorbell intercom without a camera next to the front door, since I want to cover the entrance area anyway with the IP camera
- A clearly visible ABUS alarm system dummy
Best regards
Mycraft17 Feb 2020 14:43
Yes, that sounds like a plan. The Hiki you have chosen is fine for a start. I wouldn’t go below 4 megapixels. You can also watch some videos to see the kind of images they produce.
Musketier17 Feb 2020 15:47
I have already looked into this topic since the child is growing up and will eventually be home alone. However, I haven’t made much progress.

Some cameras have the SD card inside the camera itself. I don’t find that practical.
Some cameras send the data somewhere to the cloud. That’s not an option for me either.
That leaves the IP camera solution suggested by Mycraft (I already have a NAS).
For basic monitoring or deterrence, that’s clear, but how do I make the image (especially for the child) accessible in a practical way when someone rings the doorbell (without KNX)?

Connecting a simple tablet somewhere in the hallway is one thing, but how do you make it so that the tablet automatically turns on as soon as the camera sends a signal?
How do you plan to set this up?
A
annab377
17 Feb 2020 16:11
That is a very valid question and immediately highlights a point I forgot to include in my plan:
the monitor in the entrance area inside the house. Yes, a simple tablet or LCD display that can be controlled over Wi-Fi/LAN so that the NVR streams to the tablet via an app. But since, as I said, I don’t have the time or budget for KNX, it’s really a very good question which app or hardware would work for this without much effort.
Mycraft17 Feb 2020 16:39
The cameras always have an RTSP stream, which can be viewed, for example, with VLC. Whether you use a TV, tablet, or an additional display for viewing depends on your preference. You can also set something up with a Raspberry Pi. Another option is push notifications with an image when the doorbell is pressed. There are many possibilities.