ᐅ Security cameras, because our dog is a heavy sleeper...

tumaa schrieb:

A colleague of mine lives in a new housing development, and they have a WhatsApp group. Every time a stranger comes into the area, it gets posted in the group with their license plate details, etc. 🙂 ...........

That leads to some awkward explanations for the visitors *laugh*

A small tip about GOLIATH: The entire hardware comes from "alhua"; other distributors just put their own name on it. If you buy the original, you pay about half the price!

Good outdoor cameras cost money. You should not underestimate the amount of data generated daily when cameras record at a reasonably good resolution. For one camera, more than 500 MB per day is not unusual if it is set to be sufficiently sensitive. That leads to the second point: If you don’t want to constantly see bushes and trees moving in the wind, the camera should have good person/motion detection. And who wants to review 1,000 images per camera per day? Night vision is also important if you don’t want to install multiple cameras (day/night). In my opinion, Wi-Fi simply does not work because the data volumes that need to be transmitted are too large. A LAN cable or other wired solution should be in place.

It also makes sense if the cameras can be quickly and easily controlled via a monitor connected to the doorbell system. Having to start the computer, open the browser, enter the IP address, etc., is too cumbersome. One push of a button on the surveillance monitor should provide access to the individual cameras. Dome cameras with remotely adjustable lenses (rotation up to 359 degrees, tilt angle adjustable, zoomable, etc.) are great. But again, that costs money. One manufacturer offering modular cameras (body, lenses, etc.) is Mobotix, covering the full range from zoom, panorama, day/night to thermal imaging cameras (even bulletproof). However, with such manufacturers, prices quickly reach four figures...

For the ambitious DIY enthusiast, I would still estimate 180–300 EUR (about 180–300 USD) per camera. Anything less is just a toy. It’s better to have a single camera at a well-chosen location that works well day and night at all temperatures, is pan-tilt, and zoomable.

Traumfaenger schrieb:

A small tip about GOLIATH: All the hardware comes from "alhua", other distributors just print their own name on it. If you buy the original, you pay roughly half the price!

Dahua.

By the way, for example, Synology Surveillance Center (software for every Synology NAS system) adds activity markers to the recordings. This makes it easy to jump to relevant moments if you record continuously, which is recommended. Often, motion detection only works moderately well, so you will be glad to have footage anyway.

Regarding PTZ cameras (pan-tilt-zoom): you can be sure the camera will always be pointing in the wrong direction when something happens. It is better to cover the area with several fixed cameras or choose 360° models.

Edit, because my neutral link to the manufacturer mentioned above was not wanted: You can also calculate the required storage space for the specified manufacturer based on the number of cameras, resolution, recording days, and desired quality. These values apply to any NAS brand running compatible software.

Good mobile cameras can make sense. However, they are still more expensive than fixed ones.
In a private household with a normally sized property, they are usually not necessary.
Motion detection works better if integrated into the camera.
Axis or, if you like the concept (and size), Mobotix.
As mentioned earlier, secure the Network Attached Storage (NAS) mechanically, use a separate power supply, and have a backup offsite.