Security surveillance camera

[Jetfiend]

I have 4 cameras installed so far, the video quallty is really good. This is the RLC-422 dome camera with a 30w LED security light just to the right of it. Thanks @OCD Solutions for turning me on to this setup and answering all of my stupid questions!

 

[OCD Solutions]

Thank you DAG!

Hello Boyer,

Thank you for joining in Reolink Play & Say feedback program!

Congratulations! You are invited to be our distinguished customer to test the prototype of Reolink Keen camera.

Pretty stoked to try one of these out. It's battery powered and wifi so it's the ultimate in portability.

I have one of their RLC 410W units mounted to a magnet base but this will be quite a bit easier to move around and set up.

It's home will be a spot in our living room that can see the kitchen, main entrance and hallway and we picked it for one huge factor...it can see all the major areas plus the stove!

We went out for dinner and groceries a few weeks ago and my wife stressed the whole time because she thought she left the stove on. I told her if we had the camera, (I was pitching the new C2), we could zoom in and find out.

https://reolink.com/keen/

 

[OCD Solutions]

Not sure if this is by invite only or not but here is a link to pre-order the new Reolink Keen at 30% off.

Reg $129.99, pre-order now for $90.99

https://reolink.com/product/keen/?u...18&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=keenpreorder

 

[Turtle]

Not sure if this is by invite only or not but here is a link to pre-order the new Reolink Keen at 30% off.

Reg $129.99, pre-order now for $90.99

https://reolink.com/product/keen/?u...18&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=keenpreorder

i'm interested ...I have a belkin netcam that took a crap after about a year so I was looking into upgrading. Curious how long the battery life lasts

 

[DAG]

Karma bitch

 

[OCD Solutions]

Anyone else ever amazed at the route that packages take to get to you?

It hasn't even arrived yet and I'm already impressed. Hong Kong to Savannah GA in 2 days!

 

[jo5hi3]

Karma?

 

[OCD Solutions]

Lol, everyone has that one friend.

 

[Ducky]

Ok...so I want a 2 camera setup. One for the front, and one for the back of my townhouse.

What do I want? How long does everyone store footage for, or how big of a drive do you need?

 

[OCD Solutions]

I need to get rid of a camera or two.

I'll have to think on what I think would be a good setup to record it on. Ideally, you want enough storage to keep 5-6 days. After messing with different software packages, I still think an all in one dedicated NVR is much better than trying to piece together a system like I did at first.

My setup has 2TB of storage and with 8 cameras 24/6, it stores just over 4 days. I really should get a 4 or 6 TB drive for it.

 

[Ducky]

I need to get rid of a camera or two.

I'll have to think on what I think would be a good setup to record it on. Ideally, you want enough storage to keep 5-6 days.

My setup has 2TB of storage and with 8 cameras 24/6, it stores just over 4 days. I really should get a 4 or 6 TB drive for it.

Well lemme know, maybe we can work out a deal for the cameras...and then I just need the NVR or whatever.

Based off of your data usage, it sounds like 2 cameras with 1 or 2TB of storage would be enough for me.

 

[OCD Solutions]

I can tell you right now that 2 cameras won't satisfy you for long so plan for a bit of expansion.

I would look at a base setup of a 4ch NVR with the 2 cameras.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Here's a good starter wireless kit for $299.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C6LCDQO/

My only complaint would be the 1080p cameras, especially if you want to get away with just 2 cameras. Decent enough resolution but the 1440p gives the wider view and much better coverage.

 

[Ducky]

I can tell you right now that 2 cameras won't satisfy you for long so plan for a bit of expansion.

I would look at a base setup of a 4ch NVR with the 2 cameras.

I really think 2 would be completely fine...I just want it for the front and back of my townhouse. One for the front door, and one for the driveway...i really dont see the need for anymore than 2. If I had a house with a yard, etc...I would want more.

 

[Ducky]

Here's a good starter wireless kit for $299.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C6LCDQO/

My only complaint would be the 1080p cameras, especially if you want to get away with just 2 cameras. Decent enough resolution but the 1440p gives the wider view and much better coverage.

Yea that is what I was looking at...something just like that. I wasnt sure if there were better options for similar prices or what.

 

[OCD Solutions]

So far nothing beats the quality of ReoLink anywhere even close to that price mark.

Look what just arrived. It's smaller than I expected.

 

[jaxrider]

looks nice. let me know how that works

 

[OCD Solutions]

The camera itself is a well built solid little unit with all the usual Reolink refinements.

The picture quality is perfect and it's actually a much wider view than I had expected. Others reported issues with connectivity through LTE but it works perfect with my iPhone and Verizon.

After a couple days with it, I'm finding it hard to come up with an actual use for it that would justify the cost. No fault of the camera itself but I believe a wired and fully monitored camera would be better suited to meet my needs and I will likely end up ordering the C2 for the garage just like I had always planned.

Here's the deal, it's battery powered and so to conserve power, it's only on when you log into it or the external sensor detects movement. The more you monitor it, the shorter the battery life. If you set up the motion sensor so it emails you a picture whenever it sees a trigger, the battery could last up to 8 months. It will also store up to 128GB locally but you would have to pull the SD card to retrieve the footage.

Being portable, it's ideal to move around or set up to monitor a particular spot or scenario like kids playing, check in on the pets or someone messing with your office whenever you step out. This could be a handy little item to "supplement" your arsenal but I think that for most people it will sit around without a full time assignment to task it with. Maybe not a deal breaker but at $129, some might not find it useful enough to justify the cost for a limited usage camera.

I would really love to use the external PIR motion sensor to trigger my main cameras. They currently use software to detect motion in the video feed but it's easily fooled by insects, wind and weather in general. An external infrared sensor solves all that.

The other thing I want to see is motion events marked somehow in the saved video. The motion setup is so unreliable with so many false alarms, I had to just set all my cameras to record 24/7. The problem with this is that now you have a ton of footage to review to find anything. Higher end software will record 24/7 and tag the footage with motion alerts so you can quickly run through and just watch the highlights.

 

[feartheride]

looking for cameras for exterior of my home, what would you recommend Im thinking 8 channel with 4 or 6 cameras would be a good start. I really know nothing about them but do want something I could view from my phone, will any of the systems message ur phone when they detect movement. probably not good on windy dys..

 

[OCD Solutions]

How much do you want to spend? Wired or wireless cameras?

As for motion, it's near impossible to get it set up where it works decent. Wind, birds, spiderwebs, rain, fog, all mess with motion and give false triggers. So many that I gave up and just record 24/7 now.

My advise would be to get an 8Ch NVR bundled with 4 cameras and then add more individual cameras later.

Wired;
https://www.amazon.com/Reolink-Busi...r=8-3&keywords=reolink+security+camera+system

or the wireless version here;
https://www.amazon.com/Business-Wir...keywords=reolink+security+camera+system&psc=1

They all seem to bundle their systems oddly. An 8CH NVR comes with 4 cameras, if you want a bundle with 8 cameras, they bump you up to a 16Ch NVR. Not sure why I can't buy an 8CH NVR with 8 Cameras!