Security Cameras

[Peazoup]

I would like to have security cameras (3) installed at my house. I don't know where to begin. What is the best system that doesn't require a subscription? How about installation, any suggestions as to who to call? Battery operated would be good or should I have electrical outlets installed? Love to hear from you if you've been this route. TIA

[Two Bills]

I would like to have security cameras (3) installed at my house. I don't know where to begin. What is the best system that doesn't require a subscription? How about installation, any suggestions as to who to call? Battery operated would be good or should I have electrical outlets installed? Love to hear from you if you've been this route. TIA

This recent discussion may be of use.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/outdoor-cameras-part-security-system-339250/?highlight=security+cameras

[wlasowicz]

I have a Ring with solar powered but it has a subscription only service My option would be a camera that's has local storage such as a micro SD card. 2nd solar powered you won't have to worry about losing power. Also having a solar powered camera with local storage the camera will still records if you lose power or internet or both that you can review when power and internet comes back on

[dewilson58]

Wyze are not expensive.
Both AC and battery models.
Easy to use app.
Records, notifies, live views.
Two-way conversations.

[Babubhat]

Wyze works well. Current offer of 7.99 month for up to 99 cameras of cloud recording. Can use SD card if not wanting cloud

[dewilson58]

Wyze works well. Current offer of 7.99 month for up to 99 cameras of cloud recording

& a FREE recording option.

[Michael G.]

With all the electronics, camera's, ring doorbell, alarm systems, a thief would be crazy to try to brick in any given house today

[SullyP]

I use the Amazon Blink cameras. Love the system. Camera WiFi connect, battery life 2 years, can have video saved to USB so no subscription required. Will give motion alerts.

[Stu4206]

I use eufy cameras. The free version works for what I need. I use the solar cams for outdoors and wired/battery inside.

Battery Surveillance Cameras | eufy Security (https://us.eufy.com/pages/battery-camera?ref=homepage_category_1)

[fsusix]

I love Wyze - inexpensive - high quality cameras - set up very easy - don’t need a to pay - unless you want ($1.77 a month) for videos - free you get photos on your phone/iPad etc… depending on choices you make - movement or noise - some are subscription only - like packages. A great deterrent for thieves- I had an electrician add outlets only because with a 360 degree movement - I put them in places I got the most visual use.

[Capearc]

Check Arlo cameras, no subscription, easy to mount yourself, triggered by movement but you can view live whenever you wish, microphone and speaker in each camera, an alarm sound that can be activated from phone or iPad, sold at Best Buy. You can also allow a friend or neighbour access to the cameras if desired.

[HJBeck]

I would like to have security cameras (3) installed at my house. I don't know where to begin. What is the best system that doesn't require a subscription? How about installation, any suggestions as to who to call? Battery operated would be good or should I have electrical outlets installed? Love to hear from you if you've been this route. TIA

Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. You can get away with 5 cameras (2 indoor, 3 outdoor) for as little as $200-$300 dollars, or spend as much as $1000 with monthly fees in addition to the initial outlay. Either way you need fast internet access (100 MB/S). If you have animals at home, suggest you forget the effort all together. Nuance fals alarms.

[Macevoyja]

I have Blink for the doorbell and three security cameras. It’s very easy to use and if you choose, you can have a subscription plan for $10 month but it’s not necessary.

[midiwiz]

I would like to have security cameras (3) installed at my house. I don't know where to begin. What is the best system that doesn't require a subscription? How about installation, any suggestions as to who to call? Battery operated would be good or should I have electrical outlets installed? Love to hear from you if you've been this route. TIA

you're going to have to have a subscription for the recordings and playback, as noted in other posts that said USB or micro card - these technologies have faults especially in the outdoor elements. You can do solar, but when you have to replace those batteries you'll start running into issues with matching and quality.

being in security, I would use "shielded" electric connect - meaning hard wire or plug in where it can't be touched or altered typically done in conduit into the roofline. Second I would use Wireless and a subscription to avoid issues with hard technologies, I would also do it because of the fact you could end up with nothing. Since my job is to think like the attacker I would go after a usb stick or micro SD and remove them. now you have no evidence. I can easily do anything I want then.

The real answer is there is no band aid, no simple out, no easy. Security costs and needs to be planned and thought out then implemented with care and strategy. otherwise you just wasted your money for no results that benefit you.

[JRcorvette]

Blink is the way to go! EZ set-up… excellent batter life up to 2 years… App on your cell phone for viewing… Add a doorbell camera if you like… subscribe or not it’s optional. Price is reasonable and quality is great.

[Gunny2403]

I would like to have security cameras (3) installed at my house. I don't know where to begin. What is the best system that doesn't require a subscription? How about installation, any suggestions as to who to call? Battery operated would be good or should I have electrical outlets installed? Love to hear from you if you've been this route. TIA
I have Google Nest. Pay $100 per year to have them keep my data. Worth it. I had Pike Electric install electrical outlets in my Soffit. 3 cost me $600. Never have to worry about replacing batteries. If I lose power, the cameras have a battery backup good for a week. Terrific resolution. Can monitor anywhere with my phone.

[ehendersonjr]

I would like to have security cameras (3) installed at my house. I don't know where to begin. What is the best system that doesn't require a subscription? How about installation, any suggestions as to who to call? Battery operated would be good or should I have electrical outlets installed? Love to hear from you if you've been this route. TIA

I use ADT for several reasons:
I buy the cameras, heat, smoke, motion, and glass breakage detectors and they do the installs, including adding power and internet connection. My cameras are accessible even when I’m traveling. (I check every day I’m away). No memory cards necessary because all instances of activity are recorded in the cloud. Activity is monitored by ADT 24/7 so if they get an alarm, they notify me immediately and also law enforcement if necessary. That alone lowers the cost of my homeowner’s insurance enough to offset the ~$60 a month monitoring fee. If you have pets, you can activate all entry and situational detectors(heat and smoke) and deactivate motion detectors. When ADT did the initial visit, they made recommendations I hadn’t thought of and let me choose how I wanted to proceed.

[mrf0151]

We picked up recently at Home Depot a Blink camera security system. Got the doorbell and then two outdoor cameras. Home Depot had a sale on this system so instead of paying $230.00 on Amazon we got this package for $135.00. This system was super easy to install. At this time, I am not subscribing to the Blink system as this package also came with what is called the Sync2 interface which with the plug-in flash drive, will record at all cameras. You can then view recordings later.

[fgrich]

I have three Lorex technology company camera systems: one at a business in Virginia, my personal set up in Illinois, and my new residence in TV. Their technical support is unparalleled in the business. I can monitor all systems remotely on my phone. You would have a DVR for the recording, and the power for all cameras, originate at one location inside your home, thus you wouldn’t need outlets. Wi-Fi is another option, but you would need outlets close to each camera location.

[Nevinator]

I purchased a Tiger Security DVR (digital video recorder) and high definition cameras through Amazon. I purchased the DVR without a hard drive and added a 6 terabyte Western Digital hard drive to the system. I added six cameras, using two megapixel cameras on the sides of my house, and five megapixel cameras in the front and rear, which cover the golf course behind my home and the street out in front. All of the cameras have infrared and motion detection functionality.

The cameras are powered directly from the DVR using an RG 59 cable. The cable is designed so that the DVR acts as the camera power source as well as the video transmission line back to the unit. Installation was relatively simple and you have the ability to set specific areas of each camera viewing area and sensitivity to send alarms. When a motion alarm is triggered, the unit can send you an email along with a photo of the area that detected the motion.

I have been using this unit for three years and other than having to replace, the external power supply one time at a cost of $14, the unit has performed flawlessly.

Bottom line is that there are a lot of great systems on the market. It just depends how much functionality you really think you need and what the intended purpose of the system is for. If you just need shopping for deterrence, one or two outside, cameras may be perfect for your situation. If you are looking for something that will record evidence of an event, or a crime, then perhaps more cameras and higher quality cameras, as well as offsite cloud, storage might be more appropriate .

[Alarmed]

Try Village Alarm. Dave will answer all your questions. No high-pressure sales. 352-446-0278

[Bay Kid]

With all the electronics, camera's, ring doorbell, alarm systems, a thief would be crazy to try to brick in any given house today

Thief's have no fear of being caught anymore.

[Sully2023]

I would like to have security cameras (3) installed at my house. I don't know where to begin. What is the best system that doesn't require a subscription? How about installation, any suggestions as to who to call? Battery operated would be good or should I have electrical outlets installed? Love to hear from you if you've been this route. TIA

Try Wyze cameras. I’ve had them for years, easy to install, very inexpensive.

[hmaynard129]

I would like to have security cameras (3) installed at my house. I don't know where to begin. What is the best system that doesn't require a subscription? How about installation, any suggestions as to who to call? Battery operated would be good or should I have electrical outlets installed? Love to hear from you if you've been this route. TIA

We purchased our security camera system from Costco. We chose to have hardwired cameras so we don’t have to continuously replace or charge batteries it comes with a NVR recorder that records 24 hours around the clock. It’s got a 2 TB hard drive all you really need to do is purchase the system and then hire an electrician to install your cameras so that they’re hardwired, we have that in our home in Michigan and when we move full-time to The Villages we will be installing the same system. You can monitor it yourself from anywhere on your cell phone. It’s a great system you can spend anywhere from 400 to 1000 I think we spent 500 we got eight cameras that all have color night vision an alarm and two-way talking The system we chose is called Lorex

[FastAndCurious]

I love the blink camera system. I have them in the house up north and down here. I can see and control all from one app on my phone. Super easy setup.
Blink is motion activated so if anyone steps in your house, it will notify you with video within seconds.
I don't have a monthly subscription. Not sure what that provides.
The cameras are battery powered so no wires to run. The batteries last at least a year or more.
They cameras can tell you the temperature.
One important thing to note is that blink (as with most other brands) must have a working wifi internet connection.
You can't shut down your internet down while away.
If you google the subject, there will be many comparisons of brands.
Good luck.

[eberlemd]

This recent discussion may be of use.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/outdoor-cameras-part-security-system-339250/?highlight=security+cameras

We have Blink outdoor security cameras. You can pay a monthly subscription OR you can just store on a thumb drive. Works great. We monitor our home while we're on vacation.

[Steban]

We have a Google Nest doorbell and floodlight camera. $12 per month provides 60 days storage for all of your devices. The image quality, alerts, facial recognition and ease of use are phenomenal.

I get an alert, with the persons name (if recognized) when they pull up into out driveway. Very nice.

Also have cameras connected to a Network Video Recorder. They suck. I plan to replace them with Google Nest Cams.

[Carlsondm]

I have Blink and Wyze. Wyze has better resolution and does better in dark areas. We have cameras on the doors and garage and in pet areas. The pet sitter knows and puts on a show for us.

[RON S]

i would go with Hard Wire and i used Village Alarms

I would like to have security cameras (3) installed at my house. I don't know where to begin. What is the best system that doesn't require a subscription? How about installation, any suggestions as to who to call? Battery operated would be good or should I have electrical outlets installed? Love to hear from you if you've been this route. TIA

[Freehiker]

I have a complete Ubiquiti UniFi system that I personally installed. I hardwired cameras around my home that I can view from anywhere, with local backup so no cloud storage (and no subscription). Everything is powered via CAT6 cabling.

Fantastic setup.

[Freehiker]

I use eufy cameras. The free version works for what I need. I use the solar cams for outdoors and wired/battery inside.

Battery Surveillance Cameras | eufy Security (https://us.eufy.com/pages/battery-camera?ref=homepage_category_1)

I would avoid Eufy, but to each their own. They got a lot of bad press recently for being caught uploading people’s data and having customers video streams accessible without encryption.

[maistocars]

Wyze for me as well.

[Bilyclub]

I would avoid Eufy, but to each their own. They got a lot of bad press recently for being caught uploading people’s data and having customers video streams accessible without encryption.

Wyze also has/had issues. Eufy has worked for me, but it seems that they have really upped the prices now.