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What type of surveillance cameras do you have at your home>

  • Thread starter Thread starter Queenie60
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Queenie60

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We had an attempted burglary at our home last Wednesday. Fortunately the alarm system saved us from being burglarized. However I am now in process of having security cameras installed around the parameter of my home. What surveillance cameras do you have? Pros and cons? and any knowledgeable recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
 
I use Nest cams and have been pleased with them.
That might not be what you mean. It’s not a system, just two cameras that stream live to my iphone, with subscribable 30day back-up.
 
I have some we bought at Sam's but I'm about to add a ring doorbell and the nest seems like a good choice also.

Also, light up the exterior like a Christmas tree.
 
we use a system we bought at costco. it has a password and it is connected to the internet so we can see every camera from our phones if we are out.

I am very sorry you had to experience someone trying to break in. I know that is incredibly upsetting and terrifying. I get good cameras and have one at eye level at each door. most above cameras are terrible at getting face shots.
 
HI:

Hikvision.

cheers--Sharon
 
We have four ever-vigilant eyes, in these two viscous killer guard dogs.


Screen Shot 2017-12-02 at 3.21.14 PM.png
 
We bought some at Sams Club that we can monitor through the internet. It records for a week so we can backup and look through things.
 
Glad your security system worked!
I am interested to hear replies because we also have security system with interior motion detectors, but currently no exterior cameras.
We are contemplating a SimpliSafe system for houses that we are flipping or rentals that are vacant as it is a portable system.
We had a vacant rental vandalized last year. They stopped up all the sinks/drains and turned on all sinks and showers. I think an audible alarm may have deterred them.
 
kenny said:
We have four ever-vigilant eyes, in these two viscous killer guard dogs.


Screen Shot 2017-12-02 at 3.21.14 PM.png
Click to expand...

I have always loved these babies - look at those faces!!
 
kenny said:
We have four ever-vigilant eyes, in these two viscous killer guard dogs.

I have my two as well! Long story short - there was a police standoff with the perps (they were able to flee) and my dogs were inside. Bebe was in her crate, latched as she potty's when I'm not home due to anxiety. However, Quincy was running free. My greatest anxiety during the 2 and 1/2 hour event was that these sick people would hurt him. He's fine and snuggly!
Screen Shot 2017-12-02 at 3.21.14 PM.png
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for your replies. Does anyone have the Ring camera system? I'm looking into these as well. They attach to your phone app and you can see activity. Wouldn't be hooked up to my security system however this could be a plus as I would have two systems, the alarms on the home and then the cameras around the parameter. What's this world coming to ? Gee. I live in a supposedly safe suburban neighborhood in the Bay area.
 
Queenie, very scary!
Glad your fur baby is okay.
 
Queenie60 said:
Thank you for your replies. Does anyone have the Ring camera system? I'm looking into these as well. They attach to your phone app and you can see activity. Wouldn't be hooked up to my security system however this could be a plus as I would have two systems, the alarms on the home and then the cameras around the parameter. What's this world coming to ? Gee. I live in a supposedly safe suburban neighborhood in the Bay area.
Click to expand...
It stinks but I am glad they were thwarted by your alarm.
 
no comment but....

Wired cameras with no access to the internet. but you can access them over a vpn back to your network. Professionally installed.
Wireless cameras are very easy to jam and the even a lot of the expensive ones have security holes that someone can easily see the video.
A lot of the Chinese models have been caught sending still shots and streams to known hacker servers overseas.
There are also a lot of fake clones out there loaded with spyware.

Then again a fake camera with a red led will scare away most crooks.
 
Last edited:
We have monitored fire and burglar alarm system with window contacts, smoke detectors in the hallways, heat detectors in the kitchen, family room near the fireplace, garage, and under the house near the water heater. There are also motion detectors throughout the House.

Hubby installed Swann 8 wired camera surveilance system 2TB DVR which is just middle of the road. What we have at the PD is far superior. There is an app where you can access all 8 cameras on your phone or tablet. It can also be set up to send email alerts when's it detects motion along with the image. One of the 8 cameras is indoors.

Here are screenshots from the app.

Screenshot_20171202-135216.png

Screenshot_20171202-135155.png
 
kenny said:
Queenie, very scary!
Glad your fur baby is okay.
Click to expand...
Thank you Kenny. I'm glad too! He is the love of my life (both are) and I am so glad that he was able to jump into my arms. One day he will leave me however I want it to be with grace and dignity. Not some creep doing something bad to him. Love my babies!!!
 
Karl_K said:
no comment but....

Wired cameras with no access to the internet. but you can access them over a vpn back to your network. Professionally installed.
Wireless cameras are very easy to jam and the even a lot of the expensive ones have security holes that someone can easily see the video.
A lot of the Chinese models have been caught sending still shots and streams to known hacker servers overseas.
There are also a lot of fake clones out there loaded with spyware.

Then again a fake camera with a red led will scare away most crooks.
Click to expand...

Karl - this is one of the things that I hate about the camera I have. It's a Yi Dome camera. Do you know if this one of the Chinese models that has been caught doing this. :/

I am not super knowledgeable so researching all this was so overwhelming I ended up doing the easy thing. (plus for what I was using it for I didn't want to spend a lot of $) I use it to look in on a cat that I am fostering. But still, I hate that it's on my network. Is the fact that it's confined to one room an advantage (obviously it's the only video they would be able to see) or is the fact that it's on my network that's the danger (like could they potentially hack and see activity on the network totally unrelated the camera.)

I've been wanting to do a VPN but again...totally overwhelming. Can you recommend one?

(Queenie, as you can see I've been using a Yi camera - but it's just for a very specific purpose. And I don't trust it. So I wouldn't want to use it all throughout my house.)
 
The issues I found with YI mostly relate to the android app.
They have been caught a few times overreaching with their app.
"Yi Home Android App posts major security/privacy concerns. Norton Security classified it as data mining app. Its access permissions, I would say, dangerous. It will access your contact lists and uploaded to their servers. It will install, download files without your consent. It will modify system settings."

They aren't listed as being involved in ddos attacks which is a good thing.
Use strong passwords and check the permissions of the App.

For a vpn you use a router with incoming vpn capability and connect your phone/laptop to the vpn then to the security camera/dvr.
All direct access to the internet is blacked at the router for the camera(s)
Its not hard for someone into tech to set up but can be a pain sometimes.
Allowing only notifications out is a little more involved but the cameras should notify your security system(they should have a relay connection to do so) and that handles it not the camera.
Then the security system either only has access to an internal mail server or limited to outgoing only to the external mail server.

The sad part is even a lot of pros do not like to set it up right, they throw it on the network, say install this app and leave.
 
Karl_K said:
The issues I found with YI mostly relate to the android app.
They have been caught a few times overreaching with their app.
"Yi Home Android App posts major security/privacy concerns. Norton Security classified it as data mining app. Its access permissions, I would say, dangerous. It will access your contact lists and uploaded to their servers. It will install, download files without your consent. It will modify system settings."

They aren't listed as being involved in ddos attacks which is a good thing.
Use strong passwords and check the permissions of the App.

For a vpn you use a router with incoming vpn capability and connect your phone/laptop to the vpn then to the security camera/dvr.
All direct access to the internet is blacked at the router for the camera(s)
Its not hard for someone into tech to set up but can be a pain sometimes.
Allowing only notifications out is a little more involved but the cameras should notify your security system(they should have a relay connection to do so) and that handles it not the camera.
Then the security system either only has access to an internal mail server or limited to outgoing only to the external mail server.

The sad part is even a lot of pros do not like to set it up right, they throw it on the network, say install this app and leave.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the information on the Yi camera / company Karl.

I don't have an Android phone - I access the camera via my iPad and my Windows Laptop (always from within the network though - I just use it to keep an eye on the cat to see what she's doing). The iPad app I think asks for crazy permissions too though. I'm sure the Windows does too. I did all the reading on this before setting it up but my research seemed to indicate that ALL cameras ask for similar permissions. I denied as many permissions as it would allow me. My DH does have an Android phone and I've been meaning to set it up on there so we can look in on her when we're not home - so I'll keep your tips in mind. (I am using a fairly strong password already.)

I have an Asus RT-AC3200 which does have the capability to be a VPN server. How can I tell if it has INCOMING VPN capability? And also, if I want to set up the VPN so that my DH and I could surf the internet securely/privately I would have to "connect" both systems to the VPN? (by connect you mean a virtual connect as in with IP addresses or wired to the router?)

And yes, I am sure what you say is true re: techs just doing kind of an incomplete job if it's time consuming to do it right. But if I was ever to hire anybody I would know enough to at least question things, which might help. Unless they throw a bunch of stuff at me that sounds really good and makes my head spin :D
 
There are 2 ways of doing vpn.
VPN that allows secure connection back to your network to access local resources, and vpn that tunnels all your traffic to a remote vpn server then to the internet from there.
The spec sheet says it supports both but the manual only shows outgoing.
 
We have wired cameras-9 of them, both inside and outside. The recordings store for several months. we also have an alarm system.
 
A7D9B6FA-68FF-4738-BD42-924B432317C3.jpeg We have an alarm system that “goes off” the second the front gate, driveway gate or side gate goes “click”. Her name is Arya. We also have security shutters and doors (steel and mesh) plus perimeter lighting that goes on with movement.
 
Wow.. how terrible. So sorry this happened..

We use Frontpoint. You can have as many cameras as you want, but they have to be purchased through them to work with their system.
We also have it hooked up to our phones so we can see the activity from any camera, change the temperatures, turn whatever lights we want on and off, and pretty much do anything we want with it from our phones.
Like other systems, it also monitors smoke, etc.

What I like most about it is being able to turn the heat and a/c on and off from my phone. Since it's not our primary home, I appreciate that I can cool it off, or heat it up before we get there.

But like I said, the cameras are pricey, something like 400 a piece. The way they work is- if there's any type of forced entry detected (doors, windows) or even if someone has the key to your door but doesn't disarm the system, it saves a minute or so of footage prior to them entering and uploads it immediately to Frontpoint. They also call the police for you.

It's a great system, does everything it should.
 
Queenie so sorry you went through this and glad you and your family are safe and sound!

We have Frontpoint Security at our beach house since 2011. It includes security cameras and alarm as well as flood and fire alarm too. We can control/monitor the app remotely with our phones and we find it incredibly useful. We can see all around the house and inside the house from anywhere on our phones/ipad/computer.

In fact once our back patio door opened from the wind (faulty latch and very windy at the beach) and the security people called us and alerted us to that fact and the police came (part time home) and they checked the house and securely latched the door till we were able to get there and fix it for good.

It's not expensive and I did extensive research in 2011 before I chose them and I could not be more pleased.

https://www.frontpointsecurity.com

ETA: Elle just read the replies and see you are also a satisfied Frontpoint user. I agree...they rock and glad you love them too!
 
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