Help Me Pick a CCTV Security Camera System for My House

PLA74 on 11/12/2017 - 11:18
Last edited 11/12/2017 - 14:16

Hello OzBargain COmmunity,

With so many CCTV systems available in the market, I need some help with picking a cost-effective CCTV system for my house.

Requirements:
-6 POE cameras preferred (4 for outdoor use & 2 for indoor use)
-NVR with a built-in POE switch/possibly 2TB HDD installed (when I did some research online, they either come in 4 channel or 8 channel so 8 channel is fine as I may add a few extra cameras later. Not fussed about the storage hard drive size it comes with as I can buy a surveillance grade one separately and install it)
-1080p video quality is fine - don't need 4mp cameras @ 4k resolution or anything that high end
-Some sort of motion detection / alerts to smartphone to notify me when the camera detects movement
-Hard drive for adding into NVR also possibly - WD purple? Seagate sky hawk surv.?

I am thinking of going with a POE system compared to using BNC cables. POE cabling should be fine as I can get a sparky to come out and run the POE ethernet cables from NVR to the cameras.

When looking online and through OzBargain, Hikvision branded systems seems to be popular but the cost is pretty high for me. I was looking through eBay also and found some systems around the $500 figure. So I'm leaning towards something from eBay as hopefully they might do a 10% or 15% off store-wide deal soon.

On a side note, have a Bosch 6000 series alarm hard-wired with a UPS for power backup that's connected to the internet so that I can arm/dis-arm remotely and receive alerts via the myalarm/ifob cloud based software.

Thanks!

General Discussion

Comments

  • myusername on 11/12/2017 - 11:26

    i've been using this app with 6 old phones https://alfred.camera/

    on a side note i did notice aldi had a security cam system for about $199 yesterday

    • PLA74 on 11/12/2017 - 12:13

      Good to know - unfortunately don't have any spare smartphone lying around.

    • linoc66 on 12/12/2017 - 00:11

      I have a few old iphones with cracked screens, cameras still work, so Alfred looks interesting.

      But being an old bugger I find it a bit odd they provide this kind of thing for free, even the linked website costs money, so what's the catch?

      How can we be assured it's secure, no one else also watching the vision etc?

      • myusername on 15/12/2017 - 10:45

        for each phone you use you are signing into the Alfred app via your email account.

        as for security if anyone wants to look at my shoe and record collection i'm fine with that hahaha.

        i'm up to 7 phones hooked up at present.

        the catch i guess is that if you want full HD you need to pay

  • boomramada on 11/12/2017 - 11:37
    +1

    Get Hikvision via aliexpress.com, you can either buy International version (can upgrade bios) or Chinese version (can't upgrade bios) but cheaper. You can even get a Hikvision NVR which support POE. Most of these cameras comes with motion detection feature.

    • PLA74 on 11/12/2017 - 12:14

      Thanks. I'm not understanding the upgrade bios piece - is it like firmware upgrade to the NVR? International version which costs more can be upgraded where as the Chinese version can't?

      What would be the benefits be to upgrade the bios? Better software security and more features or something?

      Sorry to ask noobish questions.

      • boomramada on 11/12/2017 - 12:44
        +1

        When you buying a Chinese version, seller override the Chinese firmware with English version and sell it in International market, since Chinese product is cheaper. Once its patched, you can not upgrade it again, it will reset to Chinese or unusable.
        Yes - upgrade the bios for better software security and more features.
        But if you buying, always buy a DVR International, since it support Hikvision mobile app, Chinese version doesn't. But for Camera, it doesn't matter. I have used both version of the cameras.

        • PLA74 on 11/12/2017 - 14:05

          Ah ok I see, thanks for the heads up. I'll stick to the International/upgradeable version for the NVR.

          Do I also need to check the same for the POE camera's themselves?

        • boomramada on 11/12/2017 - 14:08

          @PLA74:

          less of a security risk for camera, since its POE not wireless connection. I got both CH and INT version, no issues so far.

        • PLA74 on 11/12/2017 - 14:11

          @boomramada: Awesome, thanks. Will stick to a INT version NVR and POE cameras. BTW - what setup are you currently running if I can as? i.e. the model number of the NVR & the cameras?

        • boomramada on 11/12/2017 - 14:27

          @PLA74:

          DS 7601 - E1/4P NVR
          DS 2CD2442FWD (Internal)
          DS 2CD2335 (External)

        • PLA74 on 11/12/2017 - 14:32

          @boomramada: Thanks mate!

  • linoc66 on 12/12/2017 - 00:06

    Just about to start researching this myself, I knew Ozbargain would have something.

    9+ hours later, how's your research going with that Hikvision setup vs alternatives?

    • PLA74 on 12/12/2017 - 07:54
      +1

      The footage quality, software support, camera housing quality seems extremely good for Hikvision brand based of reviews on YouTube & online.

      Currently tossing up between Hikvision & Swann brands for a POE system. Waiting on it to come back on sale haha.

      Hikvision prices were very reasonable on ebay so waiting for a ebay store wide sale to come up.

      • PLA74 on 12/12/2017 - 12:09
        +1

        Forgot to mention - tossing up between Hikvision (preferred but don't want to spend that much/slight overkill for my requirements), Dahua & Swann brand POE systems.

        Dahua POE cameras come with bult-in mic and are a bit cheaper compared to Hikvison ones so leaning towards Dahua.

        A couple of the new homes in my area are running Dahua POE systems (mix of turret as well as dome cameras) mounted outside.

        • whooah1979 on 15/12/2017 - 16:53

          Swann

          Swann are rebadged dahua and hikvision.

        • PLA74 on 15/12/2017 - 18:00

          @whooah1979: Oh wow, good to know! Thanks for sharing :)

          I’m leaning towards Dahua 4MP turret dome POE IP cameras with a built in mic. Just waiting on a ebay store wide sale haha!

        • vjoz on 31/03/2018 - 23:08

          @PLA74: Hey mate, just wondering what did you end up installing? and how do you like it?

          I'm looking at Hikvision now. Thanks

        • PLA74 on 19/06/2018 - 19:53

          @vjoz: hi, ended up purchasing Dahua system since it was in my budget & offered audio recording due to built in mic on the cameras. Hikvision was really pricey due to cameras being 4K/6MP quality which I didn’t need and they didn’t have built in mic for audio.

          Went with 8 IP POE cameras - IPC-HDW4433C-A + NVR 4108-8P-4KS2. Bought a WD purple hard drive from UMart (paid slightly extra for the 3 year warranty piece of mind). Bought a 305M cable roll of CAT 6 cable. Already had a crimper & plugs!

          Will be installing them soon as I recently purchased them and haven’t had time to install them yet.

          Will be running a few more Ethernet cords for other stuff in the house while I’m doing this install also since I’ll have cat6 cable left over.

          • Riceboy on 18/11/2018 - 20:39

            @PLA74: Hi I am looking into a similar system. How much you end up paying and where did you buy from? ebay?
            Any issues installing? Cheers.

            • PLA74 on 03/05/2019 - 16:23

              @Riceboy: Yes purchased from an eBay seller 'viktech-test' during eBay sales. $732.51 delivered (1x NVR 4108-8P-4KS2 + 8x IPC-HDW4433C-A).
              Purchased a 3TB WD Purple HDD from UMart (as I wanted the full 3 year local warranty support) for $129.
              Cat 6 cable roll (305m) + rj45 connectors (50 pieces) were an additional $66.71 delivered (only used about half the length of the cable roll & about 12 connectors so sold the remaining cable roll & connectors for almost what I initially paid for!).
              Had a sparky from Airtasker (who primarily does ICT equipment cabling & CCTV installs) charge me $220 for installing all 8 cameras (he supplied the mounting screws which were better quality compared to the screws in the camera boxes), running the ethernet cables from each camera to NVR & running an additional ethernet cable from NVR to where my modem/router is located.

              Total including all the hardware & installation charges was $1148.22.

              Did want to go with the Hikvision camera & a Synology NAS but it was out of my budget/realistic requirements, hence went with this system!

        • zpeed on 19/06/2018 - 20:51
          +1

          @PLA74:

          I've had 5 4mp dahua running at my place for over 2 years and are great. awesome quality for the price.

          I have a computer running Blue iris but would prefer a separate DVR to manage 24/7 recording.

  • [Deactivated] on 20/06/2018 - 19:05

    Hikvision Cameras
    (Optional) Synology Server

    Works well for me. Set to record on movement. App on phone allows me to replay etc.

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