Hi. I'm looking for a low cost "non-fancy" IP camera, basically to check on a washing machine and dryer that are kind of in an external room.
Ideally, the camera would be PoE - my WiFi would probably reach, but I'd still have to run power to a WiFi camera, so I might as well run ethernet cable instead - that's a fairly easy job to this room.
I don't need PTZ, but I'd like IR. The camera needs to be able to mount high on a wall or on the ceiling. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Can highly recommend the brand Reolink for some affordable solutions. I've set up a few of them now with Synology NVR and no issues.
Usually helps to specify what your idea of "low cost" is. Everyone has a different idea.
Hi. I'm looking for a low cost "non-fancy" IP camera, basically to check on a washing machine and dryer that are kind of in an external room.
Your washer and dryer giving you trouble? They be procreating and giving you mini washer dryer combos?
Ideally, the camera would be PoE - my WiFi would probably reach, but I'd still have to run power to a WiFi camera, so I might as well run ethernet cable instead - that's a fairly easy job to this room.
On a serious note you probably already have power to the washing machine and if you mount the camera overhead with a tilt head you should be able to see your washer / dryer. Sounds like you just need to get a wifi extender, wifi antenna to point out there and a WiFi camera.
The room has one dual power point on the wall with the machines, so the power point is "full". A camera above the machines would see the panel of the washing machine, but not the dryer. The camera needs to be on the opposite wall to see both, so power would need to be run to there. Getting an ethernet cable to that point is easier.
Becareful with cheap cameras. I've played around with a few and many of them are quite easy to hack. If you just want local access then you should be fine.
Most cheap cameras have vaulnrable busybox installations and often have master passwords which can be extracted from the firmware or be reset with tools or via a password generator which calculates the master password based on the current date and S/N.
If you buy Reolink make sure the firmware is up to date and the master password hasn't been published online. It's better to reflash the firmware with something opensource. But saying that I wouldn't want to be buying anything from the CCP.
Watching this thread in interest.
I just want low cost good cameras than have its own recording over your local network that you don't have to pay a subscription for.