Help with Choosing Security Camera and Associated Security Systems for Home (Budget $500 for cameras)

Ehty on 22/07/2021 - 20:38
Last edited 23/07/2021 - 12:50 by 1 other user

Hey Folks,

Need some house security set up advise as I a newbie with Smart home systems.

Looking to add some basic security features for my house, looking for advice on purchase of 2 (max 3) Wifi Cameras, Maybe a smart floodlight like this, a smart door bell and few motion detector solar lights.
I have no idea of the Cam systems around but am constrained with budget of around $400-$500.
Not sure if 4K or 2k like this one is what I should get, and the other features like night vision, thermal detection etc.
Also should I get a alarm also like this or some sensors only to start with.

TBH, super confused as to what all to get, obviously buying everything would be more than $500 but can upgrade gradually.
The house is at the end of the street and has one side with major road, no security issues so far but have cases are rising up in the suburb. Most of the time someone is at home .

Where should I start with?

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  SydStrand on 22/07/2021 - 21:03

  Eufy is decent for starting out, and no subscription fees. If you get something like smart doorbell or '5 in 1' + home base, you can then start adding cameras, etc. But your budget is quite low, so you definitely won't get all the things on your list, nor is there a 'smart' solar system.

  Or you can YOLO and live the Unifi life.

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    Ehty on 22/07/2021 - 21:26

    $400- $500 is for initial cam set up, can upgrade with time

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  No on 22/07/2021 - 21:21

  Don't buy that alarm.

  Buy something that runs on an open standard like zigbee so you can later escape the eufy ecosystem if need be. I started with a xiaomi starter kit and later moved to home assistant and can still use the xiaomi sensors I got ages ago.

  https://www.mi-store.com.au/xiaomi-mi-smart-home-kit-4-in-1-…

  Cameras are the same, make sure whatever you buy has either RTSP or RTMP so you can integrate them into another system later. I use the Reolink cameras, some of them don't have RTSP (e1) so avoid those.

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    Ehty on 22/07/2021 - 21:27

    Have no smart system at home except an echo plus! Will google the rtsp or RTMP thing!
    Thanks

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      No on 22/07/2021 - 21:33

      Yep, so if you buy that eufy kit then you will forever be stuck buying eufy gear.

      But if you buy something more open then you can later migrate to a more powerful solution if need be. Home assistant is the main one: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/xiaomi_aqara/. It will let you combine devices from a heap of different brands.

      This is the camera I use: https://reolink.com/au/product/rlc-410w/

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        Ehty on 22/07/2021 - 21:52

        Maybe a dumb question, are the zigbee sensors to be installed on all the doors? what about windows?
        Does the camera erase the previous recording once the memory is full , how do we bypass the memory full issue?

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          No on 22/07/2021 - 21:58

          @Ehty: They can go on the doors and windows. Just depends on how many you want to buy. I put them on all external doors then rely on motion sensors for the windows.

          Yeah the camera will overwrite the oldest recording. I have a 32gb card in my driveway camera which gives me 10 days. It's also recorded in home assistant incase someone takes the camera.

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  Ehty on 24/07/2021 - 16:27

  Was in local bunnings today, Orion Grid is that useful and would it connect to other systems like Xioami.