CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Starting to look into getting a security system for outside the house since we have been traveling so much lately. My questions for you all are:

1. What type of outdoor system do you have?
2. Would you purchase the same one again?
3. What do you like about the system?
4. What do you NOT like about the system?
5. What app does the system use to send the pics/video to your phone and what is the cost?
6. Does the system have a sensitivity setting? We get a lot of critters running around so not sure how sensitive these systems are and what will trigger them.
7. Does the system have night vision and how good is the video/pictures?

Any other info you can provide about your system would help!

We are thinking 3 or 4 outdoor camera's with a good clear picture and video (so higher resolution would be better). Thinking either solar powered or plugged into power since we are gone 3 weeks or more at a time. Not sure how well battery powered would work.

Thinking 1 on garage pointing down driveway, 1 on house pointing at the barn, 1 on barn pointing at the house and 1 on the house pointing at the pasture - we get a lot of critters running thru here like elk, deer, bear, coyotes, cougars, fox down to turkeys, pheasants and such....so it would be fun to get them on film!

My budget can go up to about $800 if needed but would rather stay around $500.

Thanks
Cindy

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

UWe have the ubiquitous Ring doorbell system, front and back door of residence and backdoor (overlooking bayou, woods) of cabin. Pictures fairly good for ultra wide angle lens.
Ring makes their own downloadable app which works well. Night vision (IR) is quite adequate.
Likes, two way sound, alarms, lights siren and decent picture.
Dislikes $30.00 permonth to record at EACH camera. (We only pay for residence front door) recordings only kept for 12 hrs.
We had our cabin cam at driveway but it felt like we were spying on any one who used cabin so moved it to back yard.
I would not get this system again without researching other system prices, our was a Christmas gift. $30.00 per cam is ridiculous. Per Month!
All numbers are from my memory and subject to fuzziness.

Edit: all alarms, sound, lights, picture, siren and recording can be turned on/off via internet.
I’m not aware of sensitivity settings and your critters would certainly sound alarm, songbirds set ours off if within ten or twenty feet.
I visit ours daily when we are out of town.
Hope this helps.

Edit: all alarms, sounds etc can be accessed via internet.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

When we had chickens we ran 3 cameras on the coop. We had a web-remote door to let them out in the morning and the cameras would let us know when they were all in at night so we could close the door.

We got some KASA cameras. They're designed for indoors but they work fine outdoors under shelter. They cost about $50. You can record, but you have to subscribe to an app to do that and I don't know the cost. They're run off a USB cable to provide power so they don't work when the power is off. Not super resolution but ok for the purpose we used them. They connect to your home WIFI and the signal is available online using their app. We were able to check on the chickens when we were in Paris.

We considered a Ring camera/doorbell but we moved before acting on that thought.

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

We have used Arlo system security cams for years now. The charge lasts about four weeks. We have some 4K cams with night lights. Easily expandable. Connects via Wi-Fi to my cell phone.

Also some trail cams connect via 5G.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

You can't beat the night-quality of a Wyze cam v3. It's an inexpensive but good IP camera, but Wyze also offers cloud storage and lots of other cams and devices.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

I just went into settings and ring does have sensitivity settings.
Also something called motion wizard, no idea what it is but they imply it lets you dial in further sensitivity.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

My input for you...
KASA Cam Outdoor camera - currently $44.99

Pictures are from the camera - the cats is from the recorded video - the normal is from the live feed.

Yes, would purchase the same one again.

Like: Clear pictures day or night - Motion/Person Detection, 2-Way Audio w/Siren, Cloud/SD Card Storage, Alexa &Google Assistant Compatible. With Notifications On, I get notices for movement and person detections - cloud storage not required - I use a SD card and can access and playback recordings while traveling.

NOT like: Playback is in 5 min blocks so there is some time waiting for the event to show up when doing replays.

App used: KASA app (free) connects to home network allowing access on the phone or tablet - I can watch live or check the recordings when I get a notification of motion or person detected while at home or on the road.

Sensitivity setting: Yes, I have barn cats that roam the property - when there are a few of them on the porch with my settings (high sensitivity) they trigger the person detected - med sensitivity I generally get just a motion detected alert - or when it’s one cat. When we’re home, I adjust the sensitivity down and turn off notifications on motion. If anyone comes by, I get a person detected notification.

Night vision and how good is the video/pictures: I don’t have any night pics or videos - the camera does have spotlights to light up the area when movement is detected and it is good enough to ID the person on the porch. I generally don’t get night visitors in the range of the cameras...

Overall, I’m satisfied with the system - cost and equipment. They work in all weather with no issues. All my cameras are wired for power and wireless for connectivity to home network. I use 720 resolution to save recording space - it can record 2K but I don’t need that resolution and I’m not going to sign up for the cloud storage - I just don’t need it. I have the front doors covered, the back doors, the driveway, the back yard and outer buildings. I also have the KASA indoor cameras - pan/tilt to cover the entrance ways and regular stationary cameras for specific rooms in the house - all have notifications.

IF the power goes out for an extended time or your internet provider goes out - the cameras can’t communicate with you but that is generally not an issue.

Your plan sound like it will provide good coverage - should work well.

Normal view with no alerts


Person notification because of barn cats and high sensitivity

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Thanks! Thats the type of info I was looking for. Appreciate you taking the time to help.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Thanks ....these will be mounted outside and in the weather...so not sure these one's will work but I will look at the various type of camera's they have. Appreciate the help and you taking the time to comment.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Thanks! I will look at those one's as well.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Nice!!

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Thank you so much for the info and pictures. The quality of these camera's looks like they will work good. I really appreciate you taking the time to help!

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

We mounted them outside but under the eaves so they didn't get weather on them but had a good view from above. The temperature didn't seem to be a problem.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Ok, my bad. It’s $45.00 per year per cam for recording. Cameras work live online at no charge.
They are $100.00 to purchase.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Thanks! I will check those out.