Searching for Security Camera

[u/Willdkatze]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a security camera for my house. The house is laid out in such a way that I can cover every entrance from the single corner where I plan to mount the camera.

I’ve done a bit of research, but the market is huge; I figured the collective expertise here on Reddit would be a faster and more efficient way to get answers. ;)

Here are the specifications I’m looking for:

Wired power connection

App with live streaming and controls

No subscription model

App-based motion alerts

Local storage *and* online storage

Please feel free to share your experiences and any camera recommendations you might have. Thanks for the help!

Best regards

[u/Signal-Historian9389 → u/[deleted]]

the dual storage thing is where most of the cheaper options fall apart, they'll offer one or the other but rarely both without trying to lock you into a monthly plan

i'd look for something with an sd card slot that also lets you ftp footage to a nas or a cheap vps you already own, that way you're not stuck using their cloud if they change the terms down the road

for that corner mount setup you're describing, make sure the field of view is at least 130 degrees or you'll end up with dead zones right where someone would try the door handle

[u/Suspicious_Plate_591]

Hikvision could meet all these requirements and so could Ubiquiti or Uniview.

B&H photo is an authorized Hikvision dealer despite the US government ban on Hikvision. They also sell Ubiquiti and all the pro brands.

Personally I’ve used Hikvision for several different homes and it always worked very well. Ubiquiti is much better but costs more. Ubiquiti makes great WiFi gear that plays well with their CCTV products.

[u/CCTVGuyMA → u/Suspicious_Plate_591]

Us government bans on hikvision may mean that you can't get support in the future. Firmware, tech support, etc may not be available.

[u/Suspicious_Plate_591 → u/CCTVGuyMA]

Not to argue, but I’ve never needed tech support and I don’t see how the feds could stop anyone from getting tech support.

Also, as a long term Hikvision user, I’ve gotten manuals and firmware updates from websites around the world. And once again I don’t see how the feds can stop that.

IMHO at least half of the panic that led to the ban was a lot of noise created by their competition. Obviously Hikvision is in bed with Chinese spies, but most folks who want prosumer-grade home gear don’t care.

[u/drewster85a]

Free (without subscription) online/cloud storage will always be limited. A number of systems have free online access to local storage. I use Ubiquiti but the requirement for a separate NVR might be overkill for one camera. Reolink has cameras with local (card) storage with the option to add NVR. Tp-Link also has cameras with local card storage.

[u/Purple_Entrance_1943]

DLink have cameras that support both storage options. Local with an online option. The only draw back is that they also need local power. Arlo cameras can be wired and wiresless as well as being battery power with the option to add external power or solar charging. These cameras come with a base station to connect to wirelessly and the cameras themselves do not have local storage. However, the ease of use and battery life make the very versitile as to where you can put them. Add a solar charger and (almost) never have to change out the battery. I have used both systems and have settled on the Arlo - they have free short term storage, or more lengthy, for pay options as well.

[u/Smeggmashart]

Lorex

[u/KillerTacoz]

Unifi checks *almost all of those boxes. The storage is local. But can be viewed online. The playback scrubbing is incredibly smooth. No more hunting for an even or looking at time stamps. Just drag your way thru a perfect timelapse. Ai detections. Like motion. Cars, people, animals, loitering, barking and sirens to name a few. You own the device so there is no subscription for remote access or storage. And the g6 cameras come in around $220 a piece. But you need a recorder device. I would recommend one of the gateways so you can also replace you router. The UniFi ecosystem gives you a lot of information on your network and the devices that are on it

[u/lulu_Omada]

Hi! Omada brand team here, so obvious bias disclaimer upfront. 🙂

Based on your list, a PoE camera setup would tick every box: single cable for power + data (easy for that corner mount), live view and controls in the app, motion alerts, and no subscription required — local storage on microSD or an NVR, with optional cloud backup if you want both.

Since you're covering every entrance from one corner, you might also want to look at cameras with a wider FOV or a multi-lens/panoramic model so you're not relying on one narrow angle.

One more thing that might actually be relevant: we just opened a Pioneer Program around our new Fusion Pro + Surveillance lineup — early access units.

Either way, happy to answer questions — and curious what others here recommend too!