Home security system ?

[Nashville Cat]

I would like a security system with multiple cameras and a recording hard drive.
Saw this at Costco and it looks good ? Opinions ?
How hard is it to use Power-over-ethernet cables ? Can you install the ends (connectors) easily ?
This system is $1000 and has 8 cameras; 4 can zoom and 4 are standard wide angle. You can add 8 more cameras to it

Features:​

• 16x PoE Ports
• Color Night Vision
• 4x 4K Optical Zoom Cameras and 4x 4K Bullet Cameras
• Expandable Up to 32TB (2x 16TB Each)
• No Subscription Required

https://www.costco.com/lorex-4k-16-channel-4tb-pro-nvr-with-4x-4k-optical-zoom-cameras-and-4x-4k-bullet-cameras.product.4000221857.html

 

[Shovelrick]

I’ve been using Lorex security DVR & cams for over 8-10 yrs and very happy, we have 8 cams on 2 DVRs and 2 flat screens, when a Amazon driver tried saying it wasn’t his fault for damage to our 2020 RAV4 2 of the cams proved him at fault

 

[Shovelrick]

Oh I usually buy on the Lorex website on Black Friday, or Cyber Monday

 

[JohnC]

No experience with Lorex but I’ve seen the name around for a while. When I researched this years ago, there were 2 main companies that made all the equipment sold under various names. I bought a Q-See system with an NVR (16 camera capable) and 8 cameras and was happy until Q-See went out of business and so the equipment still works but the app no longer works for remote monitoring.
I’m happy with the equipment otherwise. POE was easy to run. I put the NVR on a high shelf in a centrally located bedroom and the cables went straight up into the attic and run to the various points in the home. I bought a tool that puts on the connectors on the end. Pretty easy other than crawling around in the attic. It’s been rock solid reliable.

 

[Nashville Cat]

I’ve been using Lorex security DVR & cams for over 8-10 yrs and very happy, we have 8 cams on 2 DVRs and 2 flat screens, when a Amazon driver tried saying it wasn’t his fault for damage to our 2020 RAV4 2 of the cams proved him at fault

I think I'll get the Lorex system ! It says the software can be set to record only when there's motion and the phone app can send notifications of movement.
They recommend recording 24/7 but I'm not a small business and don't want to use up 2 TB of hdd space every few days.
Thanks for the advice !

 

[Shovelrick]

I went with wireless camera systems but they're not really wireless since each cam needs a 120 volt outlet nearby and 1 cam needed an antenna extender since it's mounted on the back of our detached garage, actually 2 cams are mounted back there but 1 is high enough for the antenna signal, when I needed tech support they were great and also 1 cam had went bad and they sent a new one after I sent a pic of where it was mounted and serial number, I think the last 4 cam system with a 43" monitor was under $500 on sale 3-4? yrs ago

 

[kmakar]

POE just means power over ethernet, so it's a standard network cable, and yes, you can buy the cable and crimp the RJ45 connectors yourself.

Last system I installed for a client had 36 pan tilt zoom cameras with sound (you can hear the sound live) that are set to record 24/7 and holds the recordings for 90 days. FIFO and cycles itself. I built a monster server with quad zeon 8 core processors and 512 gig of ram with 6 TB of SSD hard drives (dell server), and an external raid 5 30 tb of storage. All the video is HD (1080p) and all cameras are displayed split onto four (4) 32" monitors. My client does machine work for aerospace so security is paramount and monitored 24/7.

 

[Nashville Cat]

I went with wireless camera systems but they're not really wireless since each cam needs a 120 volt outlet nearby and 1 cam needed an antenna extender since it's mounted on the back of our detached garage, actually 2 cams are mounted back there but 1 is high enough for the antenna signal, when I needed tech support they were great and also 1 cam had went bad and they sent a new one after I sent a pic of where it was mounted and serial number, I think the last 4 cam system with a 43" monitor was under $500 on sale 3-4? yrs ago

This system has 4 cameras that can zoom - I'll put them outdoors. It also has 4 fixed bullet cameras that I will use indoors.
The Poe cameras are more expensive but I don't plan on adding any (8 is enough).

 

[kmakar]

This system has 4 cameras that can zoom - I'll put them outdoors. It also has 4 fixed bullet cameras that I will use indoors.
The Poe cameras are more expensive but I don't plan on adding any (8 is enough).

POE cameras are the only way to go. Wireless cameras suck and are sketchy at best, and closed circuit cameras are old school and require coax cable.

 

[Shovelrick]

POE cameras are the only way to go. Wireless cameras suck and are sketchy at best, and closed circuit cameras are old school and require coax cable.

My system does have short "freeze" and black outs at odd times on a cpl cams

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

I have been running a DVR system through my head. I will need to upgrade my switch to POE and pull some more copper. I want to mount a monitor above a door, on the first floor but would like to have the DVR in my server rack in the basement near my patch panel. I may need a wireless camera for monitoring in the back yard area which may require another WAP. Decisions...decisions.

 

[JohnC]

I think I'll get the Lorex system ! It says the software can be set to record only when there's motion and the phone app can send notifications of movement.
They recommend recording 24/7 but I'm not a small business and don't want to use up 2 TB of hdd space every few days.
Thanks for the advice !

My NVR had an extra open location for a second hard drive.
There are ways to mask certain parts of the camera’s view so that the camera isn’t recording constantly if a tree is blowing in the wind.
I have to say that the software that came with mine was not super user friendly and the app kind of sucked but you are buying a different brand so hopefully that will be different for you.
You might to set the app to only send you alerts for certain cameras because if the wind is blowing or if the camera is pointing towards a street with traffic, it’ll be sending you a million alerts per day.

 

[Nashville Cat]

Thanks again for the help ! Just bought the above system. It has the top-of-the-line "Nocturnal 3" cameras that are supposed to give excellent night vision.
So now I have another project to do ; install all of these cameras !

Some camera specs

 

[kmakar]

Well, it'll keep you out of the bars at night, and you were getting bored anyways. One thing I figured out after I retired is I work harder now than I did when I was working, but it's stuff I want to do, so it's all good.... well mostly good.