A family member passed away recently, and their home is now sitting vacant. It’s not in a high-crime area, but it’s a little out of the way, so if someone broke in, it might not be noticed right away. We try to check on it a few times a week, but I’d like to have a better security setup in place.
Right now, there’s no internet at the house, though it looks like AT&T recently added fiber in that area. I was thinking about setting up cameras with cloud storage in case someone breaks in and tries to disable them.
I already have Eufy cameras at home, so I considered adding a few indoor ones and pointing one or two outside. The only thing is I’d have to buy the home base, and now that I need cloud storage, I wonder if there are better options. Would it be smarter to go with a dedicated alarm system like Vivint or ADT instead?
Curious if anyone has experience setting up cameras or security systems for vacant properties, especially without internet. Open to any recommendations!
Chance said:
Eufy is solid, but for a place without internet, I’d look into Reolink 4G LTE cameras. They don’t need Wi-Fi and work off a cellular connection.
I need to check those out. I was thinking LTE cameras might be too expensive, but if it’s around $10/month per camera, that might be manageable.
@Eugene
We set up a Reolink PoE system with an NVR for a similar situation. Each camera was around $100, and the NVR was about $300. We wired everything up in a day, and it connects through a cell modem for internet. The only ongoing cost is the monthly internet fee, and it works great.
I’ve been using Blink cameras at my cabin for years without a subscription. I have outdoor cameras and a few inside, and they also show temperature readings, which is a nice bonus. Notifications are quick if someone comes near the house. Local storage works fine too.
@StephieStephie
I had to turn off Eufy notifications at home because I was getting alerts every time someone walked through the garage. I think the home base lets you fine-tune those settings.
If someone breaks in and takes the cameras, do you lose the footage? Does Blink let you save videos to your phone?
@Eugene
Blink has free cloud storage for 60 days, and you can download any clips you want to keep. You can also store everything on a USB drive if you connect it to the sync module.
But yeah, you’d need Wi-Fi or some kind of internet connection for it to work.
If you can get internet set up, I’d go with a mix of security cameras and an alarm system. I use Blink cameras along with SimpliSafe for home security. Both were easy to install, and you can choose whether to pay for professional monitoring or just get notifications.
Eugene said: @Micheal
Do both of those need internet, or do they have a cellular option?
SimpliSafe has a cellular backup, but you’d still need internet as the main connection. If remote monitoring is the goal, you’ll want at least a basic internet setup.
One nice thing is that you get notifications even if no alarm goes off, so you’d know if someone was poking around before anything actually happens.
@Micheal
Looks like I’ll have to add internet. Fiber in the area is $55-65/month for 300Mbps. Was hoping to avoid the extra cost, but seems like there’s no way around it.
Eugene said: @Micheal
Looks like I’ll have to add internet. Fiber in the area is $55-65/month for 300Mbps. Was hoping to avoid the extra cost, but seems like there’s no way around it.
Check out cellular internet providers too. You might find something for around $30/month, which could be enough for cameras and alerts.
You could get a Verizon LTE modem with a wireless hotspot and then use Blink cameras with cloud storage. That way, you don’t have to install fiber or deal with a landline internet plan.
If you want a really cheap DIY solution, you can use an old smartphone with Google Fi (up to 5 devices for $65/month with unlimited data) and an app like Wardencam. It uploads footage to your Google Drive automatically. Not as good as dedicated cameras, but it works.
If you want a professional system, you can check out Vivint or ADT. They offer monitored security and camera setups, though they’re pricier than DIY options.
Dan said:
If you want a professional system, you can check out Vivint or ADT. They offer monitored security and camera setups, though they’re pricier than DIY options.
I’d rather avoid wiring anything permanently, but since the house is vacant, that might actually be easier than installing stuff where I live.