Hey everyone. I’m new to CCTV and need some advice on buying my first system for our house. There’s so much out there that I’m having trouble figuring out what’s good and what isn’t. My budget is around $500, but I’m willing to stretch that for the right setup.
So far, I’ve narrowed it down to systems that are:
Wi-Fi based (don’t want to mess with POE or BNC/RCA wiring)
At least 5MP cameras with good night vision (sound is a plus for porch/front door cams)
Able to show live view remotely
Local storage, and viewable on a monitor, PC, or TV
I’ve checked out a few systems on Amazon from brands like Firstrend, OOSSXX, Hiseeu, Reolink, Zosi, Swann, Annke, Lorex, WYZE, Amcrest, and WEILALIFE. Firstrend seems to have great customer service based on reviews. Any suggestions or personal experiences would be super helpful!
You should check out the Arlo Pro 5S 2K system. It’s fully wireless, has 2K video quality, long battery life, and it’s easy to set up. It’s perfect for homes that need reliable outdoor security without needing to deal with cables.
I’ve had a few systems. I started with Blink (from Amazon), and it was awful. The one time I needed it, the recording was incomplete and almost let someone get away with a crime. I switched to a high-end Eufy system, which had decent cameras with good footage, but the motion detection was inconsistent, and the sound was unusable on some cameras. After an app update that broke everything, I switched to Reolink.
Reolink has been a huge improvement. I’ve had no issues so far, and everything just works. I have 9 cameras with an NVR for storage, some POE, and some Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi ones drop out for a second or two occasionally, but I always get the recordings back quickly. The night vision is excellent, and I’ve been able to connect the NVR to my TV, laptop, and phone. It’s been solid.
There are probably better systems out there, but for the price, Reolink is mid-range and very reliable.
@EvansBrown12
Thanks for the detailed review! Reolink is definitely looking like a good option based on what you’ve shared. I might even consider a couple of POE cameras for certain spots. We’re moving to a new home in a more urban area, so I’m looking for a reliable system. Firstrend and OOSSXX are also on my list, but I’m worried about camera angles and coverage. I’ll probably need more than 4 cameras in the end. Thanks again!
I had an Arlo system, and it was terrible. Then I moved to Eufy, which was a lot better, but the cameras couldn’t record continuously, and I hated charging the batteries. Now I’m using a Lorex POE system with an NVR, and I’m happy with it. I can have live views on my TV 24/7 and have continuous recording. It’s been great so far.
I’d suggest going for a wired system if you can. The problem with Amazon systems is that they’re hard to customize, and support can be an issue. Professional-grade equipment is a lot better, and if you’re serious about home security, it’s worth looking into that.
All the systems mentioned here are consumer-grade and won’t be as good as professional systems. They’re better than nothing, but not by much. What exactly are you looking to get out of the system? What are your expectations?
@Kara
We’re moving to a new house, and I want to install a reliable security camera system without having to run a bunch of wires. It needs to have good resolution, night vision, live feeds, and local storage. I also want to avoid subscription services.