Suggestions for RTSP POE cameras for home security… looking to stream through PC

Home Security Product Recommendations Forum
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I have a single-story home in a rough neighborhood and am thinking about setting up 6 cameras: one on each corner of the house and two more at the front and back. I’m building a PC that will act as a recorder (and may also be used for other computing tasks). I’m looking for POE cameras that I can run through my PC and stream live to multiple displays in my home.

I’d prefer to avoid cloud storage and keep everything local. Ideally, I’d like to access live footage on my phone or tablet, assuming that can be done through the PC.

Happy to provide more info if needed!

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Reolink cameras might work well for you:

  • RTSP support and ONVIF compliant
  • Extensive PoE and wireless options
  • Supports local storage via SD cards
  • Reolink mobile app (lets you view footage remotely without firewall changes)
  • Reolink Windows desktop app also available

Check out this Reolink model comparison: Reolink camera specs - Google Sheets

I currently use the free version of Milestone XProtect as my NVR software (runs on Windows), but I’m thinking of switching to BlueIris soon. The free XProtect version supports up to 8 cameras but is a heavy install. XProtect also has mobile and desktop apps for viewing footage.

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I’d suggest talking to a professional first—usually a free service. I’ve used Nelly’s Security before: Nellyssecurity.com.

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Terryann said:
I’d suggest talking to a professional first—usually a free service. I’ve used Nelly’s Security before: Nellyssecurity.com.

That’s probably my best bet. I’ll reach out to a few companies and get quotes for what I need.

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Lorex is an easy and affordable option, though their firmware update support isn’t great. They have good mobile clients and a desktop app. Their newer cameras also support smart detection for people and vehicles, with notifications sent to your phone.

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@Layla
I tried Lorex before, but the system I picked was only compatible with their proprietary recorder, which was a deal breaker. I’ll give them another look, though.

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Blue Iris is a popular choice for software, and ZoneMinder is free, though it’s not as polished. I’d recommend using multiple cameras per corner or getting multi-lens cameras to cover more area. Fisheye lenses tend to be expensive and are best suited for indoor use. Motion-tracking PTZ cameras are also an option, but the motors can wear out over time.

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For Android users, TinyCam Monitor is a good app for viewing multiple cameras on a tablet, TV, or other devices. If you haven’t picked your software yet, look for PoE cameras that are ONVIF-compliant. They tend to be more compatible and reliable. Also, choose cameras with microSD card slots, so if your PC is stolen, you still have the most recent footage stored locally in the camera.

For affordable options, check out Amcrest and Reolink, though they’re from Chinese manufacturers. If you’d prefer to avoid that, look into brands like GeoVision or Hanwha Techwin.

For recording, I use a NAS (Synology) as my NVR, which runs Surveillance Station and includes a free viewer app. This way, I don’t need to leave a full PC running all the time.

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@ZOLAH
Thanks for the detailed info! I’ll look into these options.

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Just keep in mind, if someone steals your computer, you’ll wish you had cloud backup.