Did you have a home security camera system professionally installed?

Care to share your experiences?

I installed my own security cameras. I went with the Blink cameras from Amazon. I still have to setup one camera and my Blink doorbell. I bought the 5 camera kit. So far, I have two cameras on both sides of the front of our house, one located so we can see our driveway on the side of our house and one inside of our house. The inside camera is only activated when we are not home. Before I'm done, I plan on buying at the least, one more camera. The fifth camera I have will be pointed toward our sheds and the sixth camera I'm going to place it so we can see part of our back yard and the back of the house.

Thanks, is this the system you have? https://www.amazon.com/Blink-Outdoo...ix=security+camera+system,aps,143&sr=8-3&th=1

I feel a need for knowing what is going on around the house. Good if I get alerts about moving humans on my phone but I also like a continuous recording for the last 7 days or so. I also like lights switching on as a deterrent, activated by a motion detector system that I think should be a separate system from the security camera system but the 2 systems should work well together, e.g. to help viewing only relevant parts of the recording and archiving those relevant parts if need be (hopefully there will never be a 'need be')

I feel I can benefit from the expertise of security professionals but I do not really know, at the present time, how to talk to them LOL

What would your requirements be?

I run 5 dahua IP turret cameras and NVR, also I have a Blue Iris server monitoring the feeds for motion with deep stack AI integration for facial rec etc (it's not very good).

With IP cameras there is no need for pro install as all you need to do is run a cat5.


Sites like this are a good read:-

Thanks, will lurk there

Haydon said:

Thanks, is this the system you have?

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Yes, that's the system I bought.

The main thing that helped me to decide to go with the Blink system was that I didn't have to do any wiring to use them. A lady from Comcast called me one day and tried to talk me into buying their wireless security system. I asked her several times how the cameras got the power to run and she kept saying that they are wireless, so no wiring was needed. Finally, she put me on hold so she could ask somebody how the cameras were powered. When she got back on the phone she said, you're right. the cameras do have to be plugged in.

yes. New. Cost me £600. Two colour cams, has sound and recorder. One front one back. I used an old 22 inch HDMI monitor. 3-4 months later the monitor wont switch on so no idea if anything else works. The cams light up at night (led) and image quality was good but the sound sounds like screeching. I am awaiting a maint visit but no word yet.

elbmek said:

... awaiting a maint visit but no word yet.

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Is it a case of pandemic scarcity?

I installed myself, so I could say yes or no to a professional Install, I maybe did not take the care I would have if installing for somebody else but it works fine so all's good.

I wanted a brand I recognised so went for a TAPO setup from TP Link this is a straightforward system to setup as they work via your existing Router so only need power to work, I have a range of Cameras Fixed and motorised covering strategic points - The motorized cameras also include the option to scan or follow activity.

The cameras work with my phone so I always have access when not at home, and can also switch on audible alarms on any camera I feel requires it.

In addition I have a number of controlled lighting areas that can be set to randomly light areas when I'm not at home, I can also set cameras and lighting from my Google Home setup [ they also work with alexa ], including camera display on Google Home displays