Multi Camera Home Security Systems ??

[billt]

I co worker of mine has one of these, and they're really nice. He can use his smart phone and see in every room in his house in real time. That would sure give me peace of mind, to know my home is secure when I am away. Does anyone have one of these systems? How do you like it? What are the advantages and disadvantages? How difficult was it to install, and what was involved? I see these things advertised in places like Costco all the time. But I'm not very tech or computer savvy. I don't even currently use a smart phone. What is the approximate total cost of these things? I'm more concerned about monthly fees, than outright purchasing, because I'll be retiring at the end of the year. I'd like to hold monthly costs to a minimum. Thanks in advance.

[MikeBjerum]

Billt,

I am in the process of buying and setting one up.  This does not mean it will happen this spring due to the rapid pace I don't move at, but it will happen this summer.

What convinced me, besides the fact I teach and preach at people to do it, was talking with fellow instructors who took the step to do it themselves and love them.  I have not heard from any of them that it was too difficult or that they had issues understanding, and none of these guys are geeks or nerds.  They are gun and safety people who would still be using soup cans and string for phones if you could buy buttons in the store 

Their advise to me, and what I am doing right now, is read the information, read the reviews, talk to the people at the stores who sell the stuff, and just like any tool, buy the best you can afford.

Our yard is 7 1/2 acres with six main buildings.  I am looking at/for an eight camera capable, wireless system, with clear regular and inferred modes to pick up the different buildings from other areas.  At this time I am not looking at interior cameras due to the layout of our home, but my sketches show that with an eight camera system I could cover the main part of the yard, the exterior of the house, and still have two in the house.  I have been looking also at a twelve camera system that would do all I could dream of, but a little out of my range.  There is also the possibility of putting in two eight camera systems - This would do all I wish and leave room for adding on as I learn what I missed.

You might have picked up through the previous paragraph why this is not a quick move for me.  Lots of options and decisions.  That, and I still can not find that system that will work with soup cans and string.

[red364]

We have a Q-see setup we got from Costco. We've had it for years and I love it!!!  Installing it was no problem for me, all I did was hold wires and watch the monitor while we adjusted cameras. My honey, did all the work I wouldn't like being on the ladder to put them up, or crawl under the house to hide the wires. It's not that difficult to do, it just takes a long time to get it done. We started out with an 8 camera system, quickly added more. Our set up supports 32 cameras. You can set your phone to notify you if a camera picks up movement so you don't have to look all the time, we can also get online and watch too. 
The first thing I do when I hit the living room in the morning is turn on the monitor for the cameras. We had a power outage on Easter and I felt naked without the cameras!!!   
Do it Billt, you'll like it!!

[dipisc]

Hi;

     I have 3 cheap - 2 camera per monitor systems at my house. I intend to upgrade to a far better system in the future. They are supposed to be Infra red cameras - but you get what you pay for.

     Since having these cheap sysytems for the outside of the house has made me feel a lot better. I do not have a recording feature on these - but the better multi camera system I really want will have recording features.

     The system(s) stopped alot of problems around the house - when my God fearing, Law abiding so-called neighbors found out about the system. No more denying from the scum.

     Everyone assumes that a "ADT" sign will be posted...The shock on thier faces was priceless. Of course I did not tell them that I can not/it does not record ( so far ) !

[Paraguy]

I have a Q-See 720p outdoor system with 4 cameras with night vision and it works great!  $899 at Home Depot.  We had someone playing dig-dong-ditch which was very unsettling so I installed it.  Hasn't happened since, but I feel better knowing what is going on and being able to record what happens in a discreet manner; the cameras are hard to spot.
I chose this system because it is all hooked up with Ethernet cables, so it is a bit of a project (10+ hours) but my home is tough to wire.
Good luck selecting a system.

[Sponsor]

[billt]

What my co worker told me was to be sure to go with a system that hard wires the cameras to the receiver. Wireless Wi-Fi type cameras can have their signals intercepted. I don't know if this is true or not. Or if it's even anything to be worried about. The wireless camera systems sure look more attractive from an installation standpoint.

M 58... Please keep us informed how your set up goes, along with how happy you are with it. My situation is this. I'm retiring at the end of the year. After that we will most likely be moving to western Arizona, and get out of the Phoenix metro area. That is when I intend to do this. Right now I'm trying to educate myself about these things. For me, programming a DVR is a major undertaking, so I want to educate myself before jumping in, so to speak.

[MikeBjerum]

Here is something posted by our friend Benny.  I warn people about revealing too much about their security systems.  Actually I warn against revealing anything about their systems.

There are a lot of issues I was aware of, and this makes since, but I had never put one, two and three together to come up with it.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/04/28/parents-wake-up-to-something-terrifying-coming-from-their-wireless-baby-monitor/

[Magoo541]

Here is something posted by our friend Benny.  I warn people about revealing too much about their security systems.  Actually I warn against revealing anything about their systems.

There are a lot of issues I was aware of, and this makes since, but I had never put one, two and three together to come up with it.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/04/28/parents-wake-up-to-something-terrifying-coming-from-their-wireless-baby-monitor/

I saw that story earlier this week.  Even in a PC world I don't think you'd find a jury to convict you if you literally ripped a guy a part for doing that.