Newbie to CCTV

[Kellerman]

Hi all,

I'm on the cusp of moving house and fancy CCTV at the new place. Me and girlfriend are iPhone wkers, so something that works seamlessly with the phones would be good. Thinking of covering front and back of the house, plus maybe a smart doorbell.

Questions
1) Whats the best camera for £100ish apiece?
2) Do the batteries really last 2 years? (1 year is fine I suppose)
3) Whats the cheapest / best "home hub" thing to link them to? A smart speaker?
4) Anything that could catch me out on a DIY install? Is it as easy as screwing a bracket to the fasica board and doing a software setup?

Thanks in advance

[s2kjock]

Kellerman said:

Hi all,

I'm on the cusp of moving house and fancy CCTV at the new place. Me and girlfriend are iPhone wkers, so something that works seamlessly with the phones would be good. Thinking of covering front and back of the house, plus maybe a smart doorbell.

Questions
1) Whats the best camera for 100ish apiece?
2) Do the batteries really last 2 years? (1 year is fine I suppose)
3) Whats the cheapest / best "home hub" thing to link them to? A smart speaker?
4) Anything that could catch me out on a DIY install? Is it as easy as screwing a bracket to the fasica board and doing a software setup?

Thanks in advance

1) Depends on what type of set up you want and quality - through internet and cloud with SD card back up, and/or saving on a drive ("NVR") inside your house are two main options AFAIK
2) The only battery powered ones I am aware of aware of are IP cameras (internet/cloud based) and have a couple of months max depending on whether you record everything, or just movement - more nickable, and obviously need to be plugged in to recharge periodically but piece of cask to install
3) Not needed if you are happy just using your phone and there is access via internet or direct to local storage
4) The hardest part is generally routing cabling - how much cabling you have to faff with depends on what power source you have/need and if wired or wireless in terms of the video data

A wireless (as in data, not power) IP camera could be set up very easily (in theory) if you have an accessible outside power source for under £100 per camera, and a good wi-fi connection in the location. Video viewable on an app on your phone.

[RumbleOfThunder]

I've been very happy with this Eufy set for the past 6 months. It's one of Anker's brands.

https://uk.eufylife.com/collections/security/produ...

Easy to install with all fittings included, just 2 screws a piece into house brick for me, but they can be mounted anywhere, that's the beauty. App is very easy to use with good UI. Also have a family member's install linked to mine, so I can see their camera's on the same screen. All clips backup to the included hub. We're talking months of footage before it begins to overwrite the older clips. Battery life has been very good honestly, even with mine running the flash at night. I've recharged mine using a power bank in situ, that way I don't have to remove the cameras and mess up my angles. As above, factors of battery and data use will wildly depending on your configuration.

[xx99xx]

Blink cameras are good if a) you just want motion activated; b) you have good WiFi coverage; c) the distance between the cameras and the hub is not too far and d) there isn't a lot of 'natural' movement to set the cameras off unnecessarily (otherwise batteries will only last a few months - although you can wire them to mains/solar).