Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Rondar on September 11, 2023, 03:27:18 PM

Title: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Rondar on September 11, 2023, 03:27:18 PM
I think I am interested in getting a video doorbell.  I have no clue what may be a good one.  I will need it to detect someone approaching and send me a notification.  Also would like live video at the time someone is in the area.  What suggestions do you gents have for such a critter?
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: -gg- on September 11, 2023, 04:20:39 PM
My aunt had the Ring doorbell and I was constantly having to go over and get it working again. They're usually wifi and they can lose connection

I'd get a wired security camera system. Even just a two camera one. They will notify you too and some do two way audio as well

Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Eagler on September 11, 2023, 05:16:01 PM
Ring

Doorbell, front driveway flood and backyard flood cameras for a while now

It's $100 a year for cloud storage

It's a great security tool that can do the things you asked about

I use a wifi repeater to extend wifi to the front devices

Eagler
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Puma44 on September 11, 2023, 06:44:42 PM
Ring doorbell, hardwired, here.  Never had any issues with it. Also have ring cameras with solar power.  Never any issues with them either.  Of course, on the very rare occasion when the Wi-Fi fails due to a storm, everything Wi-Fi is down. But, a rare event here.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: sparky127 on September 12, 2023, 06:35:11 AM
I use the Wyze stuff.  It's super cheap.  A lot of people complain about quality and reliability.  I've never had a problem.  But then again, I have realistic expectations.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Eagler on September 12, 2023, 06:45:30 AM
As they are wifi they are jammable but not a real concern for most and the average crackhead thief...

Also have 3 foscam cameras rolling..

The wife reviews the ring floods about every morning..

That's how we saw a group of losers roaming the hood checking car doors one early am..

Cameras help but so does Skyler, our 65pound pit and the 9mm

Eagler
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: AKIron on September 12, 2023, 09:53:54 AM
I had Ring for several years, worked well. Tried an Amazon Blink when my cloud subscription for the Ring expired because the Blink sub was cheaper. The Ring was much better at detecting only someone at the door. When we moved back to Texas in June we bought another Ring. Very happy with it.

I put a 30 degree adapter on the camera as you may or may not be able to see and with the wide angle of the lens it works well.

https://ibb.co/dcfr0Bp
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Spikes on September 12, 2023, 10:07:29 AM
I use a few Google cams (2 doorbells and a floodlight) along with some Wyze cams. Google ones are expensive but very nice. I don't pay for the subscription but may just so we can have event history.

Wyze cams are nice because they are cheap. I put them indoors in windows looking outside.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Rondar on September 12, 2023, 11:23:17 PM
I'll check some of these out.  I'll be in a "big city" this weekend where I will be able to actually look at them.  Thanks, I'll see what happens.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Eagler on September 13, 2023, 06:41:20 AM
We also have the solar powered battery ring flood that has its own solar panel so you don't have to wire it to power

Works great!

Eagler
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: icepac on September 14, 2023, 08:00:50 AM
You guys ever wonder why the video goes to and through a server before being piped to you.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: sparky127 on September 14, 2023, 11:55:50 AM
Because that's the way these things work?  You think they're monitoring YOUR cameras?  Why would they monitor YOUR cameras??
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Shuffler on September 14, 2023, 12:48:58 PM
You guys ever wonder why the video goes to and through a server before being piped to you.

A big reason is initial cost. Having a DVR included to hold your own recordings adds cost.You can still add DVR to some that then require no online. To access your videos from off premise you would need to setup a server though.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Eagler on September 14, 2023, 12:57:43 PM
You have to port forward your router to get ip cameras setup

Our foscams do not record as I never setup a dvr for them

Ring has cloud storage which I don't care who can hack into them ad they just show the driveway and backyard.

If I had them inside I would be more careful

Eagler
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Vulcan on September 14, 2023, 07:28:06 PM
I run my own system, $30 cameras from Aliexpress, 4k/night vision/LED spotlight feature/2 way audio/PoE, all running back to a PC running BlueIris. BlueIris has built in AI support for object recognition, facial recognition, and number plate recognition.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: -gg- on September 14, 2023, 08:47:32 PM
I run my own system, $30 cameras from Aliexpress, 4k/night vision/LED spotlight feature/2 way audio/PoE, all running back to a PC running BlueIris. BlueIris has built in AI support for object recognition, facial recognition, and number plate recognition.

how powerful of a cpu/gpu do you need to run and record 4k , say 6 cameras?

I 've used Blue Iris before several years ago.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: icepac on September 15, 2023, 08:46:23 AM
Homebridge runs on a raspberry pi.   

https://homebridge.io/
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Vulcan on September 15, 2023, 04:19:47 PM
how powerful of a cpu/gpu do you need to run and record 4k , say 6 cameras?

I 've used Blue Iris before several years ago.

I'm running an i3-8100, no gpu (apart from the intel chipset), 16Gb of RAM. I have 6 x 4k cameras and the AI instance on the same box, it sits at around 50% utilization.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Shuffler on September 16, 2023, 11:39:19 AM
You don't need much computer. The catch is storage. If you store larger files and more of them.... you need more space on good drives.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Volron on September 16, 2023, 11:52:22 AM
Just make sure you actually check it if someone comes to your house at an odd hour before doing anything, rather than rushing through the front door with a weapon drawn and raised.

 :police:
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Eagler on September 16, 2023, 01:50:00 PM
With ring you can sign into a ring neighborhood message board where you  get all sorts of notifications from happenings around you captured by someone's ring..

They are a great security tool as are simple motion lights as the criminals prefer to slink around in the dark..

These are great https://a.co/d/6VuK8Co

Eagler
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Rondar on September 16, 2023, 04:49:21 PM
Ended up getting a eufy 2k doorbell. My brother has one and day and nighttime vision looked really good. Besides, if I have trouble he can help me figure it out.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Vulcan on September 16, 2023, 04:54:09 PM
You don't need much computer. The catch is storage. If you store larger files and more of them.... you need more space on good drives.

Once you start using filters it changes things a lot.

First layer of filtering is motion detection. You 'paint' an area of interest that you want triggered on motion. You can tweak it like crazy, including things like object size. But, plain old motion detection still triggers a lot of falses (wind blowing trees/bushes for example). I don't alert on simple motion detection.

The second layer of filtering is using AI object recognition. Most of my cameras are set to scan for people/cats/dogs. If one of these is detected an alert is triggered (email and audible). I use different alerts depending on the zone, for example a front door alert triggers a door bell sound.

If you wanted you can also use facial recognition, so you'd only get alerts on unrecognized faces.

I only have 256Gb of storage, and I keep 7 days of video. It barely gets 5% used.

Some of my cameras also have a spotlight function, if they detect a person it turns on an LED spotlight in the camera (I use that as a deterrent function).

BlueIris operates as a web page (internal on your network). I've set it up so anyone with a PC/laptop/phone/tablet in the household as the shortcut. And in our kitchen I've setup a cheap 10" android laptop that has that camera page running 24x7. It has all 6 cameras thumbnailed, and automaximizes a specific camera on any motion detection.

There is a mobile client, but I simply use a VPN back into home on my phone to view it real time if needed.

The level of tweaking you can go to with BlueIris is nuts.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Vulcan on September 16, 2023, 04:59:49 PM
Ended up getting a eufy 2k doorbell. My brother has one and day and nighttime vision looked really good. Besides, if I have trouble he can help me figure it out.

Just be aware that eufy have had a terrible history of security related issues. I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole. But I have some very specific risks I am concerned about, a general consumer would fine with them. For example I had to get someone further up the food-chain from me to rip out a EUFY installation, he was the Chief Security Officer for a large financial institution with government ties.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Meatwad on September 16, 2023, 05:09:52 PM
Are they visible through the internet if you want to view them remotely? I have seen some camera systems where they need a static IP address to be viewed remotely through the internet
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Vulcan on September 17, 2023, 03:59:15 PM
I'm an IT guy, so I have a static IP, my own domain, mail server etc.

That said iirc there is a mobile app which talks to dynamic IP addresses. I've considered using it as it allows you to do 2 way audio if the cams support it (mine do).
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: -gg- on September 18, 2023, 11:04:52 AM
Once you start using filters it changes things a lot.

First layer of filtering is motion detection. You 'paint' an area of interest that you want triggered on motion. You can tweak it like crazy, including things like object size. But, plain old motion detection still triggers a lot of falses (wind blowing trees/bushes for example). I don't alert on simple motion detection.

The second layer of filtering is using AI object recognition. Most of my cameras are set to scan for people/cats/dogs. If one of these is detected an alert is triggered (email and audible). I use different alerts depending on the zone, for example a front door alert triggers a door bell sound.

If you wanted you can also use facial recognition, so you'd only get alerts on unrecognized faces.

I only have 256Gb of storage, and I keep 7 days of video. It barely gets 5% used.

Some of my cameras also have a spotlight function, if they detect a person it turns on an LED spotlight in the camera (I use that as a deterrent function).

BlueIris operates as a web page (internal on your network). I've set it up so anyone with a PC/laptop/phone/tablet in the household as the shortcut. And in our kitchen I've setup a cheap 10" android laptop that has that camera page running 24x7. It has all 6 cameras thumbnailed, and automaximizes a specific camera on any motion detection.

There is a mobile client, but I simply use a VPN back into home on my phone to view it real time if needed.

The level of tweaking you can go to with BlueIris is nuts.


can you tell me what kind of PC specs run a your system? I'm getting sick of cheap, garbage NVRs failing.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: AKIron on September 18, 2023, 11:36:14 AM
Some devices support Dynamic DNS and some that don't provide for that will still work with it. Several free DDNS services.

If your device doesn't have a setting for that you just need to install the DDNS client for that specific service on a PC. It will update the IP at the DDNS host and the camera can still be accessed via the url.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: AKIron on September 18, 2023, 11:40:54 AM
Of course you'll need to do a port mapping on your router if the camera/device is behind a firewall.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Vulcan on September 18, 2023, 06:42:16 PM

can you tell me what kind of PC specs run a your system? I'm getting sick of cheap, garbage NVRs failing.

I answered that further up. Just be aware I don't run my system like an NVR (see my posts above).
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Eagler on September 19, 2023, 08:15:24 AM
Email from ring about refurbished products:

https://ring.com/collections/certified-refurbished

Eagler
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: AKIron on September 20, 2023, 10:32:54 PM
Wide angle peep holes work too. No soliciting signs don't.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: icepac on September 21, 2023, 08:03:38 AM
I'm an IT guy, so I have a static IP, my own domain, mail server etc.

That said iirc there is a mobile app which talks to dynamic IP addresses. I've considered using it as it allows you to do 2 way audio if the cams support it (mine do).

Got my mcse in 1998.

I’m guessing you’ve removed “all” selection from the drop down box of users when forwarding e.mail.   
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Vulcan on September 21, 2023, 03:36:08 PM
Got my mcse in 1998.

I’m guessing you’ve removed “all” selection from the drop down box of users when forwarding e.mail.

I predate mcse. And I have no idea what you're talking about with the email?
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: icepac on September 24, 2023, 02:30:10 AM
Exchange server stuff.   
Not worth explaining.

I predate MCSE as well starting with an Altair in the late 70s and later running fiber at places that made up the backbone of arpanet.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Rondar on September 24, 2023, 01:57:39 PM
You guys are talking way above me. I will just say that my doorbell camera provides timely information and has a very clear picture. 
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Vulcan on September 24, 2023, 04:44:08 PM
Exchange server stuff.   
Not worth explaining.

I predate MCSE as well starting with an Altair in the late 70s and later running fiber at places that made up the backbone of arpanet.

Oh I hate exchange, it's a giant smelly piece of dog poo. I used to use keriomail but switched to hmail a while back.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: AKIron on September 24, 2023, 06:25:38 PM
Oh I hate exchange, it's a giant smelly piece of dog poo. I used to use keriomail but switched to hmail a while back.

Online Exchange (O365) mostly these days and it is very popular.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: Vulcan on September 24, 2023, 07:58:02 PM
Online Exchange (O365) mostly these days and it is very popular.

Oh come on it's just exchange in the cloud, and just as bad.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: AKIron on September 24, 2023, 08:21:33 PM
Oh come on it's just exchange in the cloud, and just as bad.

I've worked with every version of it going back to when it was called Microsoft Mail. I like it better in the cloud. No more rebuilding databases to recover a mailbox because the client is too cheap for a granular backup.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: icepac on September 26, 2023, 09:52:20 AM
In around 1997, an employee went on vacation and set up forwarding in exchange but accidentally selected “all” from the drop down box.   
Normally it’s not a big problem but he had “return receipt requested” on all his e.mails when he again selected “all” when he typed a “I’m going to Mexico” e.mail.   

Server filled beyond capacity in a short amount of time.
Title: Re: Video doorbell camera
Post by: AKIron on September 26, 2023, 05:22:06 PM
The 90's were the decade of certifications. I got a few then including the MCNE and MSCE. Cisco certs carried the ball a bit later and I indulged. They don't mean so much any more.