Reliable outdoor security camera for 2-story home (new build)

last year

We live in an urban area and will put two exterior cameras on our house, one at entry (NOT doorbell style) and one on part of side of house where backdoor to garage/garbage cans are (primary access to backyard). Looking for recommendations on something that is good quality but reasonably priced. I also need to figure out if we're going hardwire or power-over-ethernet routes (for electrician).

Recommendations? Words of advice? Ones to avoid?

Featured Answer

T T

last year

I would recommend prewiring for power over ethernet. It's much more reliable than using wifi. Also consider adding a camera at the corner of your garage overlooking the driveway, as well as one in your back patio. Prewiring now is cheap and you don't have to use all the prewires. Also, many PoE NVR cameras are sold in 4, 6 or 8 packs, so you might consider wiring up locations that roughly match those numbers. The sets will usually save you some money. If you're a Costco member, I would recommend buying one if their sets due to their generous return policy if you have issues with the cameras.

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Comments (9)

wdccruise
last year
Consumer Reports ($10/month digital) has reviews and ratings of floodlight cameras and indoor/outdoor models.
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earthlyepicure
Original Author
last year
@T T thanks for the tips! Which Costco ones do you like? I've been thinking PoE works. Are the Ring ones PoE? Their flood with camera is one I'm contemplating fpr the driveway area. I just want a plain camera for entry.
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T T
last year
@earthlyepicure, it depends on whether you want cloud recording and whether you mind paying monthly fees. If going with cloud, then Ring or Google Nest are decent options. I personally prefer not to pay a monthly fee and to have the data stored locally on a network video recorder. These options require more hands on setup and if you aren't wanting to customize, I would stick with Ring or Nest. If you don't mind some setup (which isn't hard but requires a bit of learning), I would go for this reolink set that is $150 off right now:

https://www.costco.com/reolink----4k+-16-channel-4tb-8-cam-wired-security-camera-system.product.4000221346.html

Note that you would need an ethernet wire to each camera location for this reolink set. For most Ring and Nest cams, when they say hard wired, they mean it needs 110v power. Most of them use wifi to transfer the data.
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T T
last year
@earthlyepicure, it depends on whether you want cloud recording and whether you mind paying monthly fees. If going with cloud, then Ring or Google Nest are decent options. I personally prefer not to pay a monthly fee and to have the data stored locally on a network video recorder. These options require more hands on setup and if you aren't wanting to customize, I would stick with Ring or Nest. If you don't mind some setup (which isn't hard but requires a bit of learning), I would go for this reolink set that is $150 off right now:
https://www.costco.com/reolink----4k+-16-channel-4tb-8-cam-wired-security-camera-system.product.4000221346.html

Note that you would need an ethernet wire to each camera location for this reolink set. For most Ring and Nest cams, when they say hard wired, they mean it needs 110v power. Most of them use wifi to transfer the data.

EDIT: just saw you only planned on two cameras. If thats the case, a cloud option might be preferable. The local NVR options make more sense if you want a lot of cameras. In today's world, I would consider at least 1 camera at each corner of the house, 1 looking at the driveway, and another at the front door. Probably another at the back patio door. I would probably wire up 8 ethernet camera locations and get the reolink set. If that's overkill, stick to either Ring or Nest for your two cams.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
We have ours through our telphone company hooked into Alexa works great yes a monthly fee but automatically cals police or fire dept. too We have one camera since our property is aood in that there is really only one way to enter without climbing a hill too steep for most and for sure at night.
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Sigrid
last year
We have a bunch of Wyze cameras. They're cheap, internet-connected and no monthly fee. They don't call anyone, but supplement our regular security system. The outside ones are fun, because we see all the wildlife. They are motion-activated.
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Paul F.
last year
I have the Avertx Costco NVR system that I haven't installed yet. My door entry intercom system and my wifi network is going to be Ubiquiti and they have some fairly inexpensive small PoE cameras (sold out right now) that can just add on to the system. I'm probably going to return the Avertx.

https://store.ui.com/us/en/pro/category/all-cameras-nvrs/products/uvc-g5-turret-ultra
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WestCoast Hopeful
last year
We are very happy with our nest hardwired system. We have a front yard camera, backyard camera and a doorbell camera. Our thermostat is also nest. All can be seen on an app or website. It’s not monitored but meets our needs fully.
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