Security cameras for the S&B?

[TJ&LadyDi]

I know this is peripheral to RVing, but many of us who are not full-timers spend considerable time away from our sticks-and-bricks home. Having security cameras that can be viewed on a cell phone or tablet while away could be important. We are looking for such a system right now. Anyone with experience in this area is welcome to chime in.

One thing that would be important to us is having a system that would automatically restart after a power outage without hands-on intervention. Also prefer a wireless system, if that's doable.

What say, ya'll?

TJ

 

[Akdare]

I just installed a Ring doorbell. It was dead simple. I did have to play a bit with the motion zones, to get it set up not to give false alarms. But the interface is simple and intuitive. I get alerts on my phone immediately, and I it has two-way audio. They also make a variety of indoor & outdoor cameras with the same features; hardwired, battery, and solar. I already have security cameras from another company; but I have been so impressed with the Ring, that I am seriously considering changing them out. mine does restart after a power failure...we just had one yesterday.

 

[Neal]

@TJ&LadyDi I use Honeywell Lyric C2 cameras in my S&B and I also have one in my coach that sits on the back wall of the dinette. These use geolocation so they know when you're away vs. home mode (you have to update the location for the one in your coach obviously. I also use a Ring doorbell as @Akdare mentioned above but I think you're looking for something inside? For the Honeywell Lyric C2 you don't have to pay anything additional but you can add higher levels of monitoring for more storage but I get an email of any incident and I can look in via my cell phone as needed. It's worked more than just for security, it picks up noises too and I had a heat detector go off once, a smoke detector battery start chirping, etc. and it alerts me to those things too which is good. I also get notifications on my phone of any motion or sound events. All configurable. You can also use these to look in on dogs while away if desired. Many uses but you can bring up live video from your smartphone. I had a different type earlier that I could actually pan and zoom but had issues with connectivity so I ended up finding these and have liked them, in use for years now. I started with their C1 version.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074SG7TKQ/?tag=rvf01-20

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Actually, we are looking for an outside system that will alert us to someone near the house BEFORE they break in. Having an inside system might be phase 2 for us.

We live in a pretty secure rural area with observant neighbors reasonably close (50-150 yards), but the nighttime hours are the most vulnerable time we are looking to cover.

I'll take a look at the Ring doorbell. That might be a good start. We're hoping to set up a comprehensive system that will allow monitoring of the front door, rear door, garage door, etc. that could all be viewed on an iPhone or iPad.

TJ

 

[Neal]

You may want to contact a security company and do it right. I do have an alarm system with monitoring service. But companies can do a far better job with a complete solution such as you're looking for including video and storage of videos as desired.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

You may be right, Neal. we are hoping to explore DIY solutions before going there, however. Since we will be at the S&B until April, we have a bit of a time cushion. While we are at the S&B, our security system is provided by S&W!

TJ

 

[J&JD]

I have had ADT for many years. They installed a complete system including 4 exterior cameras and one interior camera all motion activated with email and message notification. I can toggle through all cameras and look at them real time on my iPhone or iPad. They do, however, have connectivity issues from time to time and high winds give me constant exterior motion notifications that can be annoying. The upgraded system was put in for minimal $ but it’s been so long that I can’t remember the amount. I do pay $180/quarter for monitoring which includes a call to me if the home perimeter is breached or there is motion detected inside. All in all I’m satisfied with the system and service.

 

[Tip&Tina]

We started with a Ring Doorbell about 3 years ago. It has worked great. Since we started going on longer trips and we have a cat sitter (I know, I know) who comes in every other day to clean the cat boxes and refresh food, etc. I decided to get ARLO cameras.

https://www.costco.com/arlo-pro-2-i...camera-security-system.product.100489223.html

They are wireless and can be installed by someone like me-totally inept with this kind of technology. They can also go outside so I put one on the back, basement door to see anyone trying to gain access to our walkout basement.

Since they use wireless internet I can see immediately what the cats or the Cat Whisperer is doing. Is she in my house sleeping in the bed or just tending the cats? Was she in for 10 minutes or an hour?

I got them at Costco when on sale. I think they were $400.00 (The link above shows them on sale for $279.00!!) for 3 and you can add up to 6 (I think). They also have a microphone so you can talk to the cat/dog/person who is in the room/area etc. The fact that they are indoor/outdoor and can be set up for solar is really nice.

I have them pointed at points of entry and where the cats hang out for now. It gives us a sense of security that goes beyond the doorbell.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Thanks for the input on the Arlo security cameras at Costco. I have been looking at the Arlo Pro 2 system there recently. I think that's the one you are referencing as being on sale for $279. Have you had any problems with power outages and the system not resetting? I've seen a couple of comments about that issue.

TJ

 

[Buly]

I have been using these for over a year now https://wyze.com/wyze-cam.html. On our recent trip West, I was able to check all the cameras, and got notification every time the house monitor came to check the house, every time a door was open, for how long etc. Cloud storage is free. High res 1080 video and sound. The pan camera can follow a moving object while recording.
I used one in the RV to check on our Miss Daisy ( our MaltiPoo) .
wayze are having a Black Fr. sale on black cameras.

 

[sheridany]

We have a hard wired security camera system at our S&B and with the recent third world power outages in california, the cameras went down and the alarm system cut over to battery which only lasted 2 hours. At that point, we were vulnerable while there have been three home invasion in the area in the past 3 weeks. No incidents occurred so if you are going to be gone for a while know that these systems can go off-line. They do come back on line fine when power is restored and does not require manual intervention to reactivate the system typically.
One other comment I would make there is a great app for the I Phone (maybe Android) that we use for live view and playback called NVMS7000 that is excellent. I believe as long as the system has access to the internet, it can be work. You can save videos or still shots from the replay if needed.

 

[JoeHogan]

We use an ADT installed system with 6 cameras. Covers all approaches to the house. Also has "night vision" infrared features. It is amazing the critters that move around at night.
The system we purchased has 1T of storage, about a month of history. Both realtime and history can be accessed via internet. The system has motion alert software with notification. We do not use notification but motion is nice to review. When home I have a monitor scrolling through the cameras in my office at the back of the house.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Thanks, Joe. We are looking at ADT as an option.

TJ

 

[MapNerd]

For me, the dumber my house is the happier I am. For those of you out there buying Ring Doorbells, Amazon Echos’, Facebook Portals and whatever other tech gadget, know that these products do not exist to make your life easier - they exist as the means to make you and any and all information about you, a product to be sold to advertisers and anyone else that wants to buy that data.

Ring however, is a next level disaster for the privacy minded and there are plenty of alternatives.
https://gizmodo.com/dont-buy-anyone-a-ring-camera-1840070640

 

[Neal]

I understand @MapNerd and some people are sensitive about their privacy. I for one am not. I don't turn it off on my phone as I want to take advantage of the location aware features. If someone cares about my asking Alexa about NFL games so be it. I like being able to voice control my thermostats at home, turn lights on/off, use it as a light timer, I've been able to adjust my home automation while away on a 6 monther. If someone wants to use my Ring doorbell to help keep my neighorhood safer, have at it. It's just my perspective on this as I have nothing to hide and I embrace the technology and really enjoy it. I understand the other side as well.

 

[sheridany]

Here’s something else to consider which is camera quality. Spend for good cameras and make sure they work at night. Little did I know someone drove over our irrigation main valve last night and left. Did significant damage. We just spent the last 1.5 hours replaying and zooming the video. We cannot read the license plate after they backed up clear into our driveway. Sort of worthless if you can’t read a license plate. The security company will hearing from us Monday.

 

[Neal]

I always wonder this when I see crime pics on local news and wonder why the image quality is always so poor. This is why I went with a 4K dashcam (blackvue) so I could actually get the detail needed should I ever need it.

 

[JoeHogan]

I have always wondered how the License Plate Reader cameras get such clear images. My home security cameras have the same issue at night.
There is a set of LPR cameras just down the street from our home. Day or night that camera catches plates with a legal issue. It took a couple months in service but now keeps the bad guys out of the area.
It is my understanding the LPR is connected to FL DOT computers as well as a NCIC system. Keeps that little three or four "on duty" Police officers busy. They had to shut down the "minor violations" from the output because of the number of hits they got during the day.
After some reading, it is my understanding that capturing reflective license plates with a infrared spectrum is very tough. The reflective plate material, as you can see above, reflects the infrared washing out the numbers. Note the unlit plate of the station wagon. Completely unreadable.
So just a better camera does not appear to be the answer. It appears they have to be tuned for this work. For those interested here is an abstract I found on the LPR camera. https://patents.google.com/patent/US8704889B2/en

 

[Akdare]

Yes, and those infrared lights also attract spiders that build webs over your camera lenses. I installed one of those ultrasonic pest deterrents next to each camera. It doesn’t completely solve the issue, but it certainly helps.

 

[JoeHogan]

Thinking about the security camera image. If the plate is important to determine and you have access to the raw image file, you might try some adjustments to the image in a photo editor. Possibly adding a filter and reducing the exposure. There might be enough of the plate information in the image when matched to the truck to give you an ID.