What would be the best wireless outdoor security camera for me?
May 27, 2010 9:04 AM   Subscribe

What would be the best wireless outdoor security camera for my needs?

Last year I started this thread about a video/intercom system, and we were able to get the thing up and running, though the picture is not too good at all. So now we’d really like to have an outdoor wireless security camera (about $400 or less) to monitor and record who comes to our front door. I’m home most of the time, and ideally I would like to see the image on my computer in real time. And it pretty much has to be wireless because of the way our house is set up.....it is a looooong way from our front porch to any attic.

I’ve searched the old threads, and read many product descriptions, however – being incredibly technically incompetent – I am totally lost and confused! (For example, people here said good things about Axis, but some reviewers said they could only get it to work properly if connected to Ethernet. Huh?)
I can hire someone to set it up; I just need to know what to buy!

Other info: we have WiFi and PCs.

Thank you!!
posted by texas_blissful to Technology (3 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Response by poster: Ack! I thought there were a couple responses (which I quickly browsed but had to run out the door). I'm back, and they're gone......am I going crazy?
posted by texas_blissful at 11:05 AM on May 27, 2010


Basically, wireless still seems to have huge drawbacks, and I couldn't find any decent wireless options about a year ago. I looked at the state of things and decided to go with a wired installation, for a few of the cameras we just ended up caulking over the wiring run where it runs along the mortar in a brick wall and running it up the side of the house. to a point where there is good access. If you are careful and don't care about having long cables, you can make a wired installation look pretty good.

I consider the following things. 1 - you still need to get a power connection to a "wireless" camera; 2 - sure, it's a long way, but the power and connection cabling for regular old security cameras is cheap - you can find them in 120 or 250 feet lengths for $20 - $50 bucks or so; 3 - except for WiFi-based cameras, wireless camera quality is universally horrible for anything that is even remotely cost-effective; 4 - all of the WiFi cameras are expensive (especially if you are doing an outdoor installation which will have temperature and humidity issues) and none of them really sticks out as a good option, plus you still need some system to receive and record the signal (probably a computer-based system, but that means you have to have something on and running on that computer 24/7).

Hope that you find some good options, but we are definitely happy with our wired system, which is basically a cheap, mass-market system with four cameras and a DVR, which only cost us about $400 total last year. I did the installation myself.
posted by iknowizbirfmark at 12:08 PM on May 27, 2010


Response by poster: Thanks for the feedback. We do have an outlet up there (installed for Christmas lights), but I really think trying to wire it in our case would not be possible (at least not without it looking really bad!) I had 2 technicians from the alarm company try to help me figure out a wiring possibility, and they both said they could do it on other parts of the house but not on the front porch where I want it.

I saw this Panasonic camera which seems like it could meet my needs but reviews are spotty for wifi (and it seems expensive compared to similar products, but I would happily pay the money if it worked). Perhaps my best option now is to wait and see what kind of technology is out a year from now?
posted by texas_blissful at 2:22 PM on May 27, 2010


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