How did you get on with this project, Dagwood ?

Fish 4T wrote: To add more confusion to your decision. I used to have wireless (Swann) cams, few years ago but end up replacing them all with wired. wireless cam seems convenience at first but when I actually need them, they were dead (no battery!?).

Hardwired also required backup, half brain ****s will cut the power to your house. Have a look at PTZ, its so much funnn. 

Big dog with deep bark,is all thats required or maybe I can let wife loose in your backyard.

We installed around 18/20yrs ago as well.
 Went with Geovision Card in the computer.
Did not realise just how top end it was at the time and still dont use lot functions...
Would do so again.
 As to hard wire and wireless, geovison supports both had both.. no end troule with wireless, hard wire way to go...And  a APC UPS system for power cuts etc.
Remote monitoring app IP Cam Veiwer Pro

When set up was told to think about best ID of a person, rather than just see someone at the door or boat.
Could not afford the expensive auto follow/ zoom cameras
So advice was get the right focal length camera for the distance (fixed zoom) .. ie up the drive was a 12mm... covering front and back 6mm and the boat 8mm

We also use it in nesting boxes to monitor/ record breeding kakariki parrots.

Come hand on several occasions over the yrs.. 1st was a courier who reconed dropped off a parcel and no one home...That was interesting, didnt tell them we had cctv.. when they got a bit 'resistant' then sent coverage of times and stuff... guy didnt even come down the bottom of the long driveway.
Then guy down the road got broken into, collection of watches and stuff.  We caught a group ppl casing around that time our place but think saw the cctv signs, then going to neighbours.. Police sorted as knew who the where.
Had a attempted break in.. same maybe cant read signs or see red glow of cameras at night ?
 And another guy broken into the big horn taking the reversing screen. same




Keep in mind these are 'turn of the century basic $180/ $200 cameras

Like RC above, lots functions.. can count for instance ppl going in or out of a lift or door... number plate recognition..then hook upto electric gates...same with face recognition.. If had cameras that move , would follow a selected item , even from camera to camera.
Auto notifications...
Open a few ports on the router and the IP Cam Veiwer Pro app meant can do anything one couple on the computer from anywhere in the world.

Also even thi the Geovision computer card is around 20yrs old, its still current and its just the firmware thats been updated.

4 cameras, cabling, power packs to run cameras, gevision card, and a dedicated hard drive (not needed) to capture to, plus a remote hard drive for backup came to around $1200 to 1300 back then.

The std 3mm camera on basic set ups are only good for close up places directly above a cash register, any further and cover too wide an area to have reference to any useful ID info.

Thing would have changes in hardware and cameras over that time, but the basics.. position  and focal length (zoom) remain the same.

PS Some brand cameras can dismantle easy and change the inside lens to swap fixed focal lengths

I use the Arlo at home - great piece of kit and does all that I need. I can talk to the dogs - keep an eye on the boat and watch the teenages nicking my beer. charge them every 3 months so IMO work great.

looked the Eufy as well but settled on Arlo

Dagwood,hope the next image is the cat leaping as a bb pellet hits its rear..