Lanx
,
Burns
some good stuff there, much to consider.
If they do go with local storage, I have a 2 bay NAS for my Plex server that I've been looking to upgrade, so they may inherit that. I also probably have enough computer hardware laying around that I could slap together something really basic. I would have to buy a POE capable switch for wired cameras.
As far as the install goes, the BIL is a handy guy and has done plenty of work on the house, but he would prefer to keep the install as easy as reasonably possible. He would love wireless cameras, but if those are truly lousy, wired can be done. The attic is small and cramped IIRC, but if it comes to it we could route things through there.
I need to keep the system as easy to use as possible, as neither of them are terribly tech savvy.
Setting up a full wired high quality system is certainly going to be more work. The main place you "pay" for cheaper cameras is in the night vision; anyone can do good day vision at this point. Without someone independently evaluating them all, I've got no idea how to tell the differences though (various video samples should be out there, just takes time to find them). I was not paying a sub or allowing them free access to my network, so all Amazon/Google stuff was off the table to begin with, when I was looking at systems.
You aren't strictly required to have a DVR with any of the top cameras either, as they all have SD card slots and their own free software to read them from any computer on the network. The issue is that SD cards are less dependable as they are not made for constant read/write like a Purple hard drive. Which means all SD cards in constantly recording cameras will eventually get more and more corrupted sectors (dash cams run into this problem somewhat often).
I have firewall blocks on my cameras/DVR and then make exceptions for accessing them on my computer, but you don't
need to do that. If you are contemplating Wyze or any internet connected system, then you will be giving Amazon total access to your sister's network, and (imo) there is little difference in letting Amazon/Google/Shaq have access vs letting CCP have access.
Amazon and Google do not need your permission to hand over video to police or to look at it for "research" purposes. If CCP were to take data, it would most likely be used to train it's AI to identify objects/people (at this point, at least; if a war over Taiwan starts, who know). The Chinese cameras already come with advanced AI for movement, face, and licenses plate tracking, but you need to set it up in the software (their own or Blue Iris), to take advantage of it.
A hole in security is still a hole in security, and any of them could inadvertently put a flaw in one of their updates and compromise the system. It's also why I isolate all smart home equipment from the internet or from the rest of the network, depending on the item (not that I have many).
I have not used the Blue Iris software but some of the dudes on IPCamTalk are rather gray in the hair, I think (so it cant be that hard, right?). One dude that does reviews, who makes videos trying to evaluate the night quality by walking around to show ghosting and day quality by holding up posters/driving past, has to be in his 70s or 80s. Here is one of his reviews, still at the top of the Dahua sub forum:
LINK (linked the first one I saw, the videos are down the page a bit).
Tip on a fast and dirty way to figure out where to put cameras for full coverage:
Almost all cameras are going to have 90+ degree field of view (most are going to be 110+ degrees), unless you get specialty ones to zoom into an area. So, stand under the place you are thinking of mounting it, hold your arms out and make a rough 90 degree V in front of you, then you have roughly what that camera is going to see. A high security system needs each camera to be in view of at least 1 other camera, but you probably don't need that in a residential situation.
