Looking for a good (read: inexpensive yet above average quality) security camera system. I understand that there are different cameras for indoors and outdoors.
Also, I'm aware that there are two components: the cameras and the DVR. Can i mix and match the two from different brands? is there a known benefit to staying within brand? What about for indoor cams of one brand and outdoor cams of another? How about a DVR of a completely separate, third brand?
Also, remote viewing (RV) is absolutely necessary. some of the reviews online bring up RV as an issue for some models.
Lastly, Wi-Fi vs hard-wired? does it affect quality? speed? remote viewing?
Does anyone have experience with this?
All opinions and expertise are greatly appreciated.
Firstly,
Will you be doing it yourself or will you be hiring someone to do the wiring?
How many cameras do you need?
What is the locations of the cameras, indoor? Outdoor?
Does it need to have IR (inferred) for night vision?
Vandal proof?
Varifocal Zoom (how far away from what you want recorded will you be mounting them)?
What is the purpose of them, live viewing or recording/playback? Or both.
Do you have a specific budget, or you want the job done right?
I always prefer hard wiring vs. wifi/wireless. It is incomparable in quality and signal, and besides even a wireless camera requires a power source, so you will have to be doing wiring anyways.
Next - Most, if not all DVR's these days support remote viewing, if you are a bit computer savvy it should take just a couple of minutes to forward the ports and set it up.
If you can answer the above questions, I can try to support more light on what kind of system you should get.