Arlo versus Morepork versus Others?

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239 posts

Master Geek

#1960153 19-Feb-2018 09:29

tripp:

I would be interesting to know if anyone is using amazon cameras however.

https://www.amazon.com/Introducing-Amazon-Cloud-Cam/dp/B01C4UY0JK

Pricing looks good at 300US for 3 cameras. About 410 NZ plus say $150 for taxes and shipping. Not a bad deal especially compared to the Arlo rip off prices.

Will see if Cleverloop can come back in stock, otherwise could be the way to go! No pan tilt or zoom seem to be the biggest complaints.

In fact after more searching these seem fantastic! https://www.amazon.com/Foscam-Security-Real-time-Optional-Available/dp/B0131PHDQY/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1518985642&sr=1-2&keywords=Foscam&th=1

dafman

3928 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1960398 19-Feb-2018 14:44

Quick question - which systems have an audible alarm/siren in addition to the cameras?

neb

11294 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1960425 19-Feb-2018 15:43

BLazeD:
In fact after more searching these seem fantastic! https://www.amazon.com/Foscam-Security-Real-time-Optional-Available/dp/B0131PHDQY/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1518985642&sr=1-2&keywords=Foscam&th=1

I would go for Amcrest rather than Foscam. Amcrest were formerly Foscam US until they got tired of Foscam quality issues (and dealing with knockoffs) and struck out on their own, and Foscam is cloned and ripped off infinitely, you can't tell whether you're buying the real thing or not. Amcrest now OEM other vendors' cameras, e.g. their 1056EW is actually a Dahua with Amcrest customisations, and at a fraction of the Dahua price.

sparkz25

750 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1960470 19-Feb-2018 17:35

i use ubiquiti on a few sites and haven't had a problem with them at all, i have found that the G3 Bullet cams have a awesome picture at night with the built in ir.

i have 8 cameras at my house all running on a VM that runs the Unifi Video software with remote access and so on and love it.

the cameras start at about 250ish for a single or you can pick up a 5 pack for around 1100 ish.

i ditched all the poe injectors for a 24 port 250w unifi switch to power the cameras, the UAP-ACs and phones, The switch was a good investment as it got rid of all the injectors (all 14 of them) and allows me to add more cameras in the future.

i also use the ubiquiti mFi-mports and the switch powers these too.

on another site i have a old dual core eepc running ubuntu server 16.04 LTS with unifi video and a 500gb Disk and it works a treat

BLazeD

239 posts

Master Geek

#1960777 20-Feb-2018 10:15

Update again

The amcrest and foscam, while the camera themselves seem cheap, I am not too sure how to get it streaming to my phone without paying the fees for their cloud service which at $6m/m/camera would be 18US or about 30/month. Too much. Plus their is reports of apps crashing etc. Maybe I'll just buy one to start and see how it goes. Recording the footage I can do, just not sure how to stream, especially with my crappy VDSL connection.

So I am back looking at the Arlo, specifically Pro 2 which you can get from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Security-Wireless-Rechargeable-VMS4230P/dp/B075P84FH2/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1519072728&sr=1-1&refinements=p_n_shipping_option-bin%3A3242350011 for about US600 or $945 delivered, including fees.

Although there is also the Arlo Pro (no 2) which you could buy the system separately and get under the Customs thresholds, eg https://www.amazon.com/Arlo-NETGEAR-Security-System-Siren/dp/B01LR8PG52/ref=sr_1_16?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1519074504&sr=1-16&keywords=arlo+pro+2 but it runs on rechargable batteries only.

Implementing a simple home camera setup feels a lot harder and more expensive than it should!!

ronw

1222 posts

Uber Geek

#1960827 20-Feb-2018 11:21

I have Morepork and it is really a full intruder package. You get two video devices and magnetic contacts for doors and windows. It has many other companies whose products integrated with it. I have Zwave separate sirens. You can also get electronic door locks and many other systems. You pay for monitoring separately. You get alerts to your cell phone. Sean's s pretty good deal to me

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timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#1960830 20-Feb-2018 11:22

BLazeD:

Update again

The amcrest and foscam, while the camera themselves seem cheap, I am not too sure how to get it streaming to my phone without paying the fees for their cloud service which at $6m/m/camera would be 18US or about 30/month. Too much. Plus their is reports of apps crashing etc. Maybe I'll just buy one to start and see how it goes. Recording the footage I can do, just not sure how to stream, especially with my crappy VDSL connection.

So I am back looking at the Arlo, specifically Pro 2 which you can get from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Security-Wireless-Rechargeable-VMS4230P/dp/B075P84FH2/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1519072728&sr=1-1&refinements=p_n_shipping_option-bin%3A3242350011 for about US600 or $945 delivered, including fees.

Although there is also the Arlo Pro (no 2) which you could buy the system separately and get under the Customs thresholds, eg https://www.amazon.com/Arlo-NETGEAR-Security-System-Siren/dp/B01LR8PG52/ref=sr_1_16?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1519074504&sr=1-16&keywords=arlo+pro+2 but it runs on rechargable batteries only.

Implementing a simple home camera setup feels a lot harder and more expensive than it should!!

This is one the reasons I decided to have 2 systems (one 'alarm' and one 'cameras', which is just standalone cameras, no service such as Arlo, etc.) I can simply VPN into my home network and use the Dahua app to watch streams in realtime. With 0 ongoing cost. The Dahua's put out 2 streams (I know some others do as well, but I am not an expert on these things so will leave to others to reply) one at full-rate and a lower-rate one, which is what the app uses. So its should be fine over even DSL.

If there something you are expecting from the paid services that you cannot get in a standalone system?

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BLazeD

239 posts

Master Geek

#1960971 20-Feb-2018 13:50

timbosan:

This is one the reasons I decided to have 2 systems (one 'alarm' and one 'cameras', which is just standalone cameras, no service such as Arlo, etc.) I can simply VPN into my home network and use the Dahua app to watch streams in realtime. With 0 ongoing cost. The Dahua's put out 2 streams (I know some others do as well, but I am not an expert on these things so will leave to others to reply) one at full-rate and a lower-rate one, which is what the app uses. So its should be fine over even DSL.

If there something you are expecting from the paid services that you cannot get in a standalone system?

Hi, to answer your last question, not really. Other than I haven't taken the time to research how to do it myself and am a little paranoid about setting up videos of my home that are accessible from the internet.

I have an Xubuntu video server connected to my router so I guess could load some software on to that (and also record to it directly) but am at a loss where to start on how to set that up, which cameras to get, and then which app I would use on my phone to view anything in realtime. Currently I've blocked off all internet access to the server via firewall so I would need to open that up again too.

Can I ask which Dahua cameras you have?

Thanks

ronw:

I have Morepork and it is really a full intruder package. You get two video devices and magnetic contacts for doors and windows. It has many other companies whose products integrated with it. I have Zwave separate sirens. You can also get electronic door locks and many other systems. You pay for monitoring separately. You get alerts to your cell phone. Sean's s pretty good deal to me

TBH this is looking better and better. I guess I am getting older and lazier to work out how to do it DIY. Kids will do that I guess :)

Walshmi

1 post

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#1961830 21-Feb-2018 21:26

Ronw: interested to know what additional zwave siren you have attached to your morepork? Did you source locally?

BLazeD

239 posts

Master Geek

#1962636 23-Feb-2018 08:15

Does anyone know if the Morepork cameras can be reflashed or made to work another way if you stop subscribing to their plan? I believe they are from Alarm.com

ronw

1222 posts

Uber Geek

#1962794 23-Feb-2018 10:58

I needed a siren near bedroom as the control panel is at other end of house. Active Automation here in Auckland supplied the siren. It would wake the dead

Walshmi: Ronw: interested to know what additional zwave siren you have attached to your morepork? Did you source locally?

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ronw

1222 posts

Uber Geek

#1962798 23-Feb-2018 11:03

It's the control panel that had the smarts. It also has a phone sim card in case the wifi goes down. The payment let's you monitor the cameras from your cellphone, receive all from the system, activate and deactivate the alarm from phone, and of course they will keep any camera footage stored in the cloud. I think the payment is well with what it does

BLazeD:
Does anyone know if the Morepork cameras can be reflashed or made to work another way if you stop subscribing to their plan? I believe they are from Alarm.com

Nokia 7 Plus
Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"

& many Windows laptops, Desktops etc

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1963029 23-Feb-2018 15:13

timbosan:
This is one the reasons I decided to have 2 systems (one 'alarm' and one 'cameras', which is just standalone cameras, no service such as Arlo, etc.) I can simply VPN into my home network and use the Dahua app to watch streams in realtime. With 0 ongoing cost. The Dahua's put out 2 streams (I know some others do as well, but I am not an expert on these things so will leave to others to reply) one at full-rate and a lower-rate one, which is what the app uses. So its should be fine over even DSL.

If there something you are expecting from the paid services that you cannot get in a standalone system?

You can also use Amcrest NVRs for this, they're pretty capable Linux boxes in an NVR case, cost USD 100-150, and should work fine with your Dahua's since that's what Amcrest cameras are.

kiwipawl

273 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1963045 23-Feb-2018 15:49

I have a Netatmo Presence and it stared out really good but has been nothing but trouble lately. It can supposedly differentiate between , cars, people and animals and you can assign what you want the system to do with what it selects. But latterly there has been major issues with picking what is what and is always saving cats as people and missing cars completely. I have major play back issues at the moment in that it freezes on the moment when it selects the moving object and starts recording it but then won't run past this point.

It has a really good LED lights and a good range for the IR illumination as well. Can view it on your phone and allows you to store your images on Dropbox and a local server. Easy to setup and wireless.

I also had one of the Ring cameras, really good wide angle coverage but not the best quality of picture. Has 2 way communication, great for telling the dogs to stop barking. Also a very loud manually activated alarm. Very easy to setup and wireless.

One of the most reliable ones I have used is Manything, which uses a cellphone, a bit low in quality and doesn't have night vision but has been really good as a back up for my other systems.

BLazeD

239 posts

Master Geek

#1963060 23-Feb-2018 16:06

BLazeD:

Update again

The amcrest and foscam, while the camera themselves seem cheap, I am not too sure how to get it streaming to my phone without paying the fees for their cloud service which at $6m/m/camera would be 18US or about 30/month. Too much. Plus their is reports of apps crashing etc. Maybe I'll just buy one to start and see how it goes. Recording the footage I can do, just not sure how to stream, especially with my crappy VDSL connection.

So I am back looking at the Arlo, specifically Pro 2 which you can get from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Security-Wireless-Rechargeable-VMS4230P/dp/B075P84FH2/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1519072728&sr=1-1&refinements=p_n_shipping_option-bin%3A3242350011 for about US600 or $945 delivered, including fees.

Although there is also the Arlo Pro (no 2) which you could buy the system separately and get under the Customs thresholds, eg https://www.amazon.com/Arlo-NETGEAR-Security-System-Siren/dp/B01LR8PG52/ref=sr_1_16?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1519074504&sr=1-16&keywords=arlo+pro+2 but it runs on rechargable batteries only.

Implementing a simple home camera setup feels a lot harder and more expensive than it should!!

I since discovered upon NVRs for the Amcrest (eg https://www.amazon.com/Amcrest-NV2108-Network-Recorder-Built/dp/B072JG9982/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_sims?ie=UTF8) , which *I think* in conjunction with their free APP I could achieve everything I want to - record to HDD and live streaming. @neb care to comment on that NVR or anything wrong with my plan.

The only thing outstanding with this setup would be off-site backup like to Amazon S3. Any ideas on how to achieve that with an AMcrest NVR? I have no idea what the software on the NVR looks like at this stage.

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