Thoughts on Proposed Security Camera System

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Thoughts on Proposed Security Camera System

Earbanean

937 posts

Ultimate Geek

#288343 22-Jun-2021 09:12

I have a friend at the local rugby club and they are looking to upgrade from an old analogue security camera system to a new digital set up. They have a proposal/quote for the following set up, which is supposed to be a good price:

- 1 x Hikvision 8 Channel NVR, 2 Tb hard drive

- 4 x Uniview 5mp IP turret cameras, low light, 2.8 mm lens

- 2 x Hikvision 6mp turret cameras, 4mm lens

- cables, conduit, labour

They're quoting $2,700 +GST for this. Some of it is refurbished, I think. They and I know nothing about security cameras etc. Is this OK gear and a good price?

sen8or

1787 posts

Uber Geek

#2732571 22-Jun-2021 10:42

Thats probably a pretty good price, odd using the Uniview cameras along with Hikvision, the Uniview ones would be the weak link in the chain but most likely fit for purpose. Whats the warranty offered on the refurbished gear (what has been refurbished?)

To look out for -

Are all 8 ports on the NVR POE? (if you need to add cameras later, makes it easier - not a deal breaker)

2TB seems fairly small storage space for 8 channel NVR, 4 or 8 would be better, especially for 6 cameras.

Broadly 1/2 the price will be the labour to install the gear, I'd guess about 2 days to install (depending on how much conduit work is needed) so $ 1350 for the NVR & 6 cameras is reasonable (you may be able to get a Dahua kit new for similar)

jbrook3708

34 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#2732577 22-Jun-2021 10:53

I'm not familiar with Uniview, never heard of them.

That aside, the price seems reasonable depending on the definition of 'refurbished'

HikVision is considered a very good brand, I have a HikVision 2TB NVR, 1x 5MP dome, 2x 2MP domes, and an LPR camera setup at home.

Things to consider,

How long are you expecting to review historic footage via the NVR? I have my 3x dome's recording 24/7 and I'm getting over a months worth of footage stored (H.265+ encoding). You're looking at twice the number of cameras and at high res compared to my setup.

Will you require off-site viewing of live footage? Like other brands HikVision have not been immune to security breaches over the years (search "hikvision hack"). I don't expose my cameras to the internet, or use their Hik-Connect streaming option, but I know plenty of people that do and have no qualms with the associated risk. (The recommended approach to securing live streams is to setup a VPN connection)

Yoban

447 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2732615 22-Jun-2021 12:25

jbrook3708:

.....

HikVision is considered a very good brand, I have a HikVision 2TB NVR, 1x 5MP dome, 2x 2MP domes, and an LPR camera setup at home.

Things to consider,

How long are you expecting to review historic footage via the NVR? I have my 3x dome's recording 24/7 and I'm getting over a months worth of footage stored (H.265+ encoding). You're looking at twice the number of cameras and at high res compared to my setup.

Will you require off-site viewing of live footage? Like other brands HikVision have not been immune to security breaches over the years (search "hikvision hack"). I don't expose my cameras to the internet, or use their Hik-Connect streaming option, but I know plenty of people that do and have no qualms with the associated risk. (The recommended approach to securing live streams is to setup a VPN connection)

I concur with @jbrook3708 re storage....I am storing 4MP 24x7 recording across 3 cameras at H.264 and this gobbling up 3-4TB and only 1 month of footage available. Definitely want H.265 encoding capability within camera and NVR of which based on this I am in the process of reviewing/upgrading.

Interested in what make/model LPR camera setup you have at home as I could do with one on the front of my property due to the spat of car break-ins lately. Current camera does not handle low light that well.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2732776 22-Jun-2021 17:43

sen8or:
2TB seems fairly small storage space for 8 channel NVR, 4 or 8 would be better, especially for 6 cameras.

It depends on whether you're recording 24/7 or only on trigger. If they're using it for general anti-theft/vandalism security is there any need to records thousands of hours of nothing happening?

jbrook3708

34 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#2732780 22-Jun-2021 17:57

Yoban:

jbrook3708:

.....

HikVision is considered a very good brand, I have a HikVision 2TB NVR, 1x 5MP dome, 2x 2MP domes, and an LPR camera setup at home.

Things to consider,

How long are you expecting to review historic footage via the NVR? I have my 3x dome's recording 24/7 and I'm getting over a months worth of footage stored (H.265+ encoding). You're looking at twice the number of cameras and at high res compared to my setup.

Will you require off-site viewing of live footage? Like other brands HikVision have not been immune to security breaches over the years (search "hikvision hack"). I don't expose my cameras to the internet, or use their Hik-Connect streaming option, but I know plenty of people that do and have no qualms with the associated risk. (The recommended approach to securing live streams is to setup a VPN connection)

I concur with @jbrook3708 re storage....I am storing 4MP 24x7 recording across 3 cameras at H.264 and this gobbling up 3-4TB and only 1 month of footage available. Definitely want H.265 encoding capability within camera and NVR of which based on this I am in the process of reviewing/upgrading.

Interested in what make/model LPR camera setup you have at home as I could do with one on the front of my property due to the spat of car break-ins lately. Current camera does not handle low light that well.

My LPR is the Hikvision DS-2CD7A26G0/P-IZS. Records images/plates to local SD card which lasts me 6+ months before overwriting. Works very well in low light, can recommend this camera.

Earbanean

937 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2732947 23-Jun-2021 10:27

neb:
sen8or:

2TB seems fairly small storage space for 8 channel NVR, 4 or 8 would be better, especially for 6 cameras.

It depends on whether you're recording 24/7 or only on trigger. If they're using it for general anti-theft/vandalism security is there any need to records thousands of hours of nothing happening?

I don't think very much storage is required. I'm pretty sure they just want live, or close to live, anti-theft/vandalism security. So maybe a few days look back at most. There isn't anything very high value in the building that could be targeted. The most likely scenario is trying to steal alcohol and/or vandalism.

It sounds like the proposed set up will be OK for that. I don't know about the how much is new and how much is refurbished - and what warrantee that has. I'll see if I can find out, but in general I think this sounds OK.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2733070 23-Jun-2021 12:15

That's a good price for 6 cameras and an NVR. If I was quoting that and had to quote for cables to be run, it would be around the $5k mark once the labour has been included.

2TB on an 8-ch NVR is heaps assuming motion-only recording. You'd get 4-6 weeks easy. I can't imagine a rugby is very busy most of the time.

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

Earbanean

937 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2733267 23-Jun-2021 15:29

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I think the guy quoting has a link to the club and is subsidising some of the gear and/or labour. Also, one or two cameras are refurbished i think. I'll follow up around that aspect.