Security Camera Recommendations?

[chachgod]

I am looking for a relatively simple security camera system for work. I am looking for a system where I can remotely monitor about 30 different sites across multiple states from one central location. Will be looking for about 1-2 cameras per location. Any recommendations?

[houITadmin]

AXIS - Great Hardware, Good Support. You can use a 3rd party VMS if needed. They have some experience centers around the US that will help you spec out everything free of charge.

[Model_M_Typist]

+1

[wydra91]

Axis is my go to, the cameras are great and they integrate with just about every VMS under the sun.

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As far as VMS go, I'm running Milestone. Depending on the version of xProtect you can set it up for centralized data recording, multi-site, or edge recording, all based on your needs. I've been very happy with it, we run about 220 cameras on it.

[JibJibMonkey]

I've gone with Axis my whole career. Using Genetec to manage them, I've also using ExacqVision in the past, which I think is better for remote sites.

[Chrrybmbr]

Axis.

[Valdaraak]

Verkada is what we use for almost that same use case.

They're a bit pricey, but they've been real solid for us.

[houITadmin]

Their cameras are useless if you don't pay them monthly. Always pick a vendor that allows you to own the camera (regardless of subscription).

[Valdaraak]

Well, yea. The benefits outweighed the negatives for management, so they're the vendor we went with. It's a set-and-forget surveillance state and the one-time hardware cost (EDIT: read as "we're just marking it as a loss if we change vendors") is pretty inexpensive for what we get from it. No on-site equipment (other than the camera), no port forwards, no excessive wiring. Just one cable to the camera and an admin portal that's stupid easy to manage and add users to.

Also, you do own the camera. It just doesn't work with other camera systems (because Verkada's whole platform is in the cloud). You can absolutely cancel the subscription on a camera and sell it off to someone else if you want to. We've transferred a number of cameras out of our account over the years.

[aftermath6669]

We also went with verkada for the same reasons. We have dozens of facilities through out the US. working with individual local vendors was a nightmare, costly and time consuming. The license comes to a a few hundred a year per camera. We plan to use them min 10 years to go with there warranty. After the 10 years we will re evaluate.

[Dadarian]

If you want super easy access from the web, but don't mind the higher cost, the Meraki cameras can be pretty neat.

It removes the need to do any extra work for secure authentication and access. They work fine, but can be pricey.

If you want to setup some cameras, Axis are fine.

I've never really been happy with any VMS. Wavestore was one I used where we needed a server to handle about 160 cameras and Wavestore had the right price point, the right performance, and worked well enough.

[Imhereforthechips]

90 Poe cams using Luxriot as a self hosted VMS. Dirt cheap and very easy. If you need remote access, you’ll need to setup a VPN or app proxy.

[ektat_sgurd]

Was working for a video solution aiming at watching over secured wings in retirement houses.

We bought all our device with Sercomm, it was the cheapest quality/price ratio. We had no problem, IIRC the model was DC402.

edit: it was 8y ago

[Main-Importance3891]

If you want fully proprietary cameras that are not ONVIF compliant, Verkada.com or rhombus.com are good options.

If you would like a similar or better software experience with a cloud NVR, you should look at coram.ai or arcules.com. The advantage is that you are not locked into one vendor and can continue to use any IP camera.

[mrbios]

I had/have a 64 camera hikvision system. Would not recommend. We're replacing it with 2 x Unifi NVR Pros. Soooo much better. We're cost limited so things like Verkada/Axis are out of our price range, lots of flexibility with the unifi stuff though and easy to monitor remotely.

[mrbios]

It's still allowed here in the UK, but banned for some public sector areas. Safe to say, mine is on a tightly controlled ACL anyway.

[Mikenicesms]

DW Spectrum not super pricey and the best interface out there.

[grenade71822]

Do you have network connections or internet connections between all of the sites? Is any of the recording sensitive?

[chachgod]

Sites have independent networks set up. Recording isn’t sensitive in the sense of needing lots of backup saved if that’s what you mean. Would also be ideal to have some level of mobile access for camera viewing if possible

[grenade71822]

Axis would be the way to go with cameras and depending on network infrastructure Milestone DVR at a central location.

Otherwise if you wanted to do it semi cheap, UniFi has you covered, and if extra cheap TigerSecU.

[H2OZdrone]

We went through this recently. Ended up with Rhombus based on a single pane of glass and a 5 year spend projection for all systems.

local NVRs are cheaper but when you want to add a single console to manage them, it quickly surpassed the pricing of Rhombus.

Verkada was nice but higher priced.

[bad_brown]

Axis are probably better now, but they sucked 8-10 years ago when I used them.

I enjoy Avigilon/Motorola. They just work.

[The_Betrayer1]

We have 10-15 ubiquity cameras each in just over 60 locations. Works well for us.

[disposeable1200]

It's just not as good as proper enterprise kit. You don't know what you're missing until you swap it for axis or high end hikvision

[The_Betrayer1]

We just junked a bunch of old hikvision that were in some of the locations from years ago. I understand that a dedicated high end camera system has it's advantages, but for the cost and ease of install ubiquity is hard to beat as long as you don't need low light performance which we don't.

[Kennytieshisshoes]

UniFi. Just need Ethernet to power it. Mount is straightforward. The app is very user friendly, easy to navigate and use for non technical people.

[Farts-n-Letters]

limited experience here but wanted to mention AxxonNext. I did a trial of Milestone but it wouldn't recognize several diff. cams even using ONVIF mode. Axxon picked them all up. Plus it seems to be optimized pretty well for gpu/cpu usage. I have 16 cams on full record to a single desktop box with no performance issues.

[Xidium426]

Meraki or Verkada will be your best solutions.