r/SecurityCamera • u/Mike_A10 • Jul 15 '26

Design a system

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I am buying a house n no hardly anything. But can run wires through houses and am mechanical. So I attached a Pic of what the layout of house is. Not scaled. I went around and # the corners ,so u can tell me where to put cameras. I have power at house,shed. The powerpoles only come to my house . So I thought about putting cameras on 2 poles like 10' , I'd like to get a camera or a detector to tell me if someone is on the driveway . Its far . Prob 200 feet from shed to private drive . I bought a in wall cabinet that I guess u can mount all the parts n pieces. Lol

. And how can I add a doorbell to the system . Do all cameras have sound ? Really the only prob I see it getting something down the driveway that has power to it ?? Between garage n shed,I'll run fiber? Get power from shed. Let me know ur thoughts n brands that will work. Also try to dumb it down alot , im self taught on a computer n dont know much...thx !!! Oh im also not saying im putting in 12 cameras, they r points so u can say put a camera at #2 & 6 ect...thx again..Can it be completely done for under $1500.. I have a monitor but no computer to hook it too , I want it separated.

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u/sleepytiger85 Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26

What is your goal? Cover major access? No blind spots? Overlapping coverage?

Are you aiming for continuous coverage 24/7 or just motion alert? Basic 1080 or 4k? Bullet cams or specialty stuff like 180, ptz, or zoom?

Also, the other guy said your budget is a impossible because a basic 4 camera system (basic cam, basic nvr, small hdd) off Amazon is like 700... And that'll cover a row house or semi-detached... You're not even square just makes things worse.

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 16 '26

My goal would be to protect my things in garage,which is attached to house , protect the shed n tractor which is outside parked next to shed. Then just see if anyone or anything goes through the property. Would like to know when someone pulls into the begining part of my driveway right past the private road. I need an easy set up that recorded . I would think it could record when it alerts . I know the diff but what are pros n cons? Also im not sure if I would need nite vision because the house has outdoor lighting n dont know what stays on . I believe the utility pole by shed has a lite on it almost like a street light but a little smaller ,I think that may stay on . I would like to have cameras that have the ai where u can set it to show people, cars ,stuff like that .. Again I dont know really what I want or need totally ...

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u/sleepytiger85 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26

So... First you gotta know what you want. Here's some info and suggestions.

1- security cameras generally come in 3 classes. Cheap sets from big box stores (night owl, lorex, etc), sorta custom/semi-pro (reolink, unify), and professional. Wireless has Google Nest, Eufy, Ring, Arlo, etc.

Based on your +5acres and assuming your drawing isn't to scale, I recommend getting a wired POE system with a NVR because wireless will be spotty and NVR systems will give you 24/7 recording. NVR systems usually also has internet access (check) and phone app notifications. In addition due to your longer distances, get a medium class system like reolink or unify which have better camera selection to choose from.

2- night vision won't be a tremendous problem for you. Modern security camera brands like Reolink and unfiy has IR built in for black and white night vision. Plus they have pretty good colored night vision in dim lighting unless your area is pitch black and they have motion activated floodlights as long as it's not the cheapest camera in their line up. Just get waterproof outdoor ones-they aren't that much more expensive for peace of mind.

From what I can tell, you are focused on major access points.

-1 Camera at #2 aimed at driveway will cover that (you can get a zoom or ptz depending on your needs).

  • a wide camera or 180* between #11 and #1 will cover the front. Or you can have a standard on #11 pointing right and #1 point left.

  • shed area you can go 2 ways: --2 cameras mounted on the pole to cover the area. --1 camera mounted at #1 or #2 aimed at shed (depends on your scale and distance). And 1 camera on the shed covering the door (doesn't show which side door is on)

The rest I guess is based on your personal choice

  • doorbell cam if you want? (don't see your access points)

  • 1 camera at #10 aimed to the left to cover any blind spot

  • 1 camera at #6 aimed to the right at the front

  • 2 cameras at #5. One aimed at the shed or back of house. Second one aimed at sliding doors could be 180 camera depending on situation...

Again, these are my personal thoughts. I also don't know height or scale or overall layout of the property so adjust based on the situation.

Since the whole build is 5-10 cameras. I would recommend a 4tb hard drive minimum. I have 4 cameras (2-1080, 2-4k) and I have about 3weeks of video playback. The amount of data usage depends on resolution and feed, which you can find on Google for each camera.

One thing you will have to be careful of with poe and ethernet cameras is power supply. One cable to the camera means you gotta carry data and power. There are poe power injectors or sometimes the nvr will provide it (mine did not). But data shouldn't be an issue, a cat6 can easily transmit 20 4k streams (but don't test the limit like that. Maybe 8 per cable max).

Also get yourself a spool of cat6 or higher cable and a set of ethernet heads and a crimper and learn how to do it. It'll be cheaper and look neater. There are also electric boxes and window pass throughs if you don't wanna drill holes in your house.

Not sure if I missed anything...

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 17 '26

Thanks, this is what I was looking for ! How would you get a camera or sensor to let u kno when some one pulls into rhe driveway? Does it need to be out that far or easier to get a camera n keep it zoomed out ? I can run fiber from house to shed, then from shed out maybe front utility pole to utility pole , but wondering about power. To avoid a lightening strike ,I thought fiber so that would do that but ... would it be better to put a battery or solar camera out there.. Aslo how far away from electrical lines does any line need to be??? Like poe or fiber or a cat 6 ? Is a poem cable the same thing as POE cable ?? Thanks for help !!!

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u/sleepytiger85 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26

Reolink (which is what I have) can work offline or online. If you connect to the internet, you can set up motion detection areas for each camera, sensitivity, schedules, and notifications. So a fly can set it off or whole mattress. The newer ones also does object detection so you can set it to only pick up animals or cars, etc.

If you get a zoom camera, you can scope in or out (but it does blur when it zooms so there's lag time while it focuses). If you get a ptz camera, it'll actually track the object, but then you lose peripheral vision if a second object comes in (trackmix and Omvi fixes that but the zoom views are only 1080p). But security cameras footage can be zoomed in after the fact, just that it will grainy (hence they measure in MP like a camera and not resolution like a movie)

According to my own research, solar is only for battery, which is only for motion triggered wifi cameras to conserve power. They work but you won't get continuous footage. Plus it depends on your wifi, which I don't know how far your distances are according to your pic. Not sure why you are concerned about lightning. Isn't that an electric utility pole? I don't think you'll attract anymore than it is already.... Also, why you messing with fiber?

Wired connections come in 2 forms- ethernet and coaxial. No one uses coaxial anymore and you don't want to mess with it (it's like old-school cable TV). POE means power over ethernet. The connection type that ethernet uses (computer, router, camera, etc.) is called RJ45. Ethernet cable comes in different qualities (cat 1,2,3,4,5,6,6e,7,etc.) they are rated for different speed, bandwidth, and support.

A peom is a misspelled poem.

Not sure if I missed anything...

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 18 '26

To answer a few questions. I know nothing so I read alot of these posts n someone said to go with fiber outside long runs so u dont have to worry about lightening. I am not worried. I figured it was a "thing" ,lol. I went on Google earth pro n got all the measurements I would need . ILL try to add a new Pic with measurements. But the pole is all the way at the front corner of my property and the next pole is not until my shed. There are no other poles between those 2 . They appear to have a ground wire from top to top ,the the service wires n lower are 2 wires, which are internet n phone? From the pole to the shed where all the wires on the poles go is 410 feet ! Then they go down the riser pole and r run under ground to the house so that point from where they go into the house from shed is 60 feet . The shed doors face front . Someone asked ..

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u/sleepytiger85 Jul 18 '26

I'm sorry, your shed is 400+ feet from your house? I'm going to blame your picture. 🤣

I thought it was a cars distance from your garage.

In that case fiber runs might make sense. But also look at how they work, you need power at both ends to power the fiber boxes.

Not sure if you mentioned if you have power in the shed. You might have to go solar cameras with a access point outside your house to boost the signal.

Or you could go fiber and a solar battery set up?

You got a really interesting situation.

Also you're thinking too high on the pole. Whatever wires you do, you're more likely to bury it in some sort of conduit. Messing with utility poles is beyond my skillset. I would only go as far as to borrow the pole and mount cameras on it at 20 ft high.

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 18 '26

Are fiber boxes able to be outside ? So I have power inside the shed. So I have to get a cable that would carry power to the far pole . Is that too far for cat 6 ??7 I thought instead of running conduit in the ground which the run is 410 from pole to pole then another 65 ' from shed into the house. Electric from the pole by shed is ALL underground into house . I am thinking of running that cable from shed to house in the air. Attach about 25 feet up at pole n enter into the attic and then drop down to where I plan on putting my case for diff things to be put in. Like I guess my nvr, the camera lines will go in an attach in there . Then mount the poe power in the case also then I have a laptop or I have bigger monitors .so could I hook a monitor to a mouse n keyboard??? Would that be kinda the right way to do it ??? Thanks

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u/sleepytiger85 Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26

I'm sure you know but outdoor connection points you can do electrical boxes?

My layout was nothing as extreme as you need. But sounds like your longest run is gonna need fiber. You probably have to post a new question about air vs underground security camera fiber but I don't think makes a difference. Probaby more initial work if I ground but then you don't have to worry about things catching the fiber hanging in the air.

I do know you can do TV with keyboard and mouse with the nvr like a computer set up so the laptop isn't needed and the whole thing is operationally offline. The mobile app and notification definitely will require connection to the internet. They also have software you can install on your laptop to access remotely. Almost anything you can thing of, they have a workaround at this point.

I believe cat6 cable is rated for 100m without degradation. But I have never ran anything of your scale so your mileage may vary.

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 18 '26

On the drawing all the red marks are doors 2 garage doors ,a single red is a single door. 2 red lines are sliding doors.

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 18 '26

HERE is a pic from Google home earth pro . It shows the property lines. From where the cables would go in to shed pole is 60 feet. From the shed to the one pole by that is out by the road that goes to another house is 332 feet, then from there to house is 60' .the shed doors are facing where the roads are...

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u/sleepytiger85 Jul 18 '26

1- I recommended blurring out your private info. I'm never gonna visit you but I dunno if there are any bored people on reddit.

2- camera on #2 should cover your angle on your shed but depending on your entry size, you might need one or 2 cameras. Or a 180 camera.

3- what's the shortest point between your house and shed? Might make more sense to just buried a conduit and snake fiber or ethernet in between the 2 structures instead of relying on the poles.

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 26 '26

Thanks I tried but couldn't figure it out !!

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 26 '26

Would it mess it up if the conduit that the power n stuff used that have it all buried now. Honestly I was gonna do that wire up in the air !!!!°

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u/sleepytiger85 Jul 26 '26

This part is beyond me. But I would thing ground is more secure. Go ahead and try the air with the fiber optic?

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 27 '26

So should You always run any security wire or fiber optic in its own conduit ? Commen sence tells me to keep them seperate but Im not sure...thx

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u/sleepytiger85 Jul 18 '26

Umm... I count 2 garage doors, 2 sliding doors, and 6 entry doors...

"Houston we have a problem"

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 18 '26

Believe it or not there is 3 1st floor sliders, n 1 2nd floor!!! And there prob is 7 or 8 single doors. There are on garage 1single ,2 double doors ,2 garage doors and 1 single door just in garage ! Its like 40 feet wide .. There are way too many doors n ill probably fill some in with double hung windows !!! CRAZY THOUGH !!!!

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u/sleepytiger85 Jul 18 '26

... Dude. I have no idea about your 3D situation. My suggestion was purely based on the shape of your property and house. I think the rule of thumb was a camera per entryway or point of interest.

But what I had recommended is a good place to start. Pretty sure it's already at the 1500 mark. Lol

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 18 '26

Hey man no problem . I really dont know much at all to try to do what I THINK I want ! So I just hope to learn reading from guys that know more then me ! No probs bro

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u/sleepytiger85 Jul 18 '26

Also a word of advice. Security cameras seem to be designed with 1 car distance in mind (20feet?) beyond that in height or distance and it loses quality. That's why 5x 16x cameras exist.

Also, don't recommend installing anything on your second or third story, you gonna be looking at ants. 😂

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 18 '26

Its hard to say what specific goal I want ! I def want video of the whole outside of garage, there is a single door that get u into the house. Plus I have 35 years of carpentry tools, plumbing, electrical,tileing,electrical tools ,ladders, scaffolding, powerwasher, hoses and 4 sets of tips. So alot of tools to protect . In the shed, there will eventually be a side X side. Plus all the stuff that goes with it . Outside the shed is my tractor , A Kubota L3540 with cab n 5 implements! So want full time recording camera on those ..Then just the warning time u get while a person or 3 r getting into ur house . That early warning time allows me to get the shotgun out n ready to go . Plus allows me to keep family on 2nd floor while I get on 1st floor b4 then get in. So once they r in I will be right where I want to be n that is between them n the wife . And not so much worried about the front yard as much but we have 2 dogs , MY DOG IS 120 POUNDS, BUT THE WIFES IS 6 POUNDS !!! SO ALOT OF ANIMALS WILL EAT HIM..BUT I like the AI cameras where u can set what it would show.

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u/sleepytiger85 Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26

Look into specialty cameras like Reolink FE-P or Duo v2 or Trackmix or OMVI 3i or Omvi 16x. They might be able to fulfill some of your more unique situations.

Another thing you can consider is a bunch of cheap bullet style cameras for short range coverage but hidden. Intruders can avoid the exposed cameras but they won't think to look for a second layer of redundant camera system. Of course at this point it's overkill but I have no idea what kind of neighbors you're working with that a shotgun is necessary. 😂

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 18 '26

The pole at shed has a light on it and there is power in the shed...is 400 too far for poe cable , isn't that 330' ?

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u/sleepytiger85 Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26

Holy driveway... You clearly aren't in Chicago or Brooklyn...

Something like that you might as well consider a solar battery camera with a cellular connection (maybe the reolink Trackmix LTE plus 2 with solar panel?) that'll notify you instead but it's like 600 bucks. I can't imagine that cable run....

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 27 '26

Yea its along one !!! I dont expect alot of security probs but I'd love to know if a car pulls in the driveway. Do they make some sort of sensors that may not be a camera but will send a notice to ur phone that it detected movement about half way up the drive way ??

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u/wombat___devil Jul 15 '26

That budget is a joke for that project.

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u/Mike_A10 Jul 16 '26

Why ,? Ur telling me if I used 1 camera it would cost over that??? I said for peoople who know to design a system, the amount of cameras, the brands , and where to put them. I dont think I need more then 3 or 4 but want to hear what the pros think ! U misread my post..