Jump to content
gwenthehen

Wireless CCTV with Built-in Repeaters?

Recommended Posts

Hello,

 

I'm looking for a CCTV system to use outdoors on a farm. I need 4 cameras ideally, and they need to be wireless. I can get power to each camera easily enough, but networking them with wires isn't really going to be feasible. Is there a solution out there which contains a built-in wireless repeater function within the cameras themselves? If that's not viable, can anyone recommend a simple/robust wireless repeater system that I could use alongside a CCTV system (also happy to get recommendations on the CCTV itself).

 

I don't have a specific budget in mind, but I was hoping to spend less than £400.

 

Thanks!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello,

 

I'm looking for a CCTV system to use outdoors on a farm. I need 4 cameras ideally, and they need to be wireless. I can get power to each camera easily enough, but networking them with wires isn't really going to be feasible. Is there a solution out there which contains a built-in wireless repeater function within the cameras themselves? If that's not viable, can anyone recommend a simple/robust wireless repeater system that I could use alongside a CCTV system (also happy to get recommendations on the CCTV itself).

 

I don't have a specific budget in mind, but I was hoping to spend less than £400.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Hi. Don't waste money on wireless

 

If you can get power to camera location then you can also get data.

 

How far are cameras apart ?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ah OK - can we get a LAN connection over power even across different circuits? I’m pretty sure the house circuit (where the CCTV box would be) is on a different circuit to the sheds (where the cameras would be.

 

I guess we’d be looking at about 100m from the box to the furthest camera (with other boxes in between).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Ah OK - can we get a LAN connection over power even across different circuits? I’m pretty sure the house circuit (where the CCTV box would be) is on a different circuit to the sheds (where the cameras would be.

 

I guess we’d be looking at about 100m from the box to the furthest camera (with other boxes in between).

 

 

Is your farm on 3 phase?

And what location is your meter.

 

Is there anyway to get cat5 from house to sheds ?

 

Are you in Wales

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I disagree with the assertion wireless can not be made to work adequately. I think that common wisdom is based upon the fact that most wireless surveillance cameras have crap wireless. This is probably usually exacerbated by the fact that many (most?) WiFi networks are poorly-designed and poorly-implemented, often with substandard, consumer-grade hardware.

 

I would look to using something like Ubiquiti Nanostation loco M5 wireless bridges at each location, with one at the "base" station location. Unless there's earth, stone, metal, water or other RF-blocking/-absorbing things between the "base" station and the bridges, 100 meters shouldn't be a problem.

 

Mind you: I have not tried this! The above suggestion is based upon my knowledge and experience with networking of all sorts over 25+ years in IT. So here's how I'd go about it: I'd purchase one pair of devices and one camera. I'd rig it all up between the "base" and the most challenging (probably, but not necessarily, the most distant) location, and try it. Then go from there.

 

I'm also assuming you're not going to try to run 8MP cameras wireless. That probably would be a fail .

 

Once I get my own surveillance system going, some day I plan to run a 5GHz WiFi bridge circuit to our µBarn, about 100' from the back of the house. I'll hook that to a small PoE Ether switch in the µBarn, put a dual-band WiFi AP up in the peak on the inside and an IP cam or two on the outside. Not because I need to, but because I can

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for the update. It seems there really isn’t an “off the shelf solution for what I’m looking for here, so I’ll either have to scale back my requirements or get into a bit of manual network setup (which I’m happy to do, but will need some guidance).

 

What do people tend to do if they want to run a network of CCTV cameras over a reasonably wide yard?

 

Also, image quality doesn’t need to be that good - I just need to get an alert when movement is detected and then check to see what it is. Eventually the images might be used by the police if we ever caught someone stealing on camera, but not sure why kind of resolution images this would require.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

There is a system off the shelf. But your budget is low.

 

Wireless systems exist and are more expensive than wired .... But they don't last long and they do have faults.

 

 

With your budget you can install something like a 5mp IP system

 

But install it where the cameras are going to be .......it's getting everything back to your house that's the problem.

 

It would be cheaper to keep recorder and cameras in the same area ......then you only need a network connection to your house for alerts.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Hello,

 

I'm looking for a CCTV system to use outdoors on a farm. I need 4 cameras ideally, and they need to be wireless. I can get power to each camera easily enough, but networking them with wires isn't really going to be feasible. Is there a solution out there which contains a built-in wireless repeater function within the cameras themselves? If that's not viable, can anyone recommend a simple/robust wireless repeater system that I could use alongside a CCTV system (also happy to get recommendations on the CCTV itself).

 

I don't have a specific budget in mind, but I was hoping to spend less than £400.

 

Thanks!

 

What distance are we talking about?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
OK - what’s a typical off the shelf solution for this? If I have to spend more then I will do, to an extent!

 

 

It will be twice your budget.

 

But again not as good as wired and will be out of date in 12 months plus you can only use that manufactures cameras

 

 

I still say 4x5mp IP with NVR is your best option.

 

Ah OK - can we get a LAN connection over power even across different circuits? I’m pretty sure the house circuit (where the CCTV box would be) is on a different circuit to the sheds (where the cameras would be.

 

That's why I surgest CCTV NVR be in same location as cameras. Then use LAN connection over power.

 

Your buildings will be 3 phase but your house will be single but it will be from the 3 phase.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
OK - what’s a typical off the shelf solution for this? If I have to spend more then I will do, to an extent!

 

 

It will be twice your budget.

 

But again not as good as wired and will be out of date in 12 months plus you can only use that manufactures cameras

 

 

I still say 4x5mp IP with NVR is your best option.

 

Ah OK - can we get a LAN connection over power even across different circuits? I’m pretty sure the house circuit (where the CCTV box would be) is on a different circuit to the sheds (where the cameras would be.

 

That's why I surgest CCTV NVR be in same location as cameras. Then use LAN connection over power.

 

Your buildings will be 3 phase but your house will be single but it will be from the 3 phase.

 

That's great info, thank you. I will take a look and see what I can do!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Not helpful, funny or original. Came to a specialist forum for advice on what to buy. I already know how to Google a brand.

I mentioned using a specific model of Ubiquiti wireless bridge a few posts back. And my reasoning for considering that solution. Did I waste my time writing all that?

 

That's why I surgest CCTV NVR be in same location as cameras. Then use LAN connection over power.

Two potential issues to consider: 1. Operating environment of the NVR, unless one of the sheds is heated. Reliably. Then I'd still imagine the humidity and dust environment would be sub-optimal. 2. Performance of powerline network adaptors can be highly variable. I would be almost willing to bet the rent that a point-to-point set of 5GHz radios would be better.

 

Again: Not a CCTV expert, or even knowledgeable amateur, by any stretch. But I do know a thing or two about networking tech and practice.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Two potential issues to consider: 1. Operating environment of the NVR, unless one of the sheds is heated. Reliably.

 

Adding heat would be more of a problem.......dvr / NVR generates its own heat via cpu

 

 

We use nano a lot. But like stated in first post the budget is low.

 

Using eithernet over power is a cost effective way .......and also if anything blocks the nano all cameras gone ........over power it does not matter even if it fails as its not transmitting video data. Cameras are home run to recorder.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I mentioned using a specific model of Ubiquiti wireless bridge a few posts back. And my reasoning for considering that solution. Did I waste my time writing all that?

 

No, your initial post was very helpful thank you, and I didn't realise that you mentioned this at the time. I'm sorry for over-reacting. I think I must have spent too much time on Reddit.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I mentioned using a specific model of Ubiquiti wireless bridge a few posts back. And my reasoning for considering that solution. Did I waste my time writing all that?

No, your initial post was very helpful thank you, and I didn't realise that you mentioned this at the time. I'm sorry for over-reacting. I think I must have spent too much time on Reddit.

S'alright. We all do it. Well, most of us. Ok, I do it

 

You're welcome.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×