Overview

I've long used simple DVRs with analog cameras, and they have extended this technology to 4k cameras, but it's still analog, and there are other limitations. I've bought simple 8 camera systems, but many of the older ones need a browser with and ActiveX plugin, and that went the way of the Dodo.

I've got a Lorex system which is pretty nice, but i want to go beyond motion detection, to image recognition. I'd also like an NVR (Network Video Recorder), really a dumb name, uses Ethernet based cameras called "IP cameras", another dumb terminology. A lot of advantages to using Ethernet to connect cameras as opposed to the old analog coax wire.

A brief word on wireless cameras

I'm going to give very little attention to wireless cameras. It's more work for most people to get a wired connection between the recorder and the camera, but it's more wireless issues, and wireless signals can be jammed, etc.

To me, the real advantages of a wireless camera would be:

- small
- portable without wires
- easy to place

Obviously being portable without wires means self-contained power. Since I do motion detection at night, and sometimes continuous recording, self powered makes no sense, unless it has a big battery, and a big solar panel, and now how the heck is it portable? How is it easy to mount in different places?

My opinion is that these are pretty much a joke, and I can get wires pretty much wherever I want, so why wireless? Also hardwired cameras are cheaper, easier to set up, etc.

So I can go to the extra effort to hook up a wire that has power and signal.

Exploring the NVR "world"

Again, I want to concentrate on the future, so I will work with NVRs that use Ethernet, and POE (Power Over Ethernet). This gives you a cable length of 300 feet (analog is typically 60) and you can add "repeaters" to extend that as much as you need.

The NVR will typically have RJ45 jacks (look like overgrown telephone jacks) and will use "IP" cameras (Internet Protocol) and POE.

I started looking into the NVR's offered by Costco. As per usual Costco practice, last year's model at a great price. Mostly Lorex, good stuff, but a bit too high priced, and also have goofy offerings like 16 channel, but 8 wired cameras and 8 more wireless. Also Lorex tries to force you into buying their Lorex does not want to accept any old IP cameras, and this is just wrong, your system should accept almost any IP camera.

A neighbor was doing a bit of research, and came up with Reolink, and researching more, this is an affordable supplier of NVRs and will accept several manufactures' cameras.

https://reolink.com/ they seem to have person/object detection, but it might be in the camera. i need to investigate further.

While looking into this, I was thinking, someone must make a software product, and I remembered at a CES show, someone made a Windows package that supported tons of cameras. Digging a bit more, I found Blue Iris, and some very interesting add ons to enhance its features.