The reviews on Youtube and elsewhere are great for finding out about features and performance, but not for durability. I bought three reolink POE cameras three years ago, and two of them no longer work.

I would imagine that by now, almost all POE cameras are good enough for me in terms of features and picture quality. But can anyone recommend an affordable brand that will last more than three years?

ETA: Thanks to everyone who replied. Some people mentioned that things like moving parts or rain exposure can contribute to unreliability, but my cameras were stationary and completely out of the rain, under porch/patio roofs that extended at least six feet out. Several people recommended Amcrest, so I will look into those. And really, it's not like I threw my money away on Reolink, because they ended up costing less than $20/month, which isn't terrible. Nevertheless, something with no moving parts should last longer, IMO. My desktop PCs, which are much more complex, have run for a decade before I retired them for obsolescence, but still worked.

I have a detached garage that I store some equipment and my boat in, as well as my kids dirtbike. Dirtbike theft is pretty common around me so I’d like to install some sort of security system. The garage is ~350’ away from the house, and with clear line of sight. It does have its own service so there is power in the building, but it does not have internet, and being a metal building, there’s no service inside if the doors are shut.
Ideally, I’d like to install cameras on the outside that alert me if someone is there, as well as a door alarm with a keypad of some sort. When I was a mechanic the shop I worked at we had 30 seconds to enter the code once the door was opened before an audible alarm went off. I think I’d like something like that. I do have Lorex cameras on my house, and although I do like the cameras, I had to shut off the motion notifications because they would go off constantly for every bug that flew by them, especially at night. So they’re kind of useless as far as letting me know in the moment, but the dvr is nice. I looked at the ubiquiti nanobeam to get internet to the garage, but I’m at a loss for what to look at after that.
Also, ideally I’d like to do this without a subscription, although it seems like that may be pushing it.

Any suggestions?

I’m looking for basic security Camras for my home, can run poe and want it to run locally.

Any recommendations specifically international brands as I am based in South Africa and don’t have lots of options.

I am looking to up my doorbell security cameras at my apartment, and I am having a terrible time finding an option. I know POE cameras are the best, but I do not have that ability technically or where I am. I have two little no-name ones off Amazon purchased a few years ago, and they still work but lag and die quickly. I also do not want to use Ring or Blink due to their AI. I'm also trying to steer clear of subscriptions where I can. I have searched amazon, read things here, and done some googling but I am still pretty lost.

Ideally:

-wireless install

- some form of motion detection and night vision

-easy install app geared towards android devices

- some form of cloud storage/backup for video

- something that can handle cold temps without battery life being significantly reduced (-10F or greater)

My porch camera covers the walkway, but part of a visitor disappears from the frame when they stand right at the door. My deadbolt was already due for replacement, so I'm comparing lock and camera options together.

I've been looking into video locks, and the Lockin Veno Plus is one model I'm comparing. It has a 180° view, but I haven't used one and can't tell how well the lock-mounted camera covers the doorway.

If you've used a video lock, does its camera show someone standing at the door clearly enough that you rely less on a separate porch camera?

Hi all,

I’m about to upgrade my router to the new Ubiquiti Dream Router Pro. I currently have a full Ring system including 15 contact sensors, Doorbell (wired), and spotlight cam (wired), along with 4 solar powered battery cameras. I have a Schlage smart door lock.

My issue is that nothing works together. I am highly interested in the new Apple Home Screen and would love to redo my entire security system to something that is actually good. I do have access to wires from an old ADT system from when the house was built in 99 for retrofit, if it would work.

I would love to have contact sensors, including one for garage/gate, outdoor cameras, preferably solar but I’m sure I can figure out the networking to run POE (I think I can hook a box to new router and split it up), Doorbell Camera,
Smart Door Locks, and maybe a smart garage door opener.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

*I also plan on replacing my window screens with the metal mesh that keeps my cats from getting out if we open them, and apparently can stop break-ins? If anyone has recommendations on that as well.

Hello all!

I'm currently using blink cameras and it is absolutely awful in terms of video quality (esp at
night).

I am looking for a wifi system (no POE please) that has good video quality, non-subscription based, storage system, and relatively easy to setup. The front door camera also would need a doorbell system.

The two security systems I'm looking at is Reolink and Eufy.

Any advice on which one to go with?

I moved into a new house. The previous renter left a Lorex security system.
The system has 10 wired PoE cameras.
The cameras include Lorex LNB8973-C bullet cameras and Lorex 4K dome cameras.
The NVR is a Lorex NR916-N.
The NVR is dead.
The power light flickers but never starts up and the screen isnt the issue because i have tested it
The system does not output a video signal.
A hard power cycle did not fix the problem.
The NVR has an internal power supply.
I cannot easily replace the power supply. 
I plan to buy a new Lorex Connect XC 4K 16-channel NVR.
I do not know the camera passwords from the previous renter.
I cannot use the dead NVR to reset the passwords. 
If I connect the 10 cameras to the new Connect XC NVR, what happens?
Can the new NVR adopt the cameras and let me set a new password?
Or must I climb a ladder to press the physical reset button on each camera?
Please tell me if the new NVR bypasses the old passwords.
Sorry desperate times but customer service is really bad

My microsd is a Lenovo 10x high endurance micro sd card (Pro Plus) 512GB. I read a 3 on it and XC1, so class 3. They ask for class 10 minimum so should be good. It start to initialize it, gets to 65% and gets stuck, to then fail. I've tried pre formatting it into fat32 and exfat, still same issue.

What can I do?

I've got an old GE NetWorX NX-4 alarm system installed in my house that I've never used since moving in.

Recently, the keypad has started randomly beeping around 5 times a day. Entering my alarm code silences it, but it could start again anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 hours later.

The backup battery is probably around 10 years old, so I suspect it may be failing.

I have no intention of using the alarm and would prefer to permanently disable it.

A few questions...

Can I safely shut down the system by unplugging the mains transformer and disconnecting the backup battery?

Is there a risk that the external siren has its own battery and will start sounding when power is disconnected?

Is there anything specific to the NX-4 that I should be aware offore shutting it down?

I know the alarm code, and opening the main control box didn't trigger the siren.

Any advice from someone familiar with these systems would be appreciated!

Hi all.

basically as the title says. My dad is stalking and harassing my mom. violent past. Threatens her. Cops can’t/wont do anything because her current security system doesn’t capture his face and is blurry. He slashed her new car tires, broke her windows, scratched her car. But the video her camera has captured is super bad.

is there anything out there that records 24/7, can be saved for evidence, preferably solar because she is old and can’t climb high to recharge? I live hours away And can’t be there 24/7. She is a hoarder and had a lot of trees and junk in her front yard so theres only a few spots she can Put it. One spot can be her arch that’s made of brick. Is there one that can stick to brick? (Stupid question I know but genuinely wondering,). worried For her safety.

Hi I'm mounting a d225 doorbell camera and I'm wiring it to a power supply that I'm going to run into the house. On the back of the Tapo there's just two screws and the leads to the power supply go onto each.

But my question is this: if I mount the Tilted bracket directly to the wall and then the thin bracket between that seems to create a space for water to get in. How do you make sure you have a good seal between the wall and the mounting brackets?

Well I'm asking, I also am sort of planning to just run the leads out the bottom and screw them in hard enough so that they pinch. They have to come out of the mounting bracket somewhere. So does anybody have any advice on whether they should drill a hole in the mounting bracket itself for the leads to come through?

I appreciate your inside I've looked all over YouTube and haven't found anything really helpful.

I live in an apartment complex that houses absolute maniacs apparently and am now looking for doorbell cameras that somehow operate without drilling OR sticky tape mounting (because they will just rip it off 😍) if it exists! I tried looking for one that maybe mounts by latching around to the inside of the door but was struggling…. TYIA!

I just bought this system off marketplace the guy said this is never happened before when I messaged him about it. It’s in very good condition, but on the first time a boot up on the left side there was always like weird lines going down the screen after a while it faded, and then all that was there was a white line. The white line also disappeared after some time, but you can still faintly see that stuff whenever I look closely at the panel screen, I’m wondering is this an issue with the display? Do I need to get a new one or should I just return this panel or can I fix myself?

Hey all!

Has anyone had success with a hybrid security system setup?

Long story short, I need to get rid of the terrible service that is Vivint. But, I’m having a hard time finding an all-around system that:
a. People Love
b. Offers 24hr monitoring
c. Offers solid camera options
i. I really want POE ability along with WiFi

So, I was wondering if a hybrid system is a viable option. I was looking at a ReoLink for the cameras and an Abode security system for the around the house door, window, and motion sensors along with the arming keypad, etc.

Any advice would be super helpful. I hate Vivint so much and need something new.

Is it possible to use 2gig sensors on the Lynx l5210

Hello Reddit. Can anyone tell me if there is an app that I can use with my vivint security camera system? Vivint wants $46 a month to have access to the app and I dont want to pay it. I never really liked their service to begin with but the cameras and hub are installed so I would like to use them rather than buying all new equipment. Thanks in advance.

My husband and I installed a Eufy NVR system for our house and garage. We would like the capability to look at the live cameras on a tv in the kitchen as well as a tv in the living room. We would also like the ability to use the mouse in both locations. We are looking at something like this:

https://www.cablematters.com/pc-1343-135-usb-20-extender-over-ethernet-with-power-adapter.aspx

Would this work? What is everyone else doing in these situations? Any advice is appreciated.

Hi everyone. We are looking at getting a keyless entry for our front door. I have no idea what I need to know. Some questions - we have a nice front door handle now - a bit outdated. Can we have a nice door handle and also a keyless system? Do I need to buy a matching set? I guess there will be a keypad, and then a separate door handle? Do I need to buy them from the same manufacturer? Also, we are in Florida and have hurricanes. Sometimes, a hurricane might force us to have NO power and NO internet for a few days, perhaps a week. Will this keypad work, when there is no power and no internet? Is there a keypad that WILL work with no power and no internet? Thanks if anyone can bring me up to speed on what to look for.

Hi all, i’m looking into security cameras to keep an eye on my dogs and cat while i’m not home. Ive been searching for something affordable and have come across the advwin security cameras that are currently $120 for 4. Has anyone used these? Would love some feedback and possibly recommendations if they’re no good. (accessible in australia is a must)

Has anyone else started having troubles with this. We have had at 6-8 customers with this trouble, both alarmnet and alarm.com customers. Only fix is to hard reset onsite. Looking for other solutions

Hi all,

I’m setting up a wireless (Jeweller) alarm system for a villa with an irregular footprint — not a simple rectangle, several wings and recessed corners. House has 50cm thick tuff stone walls (volcanic rock, no rebar), and there’s a garden around most of the perimeter. I am no expert within security systems, but my IT skills are pretty good. I don't want to use curtain systems, just PIR.

I understand the basic principle for PIR MotionProtect Outdoor / MotionCam Outdoor: the intruder’s expected path should cross perpendicular to the detector’s lens axis, not walk straight toward it, since PIR sensors are much slower to trigger on radial/frontal movement than on lateral movement across their field of view.

Floor plan attached. Looking for advice on:

• How to position sensors at the irregular corners/recesses so I don’t leave blind spots. The producer’s (Aj. systems, those who invented Jeweller protocol) own manual suggests overlapping a second detector to cover the blind zone of the first — how do people usually do this on an L-shaped or notched perimeter?)
• Whether to prioritize covering the walkable paths around the house, or try to cover the whole garden boundary line
• Rough sensor count for a property this shape — am I better off with more units at shorter range, or fewer units with the range dialed up (3–15m adjustable on the Outdoor models)?
• Any real-world experience with irregular (non-rectangular) perimeters specifically, since most install guides assume a simple box-shaped lot
• House footprint dimensions: 22m x 16m
• Due to the thick walls, will multiple REX repeaters be required?

Appreciate any input, especially from people who’ve dealt with non-rectangular lots.

House floorplan https://i.ibb.co/zTrWT00q/Screenshot-2026-10-12-at-21-50-50.png