WYZE v3 cameras...they are worth the money....
Nov 28, 2021 15:57:24 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Nov 28, 2021 15:57:24 GMT -5
Even tough I have the latest and the greatest very high end surveillance system at my buildings, at home I have the Wyze V3 cameras. For $44, their price can't be beat on bang for the buck. Notifications are super fast. Usually about 5 seconds.
Like everything else that is cheap, they have their limitations but one can get around them. Here is what I wrote on redflagdeals when someone asked for mounting advice.....
Some thoughts....
First, determine what you want from the cameras. Ours are strictly for security and to back up the central alarm. If you want to watch your doggies bite the furniture, ignore almost everything below.
Soo....
In dark spots, use separate lighting on exterior cameras and turn off camera lighting. Otherwise bugs will make your life miserable. It's night vision is good enough that you only need low powered lighting. Ours are fine with street lighting.
Use programming features to turn notifications on and off. Make sure you program them to go off AND program them to go on. You can do this on individual cameras.
All interior cameras have internet plugs. Assume you will be hacked. We turn them on only if we are out. You are a fool if you think you can't get hacked.
Erase all events on a daily basis. Unless you want to give hackers your daily routine. To go further with this, mount smaller micro sd. They will overwrite past events depending how long you want to keep them. Minimum should be three days.
We use no camera lighting in the house. If it's dark in the house, a thief will need lighting...and voila. We also have multiple motion detection devices mounted in the corridors/landings. They turn on with local motion and camera goes off and captures the event. Motion stays on for twenty minutes...far longer then any thief will stick around. Also one motion light can set of multiple cameras because the house is dark.
Side benefit of motion detectors in the corridors/landings, we do not bother with switches....unless we wanted them constantly on.
If you insist....camera lights are poor and should only be used where there are no walls to reflect them. Like in the middle of room.
Be hyper careful of were you mount them for errant lights. If you have them facing curtains, at night, you will get a notification from every passing car. We mount them in facing inwards. Never facing doors and windows.
Also be were of mounting them were they can detect motion from air vents moving curtains. Unless you really like to watch your curtains moving.....
If you insist on watching a door or window and you have a night reflection issue....mount the camera over them, facing down and a bit into the house. Just avoid seeing the curtains.
Detection zone settings are critical. You can use them to avoid high traffic areas like bird feeders or errant bright spots at night.
Install a 128gb or 256gb micro sd. Preferably long endurance. 360 will get about 14 days on a 128gb. If you are concerned about giving away your routine, go the other way with smaller micro cards.
You don't need high resolution if the need is motion detection. Ours are at 360.
We self monitor. The 5 minute delay is not great but you want the first instance detection and then you can use the memory micro for playback.
Overlap security. These cameras are so cheap that it's cheap to do.
Tech support said they are designed for 3-4 year service. By then, you will want the newest generation.
Never assume that you will get it right the first time. If you don't adjust them at least several times, you are not trying to get the max of their abilities.
Like everything else that is cheap, they have their limitations but one can get around them. Here is what I wrote on redflagdeals when someone asked for mounting advice.....
Some thoughts....
First, determine what you want from the cameras. Ours are strictly for security and to back up the central alarm. If you want to watch your doggies bite the furniture, ignore almost everything below.
Soo....
In dark spots, use separate lighting on exterior cameras and turn off camera lighting. Otherwise bugs will make your life miserable. It's night vision is good enough that you only need low powered lighting. Ours are fine with street lighting.
Use programming features to turn notifications on and off. Make sure you program them to go off AND program them to go on. You can do this on individual cameras.
All interior cameras have internet plugs. Assume you will be hacked. We turn them on only if we are out. You are a fool if you think you can't get hacked.
Erase all events on a daily basis. Unless you want to give hackers your daily routine. To go further with this, mount smaller micro sd. They will overwrite past events depending how long you want to keep them. Minimum should be three days.
We use no camera lighting in the house. If it's dark in the house, a thief will need lighting...and voila. We also have multiple motion detection devices mounted in the corridors/landings. They turn on with local motion and camera goes off and captures the event. Motion stays on for twenty minutes...far longer then any thief will stick around. Also one motion light can set of multiple cameras because the house is dark.
Side benefit of motion detectors in the corridors/landings, we do not bother with switches....unless we wanted them constantly on.
If you insist....camera lights are poor and should only be used where there are no walls to reflect them. Like in the middle of room.
Be hyper careful of were you mount them for errant lights. If you have them facing curtains, at night, you will get a notification from every passing car. We mount them in facing inwards. Never facing doors and windows.
Also be were of mounting them were they can detect motion from air vents moving curtains. Unless you really like to watch your curtains moving.....
If you insist on watching a door or window and you have a night reflection issue....mount the camera over them, facing down and a bit into the house. Just avoid seeing the curtains.
Detection zone settings are critical. You can use them to avoid high traffic areas like bird feeders or errant bright spots at night.
Install a 128gb or 256gb micro sd. Preferably long endurance. 360 will get about 14 days on a 128gb. If you are concerned about giving away your routine, go the other way with smaller micro cards.
You don't need high resolution if the need is motion detection. Ours are at 360.
We self monitor. The 5 minute delay is not great but you want the first instance detection and then you can use the memory micro for playback.
Overlap security. These cameras are so cheap that it's cheap to do.
Tech support said they are designed for 3-4 year service. By then, you will want the newest generation.
Never assume that you will get it right the first time. If you don't adjust them at least several times, you are not trying to get the max of their abilities.
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