Outdoor camera for parents

Yep I'd second the nest camera. Installed outdoor one for my dad. (really easy to install - especially the IQ camera as the non IQ has a massive 'connector' on the cable so it's a bit awkward - depending how neat you want it) Attached to my home account so 1 sub (€100 for 60 days history but you can pay 50 either for motion only events) covers his and my cameras. FYI...I was having awful problems with dropouts too (almost daily). Moved router closer to camera and have had 1 dropout in about 2 months.

I have two Yi Outdoor cameras and I think they are great.

They are supplemented with indoor Neos Smartcams which I actually prefer. I have one in the porch pointed at the driveway and it gives me great coverage day or night. I pay for the subscription for these cameras (about €3 per month) because I like them so much.

Are you using "endurance" SDXC cards? They are designed for constant read/write unlike standard cards. I found the same previously but since moving to endurance cards, I'm getting years rather than months out of them. Foscam cameras are particularly hard on them because they are so poor at smart detection. Almost everything is triggered as a motion event, especially insects, animals and blowing leaves so ends up being written to the card. I've phased my entire Foscam line up out for that reason.

DeconSheridan wrote: »

We have Foscams and our experience with using SD cards is that they don't last very long. Few months then you have to open up the camera and if that is on 1st floor its risky up a ladder as you need both hands off ladder to complete the sd exchange. Being into IT I setup an ftp server on a Linux box I have for file sharing and backups locally, but for your situation I would recommend you get a full DVR system with POE (Power Over Ethernet )and cameras that can avail of POE so the cameras do not require a traditional power supply which is ok but POE is better / tidier.

Also having a camera front, rear, and at the main front door of home is a good place to start. Wifi CCTV is a bit unreliable.

This is what I'm saying here as a search on Amazon. POE CCTV DVR

Being into IT you should use good SD card. I have had the yi fir several years and haven’t had an issue with SD cards

machiavellianme wrote: »

Are you using "endurance" SDXC cards? They are designed for constant read/write unlike standard cards. I found the same previously but since moving to endurance cards, I'm getting years rather than months out of them. Foscam cameras are particularly hard on them because they are so poor at smart detection. Almost everything is triggered as a motion event, especially insects, animals and blowing leaves so ends up being written to the card. I've phased my entire Foscam line up out for that reason.

I agree the better the quality sd cards for longer life I still don't like using SD cards for main live recording and prefer Hardrive recordings for ease of management. The older Foscams didn't have that smart ability but I think all newer models do have the smart tech. I think it's the old you get what you pay for. I'm on the fence as to whether id recommend the Foscam brand but just put it out there what issues I had.

@Dopetech.

I would avoid wireless and go for a simple wired setup. There is mutiple resoans for this but the most important is that it is easier to operate once installed. Dont over complicate what should be a simple setup for your parents.

It is very easy to hide a wire behind a gutter or alongside an existing tv wire running down the house. Once painted will be nearly invisible..If there is a similar house in the area with cameras have a look how they have run the wires for ideas how to install.

(One suggestion is running the wires down the outside side wall and through an existing vent into the kitchen and having the DVR unit on top of a kitchen unit and screen on the counter where there is power.

I would have a look @ some of the simple setups on ebay/ amazon auch as ANNKE/Zosi/Hi Look. (Circa €150)

I have 14 Yi outdoor cameras, 4 Kami Outdoor (same as yi but with better night vision) and 1 kami wireless battery camera.


I think their very good.

Clareman wrote: »

****ing hell man are you covering all of Detroit, all of Killaloe or all of Munster??? 14 outdoor cameras, I'd say most county GAA grounds don't have that many outdoor cameras :pac::pac::pac::pac:

Seriously though, I looked up the Yi range and they look class in fairness, I was a bit worried about security on them so got an indoor one and did a packet tracer on all the traffic for about a year and didn't see anything dodgy at all. If I needed a lot of cameras I would give serious consideration to them BUT for parents I always find it's best to keep them to what they know and all in 1 place so I'd find it hard to go away from the Nest range to be honest.

I thought I read his post wrong on first take.

Just to add, I changed my mesh system last week and haven't had a single drop out on any of the Nest cameras that are running 24/7 here. I'm absolutely delighted with how Google's Wi-Fi has been performing.

AckwelFoley wrote: »

..yea..so now its 16 since I posted last.

To be honest, its 16 cameras on 2 different locations. 11 of which are a farm yard, covering entrance and machinery sheds and then some in sheds to check livestock that are due to give birth.


I get them fairly cheaply, I can get them for as little as 30 euro + delivery and import fees so if ever if goes down it's not a massive loss to replace it.

where do you purchase from? we have 2 wireless outdoor kami ones cost €135, would like to buy some more

AckwelFoley wrote: »

Kamistore.eu rarely, mostly Aliexpress directly from Yi store official who are the manufacturers

Cost me about 60 euro before import fees for the wireless ones..

The wireless ones are about €60 on Amazon at the moment

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B089PX65XF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_EAXXKEZC6JMAFEE88GKB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1