Reolink 4K 8MP 16CH PoE IP Smart Security System w/ 3TB HDD NVR + 8x 8MP Cams Expired

Hi @TProfit

Do you want the cheapest IP PoE kit for your new home build?

Honestly, if you are building a new home now - focus on running the cables to good locations, you can always get cameras later.
( seriously, you only need one camera to test possible locations, and do plan to run a lot more cables if you're new to this.. )

do see the cliff notes at ipcamtalk, and the notes here
https://slickdeals.net/e/10409612-lorex-dahua-oem-6x-4k-8mp-security-camera-system-w-8-port-poe-ip-nvr-2tb-hdd-kit-at-costco-b-m-ymmv-for-799-99

I like at least 2 cameras covering the driveway, at top of door height... most cameras try to mount 6-8 ( update: typo was 9 ) feet high for best chances at getting ID images...

update:
Over cable for new construction, remember to take photos of the structure before the dry wall goes up. ( run N+1+ cable to each location you think you need a cat5e/6 drop )

How I like to place cameras around a typical US home with an attached garage:

2 cameras covering the drive way, one on each side of the garage door at about door top height ( test and confirm the positions, lights affect the image - so you may need to play with the placement ). Aim the cameras so that they both watch over your parked cars. This way you have a chance to catch door checkers which ever way they turn.
1 camera face level at the front door - normally I get a special mini-dome ( smaller profile ) 2.8mm camera for this job. I do not think Reolink carries a model like that.
1 camera watching the package drop area by the front door.
2 cameras covering the sides of the house ( one on each side )


subtotal so far = 6 cameras, and if lucky you can use the garage to help place 4-5 of these cameras ( assuming the garage wall is next to the front door .. not always the case.. )

add 1-2 cameras, If you have a mail box on the street, another camera with a better lens / tighter FOV.
add 1-2 cameras, if you park on the street, another camera with a better lens / tighter FOV.
add 1-2 cameras, if you want to do license plate capture attempts in low light ( see the LPR section of ipcamtalk )

add 1-2 cameras covering side / back doors. ( per door )
add whatever cameras you want covering the back yard

add 1-2 cloud cameras if you like mobile alerts by your front door .. wyze, doorbell ... ( sometimes the cloud cameras work better for mobile alerts.. )




Hi @leeterbike,

Many with experience with better quality camera would disagree on:
1) Reolink cameras are good quality ( Reolink uses very affordable components and thus suffers in low light image capture )
2) use great compression protocals ( some still use H264 iirc and not H265 )
3) Reolink compatibility with Blue Iris and other vms ( Reolink has iFrame issues - see the link below )
4) 12MP cameras .. ( better not to chase MegaPixels on cheap cameras if they do not properly capture what you need.. )

RLC-810A spec sheet does not appear to confirm H265 for this camera..
https://home-cdn.reolink.us/files...ations.pdf

NVR spec sheet shows H.265 and H.264
https://home-cdn.reolink.us/files...ations.pdf

more documentation and discussion on issues that people have reported with Reolink

https://ipcamtalk.com/threads/dec...ann.50584/



Hi far3320,

Zmodo folks are a different company.. far worse imho than Reolink. ( that's not a good sign .. )




Hi @Santy83

Please see the link I posted in the reply to leeterbike




Hi @lookenfordeals,

Buy another IP PoE branded camera and compare it with Reolink.

Is Reolink a deal? Depends on what you want the kit to do.

For me, low light image capture is important and Reolink misses on this.
For others, they want the cameras to work well with Blue Iris.. and that is an issue.



Hi @toolmaker69

Never really know if a company will survive:

Q-See was a US company.. reselling a lot of Dahua OEM and another OEM.
( the Q-see IP PoE Dahua OEM cameras in general were good cameras and you can get them to work with Blue Iris or a Dahua OEM NVR if needed )

Reolink is a Chinese based company, and thus selling to those outside of China.




Hi @boball

You want to look for a PTZ camera, or a PT(no Z) camera for that functionality.

iirc Reolink does have at least one model that is a PTZ ( update: 5MP RLC-423 - note this is not a recommendation, as I feel you can find better low light performers than Reolink cameras for imho a reasonable amount more $ .. )

Riolink is a good brand for most people for an overall security solution for remote monitoring, alerts, and local storage solutions. The cameras are also very good quality, use great compression protocols, and are addressable to other software for later upgrades if you want blue iris or other software. This price is very competitive. The cameras alone are about this price.

If you don't need 8 cameras, I'm personally waiting on the 12MP cameras to upgrade from a 4MP system I currently have running Milestone software.

My brother has a 16 channel Reolink system. Worked great for almost a year then it had issues. He got ahold of Reolink without issues, did troubleshooting, then they sent him a new one. So I think I will get one myself knowing the support is at least there if it craps out after install.