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Choosing Outdoor Security Camera: Day/Night Quality, Motion Detection, POE, WiFi, Local Storage

fazik 20859 17
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How can I choose an outdoor PoE/IP security camera that gives decent day/night image quality, supports motion-triggered recording to a Debian server, and fits a low budget?

With this budget and these expectations, you should choose a basic outdoor IP camera with PoE and accept that 20–30 m of useful night identification is unrealistic; the best of the examples discussed was the Hikvision DS-2CD1021-I, but its practical night recognition range was said to be only about 4–5 m [#16795430][#16795284] The “30 m IR” marketing usually means you may see a silhouette, not identify a person, especially at night [#16795284] For recording, keep the camera running continuously and let the recorder/NAS save only on motion; physically switching the camera on and off with a motion sensor was called a bad idea [#16795284] For power, use IEEE 802.3af PoE hardware such as a PoE switch/injector; POE-48/NX was suggested and a 48 V, 0.5 A, 24 W IEEE 802.3af supply was reported as working with the camera [#16796777][#16797120][#16796873]
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  • #1 16793517
    fazik
    Level 17  
    Posts: 406
    Help: 10
    Rate: 158
    Hello,
    I need help choosing the outside camera in front of the house. I have some requirements.
    1. Decent quality in the day.
    2. Not the worst quality at night (there is a led lamp with a motion sensor).
    3. Ability to save materials to a local hard disk (Debian server)
    4. The possibility of both continuous operation and camera activation only in the case of motion detection (more importantly the latter, but both are welcome).
    5. Power supply - theoretically indifferent, but if there is the possibility of only POE - I have a free cable in the vicinity and I would not have to pull another wire. Is there a possibility of one cable to release power and image?
    6. Data transmission - I would prefer the cable, because I have such a possibility, but the possibility of wifi will not hurt.
    7. Budget: the less, the better. I can give 300 zlotys, but if I spent 150 zlotys, I would be happier.
    8. Obligatory possibility of remote viewing on request.
    9. Range at night: 20-30 mb.
    10. Size, appearance - before the entrance will be, so rather not clumsy, preferably something discreet.

    Camera location: outside the building, under a soffit - it should not rain on it.
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  • #2 16795191
    suworow
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
    Posts: 8802
    Help: 650
    Rate: 1273
    Ad1. I will omit because for everyone "decency" can mean something else
    ad2. In extreme cases, the camera may need several seconds to adapt to new lighting conditions. The sensor and lamp cover the entire area that we want to observe?
    AD3. It is obvious.
    Ad4. Is it supposed to turn off?
    Ad5. POE power supply, POE switch
    AD6. However, this is usually less harmful after the cable.
    AD7. 300 or 150. Even if a colleague sums up both amounts, they still remain a colleague only "revelations of auction sites" To buy something meaningful you will still need to demonstrate the ability to multiply ;)
    8. Usually possible, albeit in many cases dependent on the parameters of the link, about which silence.
    ad 9. It's supposed to be with what accuracy is it to be seen on those 30 meters, at what stage width and at what lighting?
    ad10. A colleague can be specified. give any examples what would suit your friend?

    A colleague has read a few topics about the cameras.

    greetings
  • #3 16795278
    fazik
    Level 17  
    Posts: 406
    Help: 10
    Rate: 158
    suworow wrote:
    ad2. In extreme cases, the camera may need several seconds to adapt to new lighting conditions. The sensor and lamp cover the entire area that we want to observe?

    Yes
    suworow wrote:
    Ad4. Is it supposed to turn off?

    The camera turns on after motion detection, after which after a short time (without recording movement) it switches off.
    Another issue is the ability to set it on and off.
    suworow wrote:
    8. Usually possible, albeit in many cases dependent on the parameters of the link, about which silence.

    Well, I did not write. Upload 6Mb / s
    suworow wrote:
    ad 9. It's supposed to be with what accuracy is it to be seen on those 30 meters, at what stage width and at what lighting?

    I think that it is enough to 60-70 degrees and 20-25 mb. Lighting lamp led 20W
    suworow wrote:
    AD10. A colleague can clarify. give any examples what would suit your friend?


    I took a look at several auctions yesterday and my humble knowledge pre-selected:
    RT-IP IP camera EXTERNAL IR-CUT P2P DDNS or
    IP CAMERA HIKVISION DS-2CD1021-I 2MPx 2.8mm PoE or
    IP Camera 4Mpx SONY 20m IR SD-CARD POE IP
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    #4 16795284
    marek216
    Level 43  
    Posts: 17983
    Help: 1076
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    fazik wrote:
    9. Range at night: 20-30 mb.


    fazik wrote:
    7. Budget: the less, the better. I can give 300 zlotys, but if I spent 150 zlotys, I would be happier.


    fazik wrote:
    I took a look at several auctions yesterday and my humble knowledge pre-selected:
    RT-IP IP camera EXTERNAL IR-CUT P2P DDNS or
    IP CAMERA HIKVISION DS-2CD1021-I 2MPx 2.8mm PoE or
    IP Camera 4Mpx SONY 20m IR SD-CARD POE IP


    A colleague looking at these cameras probably suggested that IR radiators have a range of 30m and this camera has.
    For clarity. The radiators in these cameras also do not illuminate that far. And the image of these 30m cameras is not suitable for anything meaningful - you will see the silhouette, but forget about identification, at night even with the figure can be a problem if nothing lights up.

    fazik wrote:
    4. The possibility of both continuous operation and camera activation only in the case of motion detection (more importantly the latter, but both are welcome).

    The camera is in continuous mode. If you used the recorder, you can record in "on motion detection" mode. Physically switching a camera with a motion sensor is a stupid idea and do not even analyze it.

    fazik wrote:
    Suvorov wrote:
    ad2. In extreme cases, the camera may need several seconds to adapt to new lighting conditions. The sensor and lamp cover the entire area that we want to observe?

    Yes


    That a kind of sensor from the lamp catches for 30m. What is the lamp?
  • #5 16795430
    jpl
    Level 34  
    Posts: 1955
    Help: 240
    Rate: 223
    fazik wrote:
    7. Budget: the less, the better. I can give 300 zlotys, but if I spent 150 zlotys, I would be happier.


    fazik wrote:
    9. Range at night: 20-30 mb.


    With such a budget and such requirements - it will be rather hard

    fazik wrote:
    RT-IP IP camera EXTERNAL IR-CUT P2P DDNS or
    IP CAMERA HIKVISION DS-2CD1021-I 2MPx 2.8mm PoE or
    IP Camera 4Mpx SONY 20m IR SD-CARD POE IP


    Cameras 1 and 3 - it's a total chał.
    The best of these three is hikvision, but it will not meet your requirements with the range of recognition. She will see it widely - but as far as efficiency is concerned - i.e. recognition, its range is 4-5 meters ...
  • #6 16796468
    fazik
    Level 17  
    Posts: 406
    Help: 10
    Rate: 158
    I purchased C54221-IR 2.1 Mpx.
    I am asking for a bearing for the POE power supply.
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  • #8 16796809
    fazik
    Level 17  
    Posts: 406
    Help: 10
    Rate: 158
    I do not know. POE-48 / NX is IEEE 802.3at and C54221-IR 2.1 Mpx has 802.3af
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    #9 16796873
    jpl
    Level 34  
    Posts: 1955
    Help: 240
    Rate: 223
    fazik wrote:
    POE-48 / NX is IEEE 802.3at and C54221-IR 2.1 Mpx has 802.3af


    Please read how the POE power supply works ... because you are asking absolutely basic questions to which the answer has already been given.
    After all, we will not tell you here how you should fix the camera.
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  • #11 16797120
    jpl
    Level 34  
    Posts: 1955
    Help: 240
    Rate: 223
    And it will work very well. :-)
  • #12 16797136
    fazik
    Level 17  
    Posts: 406
    Help: 10
    Rate: 158
    Sarcasm or praise?
  • #14 16797439
    fazik
    Level 17  
    Posts: 406
    Help: 10
    Rate: 158
    Thanks. When everything happens, I connect to the NAS and test it.
  • #15 16817662
    fazik
    Level 17  
    Posts: 406
    Help: 10
    Rate: 158
    I bought and mounted:
    PoE power supply 48V max. 0.5A / 24Watt IEEE 802.3af
    C54221-IR 2.1 Mpx

    Registration is done on hdd by smb.

    I noticed that at night when an insect passes, the camera captures and records it. Is it possible to eliminate this?
  • #16 16826944
    tomiok
    Level 33  
    Posts: 2233
    Help: 133
    Rate: 290
    fazik wrote:
    ...
    I noticed that at night when an insect passes, the camera captures and records it. Is it possible to eliminate this?

    It detects motion and registers it, meaning it works properly.
    If you deduce insects that they would not do it, then you will have peace. :-)
    The worst are the spiders that sometimes make their spider web.
  • #17 16866951
    Szymon Tarnowski
    Level 27  
    Posts: 1286
    Help: 61
    Rate: 173
    fazik wrote:
    3. Ability to save materials to a local hard disk (Debian server)

    suworow wrote:
    AD3. It is obvious.
    Such is my question. What function does a colleague want to solve by FTP uploading?
  • #18 16867626
    fazik
    Level 17  
    Posts: 406
    Help: 10
    Rate: 158
    No, cifs or nfs. It works!
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around selecting an outdoor security camera that meets specific requirements, including decent day and night quality, motion detection capabilities, local storage options, and power supply preferences. Users emphasize the importance of POE (Power over Ethernet) for ease of installation, as well as the need for both continuous recording and motion-activated recording modes. Several camera models are suggested, including the Hikvision DS-2CD1021-I and the C54221-IR, with considerations regarding their night vision capabilities and effective range. Users also discuss the setup of a POE power supply and the integration of the camera with a Debian server for local storage. Concerns about false motion detection due to insects are raised, along with solutions for managing recorded footage.
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FAQ

TL;DR: For budget outdoor IP cameras, night recognition is short—“its range is 4–5 meters …”. Add light and use PoE for reliability. [Elektroda, jpl, post #16795430]

Why it matters: This FAQ helps DIYers choose and set up an outdoor camera that actually identifies people, records to a local server, and avoids common pitfalls.

Quick Facts

What’s the realistic night identification range at 20–30 m?

Expect short recognition range with budget gear. One expert noted the highlighted option “will see widely,” but effective recognition is about 4–5 meters. Add continuous white light near the subject for better IDs. [Elektroda, jpl, post #16795430]

Can one Ethernet cable carry both power and video for an outdoor camera?

Yes. Use Power over Ethernet with a PoE switch or injector to send data and power through one cable. This simplifies wiring and improves reliability compared with Wi‑Fi outdoors. [Elektroda, suworow, post #16795191]

Should I power the camera only on motion, or always on and record on motion?

Keep the camera powered continuously. Record on motion in the NVR or recorder. Physically switching the camera with a motion sensor is a bad practice and risks missed events. [Elektroda, marek216, post #16795284]

Will an 802.3af 48 V injector work with the C54221‑IR 2.1 Mpx camera?

Yes. A 48 V, 0.5 A (24 W) 802.3af injector was installed with that camera, and it worked well in practice. [Elektroda, jpl, post #16797120]

How do I record to a Debian server or NAS? (3‑step)

  1. Create a shared folder on your Linux/NAS via SMB/CIFS or NFS.
  2. In the camera/NVR, add the network path and credentials.
  3. Test write access, then enable continuous or motion recording. “CIFS or NFS. It works!” [Elektroda, fazik, post #16867626]

My camera records bugs and spider webs at night—how do I reduce false alerts?

This is normal. IR and lights attract insects, which trigger pixel‑based motion detection. Clean the lens area and remove webs frequently. “It detects motion and registers it, meaning it works properly.” [Elektroda, tomiok, post #16826944]

What viewing angle and distance did the OP target, and is that practical?

They targeted about 60–70° at 20–25 m with a 20 W LED lamp. For identification at those distances, budget cameras struggle without strong scene lighting. [Elektroda, fazik, post #16795278]

Is wired Ethernet better than Wi‑Fi for outdoor security cameras?

Yes. Wired connections are more stable and predictable for video. As one expert said, Ethernet is generally less “harmful” than Wi‑Fi for reliability. [Elektroda, suworow, post #16795191]

What limits remote live view quality from outside the home?

Your upload bandwidth and connection stability. The OP reported 6 Mb/s upload, which constrains simultaneous streams and resolution. Adjust bitrate and sub‑streams accordingly. [Elektroda, suworow, post #16795191]

Among the short‑listed models, which was the best pick?

From the three, Hikvision was considered the best, but still weak for identification at distance. Expect recognition range around 4–5 meters at night. [Elektroda, jpl, post #16795430]

What PoE gear do I actually need for a single camera install?

Use a PoE switch or a single‑port PoE injector plus a standard Ethernet run. This supplies power and data over one cable to the camera. [Elektroda, suworow, post #16795191]

Will a typical motion‑light PIR really cover 30 m for camera triggering?

Do not assume 30 m coverage. Verify the lamp sensor’s actual detection range and aim. An expert questioned such reach and requested lamp details. [Elektroda, marek216, post #16795284]

How quickly does a camera adapt when the motion light turns on?

Adaptation can take several seconds in extreme cases. Plan lighting placement and timing so subjects stay within the scene during gain changes. [Elektroda, suworow, post #16795191]

Can I save footage directly to a network share without FTP?

Yes. The thread author saved to HDD via SMB, and later confirmed CIFS/NFS worked. This avoids FTP and keeps simple file access. [Elektroda, fazik, post #16817662]
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