DIY Security: 4 Camera Systems Compared
By: Michael Zick Doherty
Tags: Security Camera, Home Security, Review, Home Monitoring

Many insurance companies will offer discount on home insurance with camera monitored security systems and/or monitored fire detection systems. USAA offered me $7 off per month for home security and additional $4 off for fire. This discount will vary depending on your policy and location. I purchased 4 different camera systems to compare. All these systems have straight forward setup that don’t require a professional (though it’s good to be comfortable with smartphone apps or have someone around that is). A common feature was the ability to detect people or vehicles that come into frame and alert you via your smartphone device (android or iphone). Most of the cameras allow you sign up for a remote monitoring service, but this isn’t required if you’d just like to self monitor from your phone.

Wyze

Quick setup, easy to use app. The mounting system uses either screw mount or a magnetic system. Very small and discreet. Very affordable full monitoring system. This was my favorite system. Can add memory card to save full recordings.

Pro: Response, very cheap monitoring

Con: General motion detection a bit sensitive

$30 for Cam v3 (wired, no hub needed)

$40 Wyze Cam Outdoor (battery powered, requires hub)

$10 Hub (handles upto 4 cameras)

$75/year for monitoring which includes hardware listed below FOR FREE

Wyze Sense Hub Wyze Sense Keypad Wyze Sense Entry Sensors x2 Wyze Sense Motion Sensor

Arlo

This system only comes as self monitored. Arlo doesn’t offered a monitoring service like the two others. With the Ultra 2 camera, they claim 4k video quality. This camera also requires a hub to work and you need to plug the hub directly into a router. The hub needs to be fairly close to the camera to work well, ideally within 20 ft. Setup was fairly easy, took less than 5 minutes or so. Mounting was also very easy and the camera attaches to the mount with a very convenient magnetic system.

Video quality is very good in terms of contrast and exposure, but it does not seem that it’s truly 4k. Easy to setup motion detection zones and switch between various wide angle options. Responds quickly to motion and alerts are immediate.

Pro: Fast alerts, good interface

Con: no monitoring

$299.99 Camera

$149.99 Hub

Blue by ADT

Getting the mounting plate of of the base of this camera was a pain. It required about 10 minutes of working at it with the back of a spoon. One the plate was off, it was fairly easy to mount. Setting up an account and and connecting the device took less than 5 minutes. Once it was set up, it was easy to set motion detect zones for recording. The camera quality was decent at best (claims 1080p resolution). One major issue was connecting to the live stream from the camera on the mobile app. When you press play, it goes into “video buffering” mode and hangs there until it finally times out. The router is about 15ft away, so no reason connectivity should be an issue. When I check the Wifi setting, it shows full bars and the wifi speed test hits 60 Mbps.

Pro: well known company

Con: slow alerts, poor mounting system

$199 camera

$19.99/month monitoring

SimpliSafe

The first order got lost with fedex. The second shipment I found out that that camera is not intended for exterior use so I disqualified this choice.

$99.00 Camera

$15/month for basic or $25/month for advanced