Camera System Help Needed for Business

[klo289]

We are opening a drive thru dauiquiri and soda shop and I have been going crazy looking at camera systems. I started out looking at all in one bundles, like Swan, Night Owl, and Reolink, but after reading reviews and comments from several in here, I'm thinking we need a better option. The whole thing is overwhelming and confusing. Recording length is important, as we want to be able to store more than a few days before it rewrites. We need indoor and outdoor cameras. Inside, the main areas of concern are the left entrance door into the daiquiri shop, and the drive thru window and register (both are pink in the picture). Can anyone offer suggestions or help point me in the right direction? In the bundles, I know that it needs an NVR to store the recordings, but I've seen people on here talk about using a computer, etc. I don't understand what all we need to purchase if we don't buy a preset bundle.

 

[bigredfish]

The difference with buying the "kits" you mentioned, is that you wont know how bad they are until you need it.
They play upon customers who don't know any better and believe plug and play and just "turn it on" actually works.
They dont want to educate you because that takes effort and you'll find out they're selling you junk

You buy an NVR, and choose from a variety of cameras to fit each location.

Start with this NVR (Its Dahua rebranded by our favorite supplier)

EmpireTech NVR16CH-16P-2AI 16 Channels 1U 16PoE 2HDD Network Video Rec

Multiple decoding formats Support AcuPick with Max. 16-Channel Support N+M cluster AI by recorder AI by camera Security baseline 2.3

empiretech01.com

or the 8 channel and save a whopping $35

Recording time will be dependent on the size hard drives you use. A couple of the 8-14TB drives should give you 3+weeks to 2 months depending on how many cameras.
(If it happened more than two weeks ago and you're just now finding out, do you really care?)

Then there's a lot to learn about which camera is best for which location.

Network Camera | EmpireTech

EmpireTech is dedicated to providing top-tier technology and goods, including multi-sensor dual lens cameras, ePoE with 800m transmission via Ethernet cable, AI Codec to enhance encoding efficacy and conserve bandwidth, and precise, reliable, and exact deep learning algorithm.

empiretech01.com

You may get by with 8 cameras...

 

[Flintstone61]

I would avoid Swan and Nightowl. they both " gotcha"-ed me when i was a newbie. with proprietary cameras that only works with approved NVR model.
lock you in to misery.

 

[mat200]

We are opening a drive thru dauiquiri and soda shop and I have been going crazy looking at camera systems. I started out looking at all in one bundles, like Swan, Night Owl, and Reolink, but after reading reviews and comments from several in here, I'm thinking we need a better option. The whole thing is overwhelming and confusing. Recording length is important, as we want to be able to store more than a few days before it rewrites. We need indoor and outdoor cameras. Inside, the main areas of concern are the left entrance door into the daiquiri shop, and the drive thru window and register (both are pink in the picture). Can anyone offer suggestions or help point me in the right direction? In the bundles, I know that it needs an NVR to store the recordings, but I've seen people on here talk about using a computer, etc. I don't understand what all we need to purchase if we don't buy a preset bundle.View attachment 218947

Hi @klo289

You need to decide what you want to accomplish with the security cameras.

From there you can look at FOV and resolution requirements.

 

[klo289]

The difference with buying the "kits" you mentioned, is that you wont know how bad they are until you need it.
They play upon customers who don't know any better and believe plug and play and just "turn it on" actually works.
They dont want to educate you because that takes effort and you'll find out they're selling you junk

You buy an NVR, and choose from a variety of cameras to fit each location.

Start with this NVR (Its Dahua rebranded by our favorite supplier)

EmpireTech NVR16CH-16P-2AI 16 Channels 1U 16PoE 2HDD Network Video Rec

Multiple decoding formats Support AcuPick with Max. 16-Channel Support N+M cluster AI by recorder AI by camera Security baseline 2.3

empiretech01.com

or the 8 channel and save a whopping $35

Recording time will be dependent on the size hard drives you use. A couple of the 8-14TB drives should give you 3+weeks to 2 months depending on how many cameras.
(If it happened more than two weeks ago and you're just now finding out, do you really care?)

Then there's a lot to learn about which camera is best for which location.

Network Camera | EmpireTech

EmpireTech is dedicated to providing top-tier technology and goods, including multi-sensor dual lens cameras, ePoE with 800m transmission via Ethernet cable, AI Codec to enhance encoding efficacy and conserve bandwidth, and precise, reliable, and exact deep learning algorithm.

empiretech01.com

You may get by with 8 cameras...

Thank you. How do I find a hard drive that is compatible with this NVR?

 

[wittaj]

For a business you would certainly want a surveillance rated hard drive, like a WD Purple.

 

[bigredfish]

^^^^^
This
WD purple is all I’ve used for 12 years