Hi, I am planning to install 2 security cameras in the front of my house. I have a porch protruded from my front door. I want to be able to see who is at the door and my garden. At the moment I cannot see my porch door from upstairs. So I want to install 2 cameras to enable me to see who is at the door. But I do not want to have to pay subscription. I read online that there are different types of security cameras. I wonder if anyone could offer advice as to which one is suitable for my situation, including the pros and cons of different types. And the cost of different types including installation.
Many thanks
Kam
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Good morning
As a rule for something like this we would recommend something from HIKvision, we’ve installed a few of these for customers and the remote viewing is included in the price of the unit with no subscription, 2 cameras with an internal SD card would allow for local recording at each camera and need no additional recorder but would only require a single data cable from each camera back to a POE switch near to your router for power and internet broadcasting for the devices.
Hi There,
I have used recently for residential and comercial the Reolink products which includes cameras and doorbells without any subscription. Two way audio on all cameras and the doorbell can be added to the system and will show on the same screen as the cameras. I had a lot of very happy customers using this.
Good morning,
You can use a Reolink camera which has a built in slot for an SD Card to provide you with storage for recording. The cameras can be connected to a POE router, switch or NVR (Network Video Recorder) and no subscription is required to access them remotely.
These are great if you want wireless and easy setup with no ongoing fees:
• Tapo C500 Outdoor – Excellent budget, Wi-Fi connected, good video and app viewing. Ideal for front door + garden setups.
• Eufy S220 SoloCam – Slightly pricier but more robust kit and local storage built in — no cloud fees. No subscription required.
• Blink Outdoor 4‑Camera – Wireless outdoor cameras with long battery life. You can use them without a cloud fee if you only need motion live view and local storage to USB with an optional hub.
Pros:
1 No subscription costs & simple phone app controls.
2 Battery or mains options.
3 Easy DIY install.
Cons:
1 Battery models need occasional charging/replacement.
2 May miss advanced AI features on premium cloud plans.
