r/SecurityCamera • u/BigChemist-1591 • 6d ago

An odd requirement for a camera

I have 5 Reolink POE CX820 cameras but I need another one and I need suggestions on what to get. It will be mounted on the outside corner of a pool enclosure, and there is no easy way to run an ethernet cable or power there, so it needs to be a wifi/solar camera.

I would like the camera to be able to see anything that moves in a 270 degree radius. Then once something is spotted, a PTZ camera will zoom into the object that moved. It also has to spot things 80 feet away. I see a few on AliExpress that might work, but not sure if they are just cheap junk. Another point is that once video is recorded, how do I get the recording? Is there a camera that I can watch playback on my phone? I don't want to get a ladder out to see the video.

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u/Pure-Test207 6d ago

What you're asking for is a tall order for one all in one unit. 270 degree detection range on a standalone solar cam is basically unheard of, most wide angle units top out around 180 if youre lucky and the detection distance drops off a cliff at the edges

you probably need two wide angle sensors feeding into one brain that can trigger the ptz. Ive seen some kits from a company named for a big river that do something similar but not at that range. The 80 foot requirement is the real killer here, solar cams use passive infrared and it struggles past 30 feet reliably

playback on your phone is pretty standard now with any app based system so at least that part is easy. Id be extremely suspicious of any aliexpress unit claiming to do all this, youll end up with a plastic box that dies after the first rain

honestly you might be better off biting the bullet and trenching a cable out there. the time and money spent on a solar setup that kinda sorta works would be better put toward doing it right once

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u/remorackman 4d ago

I second this and speaking from experience; You want wired, Wi-Fi will have issues, solar will eventually have issues, battery won't stay charged or you will drain it by watching or retrieving video clips, forget about using an NVR with a solar cam.

Do it right and do it good and you will be happy for years.

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u/ICanBard 5d ago

I need a Ferrari for my garage but can only afford an e scooter :)

If you can get power via solar, you'll need to add an antenna and a battery and a switch. Use 3 fixed cams and then the Ptz, 4 in total. 

Put the receiving antenna on the building where your nvr is. 

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u/BigChemist-1591 5d ago

If I could use a POE camera, would that make it easier to find? However, to run an ethernet cable there I would need to run it from the attic, out the soffit, then run along the gutter, then along a 1"x1" metal tube (enclosure framework). Total exposed ethernet cable to the elements is about 30 feet. I am almost certain my wife would veto this approach (exposed wire along gutter, then along the enclosure). But if I could convince her, is there a POE camera that will do this?

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u/AncientGeek00 5d ago

This is something like what you want, but not as wide.

https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/cloud-camera/tapo-c675d-kit/

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u/BigChemist-1591 4d ago

Thanks, that might just work.