Best PoE Security Camera System

Best PoE Security Camera Buying Guide

If you want to protect your business, home, or personal property, then a security camera can be the perfect option for you. But it’s so complicated to maintain several cables to run a security camera. However, there is a solution for that: The Power of Ethernet (PoE) camera. It requires only one cable for each camera. To connect the camera and recorder, you only need a single ethernet cable, which transmits video and powers up the camera. 

Nowadays, everyone is starting to use PoE security cameras. Because it’s easy to use and it’s affordable. You won’t have to worry about the time and installation charge because the PoE security camera doesn’t take a long time and money during the installation. You can install it on your own. All you have to do is place the ethernet cable into the NVR and the camera, and you are done. The camera is now connected. 

What are The Advantages of PoE Security Cameras? 

The advantages of a PoE security camera are phenomenal. Everyone is now shifting to this camera for its features. Hence, here is a list of advantages you may consider. 

• Maintenance: It requires less cable to operate. So, the maintenance is much more comfortable. You can maintain the camera with just a cloud system. The only thing you have to operate are the cameras, cables, and PoE switches. 
• Flexibility: You can quickly move the cameras to other places. Because only ethernet cables are needed to move. 
• Low Installation charge: Generally speaking, PoE cameras need a small amount of money to install. Anyone can install PoE cameras at home. It needs only one cable for the installation process, where the traditional cameras needed a large number of cables to install. 
• Safety: PoE cameras have high-quality components, which ensures you the best service. It delivers the power safely and efficiently. These cameras have some additional key features such as overload protection, surge protection, voltage protection, and so on. So, it can prevent it from short circuits or excessive current. 
• Scalability: You can add more cameras easily by adding more network connections. Also, you can operate cameras from all over the world. It’s easier to add cameras if you want to add on the entire company. 
• Reliability: You can also add an uninterruptible power source to ensure the cameras keep running when the electricity goes off. PoE has only one central power source. So, it’s more reliable than the traditional one. 

What is The Best PoE Security Camera Brands?

Nowadays, there are a lot of PoE security camera brands. But obviously, not all brands can meet your needs. So, you may confuse which one will suit you. Thus, we came here with a list of the best PoE security camera brands and models. 

Reolink

Reolink is a very renowned brand for PoE security cameras. They provide the best quality components to ensure safety. We now have two models of the camera, which you may consider. 

• Reolink 5MP PoE Cameras with 16 CH NVR: This model of Reolink is best for local video storage. This camera is like plug and play. Just plug the camera with an ethernet cable, and it’s all done. Hence, there are some pros and cons of the camera.

Pros:

• The NVR of this camera supports up to 16 cameras.
• It has a 5-megapixel resolution. 
• It supports personal FTP servers. So, you can stream video at super-fast speed.
• The storage is three terabytes. It has two slots remaining, which is for upgrading the storage. 

Cons:

• It has only an 80-degree view of the angle. 
• It requires a paid subscription for cloud storage service. 
• They don’t support two-way audio because there is no speaker on the camera. 
• There is no service for the smart platform. 

Local Video Storage Service

To enjoy local video service, you need to plug in the camera with the NVR and router. The good news is an NVR comes up with this model of PoE camera. The model of this NVR is RLN16-410. This NVR is pretty flexible. It has a built-in 3TB hard drive to store the videos, storing seven days of footage. Also, it has two more hard drive slots available, so you can extend the storage as you wish. Hence, the NVR supports up to 16 cameras, which is more than enough. 

Video Streaming Services

If you are at home, then you can stream the video on your TV or the monitor. You have to connect your camera with your tv with an HDMI or VGA cable. After plugging in the cable with your monitor, you can see the camera’s best resolution footage. Reolink claims that they provide the best resolution according to your device. But what will happen if you are not at home? Don’t worry. You can still stream the footage with an app. Reolink has its video streaming software for different platforms like Android, Windows, Mac. 

Lorex

Lorex is capable of covering the entire building. They have a 4k resolution camera system that can stream high-resolution video. Also, they give 100 feet long ethernet cable with the camera. These cameras are wall and ceiling mountable, which is appreciable. Hence, they also have some pros and cons.

Pros:

• It supports night vision and low light spotlight.
• 93-degree viewing angle. And 4k resolution. Which is impressive.
• The hard drive storage is expandable up to six TB.
• It compresses the video with the H.265 system to utilize the storage. 

Cons:

• They don’t provide a cloud storage service.
• It’s so expensive for a four-camera system.
• One NVR can only support eight cameras.
• The mobile app is backdated.

What Types of Cables Do PoE Cameras Use?

Generally, PoE cameras use Cat 5 or Cat 6 cable to connect to the router and NVR. Cat 5 is also known as category five cable. It is an ethernet cable that can transmit the internet, bandwidth, and data. There is no significant difference between Cat 5, Cat 6, or Cat 5e. All the cables can be plugged into the same wan port. 

Cat 6 cables are great. But to operate a security camera Cat 5 cable is sufficient to power it up. Although, cat 6 is more advanced and future proof. But there is no need to increase the expenses. However, if you can afford cat six cables, then you should go for that. Because cat 6 is more stable and has more speed. 

Can PoE Cameras Be Hacked?

Unfortunately, yes. PoE cameras can be hacked as the camera is connected to the internet. So, hackers can hack it. But there are some rules you can follow to protect your camera from hackers. 

• Always keep your camera’s firmware up to date. Renowned camera brands like Reolink, Lorex, Amcrest, or ZOSI always keep their users safe. So, they always try to release firmware updates regularly. That update may contain a security patch, bug fixes, etc. So, try to update the firmware.
• Change the default password of the camera. Use a complex password that cannot be guessed. Use a password that contains uppercase, lowercase, numeric number, symbol, etc. 
• Set up a password manager. A password manager can remember your password. If you used a complex password, you may forget it would be great to use a password manager. This software can insert the password automatically. You won’t have to do anything. 
• If your camera supports two-factor authentication, then turn it on. This is optional, but it will give you extra protection. If you turn it on, then whenever you try to log in, they will send you a one-time OTP via message, phone call, email, or any other way. Without that code, you can’t log in. So, it’s a good idea to turn it on. 

What Is the Difference Between PoE Camera and an IP camera?

Both of these cameras have some basic functionalities. The difference between these cameras is slightly comparable. However, now we will show you the differences between PoE cameras and IP cameras. 

Pros of PoE Camera:

• PoE cameras can transfer up to 2.5Gbps to 5 Gbps speed. If you connect the camera with a Cat 6 cable, you will get 10 Gbps speed with over 100 meters. PoE cameras have a significantly faster transmission speed. 
• PoE cameras have a tremendous centralized power management system. If you don’t set up an uninterruptible power supply, then your IP camera will shut down. But for the PoE cameras, you won’t have to worry about this. PoE cameras have a single and centralized power supply. You can also operate that remotely. 
• The installation process of PoE cameras is straightforward. You can do it yourself where the IP cameras require an excellent electrician.
• The distance cannot jam the data transmission physically because it has higher transmission reliability. 
• You can connect the PoE cameras at a distance of 100 meters, which is ten times wider than the IP camera. PoE cameras provide a broader range to cover an entire apartment. 

Cons of PoE Cameras:

• To install a PoE camera, you have to create a hole in the wall. Which will nasty if you remove the camera afterward. 
• The PoE Cameras are so expensive compared to IP cameras. 

Pros of IP Camera

• You can operate the IP cameras remotely because it needs Wi-Fi to transmit the data. 
• Since the IP camera needs Wi-Fi to transmit data, there is no use for the cable. So, you won’t have to worry about maintaining the cables.
• The price is lower compared to PoE cameras. Because it has fewer tools to operate, so it is budget-friendly. 

Cons of IP Camera

• Since the IP camera uses Wi-Fi so it can hack, so it is not reliable for privacy.
• Suppose you install like eight cameras, then your internet speed or mobile network will be hampered because IP cameras are Wi-Fi jammer. 
• All the IP cameras have to be connected to the Wi-Fi. So, whenever the power goes down, your IP camera won’t work. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I Use PoE Cameras at Home?

Yes, you can use PoE cameras at home. You can connect the cameras to your router using a cat 5 or cat 6 ethernet cable. The distance should be 300 feet in length. So, from the PoE switch, you can connect the cameras up to 300 feet. 

Is PoE Better Than BNC?

Compared to BNC, PoE cameras are higher-end CCTV cameras for the office or home. However, both have some additional key features which make them unique. PoE cameras have a high-resolution camera better than BNC. So, PoE cameras can be the perfect solution for your security system. 

Can I Watch PoE Security Camera Footage on My Phone?

Yes. You can stream the camera footage on your phone. All you have to do is download the app that the company provides. Like Reolink has its app to stream. Go to the play store and search for Reolink. Then download the app and connect it to the camera. Then you can enjoy the stream through your phone even if you are outside the home. 

Can PoE Cameras Work Without the Internet?

Yes. These cameras can continue the functions even without the internet. When it gets disconnected from the internet, it records the footage to the hard drive. Then when it connects to the internet, it recovers the remaining data. When it gets disconnected from the internet, you won’t see the footage on your phone. But still, you can watch the footage through the HDMI or VGA cable on your monitor or tv. 

Does PoE Camera Slow the Internet?

It’s a little bit tough to answer. Because it depends on the environment, if you install more than eight cameras, their radio radiation can affect the network. For that, the Wi-Fi speed or mobile network can get distracted. Those cameras are like Wi-Fi jammers. It can jam the internet and slow down the speed. But if you install a few cameras, then you don’t have to worry about this.

Conclusion

Nothing is worth losing. Save yourself some heartaches and pressure from constant fear and worry about burglary—beef up your property’s security by getting any of the above PoE security cameras.

“Security is always excessive until it’s not enough”-Robbie Sinclair.