TECH Need help choosing a surveillance camera system for a bar and grill...

alchemike

alchemike

Veteran Member
I'm looking to purchase a camera system for a bar and grill I am part owner of.
Any timebombers use such things?

The building is rectangular shaped, about 30' x 100' with one entrance on the short side. I'll include a few photos for reference.

Basically, we want to be able to monitor the door, the cash register, which is toward the front end of the bar, and the back end of the bar where the pool tables and restrooms are. I'd like the system to be wireless and wifi connected, etc.
I've been researching but it is a rabbit hole. I need some TB2K advise.

Thanks in advance...

1710346630983.png
Here's the entrance...

1710346695923.png
Here's what it looks like from right inside the door looking back.

1710346741885.png
Here's looking back at the entrance from about the middle of the bar.
 
S

savurselvs

Veteran Member
I would wire it in cat 6/5e.
Power over Ethernet versus constant battery change.
There are kits but you get what you pay for in cameras clarity wise usually.
There are options for local drives, (storage)
Or cloud based, which will have annual fees.
I would prefer the local (in your building) drive or NVR/dvr.
Perhaps look at cnet for ratings?
I am not the camera expert, but the cable guy.
 
Griz3752

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
NOT a camera expert BUT we get a ton of offense-related video on local Memphis TV. Some are so poor, the perps (excuse me: persons of interest) could never be IDed. Some others are so good, there's no question. Pretty much resolution & lens-quality related I'm sure
 
O

Optimus Prime

Senior Member
SimpliSafe. Got 2 interior and 3 exterior cameras with 3 door alarms. Good video, 2 way communications through cameras. Total $450, took maybe 1.5 hours to mount and setup
 
Southside

Southside

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Always use wired & powered cameras, on site, with 30 day storage. Best cameras you can afford.
18 indoor and 6 outdoor cameras cost me 36K 4 years ago, incl computer system, storage drives and wiring.
 
ChetekTech

ChetekTech

Veteran Member
I use Blue Iris with 8 Amcrest POE cameras. Average i5 PC with decent performing HDD. I only record movement. However, I am not a business, I would up my game if I was.

Regardless of the NVR solution you buy, get cameras with the capability of memory storage cards to retain the last recordings. I have seen this feature alone get footage when high tech failed. Even if they damage the cameras and steal the NVR, you likely will still have footage of the event.

Good luck with your search.
 
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Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________
Hate to admit it but we've found Google Nest cameras to be the best camera as far as visuals go. Day or low light. Interior or exterior. Their no-wire is just as good as their wired. They are all wifi however so it requires you to have adequate signal strength, especially if you have a lot pulling from it already.
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
First, find out what quality video is required in your jurisdiction in order for it to be used for prosecution. I'm not joking. Family members that used to and still do security installs have seen where cases were lost because the video did not have a minimum quality level. I would think ot'd be a rare issue nowadays except I've seen what more than a few of those wireless cameras provide when it comes down to brass tacks.

Second, hardwire the cameras to the in house recorder. You can find a way to tap that through wifi. And you can arrange regular offsite backup.

These are big differences from home security setups. There are multiple reasons for that. If you want to add in a few less expensive wireless ones, go right ahead. I'll even tell you to give each of those wireless ones the largest SD card it can hold, for on-site storage, if they can take one. But make sure your base system does the above. It will be worlds of aggravating to have an incident and find the video unusable.
 
Jeff Allen

Jeff Allen

Producer
Unless you want to deal with endless IT issues....I'd recommend working with a local company. In my area, the local telecom's do a good job with wired cameras. What I've learned is that WHEN a camera goes out, or the software dumps ect.... You have to re-learn all the IT shit.... So, if you have the time and inclination to do the IT stuff yourself, you probably wouldn't be asking.... As a busy business owner I WISH I would have had my team do the wiring and then have the IT people install and set up the cameras. Instead I did all the cameras and its a PITA every 6 months or so when an issue crops up. I'd MUCH rather cut a check for $500 and move on. 4k cams, worth the money...shitty cams are worthless.
Best of luck, hope your restaurant kicks ass!

J
 
J

Johnny Twoguns

Senior Member
alchemike said:
I'm looking to purchase a camera system for a bar and grill I am part owner of.
Any timebombers use such things?

The building is rectangular shaped, about 30' x 100' with one entrance on the short side. I'll include a few photos for reference.

Basically, we want to be able to monitor the door, the cash register, which is toward the front end of the bar, and the back end of the bar where the pool tables and restrooms are. I'd like the system to be wireless and wifi connected, etc.
I've been researching but it is a rabbit hole. I need some TB2K advise.

Thanks in advance...

View attachment 465137
Here's the entrance...

View attachment 465138
Here's what it looks like from right inside the door looking back.

View attachment 465139
Here's looking back at the entrance from about the middle of the bar.
Click to expand...
Buy something high quality. Low quality sucks compared to a really nice camera.
 
Y

Yogizorch

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I was surprised by the quality of the Blink images. My brother bought a couple during the Amazon Black Friday sale. Easy to set up and use.
 
Z

Zardoz

Contributing Member
When dealing with the public in a public place, don't cut corners on security. Your Lawyers will appreciate it. 2cents.
 
mechanic 217

mechanic 217

I was told there would be cookies!
Just installed 5 cameras at my late mothers home, went with Lorex 2K wifi cameras ,they were on sale for 29.99 each, impressive picture quality, easy to use, however for my house and shop I will go with Lorex 4K wired to a dvr, someone here recommended this brand do not remember who but many thanks.
 
WFK

WFK

Senior Something
Whatever you are recording will need to be illuminated!
Setup will be critical. No camera can work good without "sufficient" light.
Make sure there is no direct light shining directly into the lens.
It will blind the camera for the image you really want.
You can see the potential problem on the second image that you enclosed.
 
Repairman-Jack

Repairman-Jack

Veteran Member
Wired system cat5e should be fine as cameras are 100mb, if going POE make sure wire is copper, not copper clad aluminum, personally I'd go cat6 just to have in place if needs or tech changes.

Big fan of BlueIris, you can find an 8th gen INTEL chip pc on ebay that will run the system with no issues.

Cameras, I like amcrest, dahua,hikvision.

Ceilings look high, don't slap camera up there and expect IDs from it, for good id they should be no more than 7, 8 at max feet up.
 
straightstreet

straightstreet

Life is better in flip flops
Are all surveillance cameras subscription based? We'd like one on the exterior of our home at the front and back doors.
 
rhughe13

rhughe13

Heart of Dixie
I also love my Blue Iris Software and phone app. My cameras are cheap d-link wifi and ring, but are mostly used for motion triggering outside the house. For facial Id I would recommend to put as much money in high def cameras as possible, or at least one good camera at the door. I can't recommend a particular camera.
 
Weps

Weps

Veteran Member
I recommend avoiding anything that utilizes WiFi or Cellular, not only can those easily be jammed or over-ridden, but they can be hacked very easily. Additionally, if WiFi or Cellular goes down, you're system is down.

I'd also avoid Ring, Nest, etc... they ALL provided law enforcement access to camera data without your consent and without a warrant;
Google’s Nest Will Provide Data to Police Without a Warrant
Google, like Amazon, may let police see your video without a warrant

Their system security and architecture is a joke;
Google Home Hub Shows ‘Random Nest Cam Footage’ On Family’s Device
Buyer Beware: Used Nest Cams Can Let People Spy on You

They sell the data they've collected through their devices;
Google Says It Doesn’t 'Sell' Your Data. Here’s How the Company Shares, Monetizes, and Exploits It.
What Does Amazon Do With Your Data?

They also feed the footage into databases that utilize it to teach facial recognition software;
Nest Cam IQ uses Google AI to make the smart home a bit smarter
 
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Repairman-Jack

Repairman-Jack

Veteran Member
Weps said:
I recommend avoiding anything that utilizes WiFi or Cellular, not only can those easily be jammed or over-ridden, but they can be hacked very easily. Additionally, if WiFi or Cellular goes down, you're system is down.

I'd also avoid Ring, Nest, etc... they ALL provided law enforcement access to camera data without your consent and with a warrant:

Google’s Nest Will Provide Data to Police Without a Warrant
Google, like Amazon, may let police see your video without a warrant
They also feed the footage into databases that utilize it fo teach facial recognition software.
Click to expand...
Along with the security concerns of wifi, depending on camera settings Wifi can also get congested
 
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