Security cameras

Here are the four brands you will see most, in plain words.

Security cameras: the four brands you will see most

A security camera watches part of your home and shows you the video on your phone. You can see who is at the front door, check the driveway, or look in on things while you are away. There are two main kinds: wired and wireless.

Wired

Each camera connects with a cable that runs back to a recorder box in your home. The box records day and night and keeps your video inside your house. No monthly fee. Running the cables is the hard part — that is installation work.

Wireless

Cameras connect over your home Wi-Fi instead of cables. Many run on batteries, so you can put one up in a few minutes with no wiring. You watch everything on your phone. Most brands charge a monthly plan to save your video clips.

Wired systems: Lorex

Lorex is the wired brand we see most. You buy a set — several cameras plus the recorder box — and it covers the whole house.

Lorex wired security system: eight white outdoor cameras above a black Lorex recorder box

Lorex

Wired · records around the clock · no monthly fee

How it worksCameras connect with cables to a recorder box in your home. It records day and night, even if your internet goes out.
Your video stays homeRecordings are saved on the box in your house, not on the internet. You can still watch live or recorded video on your phone when you are away.
Good to knowSomeone has to run cables through the attic or along walls to each camera. That is the main reason people call a professional.

Wireless cameras: Arlo, Blink, and Ring

These three run over Wi-Fi and are the wireless brands we see most. They are easy to put up yourself — but read the monthly-fee note under each one.

Arlo wireless security camera: a small white rounded camera

Arlo

Wireless · rechargeable battery · sharp video

How it worksThe camera runs on a rechargeable battery and connects to your Wi-Fi. You get a phone alert with a short video clip when it sees motion.
Monthly feeTo keep your video clips longer than a few days, Arlo sells a monthly plan. Without it, old clips disappear quickly.
Blink wireless security camera next to its small white sync module

Blink

Wireless · very long battery life · budget friendly

How it worksBlink is owned by Amazon. The small cameras run on batteries that can last a very long time, and a little hub box connects them to your Wi-Fi.
Monthly feeBlink sells a monthly plan for saving clips online. Without the plan, you can plug a USB stick into the hub to save clips at home instead.
Ring video doorbell mounted beside a front door

Ring

Wireless · video doorbells · talk to visitors

How it worksRing is owned by Amazon and is best known for the video doorbell: when someone rings, you see them on your phone and can talk to them through it.
Monthly feeRing sells a monthly plan that saves your videos so you can watch them later. Without it, you can only watch live.

What to think about before you buy

  • Wired or wireless? Wired (Lorex) records all the time with no monthly fee, but needs cables installed. Wireless is easy to put up but usually needs a monthly plan to keep your clips.
  • Where do you want to see? Front door, driveway, and back door cover most homes. Walk around your house and count the spots that matter to you.
  • Night vision. Every brand above sees in the dark. Check how far — a long driveway needs more range than a front porch.
  • Phone alerts. All four can send your phone a message when they see motion. Too many alerts gets annoying, so you can turn down the sensitivity.

Want help choosing the right one?

Call Straight 2 Work Tech Solutions for patient help choosing or setting up security cameras.

(813) 770-6082
Call Sean — (813) 770-6082