Recommendations for smartphone viewable security system?

Others here have similar priorities to me. Seems like a good place to begin the hunt.
I want to be able to view several security cameras from my smartphone. Both indoor cameras and outdoor cameras. Four cameras would be nice. More would be better. I could live with two.
12 volt is OK but 120 volt means less maintenance for me.
Budget: So far it looks like it could be done for less that $500.
Experience: I've tried a lot cameras. They work for awhile then ""something happens".
I want to be able to view several security cameras from my smartphone. Both indoor cameras and outdoor cameras. Four cameras would be nice. More would be better. I could live with two.
12 volt is OK but 120 volt means less maintenance for me.
Budget: So far it looks like it could be done for less that $500.
Experience: I've tried a lot cameras. They work for awhile then ""something happens".
First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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https://www.adafruit.com/product/3414
~$50ea, but not really a plug&play solution. For that, I'd likely use wired POE cameras.
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
I'm trying the Arlo Pro 2 which is both expensive and very commonly used. At this time I expect to return it. I want to know what is happening at the front gate and that is pretty tough with almost a fisheye lens (see's in 130 degree field of view) that needs to be somewhat close to the router.
Security cameras have both come a long way yet have a long way to go. I'm looking at a system on Amazon with a 4.9 star rating though only 25 ratings to date. The scary thing is reviewers keep saying that customer service spent hours with them and were able to "get things running". So how long will that company continue to do that? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PRJ3VLK/ref=ox_sc_mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2L77EE7U53NWQ
Arlo is a major company. Yet I feel that installation was a pain in the butt. Not to mention a false alarm seemingly every minute - that with only camera installed. I yanked the other two trouble makers. Going to maybe give it a week or so.
This is a DIY module for rPi, but I imagine there are commercial versions out there.
https://www.adafruit.com/product/4074
With a Pi, you could use other triggers (ir beam break, magnetic contacts, etc.).
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
Most all of the camera systems are cloud based.
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Cloud based? Necessary to prevent thieves from simply stealing the DVR hard drive with the data. Also for quick security alerts I would think.
Using security cameras is even worse than I thought though. For nighttime functionality, one needs to leave on both their router, their smartphone, and the security systems ethernet enabled "control box". So the user is virtually swimming in WiFi type signals from three sources - all night long. Many people seem to have night time sensitivity to those wavelengths.
The power consumed by 24/7 router power and "control box" and cameras doesn't seem too bad - based on a sample of exactly one night.
This security system would seem to be a failed system for me and there are a lot of reasons for that. The lag - a minute or two is just ridiculous - for one thing. Many other problems have presented. This system would be pretty good for a city house with great internet functionality. Though it lacks time stamps which help the police though the police are often disinterested in crimes of less than $500,000 or more. A detective told me that by the way. One more reason to have 1080p cameras - helps with face recognotion - might be someone you know.
I need one camera with 100' nighttime infrared capabilities to focus on the front gate and sound an alarm when something larger than a 70 pound dog hangs around. That is difficult because cameras judge size partially based on proximity to camera. An adjacent moth can trigger an ADT motion sensor, for example, that is supposed to ignore objects less than 70 pounds. A fly triggered a camera yesterday - the buzz was pretty loud due to proximity to the camera.
Guard dogs can be useful until a neighbor corrupts them with a lot of steaks. Then they think strangers will be steak bearing. I may be inclined to view a steak bearing neighbor as a very possible crime in progress. I've replaced almost a dozen tires and windows that were vandalized. Losers are weird - the worst one got evicted by the county thankfully. My neighbors best friend - until he got evicted. Neighbors - they can be tough to live with both rural and urban.
UPS and FedEx climb all over my fence getting packages into the large package box. Seems that literally everything presents a lot of pros and cons.
Now my county has presented as corrupt. They packaged four of my 2014 matured tax liens and sold to one buyer. Considering a lawyer for that. My realtor doesn't think the county would turn on me - I'm not sure of that. Now I will do tax liens with another county - they pay 12%. Very good in this economy.
"Depends on your priorities. There are pros and cons to wired vs wireless for example. Wide angle lenses vs. 50mm vs zoom. DVR vs cloud. Motion activated vs 24/7 everything. 1080p vs 720p - 1080p has twice the data and your internet may not accomodate that much data proficiently.
Security systems have both come a long way yet have a long way to go. It is rare to find a well established security system with strong ratings - over 4.2 stars at Amazon for example. Some small companies have high ratings then you find they often spend hours helping new customers get set up. How long will that last? Will they stay in business?
Plus electronics fail over time. I spent a week-end installing a wired six camera system. A couple years later - only one camera still worked. DVRs can be stolen. Power can be cut to cloud systems. There are literally pros and cons to everything in security systems.
Motion activated gives a ton of false alarms related to squirrels, bugs, dogs, wind moving tree limbs etc., weather luminosity and electrical gremlins.
People bash ADT but it works and has battery back-up and the police really do respond. Criminals like to avoid battery back up and police. The costs certainly add up though. Motion sensors with any system? They can be problematic for a few reasons.
Right now I tend to view it all as a toss up for many consumers. There are many solid, affordable steps that most can take to reduce property crime. Having footage isn't necessarily going to solve a crime. Especially if it is not date stamped and at 1080p - for facial recognition - if lucky.
Good luck. Installing many security systems can be a real pain in the butt. Even with the largest players."
I was more concerned with my power system that runs cooling sunrise to sunset. I have the cam positioned so I can zoom in and read XW power out, zoom in to see the grundfos at idle, zoom and see the solar water heater is not leaking. I keep a light on but if it burns out the IR function will work fine. It will trigger an alert if my neighbor who has a key walks in the area after my whiskey I suspect
The hard part was finding a camera that would work with point 8 MBS upload speed from my rural ISP. I tried 4 and finnaly used the YI cam. It has been working fine for 4 months now. Nice peace of mind on 3 trips this summer for $30.
I can look at the power system vitals also but both Outback and Schneider can be placed in a safe state to protect from hacking and could even be completely shut off from the outside. I need this as I monitor both Outback and Schneider clients.
The access code below is random generated and has to be entered in 10 minutes. It also times out automatically and can be cancelled.
FYI there is a game cam at the gate that neighbor 1 monitors. For wifi a game cam is going to probably have the longest range. He thinks so when he tested them a few years back.
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Just an idea. I don't know your climate or house particulars.
Cut my firewood to a third with the reverse heat function.
Watching a home near Nassau right now with the equivalent of an EF3 for 12 hours. Bodies floating by. Crossing my fingers for them.
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Since adding insulation, A/C isn't needed here much in summer. Shoulder season heat might make it more worthwhile though.
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
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I'm thinking of spring/fall seasons, when temps are cool enough to need some heat (eg. highs in low 40s °f, lows in low 30s). If you can get decent heat down to 0°f, it might work well for this.
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
I just heard one of our pubic officials say we need to build up our Timber industry so we can buy construction wood from California instead of Canada. He said the indians knew how to manage the forest.
I would not worry Estragon, there are too many here who cringe at those thoughts.
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If I had the chronic wildfire problems of California, I would consider options other than "natural". There are few things that frighten me. Fire is one of them.
Going to try eight wired cameras this time around. Just seeing plentiful cameras will make some steer away. Got some ideas that should work.
Side note - Years ago I installed a dummy camera within eyesight of my neighbor (whom I have often complained about). Two things happened quickly:
1) A hatchet was used to penetrate the steel siding very close to the camera.
2) The concrete was stratched up while still wet.
He clearly knew it was a dummy camera.
He can't get my newest and best guard dog to come to the fence for steaks though. He accidentally told me that.
Latest drama with the gate that I seek to film? One dog stuck its head out last night and lost its collar while pulling its head back in. Seems it had a real confrontation at the gate.
Running a Fujitsu mini-split at 4x efficiency of resistive heating in ~ 0C is interesting.
Back to the security thing, would it make any sense to consider non-camera sensors (glass-break, IR beam-break, magnetic contact break etc)?
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
https://www.sunshinerenewables.ca/how-does-the-outdoor-temperature-affect-the-performance-of-my-heat-pump/
I am really impressed!
-Bill
"When we do stupid things to them, they fight back." Indian philosophy?
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
His book Torching Conventional Forestry and the Artful Application of Science is mind numbing on how poorly we have run lumber in this state.
Full of "common sense" The Indians would torch Yosemite Valley every fall when they would leave to hunt at the lower and warmer elevations.
Bill, the mini heat pump impressed me in 2007 and still does with these newer models. Would love to see them in the window price range for the masses.
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