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Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

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Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#101

Post by Kirby64 »

entrepy123 wrote: post #78
Jeslijar wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty sure hikvision is suspected to have spyware in it. UK has banned it from government sites afaik. China of course denies. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-65307503 It is known to have major vulnerabilities https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-80-000-e...

Yeah, I was going to suggest Hikvision as being a possible/standard good fit for the OP's inquiry (cameras specifically for LAN use "offline" (not connected to public internet). Straight-up Hikvision would be lower cost than US-based rebranders. However, I checked Wikipedia first and saw "In November 2022, the FCC banned sales or import of equipment made by Hikvision". So, Hikvision seems to not be a great answer in…

Not sure this is actually impacting anything here... I've purchased more hikvision cameras and nvrs this year with no apparent issue. They sure seem to be available at usual pricing.

As long as you take a pretty hard stance to wall off the Hikvision stuff from the outside internet, it seems fairly harmless. Obviously this requires setting up your internet to manage that, but that's not impossible.

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#102

Post by somerandomqaguy »

idbehold wrote: post #98
EvanAnderson wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fun story re: the term "explosion-proof": I was given a tour of an industrial facility where conditions required explosion-proof equipment. The tour guide made a point of calling out the explosion-proof motors in one of the rooms. One of the other tour group members asked the question "Why would it matter if these motors survived an explosion?" I visualized the facility exploding in a fiery blaze and a motor, fully i…

> Explosion-proof means that it won't cause an explosion Wait, what? The implication is that their other cameras regularly cause explosions?

The term is Intrinsically Safe. It's for equipment that is guaranteed won't be an ignition source, specifically intended for things intended to be operating in confined areas where there's a danger that combustible gases can build up.

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#103

Post by Kirby64 »

pcdoodle wrote: post #29

IP cams are an interesting animal. On one side, very versatile but on the other side a huge waist: Most IP cameras use 3W just creating a RTSP stream. add another 5W for IR LEDs that come on in the evening. If i was shopping, i'd look for sensors with very high sensitivity that don't need 5W of IR to get good night images. I have a few where i've physically disconnected the IR array and the shutter will adapt and sti…

Broadly, cameras designed to be used with IR are going to look like trash if you can adjust the shutter to work in dark conditions.

Smearing is bad. If you want to identify anything, it's worthless. If the goal is to just see if anything is there, then almost any camera works... But that's not useful for much.

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#104

Post by woofcat »

idbehold wrote: post #98
EvanAnderson wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fun story re: the term "explosion-proof": I was given a tour of an industrial facility where conditions required explosion-proof equipment. The tour guide made a point of calling out the explosion-proof motors in one of the rooms. One of the other tour group members asked the question "Why would it matter if these motors survived an explosion?" I visualized the facility exploding in a fiery blaze and a motor, fully i…

> Explosion-proof means that it won't cause an explosion Wait, what? The implication is that their other cameras regularly cause explosions?

It has been certified that it can/shouldn't produce any sparks or arcs in the event that it's in a gas filled room.

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#105

Post by jhot »

kowbell wrote: post #39

I recently bought two Amcrest cameras (4k[1] and 1080p[2]) and did not need to download an app or make an account to set them up. Both just plugged in to a PoE cable and I was able to access them individually on my WAN by typing in their IPs as well as use them on NVR software. 1: https://a.co/d/8k1BWBY 2: https://a.co/d/4a0xnPP

I use Amcrest cameras with external routing blocked. Integrate nicely over RTSP with my favorite apps and Home Assistant.

For Wifi ones, like my doorbell camera, I had to use their app to connect them to Wifi but subsequently block their internet access with no issues. I can still react to events and control settings using Home Assistant and the Dahua HACS plugin.

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#106

Post by Wistar »

c00lio wrote: post #66

Had great experience with Mobotix cameras in internal non-internet-connected networks. There are also models that can write on SD-Cards and such. But I didn't really shop around and compare, don't know how that supplier was picked.

At our business, we have four Mobotix M16 dual sensor (day/night) cameras, and all here who deal with them rave about them.

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#108

Post by Animats »

kayfox wrote: post #70
EvanAnderson wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fun story re: the term "explosion-proof": I was given a tour of an industrial facility where conditions required explosion-proof equipment. The tour guide made a point of calling out the explosion-proof motors in one of the rooms. One of the other tour group members asked the question "Why would it matter if these motors survived an explosion?" I visualized the facility exploding in a fiery blaze and a motor, fully i…

> "Explosion-proof means that it won't cause an explosion." Another industry term for this is Intrinsically Safe.

They're not the same. Intrinsically Safe means it has too little energy in it to cause ignition. Explosion-proof can be achieved either by intrinsic safety or an enclosure capable of containing the worst that can happen inside it.[1]

[1] https://blog.pruftechnik.com/intrinsically-safe-vs-explosion...

Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?

#110

Post by cameron_b »

I want to add a term that I haven't seen in this discussion so far. IP cameras can interoperate with Open Standard NVR systems using ONVIF. [0]

ONVIF cameras, or cameras that support ONVIF are capable of communicating settings and streaming video to recording servers without intermediaries. RTSP or MJPEG are available as media layers ( not the only ones, but ones called out so far in the conversation as desirable for viewing and recording), but the ONVIF configuration makes this easier.

Looking for ONVIF cameras will help you find cameras that might not NEED the app for full functionality use even though, like Reolink, they may offer one. The NVR is the appropriate "glue" for those app functions.

Examples of ONVIF NVRs are not rare, but self-hostable, and free to try or use at some scale are hard to find. These are often the Big Boys. Milestone XProtect, Senstar [ Aimetis] Symphony, but also more DIY options like iSpy, Blueiris, and things in the middle, like Orchid from IPConfigure [1] that you can run on a Raspberry Pi at a small scale, or a Hybrid Cloud setup for enterprise use.

[0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ONVIF [1] - https://www.ipconfigure.com/

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