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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?

#31

Post by Jiocus »

Just because there's an app available doesn't necessarily mean it's required. It might be that other solutions just haven't been typed out in their docs.

I've recently worked with some of D-Links consumer IP cameras, DCS-8302LH and DCS-8000LHV2. They offer an app and optionally cloud storage but they ship with ONVIF support. No web interface afaik, but what I found was that I just needed to start interacting through ONVIF to get going with a local-only setup (this would automatically disconnect the camera from the app as well).

These cameras are some of the cheapest available, but they have been solid.

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

#32

Post by vermilingua »

kunwon1 wrote: post #6

I have worked professionally with access control and surveillance. I can give you two manufacturer recommendations: Axis and Geovision. Axis cameras are high end and expensive, but they will, in my experience, do anything an IP camera could reasonably be expected to do, and they will do it well. They are European in origin and are available from various retail outlets to ship this week. Geovision cameras are low end…

To add to this: search the catalog of whatever access control / electronic security wholesaler is local to your country. Almost all stock IP CCTV cameras and peripherals, and it's an easy way to get an idea of what manufacturers produce the cameras you need. Panasonic and Hikvision cameras are also quite good for a more reasonable price than Axis, but I'd agree with the above poster that they are the gold standard in IP CCTV.

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

#33

Post by ezfe »

scosman wrote: post #27

Not exactly the ask, but a user friendly alternative is HomeKit cameras with a HomePod mini as a hub for local processing. Some can be paired without any app, and once paired you can block internet access at the router level. You can access them through the local network. If you trust apples e2e encryption you can access remotely through the homepod.

I was going to say the same. My Logitech Circle has no app, even if I wanted one. All setup is in the Home app and it works even if my home WiFi is not connected to the wider internet.

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

#34

Post by idatum »

hello_computer wrote: post #7

I bought a couple Amcrests just a week ago, and they still operate identically to ones I purchased back in 2017. They have apparently been re-branding Dahua's software, since the HTTP APIs are identical, and there are still lots of "Dauha" strings in the configs[0]. I think a lot of the problems with IP cams aren't with the cameras themselves, but the poor state of open-source media players. Getting mplayer, ffplay,…

I recommend explicitly blocking internet access for Amcrest devices. I configured my camera with a static IP and blocked it in my PF rules with logging, and my camera model was making 1000s (16k in 24 hours) of DNS requests for config.amcrestcloud.com. I don't use any of their cloud services.

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

#35

Post by bradfitz »

kunwon1 wrote: post #6

I have worked professionally with access control and surveillance. I can give you two manufacturer recommendations: Axis and Geovision. Axis cameras are high end and expensive, but they will, in my experience, do anything an IP camera could reasonably be expected to do, and they will do it well. They are European in origin and are available from various retail outlets to ship this week. Geovision cameras are low end…

Another recommendation for Axis here. I've used dozens of them for almost 20 years now and they've been rock solid, technically and support-wise.

But they're expensive. They do have cheaper models nowadays, though. In addition to explosion-proof ones: https://www.axis.com/en-us/products/explosion-protected-came...

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

#36

Post by ramesh31 »

perrylaj wrote: post #26
ramesh31 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is happening with routers, too. Just recently had someone give me a new Netgear Nighthawk for free, and I was stoked until it wanted me to download an app and create an account to manage my network. Straight to the garbage.

Decent consumer hardware, in the future I'd suggest trying out something like OpenWRT rather than binning it. https://openwrt.org/toh/netgear/r7000

Yeah I didn't realize they could be flashed with OpenWRT. Might give that shot.

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

#37

Post by kova12 »

akerl_ wrote: post #28
kunwon1 wrote: post #6

I have worked professionally with access control and surveillance. I can give you two manufacturer recommendations: Axis and Geovision. Axis cameras are high end and expensive, but they will, in my experience, do anything an IP camera could reasonably be expected to do, and they will do it well. They are European in origin and are available from various retail outlets to ship this week. Geovision cameras are low end…

I can second this. I have several Axis M1065-LW cameras inside (running on wall plugs and wifi) and several Axis P1447-LE externally (running on PoE). Would recommend both of them. Notably, I had one exterior camera fail (wouldn’t run off PoE), and the Axis support/RMA process was smooth and fast.

P1447-LE is sold for over $500 used. What is it that's inside of that camera, which makes it so pricey?!

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

#38

Post by leesalminen »

fullstop wrote: post #30

Take a look at https://openipc.org/ and choose a camera from their supported list.

I’m in a similar situation to OP and recently came across this project. Their supported hardware lists compatible SoCs, not actual make/models of cameras. I’ve found it fairly hard to map an SoC to a camera. Anyone have any suggestions?

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

#39

Post by kowbell »

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

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

#40

Post by qbasic_forever »

I don't know if it's supported anymore but some Wyze cameras have an official but unsupported alternative firmware you can flash that exposes them as a local network video stream. They work great and anything on your network can ingest the video. I don't think they made this firmware for their fancier cameras that have motorized pan/tilt etc though.
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