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Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?
71–80 of 204 posts
Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?
#72This is a very disturbing trend for sure. Given that these new cameras that need accounts sure aren’t showing ads on the feeds either, meanwhile an account being required must be important to the manufacturers in some way. I can only conclude that they must be selling access to feeds, because even the most incompetent agile product delivery manager type person isn’t going to simply suggest every camera needs an accou…
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.
Effing Xfinity cable modem wants an app for a couple of things including service activation and such, via bluetooth access. I don't think there's a way around that.
Once that is done you can use the browser for a few things, but for WiFi password and all I think app is still needed. Couldn't find a way to do it other way.
Worst thing is that this stupid Xfinity app eats phone battery like crazy. So I had to disable background activity and bluetooth permissions once I was done with the activation and initial setup.
Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?
#73A little off topic, i don´t know your use case, but you can use an old phone as webcam, they will be better in quality than any IP camera.
A little example using my old galaxy s11. ( its connected to a pc using usb, airplane mode, no internet )
Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?
#74Dahua and Hikvision are the largest manufactures, with most companies rebranding them. Even if you don't use Synology, this is a handy list. https://www.synology.com/en-us/compatibility/camera
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...
IP cameras in general are little, proprietary computers that you shouldn't trust with internet access. Put them on an isolated network and access them through a more trusted(FOSS) NVR.
Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?
#75I buy very cheap PoE cameras that are direct from China, and block the living daylights out of them at the firewalls so they can't leak to the internet.
Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?
#76Earlier quoted context omitted.
Rather than play whack-a-mole with filters, it's simpler to put mystery-meat devices on a separate VLAN+subnet that doesn't route. Firewall will keep the camera from accessing the internet, but does nothing to protect other hosts on the LAN. The cloud thing can be disabled from their web UI or the HTTP API, but between all of the knock-offs out there (of any brand), and the eventual end of firmware updates, it's best…
Absolutely agree a VLAN is the better solution to block an entire network, and I do use one in my case (protecting my other VLANs). But I still need to explicitly block Amcrest cam because I also have an RPI on that VLAN doing image processing, which uploads to an external site; hence I can't block the entire VLAN.
A stateful firewall would allow your RPI to access the camera vlan/subnet while still blocking any outgoing connections from the cameras.
I use a Debian Linux router with nftables to achieve this in my homelab.
Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?
#77UniFi Protect cameras can all be set up in standalone mode by visiting the camera's IP address in a web browser — they will obtain an address from DHCP by default. From there you can set up the RTSP streams which become accessible from the camera IP directly. You do not need to use a UniFi Protect app or console in this configuration.
Not anymore with their latest models. You are required to have a Protect NVR and account before they’ll let you use standalone mode, and, apparently some new models disable it entirely. Check out the UniFi subreddit for details. Very disappointed, as that was my go to brand for standalone IP cameras.
I knew they stopped distributing the video server software (forcing a hardware purchase) but I didn't know they required an account now.
It's just impossible for a business not to screw customers, isn't it?
Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?
#78Dahua and Hikvision are the largest manufactures, with most companies rebranding them. Even if you don't use Synology, this is a handy list. https://www.synology.com/en-us/compatibility/camera
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 2023 after all (an apparent 100% shift from just several years ago). I wonder about the current status of the ban, and what the rebranders and their distributors are doing; a cursory look at web material still shows Hikvision-derived products AFAICT (though I haven't checked in much depth).
As for management software; a dedicated NVR appliance is most convenient IMO in terms of hands-off just-works, but if one wanted to put more time and resources into it, Blue Iris looked interesting the last time I looked several years ago; again, I wonder how that landscape may have updated since then.
Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?
#79Earlier quoted context omitted.
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...
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…
I don't think it's a silly question, my first thought about explosion proof would also be able to survive some level of explosion.
Especially for cameras in potentially hazardous or critical areas, being able to capture details of their final moments could be important (obviously great to have cameras which [also] don't cause explosions in the first place).
I can also think of many situations in which you would want motors which are rated to survive for some time through an explosion, for example something which is powering a fire sprinkler or ventilation system to give people time to escape. The military has "battle switches" on lots of equipment for this reason, better to remove safeties and destroy the equipment than have the equipment protect itself and stop working in a critical situation, potentially costing a soldier their life.
Re: Ask HN: IP cameras that don't require an app or internet?
#80Earlier 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.
Effing Xfinity cable modem wants an app for a couple of things including service activation and such, via bluetooth access. I don't think there's a way around that. Once that is done you can use the browser for a few things, but for WiFi password and all I think app is still needed. Couldn't find a way to do it other way. Worst thing is that this stupid Xfinity app eats phone battery like crazy. So I had to disable b…
The way around that is to use your own cable modem. It's also way cheaper to buy than pay the monthly rental fee.