What do we like for basic PTZ cameras?
I have 4 Foscam R2s in service and the most important one stopped connecting. I've tried a bunch of stuff and I think I'm done with it. I know Ben's never been big on Foscam.
What do we like for fairly basic PTZ cameras at the moment? It's going to be at the top of a window looking outside, basically hanging upside-down.
Comments
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I would recommend Amcrest or Dahua Technology - both have a good range of PTZ cameras, from small and basic to large and advanced. Both are reliable brands that work very well with SecuritySpy.
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Appreciate the response. I took a look at those but ultimately decided to push the button on another SV3C. It'll be my 3rd.... I like that they're easy to pull up in browser, and have had no trouble connecting to Security Spy. Plus their support has been good except for the times Zhenzen has been on complete Covid lockdown.
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Sounds good. We have also found SV3C to be a reliable low-cost brand, and they do seem to have a good range of PTZ cameras.
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Any tips for getting rid of the demo label? I should be able to have 4 cameras in active mode.
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Haven't used Amcrest, but have several Dahuas (PTZs and Bullet) used for several years now. The Dahua's seem fairly reliable in hardware and software
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Do the Dahaus have an easy to log into web interface? One of the things I really like about SV3C is how easy it is to get into them from any browser. Was an absolute nightmare with my Foscams.
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The Dahuas have a pretty good web interface, just go to the cameras iP address (local) and that will open the interface. Works well for me with either Firefox or Safari. Hikvisions work that way too, but not as well IMHO.
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I have purchased an Amcrest IP8M-2899EW-AI-V2 PTZ and it doesn't come up in the camera list at all. Contacted Amcrest and they said to purchase their NVR. Also purchased other Amcrest cameras and some work and some are intermittent. Any help would be appreciated.
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I have almost all Amcrest devices and all work perfectly and some have been going for many years. I simply choose the Amcrest profile and RTSP. The only Amcrest camera I've had issues with is one of the smaller "baby monitor" cameras. They do not have a web page to access the camera. I did get it working by using the Amcrest app on the iPhone. Amcrest also makes an app to scan and find all Amcrest cameras. Search for Amcrest IP Config. It's available for Mac and PC. A time or two I've even reverted to using a Windows computer to find an Amcrest camera, but once I did, all worked fine.
This app can really help in finding Amcrest cameras and their IP address. Years ago I set up each one with a seperate port to just avoid any issues and they have been working for many years-- 5 to 10 or a couple probably longer.
I truly find Amcrest to be one of the most reliable basic cameras to use with SecuritySpy. But, I've not tried the model you list above. Post back any, hopefully, good luck you have. The above app should help.
A couple of the cameras it seems were a little problematic so I plugged the same port number into the HTTP and RTSP box and it worked. I probably had the wrong box the first time and that fixed it.
But, as Ben said, the Amcrest cameras are extremely reliable, and have been here. I have 12, or more, at times cameras here and all but one is an Amcrest and four in a remote location that are Amcrest. I have at times when Amcrest has a sale on Amazon bought some extra in case one goes out, but so far non have.
Marty
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Amcrest do have some lines ("SmartHome" and "Link" models) that specifically only work with their apps/NVRs, however, the vast majority of Amcrest cameras support open protocols (RTSP and ONVIF) that allow them to be used with SecuritySpy. We haven't ourselves tested this specific model. As @Marty mentions, some kind of helper app to locate the camera would be the way to go here - either their own tools, or our Network Device Finder app.
Once you locate the camera's IP address, connect to it using a web browser to adjust its settings. Turn on ONVIF if it has an option for this (this should enable auto-discovery in SecuritySpy). Or, give it a fixed IP address on your network (either in the camera's settings, or in your router via a DHCP reservation), and then set the camera up in SecuritySpy with this IP address and the Amcrest profile.
Any issues, email us and we will assist you directly.
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Thanks for the info. I was able to see it with the Amcrest IP Config app on the Mac. Got it on to my SS but now when you go to open in browser to change settings it just opens to the cam and the video window spins and you can't click on anything. It then defaults back to sign in. Do I need a plug in or change settings or use Chrome, yuck.
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Can you say more about how it's connected to your mac?
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To give this discussion a little follow up, I did choose an Amcrest:
It's been trouble free and at this point I'll probably choose an Amcrest for any additional camera needs, relegating SV3C to my long list of failed relationships.
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Had to use Firefox to be able to change the settings. They don't support Safari anymore or vice versa.
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Glad you've got it figured out. I've never used Safari but there was a time when I had to to control my awful Foscams.
