Advice on security system for my shop.

Hey guys,

I'm just starting to research security cameras for my shop. Looking for advice on those that have one.

I'm not sure if wireless or hard wired is the way to go? I don't have any internet or cable at my shop.

I'm also thinking about having a professional come and check it out. They can probably point me in the right direction.

Just trying to figure out the best system to take care of my cars and tools.

I only have 3 windows. Two are on the south side and the other one is next to the service door.

Any pictures and what system you guys are using would help.

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I would call a professional to get a quote so you know what your dealing with on installation charge, alarm features ( glass breakage, movement, break in) and monthly monitoring cost. A company such as ADT would be good for this.

Another route is Brinks Home Security (formerly Protect America ). This is a do it yourself install with monthly monitoring. The install procedure is straight forward. For this, you will need wifi (internet) for communications, alarm setup and confirmation.

I have both of these. ADT for home. Brinks for the business. Both are user friendly. ADT is competitive on home installs and will usually want a contract. Brinks sells the equipment to you and may require a contract.


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I would also seek professional quote. Not going to be cheap tho. If you had internet the ring is a really good cheap tool.

Yea, without internet, your options are limited depending on your budget.
Hardwire is the best for long term. I have ring wireless spotlights at my house cause I'm too lazy to route wires between the 1st/2nd floor. and I have to charge the batteries every 3-4 weeks.
Ring and Arlo can be finicky at times for wanting strong wireless service or they can get laggy or not properly send you notifications on movement for example.

Right now I have 2 Ring spotlights up front, and then arlo pro2 on the sides and rear. Arlos were a older system from my last house.

I prefer the Ring cameras over the Arlo2, but Arlo 2's have free 7 day cloud storage. 3's and 4's you have to pay a monthly fee.

I have the Ring floodlights at my house. They connect via wifi but are hardwired to 110 like a normal floodlight. Good option if you don't have Cat5/6 ran and don't want to.

If you can hardwire Cat5/6, I like the Ubiquiti line of products

I have Lorex security cameras from Costco and like them. Had Amcrest at my old house and liked them too. My big factor was alerts and playback on the app but since you don’t have internet there’s no need to worry about that. Since you can’t receive motion alerts make sure you get something with at least 2TB hard drive so it will keep several days of recordings before looping back over it. Both Swann and Lorex have motion lights built into the cameras as well as motion alarms that can be configured to only work during specified days and time periods. Make sure you get at least 4K resolution.

Wired is the way to go. My parents neighbor had their wireless cameras jammed while their truck was stolen. You can get either PoE or BNC cables, I didn’t see much of a difference in the two for my use.

My advice is create multiple layers of defense.

1. Start with physical security. Bar the windows and ensure the the door locks and frame are sturdy.

2. Get an alarm system for doors, windows, motion sensors and breaking glass sensors that calls law enforcement.

3. Get a camera system that records inside and outside of the shop and has a camera on anything you consider valuable. It should send the video to internet storage and allow you to view video in your phone. My camera systems are separate from my alarm system to avoid single point of failure attacks.

4. Secure valuable items in a safe.

5. Have theft insurance that covers everything in the shop with a deductible you can live with.

I had a pro do my security system many years ago and its a hardwired system. I have alarm sensors down low on all doors and windows(top and bottom sashes). Have motions sensors on both house levels including one in the garage. Glass break sensors in 4 locations to cover window and door glass break ins. Also a built in smoke and fire detection system that along with the security system is monitored 24/7 and very inexpensive at $150 a year. I cook most every day and sometimes I will trip the smoke alarm off which keeps the monitor station on their toes. They have always called within 3 minutes of the alarm going off.

After having this security system for so many years it would be hard to be without one and my next home being built this year will have one also. My system has pretty much been problem free but the sensors when they get old and being used on doors or windows that open/close frequently wear out with age and have replaced a few with new ones. I never go away on vacation or sleep at night without having that piece of mind that I am protected 24/7 and people are always watching.

I have tried installing cameras recently but they were cheap Arlo's and was not very happy with them. My new house will have a better camera system.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'll definitely do some research and look for a professional security installer. I guess I can possibly add internet.

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What ever you spend will be cheep insurance spread out over the years. Peace of mind is hard to put a price on.
One thing I will say is spend money on the cameras. They are worthless if you can't make out a face in the dark.

oldstv said:

What ever you spend will be cheep insurance spread out over the years. Peace of mind is hard to put a price on.
One thing I will say is spend money on the cameras. They are worthless if you can't make out a face in the dark.

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I can't agree more. I'll definitely look into high quality 4k resolution cameras.

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If you wind up with an NVR with great cameras, you wont last a week with out an ISP (internet service provider). You will want to see the cameras on your phone.

If you simply plan on an ISP, you then can consider the cloud based options as well (Ring etc).

specracer said:

If you wind up with an NVR with great cameras, you wont last a week with out an ISP (internet service provider). You will want to see the cameras on your phone.

If you simply plan on an ISP, you then can consider the cloud based options as well (Ring etc).

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It would be very nice to monitor it on my phone. Not sure how hard internet install would be? Then I could have my laptop there as well.

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You definitely want internet there.

I run an NVR at my dealership. I have all of the cameras streamed to my phone. Supports 1 week of 4k playback in 32 cameras and then dumps.

13COBRA said:

You definitely want internet there.

I run an NVR at my dealership. I have all of the cameras streamed to my phone. Supports 1 week of 4k playback in 32 cameras and then dumps.

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Awesome! I imagine I'd only need 2-3 cameras. Thanks for the info.

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Don't forget about bright exterior lighting. I recommend the brightest LED floodlights you can get. The one I have on my garage lights up my driveway on motion super bring. I want to add the same one on my rear deck. Exterior cameras won't be much good if you don't have bright lighting. You need good lighting for high quality, detailed video. For a commercial building, dusk to dawn lighting will deter thieves and provide good video if it's needed. Motion detection fixtures are an option but will not help as much to deter thieves in the first place.

Another thing to note. An actual in-business hard drive NVR is preferred over a Cloud-based system for ease of checking footage of a past event. I have a Ring system and like it a lot, but it is laborious to try to find an event on past footage. With my old commercial wired setup, it was much easier. But, for a system where you primarily want to use your phone to monitor your business security, with motion/security alerts, a system like Ring is great.

Along with floods (motion or not) I’d get a big strobe and siren mounted.
How many videos have we seen of peoples shit getting boosted.
I don’t care about videoing them, want to deter or stop them.

Call your local "cable TV" company (here its Comcast or Verizon), and making the assumption you have service on your street, its as simple as stringing a wire from the pole to your structure. Happens all the time.

Side note, with an antenna and an ISP, you will never need "Cable TV", as you can get anything you want, streamed, or terrestrially.

Bdubbs said:

Not sure how hard internet install would be?

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specracer said:

Call your local "cable TV" company (here its Comcast or Verizon), and making the assumption you have service on your street, its as simple as stringing a wire from the pole to your structure. Happens all the time.

Side note, with an antenna and an ISP, you will never need "Cable TV", as you can get anything you want, streamed, or terrestrially.

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I have Comcast. Can't I just go wireless?

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Not quite following your comment. To have WiFi you must 1st have a service to the building (fed from the pole). If you already have Comcast to the building, you will now need their modem / router that will have WiFi built in.

Bdubbs said:

I have Comcast. Can't I just go wireless?

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