Member Avatar for slash49er

Can anyone help me with information please? I am looking to set up a surveillance system with 2-4 cameras to monitor outdoors at night. Ideally it would be motion detected and record to a dedicated pc. Only problem is I am not sure where to start looking for what I need as far as equipment and software. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

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Dani AI

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Several replies here point toward off‑the‑shelf multi‑camera kits (see responses from , , and ). Those kits are a fine starting point, but for reliable night surveillance focus on the hardware and recording workflow rather than price alone.

Choose the right camera type first: analog (BNC + DVR) vs IP (Ethernet + NVR/PC). IP cameras give higher resolution, PoE power, and simpler remote access; analog kits are lower cost and simpler for plug‑and‑play. For night use pick true day/night cameras with IR illumination or very low‑lux sensors, check the quoted lux rating (lower = better), and prefer varifocal lenses when you need adjustable field of view. Also look for weatherproof housings (IP65/66) and wide dynamic range if bright backlighting is likely.

Decide how you will record: continuous or motion‑triggered. Motion saves space but needs good sensitivity/zoning to avoid false triggers (moving trees, headlights, animals). Rule of thumb for storage: 1 Mbps sustained = about 11 GB per camera per day. So a 2 Mbps 720p stream is roughly 22 GB/day. Use that to size HDDs and retention. If using a dedicated PC, avoid unsupported OSes (old Windows NT/2000/XP) on networked machines; either run modern software, an appliance/NVR, or keep the recorder isolated.

Practical checklist and troubleshooting tips:

  • Prefer wired (PoE) for outdoor cameras; keep runs under 100 m or use PoE extenders.
  • Use surge protection for outdoor runs and a UPS for the recorder.
  • Configure motion zones and sensitivity, then test at night and tweak IR angle/focus.
  • Harden access: change defaults, use strong passwords, update firmware, or use VPN for remote viewing.
  • Label cameras, keep a simple diagram, and verify timestamps on video.

These checks prevent the most common failures and make a basic 2–4 camera night system dependable.

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Member Avatar for GrimJack

Try Frye's - best buy and such

Member Avatar for ithelp

Yes , you can buy such stuff from amazon ,etc .

Member Avatar for slash49er

Thanks for the help and suggestions. I found and purchased a 4 camera system from EZWATCH.(http://www.ezwatch-security-cameras.com/)

Very easy to install, excellent lifetime support and the features of the software were above and beyond what I needed.

Thanks again

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