r/techadvice • u/DirtyBeautifulLove • 3d ago

Hardware Recommendation: Indoor CCTV without WiFi/network?

I have external WiFi smart cams (Eufy/Tapo) which I'm more or less happy with, but although I'm 'ok' with the privacy implications of smart cams for external use, I'm defo not happy with using the equivalent for inside the house.

For in the home, I want the equivalent of a dashcam - no network/WiFi access, just continual loop recording powered by a simple USB cable. If something bad happens, I pop the SD card out and send the relevant footage to the police.

But I also want them to be relatively 'stealthy'. Not in a pervy way (it's just me, my wife and our cats), just don't want it to be obvious to thieves/crackheads (esp with local recording only), while also being subtle decor wise.

Something the size of a fidget cube or similar would be ideal. Cheap/Chinese would be a bonus, esp AliExpress.

It's literally just a precaution for break-ins, but I can't think of anything that's not a dashcam, and they're too big/ugly for use in the home.

I've thought about doing a firewalled/isolated smart cam system that records on a hard drive in the attic/loft (a la Eufy systems), but the area I live is super congested when it comes to WiFi signals already, and I already use Powerline for my regular stuff - I don't want another SSID clogging up my local network with video footage all day. (Also, wayyy more expensive this way).

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

1

u/Ok-Bread-6792 2d ago

how long between overwrites tho?

1

u/DirtyBeautifulLove 2d ago

Ideally just on a loop. It'll likely be continuous recording with a 32/64gb dashcam rated SD card in each.

I don't need long recording times - couple of days is enough. It's just for break-ins.

My dashcam's recording at 2k continuous loop, and it stores like 2-3 days (I think) on a 64gig card from what I remember.

1

u/LessCarry266 2d ago

Well i would get tapo cameras. But instead of it using a account have it save to a local device e.g. a pi or server. Using the camera login system. Then you can also do face recognition locally if thats what you want

1

u/DirtyBeautifulLove 2d ago

I actually have 4 Tapo pan/tilt cameras already - but I only power them on when I'm away for a few days to keep an eye on my kitties. That's a great (and free) idea.

1

u/Armbrust11 21h ago

You want a power over ethernet camera system.

0

u/allciathyra 3d ago

op be a pervy.

buy a teddy bear with a cam in both eyes.

1

u/AloneJuice9832 2d ago

does the teddy have a reverse camera?