Building a Cost-Effective Custom Security Camera System with Reolink
Creating a custom security camera system can be a cost-effective yet versatile way to secure your home or business for it’s specific needs. With the right components, you can ensure expandability, reliability, and a robust feature set all come into play without compromising on camera choice due to pre packaged setups. Reolink offers a variety of cameras and network video recorders (NVRs) that can meet these needs. Below, we'll discuss my personal recommendations from their vast lineup of cameras in order to build a comprehensive and scalable security system. As usual, the Amazon links provided are affiliate links which provide a small commission to me at no extra cost to you!
Reolink Trackmix
The Reolink Trackmix is a versatile dual-lens PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) camera available in PoE (Power over Ethernet), Wi-Fi, and battery-powered versions. This camera is perfect for monitoring areas with high foot or vehicle traffic due to its smart motion tracking capabilities. With both wide-angle and telephoto lenses, the Trackmix can simultaneously provide a broad overview and detailed close-ups. It's competitively priced, making it an excellent choice for those needing full-motion tracking at an affordable cost.
**Key Features:**
- Dual-lens with wide-angle and telephoto views
- Smart motion tracking for people, pets, and vehicles
- Available in PoE, Wi-Fi, and battery versions
- Competitive price point
2-way Audio
- Can be used with NVR or independently
Reolink RLC-820a
For a low-profile yet high-resolution option, the Reolink RLC-820a is an excellent fixed turret camera. It boasts 4K resolution and intelligent detection for people, vehicles, and pets. This PoE camera is ideal for installation under eaves or in other discreet locations. Its high resolution ensures clear and detailed images, all at a reasonable price. For those looking for an even more budget friendly option, the RLC-520a is also a great fit with multiple field of view options.
**Key Features:**
- 4K resolution
- Person, vehicle, and pet detection
- PoE only
- Low-profile design
- Can be used with NVR or independently
Reolink RLN36
To tie your system together, the Reolink RLN36 NVR is a powerful choice. With support for up to 36 channels and 3 internal hard drives with the potential total storage capacity of 48TB (3*16TB), this NVR provides ample room for expansion. It doesn’t include PoE ports or a hard drive, making it perfect for those who already own a PoE switch and want to expand their system over time. you can either directly connect your switch to the NVR (provided you don’t intend to use it for any other devices unrelated to this system), or connect your cameras to the switch within your existing network and bring the cameras into the NVR via the local LAN. This flexibility allows for cost savings and ensures you won’t need to replace your NVR as your system grows.
**Key Features:**
- Supports 36 channels
- No built-in PoE or hard drive
- Great for custom setups with existing PoE switches
- Cost-effective with room for future expandability
Reolink CX410
New to the lineup, the Reolink CX410 offers color night vision at 2K resolution. This bullet camera excels in low-light conditions while providing detailed images while also offering 2-way audio which is rare among 2k camera options within their lineup. Available in both Wi-Fi and PoE options, the CX410 includes all the key detection features found in other Reolink cameras. For those who don’t want or need the color night vison offering, there are 4k PoE (RLC-810A), 4k Wi-Fi (RLC-810WA) options as well as the cheaper 2k PoE (RLC-510A) and Wi-Fi (RLC-510WA) options available as well.
**Key Features:**
- 2K resolution with color night vision
- Person, vehicle, and pet detection
- Available in Wi-Fi and PoE versions
- Bullet camera form factor
- 2-way audio
- Can be used with NVR or independently
Reolink Duo 2
The Reolink Duo 2 is a dual-lens camera with a 180-degree field of view and seamless image stitching. With a total resolution of 4K (2K per camera), this model is perfect for covering wide areas without needing multiple discrete cameras. It supports person, vehicle, and pet detection and is available in PoE, Wi-Fi, and battery versions.
**Key Features:**
- Dual-lens with 180-degree field of view
- 4K total resolution (2K per camera)
- Person, vehicle, and pet detection
- Available in PoE, Wi-Fi, and battery versions
- Can be used with NVR or independently
Reolink Doorbell
Enhance your entryway security with the Reolink Doorbell, available in both Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5GHz) and PoE versions. It offers person detection, two-way audio, doorbell press alerts, and 24/7 video recording. While its horizontal view is slightly narrower at 135 degrees, it is more than sufficient for most entryways.
**Key Features:**
- Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5GHz) and PoE versions
- Person detection
- Two-way audio and doorbell press alerts
- 24/7 video recording
- 135-degree horizontal view
- Can be used with NVR or independently
Reolink E1 Pro
For indoor surveillance, the Reolink E1 Pro is an excellent choice. This compact Wi-Fi camera offers 2K resolution, person and pet detection, dual-band Wi-Fi, and two-way audio. It can be integrated with an NVR or used independently with its micro-SD card slot, the E1 Pro can be placed on a tabletop or mounted on the ceiling with the included mount.
**Key Features:**
- 2K resolution
- Person and pet detection
- Dual-band Wi-Fi
- Two-way audio
- Can be used with NVR or independently
### Putting It All Together
Building a custom security camera system with Reolink allows for flexibility, high performance, and cost-effectiveness. With the items listed above, you can create a comprehensive surveillance solution tailored to your needs. Whether you’re covering large outdoor areas, monitoring specific points of interest, or ensuring indoor security, Reolink’s diverse camera options make it possible to design a system that grows with you for your specific needs without breaking the bank in the process.