Install
Mount PoE cameras, run Cat6 along surface paths or accessible voids, connect to PoE switch or PoE-capable NVR.
Home/Cameras
Camera systems for owners who want control
PoE camera installation, Reolink and Frigate setup, retention planning, secure remote viewing, and a full ownership-transfer handoff. Owner is the sole privileged account holder when we're done.
What this is — and what it isn't
This is camera, network, and NVR setup. It is not a licensed alarm service, monitoring service, or permitted low-voltage installation. Where local code requires a licensed contractor, that work is referred out and scoped separately.
In scope
What I do, end to end
Configure
Resolution, frame rate, detection zones, schedules. Connect cameras to NVR or to Frigate on owner-controlled hardware.
Manage footage
Set retention windows, configure storage rotation, export clips on request, and delete footage on owner instruction.
Remote access
Vendor apps, Tailscale, ZeroTier, or WireGuard. Default recommendation is owner-controlled mesh, not exposed ports.
Storage planning
Size local disks for required retention, recommend RAID vs. single-disk, and document expected retention behavior.
Documentation
Written summary of how the system works, where cameras are mounted, how to view footage, and how to export clips.
Ownership transfer
All credentials, accounts, hardware ownership, and configuration handed to the customer at the end of the engagement.
Privacy-conscious handoff
Installer accounts wiped, default passwords rotated, and confirmation that no third party retains access.
Owner & staff training
Short walkthroughs covering daily use, footage export, and what to do if a camera goes offline.
Retention reference
Conservative storage estimates
Final sizing depends on motion-only vs. continuous recording, codec (H.264 vs. H.265), bitrate, and how often cameras are triggered. The numbers below are conservative.
Storage sizing reference
4 cameras · 4MP · 15fps · 14 days
1 – 2 TB
Single-disk OK
4 cameras · 4MP · 15fps · 30 days
2 – 4 TB
Single-disk OK
8 cameras · 4MP · 15fps · 14 days
2 – 4 TB
RAID recommended
8 cameras · 4MP · 15fps · 30 days
4 – 8 TB
RAID recommended
Remote viewing
Four ways to see your cameras from elsewhere
Vendor cloud (Reolink, etc.)
Easiest. Subject to vendor terms and possible subscription fees. Reasonable for most small operators.
Frigate + Home Assistant
Owner-controlled. Requires owner-managed remote access. Good for operators who want full control of recording and analytics.
Tailscale or WireGuard mesh
Private network. No public exposure of the recorder. Default recommendation for owners who want a strong privacy posture.
Direct port forward
Not recommended. Avoided unless the owner specifically asks and accepts the exposure trade-off.
Handoff
Owner handoff checklist
Provided to the owner in writing on the last day of the engagement.
Owner has received written summary
Camera positions, naming, retention plan, and remote-access plan documented.
Owner has logged in and viewed live footage
Confirmed in person before the engagement closes.
Owner has exported a test clip
Confirms the owner can pull footage on their own.
Owner has rotated their account password
Default credentials are gone. Owner-set credentials are the only ones remaining.
Installer account has been removed
No third party retains access. Verified by the owner.
Owner can add or remove a user
Walkthrough completed. Owner can manage the system without us.
Have a property that needs a camera plan?
Walkthroughs in Bucks County are typically a one-hour visit and a written estimate.