I use allnet program. I use CMS mobile app on I phone. I have 4 IP cameras. I hooked to a computer and stores at lease 45 days. I bought it all from platinum CCTV online. If you buy from
Them, after it is all hooked up they will connect remotely to your computer and set it up. It was easy. I just ran cat5 lines from camera to poe switch.

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http://platinumcctv.com

I work in the field

A legit 4 camera w/NVR installed & power supply cabinet with battery backup for all equipment is apx $2500

That's without PTZ camera's. If you want to pan, tilt & zoom then plan to spend more.

NVR is a must IMO

Motion & cloud based cameras are no good. Intruders cut telco/data before invasions. A room of moving kids will trigger motion clips but the motion detection isnt perfect & sometimes it requires recovery time meaning blocks minutes+ of no recording quite possibly when SHTF

This meme best summarizes CCTV for most consumers. It's harsh but true. Legit coverage requires budget to take a backseat. If not then all you can really do is put your money on the counter & say "what does this buy" & thats all ya get.

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I concur - a camera system that meets your requirements will be well beyond $500. A system of prevention would be better spent money IMHO. Our church has a check in system where each child/parent gets a label with a random code. At pickup, the parents code must match. Adults and children are isolated between drop off and pickup.

A post abduction ID is too late. . .

Thanks, always good to hear from someone in the field. I have a cheapo consumer setup going which is just OK and have been reading and reading all sorts of information. What I have found is that the cheap cameras are fine for getting an idea of what is going on, or has gone on. The two things that kill it though are good facial recognition and license plate identification. If you want either or both of those then you gotta put out some dough. And of course getting good video at night is another one that takes extra.

I think the consumer stuff like wireless/cloud-based is ok for general monitoring of the typical low lifes who are up to no good. They most likely are all about quick in and out, smash and grab, etc. They won't bother with security cams or even think about them usually. The pros are a different level like you said. They will concentrate first on disabling security. That means you gotta hide everything including the DVR and have battery backup. All the more $$.

yes mine was around $2500.

Can you give any recommendations for camera brands for a DIYer? There are so many different ones I am frozen trying to decide which to get. Most if not all of it is out of China I believe. Hikvision seems pretty popular, no idea if that is any good. I also am looking at Ubiquity.

I'm in the networking business. I installed an 8 camera system this summer for monitoring my elderly parents and health care workers. I used the Ubiquiti G3 (3rd generation) gear. It does 1080p full HD video. The cameras are about $150 each, the NVR was about $325, and I used their 8 port poe switch for about $200.

It met my expectations and continues to perform well. I don't know of anything close for the price.

I liked it enough to later install a 16 camera equivalent at work.

Pelco or Bosch are usually safe

Check out Costco, and they run $100 off sales. 4 Camera, plus buying another for zoom, Likely all together
would be around $400-$600 diced a few different ways.

May or may not be what you need in completeness, but was a good buy, and then add cloud backup.

Rz shooter?