Question regarding setting up a POE system

james28909

james28909

n3wb
Oct 19, 2025
5
0
usa
Howdy!

i am trying to figure out a few things here and having a hard time understanding the how part of most of it.

i am wanting to setup 4 poe cameras, but plan on adding more in the future. i was also trying to run my idea through chatgpt but that left more questions than answers i guess.

but the overall idea is to have 4 poe cameras (not sure which type i need) connected to a POE switch (not sure if i need managed or unmanaged or active or passive). i am wanting to connect the switch directly to the PC, which would effectively make it my "NVR".

besides which camera types and switch type, i am trying to figure out how to access the poe camera and assign them ip addresses or be able to configure them. if anyone could help, i sure would appreciate it!

EDIT: i am looking for cameras that do not have built in wifi or cellular capabilities. just strickly POE/ethernet. again, any help would be appreciated!
 
Last edited:
The current best all around camera at this time is THIS.
You navigate to it's default IP address of 192.168.1.108 with a browser, and setup the cam that way.
The computer you use for setup must have it's IP range set to the same as the cam, or you won't be able to connect to the cam.
You don't need a managed switch, but don't cheap out on a POE switch, it's the core of your system.
This switch is a good start HERE.
 
As an Amazon Associate IPCamTalk earns from qualifying purchases.
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: TonyR, bigredfish, Broachoski and 1 other person
AND, remember, if you " go live" with 4 brand new cameras, you will have an IP conflict with 4 cams at 192.168.1.108. This is bad. :banghead:
plug in one cam and using Blue Iris, surf to the .......see video...its a right click to the gear icon that opens the menu box to see " add new Camera"
 

Attachments

Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: bigredfish and looney2ns
are there any cheaper cameras? i have a budget of about 250-300 bucks and need to buy 3 cameras and a poe switch. the switch linked looks like a good one. it provides enough power for most any poe cam that i hook to it?

i guess all i need now is some cheaper cameras. they can be bullet style. if anyone has any suggestions please do share. i can and do not mind buying used either.

also, thanks for the suggestions this far!
 
There is a saying here "buy once, cry once"

Many of us have boxes of used cameras because we went the cheap way and quickly (but unfortunately after the return period) replaced the cameras with something better.

If you want to stand any chance of low light performance (when most of us are concerned), you need to be on the ideal MP/sensor ratio, which is anything in green.

Sure there are cheaper cameras than we recommend, but the perform poorly at night.

Doesn't do any good to have cameras if you cannot provide anything to the police other than what time it happened.


1757988646739.png
 
i do have some IR floodlights that i plan on using to illuminate the area the camera will be facing. what i was thinking was a dual lens bullet cam or single lens or something. but anything that could fit into my budget would help. i know i will need at least two. one poitning at the other (i have neighbors with drones and they love setting off the alarm on the last camera i had which was a (nightwatcher turrent cam no wifi/bt/4g model)

i live in a mobile home. my plan was to use 3 cameras. two mounted on one end of the mobile home that are approx 20' away, mounted up in some trees and/or telephone pole) and one mounted on the other end facing back towards the other two. the two on the one end will be the main cameras, angles adjusted to be able to see all of my property and will also monitor the single camera on the other side, the third on the other end will basically monitor the other two cameras.

or i could put one on each end up high and one pointing out my driveway. my mobile home is approx 60' long. the ir flood lights i have cover a range of around 100-120 ft. im hoping that will illuminate enough so i will be able to see anything like a drone flying into the picture.

but yes, any extra recommendations would be very welcome, even if it is used equipement. also, any kind of pointers as to placement or mounting the cameras would be awesome. i just need to be sure that the camera i purchase doesnt have any kind of wirerless interface, and everything will be ran through an 8 port POE switch which will be connected to a dedicated offline pc.
 
As an Amazon Associate IPCamTalk earns from qualifying purchases.
Your getting settings that are decided for you, not as much control over menu items that help tweak recording modes,
1760939542706.png
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom