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Security Cameras on a Budget

You don’t need a monthly subscription, a polished app, or a $1000 cloud-connected camera fleet to feel safe at home. The real win? A security setup that puts you in control — of your footage, your privacy, and your budget.

I run a fully local system: ANNKE PoE cameras piped into Frigate and Home Assistant. No cloud. No subscriptions. Just reliable, self-hosted surveillance that integrates into the smart home I actually trust.

Before landing on this setup, I considered everything from Blink to Reolink. But once I realized I could run Ethernet through my attic, the decision was simple: go wired, go open, and go local. Here’s how you can do the same.

Step 1: Know Your Threat Model

Before buying anything, ask yourself what you're trying to protect against:

  • Are you worried about theft or break-ins?
  • Do you want to identify people after something happens?
  • Or do you just want a visible deterrent?

Your answers will shape your gear.

Visibility > Resolution (Most of the Time)

If your goal is deterrence, a clearly visible camera and motion-activated floodlight will do more to scare off intruders than a hidden 4K turret. Even a lower-resolution camera, if placed in plain sight and paired with lighting, can be an effective psychological barrier.

On the flip side, if you want to catch faces or plates, resolution and placement become more important. Think about where you want identification-quality video and where you just want general coverage.

Step 2: Wired Wins (If You Can Swing It)

I live in a 1960s bungalow with attic access, so I spent a weekend pulling Ethernet to cover the perimeter. It took effort, but the result is a system I never have to worry about:

  • Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) means no batteries and no climbing ladders.
  • Dedicated recording to a local NVR and server gives me full control.
  • Integration with Home Assistant lets me automate lights, alerts, and even log events to Google Sheets.
  • Runs on a UPS, so it stays online during a power outage.

My system includes a dual-lens Annke camera plus a few turret-style single-lens cameras. They all connect to an Annke NVR with 24/7 recording, which also supplies PoE. Feeds are mirrored to my home server and analyzed with AI for smart notifications.

The Annke gear and Ethernet wiring (excluding the UPS and server) cost about $500 CAD, and it’s been 100% rock solid.

If you absolutely can’t run cable — say you're in a rental or multi-story without attic access — there are decent battery and solar options (listed below). Just understand: you're trading control, uptime, and clarity for convenience.

Step 3: Frigate + Home Assistant = Local Superpowers

Frigate is an open-source NVR that runs on your own hardware and uses AI (with your own Coral TPU or CPU/GPU) to detect objects like people, cars, or animals. It records only what you care about and integrates tightly with Home Assistant.

My setup includes:

  • Frigate on a dedicated server with 1TB of storage
  • 4/5 ANNKE cameras (PoE, including dual lens and turret styles)
  • Motion and person detection configured per zone
  • Notification based on the homes "security" mode

And because it’s local-first, nothing leaves my network unless I explicitly send it.

Step 4: Cost Breakdown

Here’s what my full system cost, roughly:

  • Cameras (Annke mix of turret + dual lens): ~$250 CAD total
  • Annke NVR with PoE: ~$100 CAD
  • Ethernet cables & tools: ~$50 CAD
  • UPS (optional): ~$150 CAD
  • Server (already owned): YMMV

So for under $400 CAD (not counting the server and UPS), I have 24/7 recording, smart detection, and full automation. Zero monthly fees.

Alternative Setups (Wireless + Solar)

Wired isn't for everyone. If you're looking for simpler installs, here are a couple solid options:

  • ~$500 CAD (on sale)
  • Two solar-powered wireless PTZ cameras
  • Streams to a dedicated base station
  • No wiring required
  • Amazon Canada Link

Annke Solar PTZ (Budget Option)

  • $75 CAD per camera
  • Solar powered, no hub required
  • Records to SD card, managed via mobile app
  • Not ideal for long-term reliability, but very easy to deploy
  • Annke WB300

If you’re just starting or want a low-commitment intro to surveillance, these wireless solar kits can be a quick win — just expect less reliability and limited to device specific AI smarts.

What You Give Up Going full DIY

This setup isn’t for everyone. You won’t get:

  • A polished phone app
  • Easy out-of-the-box setup
  • Cloud storage backups

But if you’re the kind of person who runs a NAS, uses Home Assistant, or doesn’t want a tech company analyzing your front porch, it’s a clear win.

TL;DR

  • Deterrence? Go for visible cameras + lights.
  • Identification? Focus on resolution and placement.
  • Wired is better if you can manage it.
  • Frigate + Home Assistant = local, smart, private.
  • Budget-friendly and no ongoing fees.

You don’t need a subscription to feel safe. Just a weekend, some PoE cameras, and a little DIY spirit.