One of my clients installed some Nest equipment and the consensus here was that it was not a good choice, so I'm asking for alternative suggestions.

Another client wants an internet-connected camera for inside her apartment, to monitor when people come in (I know -- what's that about?), that she can monitor on her phone. And of course she wants "nothing expensive." It would have to alert her, but I'm sure most do.

I know you guys can come up with a good recommendation based on experience.  Thanks for your suggestions.

Nest.
It's the best DIY type wireless camera out there especially for the scenario you mention.
(and the Nest Hello is still better than a doorbird, lol)

In all fairness, the Doorbird has more than one set of dry contacts and can be wired into the network. The Nest Hello MUST connect to the network by wifi and cannot open a door.

Arlo for the cameras from Telguard. You sell the cameras, and collect the monthly RMR.

Totally true and if you need those features, go for it. I've installed a couple too.
But it's ugly, the picture quality isnt as good, and the nest motion zones and facial recognition work great. The nest also feels like it's well built and doesn't have a stupid dome that everyone pushes in thinking it's a button.

I have a couple of Nest cams at my house.

Needed some quick interior cameras to keep an eye on the dogs because we were going out of town. I have prewire for 16 exterior cameras but I am cheap and lazy so I have never gotten around to buying/installing any.

They work fine, the alerts are customizable so it doesn't bother you when you are home. Just be aware of the subscription fees.

The literature says you can put these cameras anywhere, even in a tree. that's true, but how does the conversation go when you explain that the customer has to recharge the camera batteries?

I went to a client's place recently where there was a note on the door saying "Bang on door hard -- doorbell is on the charger." THIS is the problem with wireless anything.

Only the D101 has that now and its for the motion sensor. i personally have this unit myself and have visitors ring the bell daily. No one has pushed on the bubble.

Also, only idiots push that in. YMMV.

That's the problem with today's world, too many damn idiots around and no one wants to think for themselves.

As far as pic quality, its works great for looking at the visitor ringing the bell. If you plan to use it as a FOH camera, then yeah, get something else that will do a better job.

How do you know? You can't prove something has not happened.


The first time we see one of these, we quickly recognize the camera. My first time I thought the bubble was a push button, so I pushed it. It didn't go in, so I debated for 20 milliseconds and decided it was probably not a touch-sensitive button, so I moved on and tried the thing at the bottom. That not only moved, I think I heard a sound (don't remember for sure).

I approached that with thought and the process of thinking combined with action led me to push the bubble. Why do you say only idiots push that? Anyone thinking instead of making assumptions would have a chance of pushing that.

It really does take someone special. The evidence presents itself from time to time.