A lot of popular cameras are cheap to buy but expensive to own, because saving and reviewing footage requires a monthly cloud subscription. A locally recorded system works differently: footage stays on a recorder at your home or business, and there’s no required monthly fee.
Cloud recording vs. local recording
Cloud cameras upload video to the manufacturer’s servers, and you pay a subscription to store and review it. Local systems record to a network video recorder (NVR) on your property. You still get live view and playback on your phone, but the footage never has to leave your building.
How a local system works
- Cameras are wired back to a switch with Ethernet, which also powers them (PoE).
- The switch connects to a recorder with hard drives that store the footage.
- An app gives you live view, alerts and playback from anywhere, with user roles for family or staff.
We usually install UniFi Protect, which works this way and pairs well with UniFi door access so entries line up with video.
How much storage do you need?
It depends on the number of cameras, the resolution, and whether you record continuously or only on motion. We size storage to how many days of footage you want to keep. One homeowner we worked with keeps about 65 days of backups on a hard-wired system.
Wired vs. wireless cameras
Battery and Wi-Fi cameras are easy to put up, but batteries need charging and Wi-Fi can drop. Wired PoE cameras get power and a stable connection from one cable, so they record reliably around the clock.
What about power and internet outages?
Because recording happens locally, cameras keep recording if the internet goes down; you just can’t view them remotely until it comes back. Adding a battery backup keeps the recorder and cameras running through brief power outages.
Privacy and control
With local recording, your footage stays on your property. Motion zones cut down on useless alerts, privacy masks block areas you don’t want recorded, like a neighbor’s window, and user roles control who can see what.
Is it more expensive up front?
Usually, yes, because you’re buying the recorder and wiring the cameras. But with no required subscription, the cost doesn’t keep climbing every month. See how we plan and install security cameras.
Dealing with this in Austin or Central Texas? Get a quote or call (512) 748-5916 and we’ll recommend the lightest setup that fixes it.