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Comment by akerl_ | Hacker News Reader

I can second this. I have several Axis M1065-LW cameras inside (running on wall plugs and wifi) and several Axis P1447-LE externally (running on PoE).

Would recommend both of them. Notably, I had one exterior camera fail (wouldn’t run off PoE), and the Axis support/RMA process was smooth and fast.

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P1447-LE is sold for over $500 used. What is it that's inside of that camera, which makes it so pricey?!

The fact that someone will reply to your support email and fix bugs?

And not supply your video feed to the CCP.

It's a workhorse. It operates at a decent resolution/FPS, as security cameras go, it can handle pretty much any weather conditions, and Axis will stand by it if it breaks.

It also, relevantly for this thread, will do standard video transmission w/o any cloud/app components.

Most camera you get that are cheaper are trading off in one or more of these areas to recoup cost.

I'm thinking of running outdoor Axis cameras. Do you have any advice or links on how to route these safely, including grounding and surge protection? Mine will be mounting on the roof soffit.

If you're going to use PoE (you should) you can get in line surge protectors. Although to be honest - I've used PoE cameras for years, both in the home and professionally, and never bothered with these. I'm not sure what they're protecting against, unless you think lightning is going to strike the camera itself.

Otherwise its just a single ethernet line from the camera to your switch, Axis cameras (and any others that support PoE and outdoor installs) have a nice shielded bit that the cable goes into at the camera end so its protected from the elements.

I'd advise caution - lightning energy coupled onto a low voltage conductor can set fire to property and possibly harm people. Best to take a conservative approach if it's not your property and other people might be harmed. A direct strike is not necessary to have serious effects.

Maybe I'm just naive, but I've got 5 of them mounted externally. They're attached to in-wall rated CAT6 cable, but otherwise aren't grounded or surge protected. None of them are above 60% of the height of the walls they're mounted on, but even if I mounted them higher I'm not too worried.

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