Wired or Wireless Security Cameras?

How each type works

A wired camera, often called PoE for Power over Ethernet, connects to the recorder with one network cable. That cable carries both power and video. The recorder stores footage on a hard drive inside your house.

A Wi-Fi camera plugs into a power point for power and sends video over your home Wi-Fi, usually to a cloud service or a memory card.

A battery camera has no cables at all. It sleeps until its motion sensor wakes it up, records a short clip, sends it over Wi-Fi and goes back to sleep.

Recording all the time, or only after motion

This is the biggest difference. Wired cameras record continuously, so everything is on the hard drive, including what happened just before someone came into view. Battery cameras only record when they wake up, and most take a second or two to start. That delay is often why a battery camera shows someone walking out of frame instead of their face.

Reliability

A cable does not drop out when the microwave is running or when a neighbour’s network is busy. Wi-Fi does. Brick walls, metal roofs and distance all weaken the signal, and the far corners of a house are where cameras usually go.

Battery cameras add charging to the list. The battery runs down faster in a busy spot, and heat shortens battery life over time. On an Ipswich summer afternoon, a camera under a western eave gets very hot, and lithium batteries do not like that.

Ongoing costs

A wired system that records to its own hard drive has no monthly fee. Many Wi-Fi and battery brands keep their best features, such as saved recordings and smart alerts, behind a monthly subscription. Over five years, the subscription can cost more than the cameras did.

When wireless makes sense

Wireless is the right call in some situations. If you rent and cannot drill, battery cameras come down cleanly when you leave. If you need one camera on a far gate where running cable would cost more than the camera, a battery or solar camera can make sense. For a temporary site, wireless is quick to put up and take down.

For a shed or workshop a long way from the house, there is a middle option. A point to point wireless bridge carries the signal from a wired camera at the shed back to the house. The camera stays wired and records continuously, and only the link between buildings is wireless.

Our recommendation

For a house you own, wired, nearly every time. The cable is hidden in the roof or wall, it records around the clock, there is nothing to charge and no subscription. Wireless is a tool for specific situations, and we will tell you if yours is one of them.

Questions people ask

Do wireless cameras still need power?

Yes. Wi-Fi cameras need a power point or a plug pack nearby. Battery cameras run on a rechargeable battery that needs charging, or a small solar panel.

Can wired cameras be hacked?

Any networked device can be attacked if it is set up badly. Changing default passwords, updating firmware and not opening router ports protects a wired system. Wireless cameras have the extra risk of Wi-Fi jamming.

How long do camera batteries last?

Makers often quote several months, but real life is usually shorter, especially with lots of motion and hot weather. Expect to charge every one to three months.