I’ll post my needs first, and then what I think I want based on my research so far. I don’t want to get trapped in a box of thinking, so if I’m missing anything let me know.

I’ve had some small thefts lately (about $300 worth) off the front of my home. I have chain link fencing for part of the home, but not all of it. The driveway area where we park our cars, plus our front door and porch are open.

My budget is about $500, but I could double that if I had to.

I’d like a camera setup (probably 4) that will cover the front door, plus 3 other angles. I do NOT want a cloud setup like Ring etc. Instead I want something that is on a local network with the possibility of a home server that I can access through an app on my phone, or check through my computer when I’m home. I’d like 24/7 recording, with perhaps a week or two (or a month?) of storage on the server.

I need to be able to identify people, vehicles, and license plates.

I’m thinking something like https://www.amazon.com/Reolink-Security-Outdoor-Recording-RLK8-420D4-5MP/dp/B07H3QVZQ2

If I’m understanding it correctly, I get 4 cameras plus a network storage with a server, and I can access it via PC one the home network, or an app on my phone. I’ll just need ethernet cables and probably the thin window pass through cables to get them outside.

Is that the best solution for me, or should I be looking for a different product(s)?

Do I need special ethernet cables since it’s POE? what CAT should I be looking for?

Since I’ll have most of the cameras on the same side of the house, can I hide a POE switch under the eaves, and just run one cable to it, then branch off from that?

Thanks for any help, I’m trying to do my own research, but it’s nice to have help pointing me in the right direction.