So basically, I want a camera setup that is on WiFi + a micro SD card, no subscription needed to get any features (don’t need cloud video storage).

This is just a simple sketch of the possible camera combinations and the space I’m working with.

https://imgur.com/a/bWUDRdr

Thought about cameras from Reolink since I heard quite a few good things about the no-subscription model of theirs. Looked into the Reolink Duo 2 WiFi, although I don’t know if it would be overkill. Since if it’s in the corners as in the sketch, I don’t know if its FOV won’t get super wasted looking at a brick wall, though I could also just install it in the middle of the 2 possible camera locations too if the WiFi antennas are strong enough on it (aka middle of the garage door) or with WiFi repeaters help.

With the WiFi, I’m not so sure what its max reach is. My mobile phone still gets the WiFi signal being below the point of install (not the fastest WiFi, but still usable), although I can also install an outdoor WiFi repeater basically next to the camera.

I don’t have that many options for it since I can’t run an ethernet wire. It would be either I drill through the wall right next to my router and add an outdoor wired router (would guess that’s too much interference being one next to the other), or it would be just a WiFi extender (at the point where the camera that’s still inside the WiFi range would be) and then I have the cameras running on the extender’s WiFi.

Though I haven’t heard the best about Reolink nighttime performance. There’s also the conundrum of the motion light, since I’m guessing it will make the things in front of it easier to see, but won’t it mess up the clarity of things being further away (aka the yellow square in the sketch)? Since at the furthest corner, even with the motion light on, it’s still quite dark. Wouldn’t be surprised to trip on a stick during nighttime at that part.

When I want it to be able to see full faces and license plates in the yellow zone.

Some people recommended some of those mechanically rotating cameras, but isn’t that a waste of the feature? Like, I don’t really have a place to put it where tracking would actually benefit me. Like, the most usual response is that it zooms on the objects specifically, giving a better image.

Tbh, I don’t know what to expect. I would prefer to stay in the 100 euro range for a camera (not including the micro SD), though if you think I’m better off with like a single more expensive camera, I’m fine with it (don’t need 2 cameras now, can just get 1 for now).

I would like it if there was a way to get it to stay working even when the power goes out. Since it has local storage, a WiFi blackout shouldn’t be an issue, and it seems that having it work in a power blackout is basically necessary, though I don’t really know a model of camera that would work. Like, I would imagine having something like the “Reolink Duo 2 (Battery)” with just a mobile phone charging block and a USB-C wire, it would work aka a hardwire setup that has batteries though I don’t know how long the batteries would last if the phone charger would keep them at 100 percent (unless the camera can limit the max charge itself, like setting it to only charge to 50 percent or something), but I don’t think it would be weatherproof. And buying their solar panel when an outlet is super close by doesn’t seem worth it.

Got any recommendations?