Need some recommendations on cellular security cameras. Yesterday afternoon I get a call from one of our neighbors that there's a hole in our side fence. When I went out to check it, someone had cut a hole to it to get to our barn and stole some stuff out of it. Thieves really suck. We live out in Dripping Springs and our property has a road that runs by it. The barn currently doesn't have power but any recommendations on cellular security cameras. Also thinking to try a wifi extender out back to see if I can get our wifi to reach the barn it's about 100 - 150 yards from the back of our house. I put out a deer camera but even with the solar it seems to run out all the time and is iffy on what it gets. Half the time it's just the sun shining on the barn. I put another camera inside but need to get a solar piece to keep it charged as well. Any ideas?

If you decide to extend wi-fi, I have had success with this unit:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N2RO63U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I have reolinks on a prepaid sim card from eiotclub. Uses att or Verizon.

They run off a solar panel. They have stationary ones and ones you can articulate

I suggest rigging up Claymores. That's better than pictures of people stealing your stuff. If you're in Travis County, it won't matter, the DA will prosecute you for reading my post, but will let the criminals walk even with video.

Believe me I've thought about all kinds of traps I could set.

you might try an extender first they are pretty inexpensive. I have mine at 50 yards and it works fine, but not haven't really tested the limits.

We have repeaters around our property so we can run certain things via wifi. Up front cost may be more expensive than cellular but its more reliable and no monthly fees. I have some applications with customers that we are communicating between machines about a mile away from each other with one omni antenna, may be another option if line of sight is an issue.

So, on a study abroad trip back in 2017, we visited a company in Estonia called Defendec. They make security cameras for desolate areas (think border lines between countries), and they mentioned their batteries being designed to last 10 years to reduce maintenance requirements on the user. The CEO mentioned that TX uses them on some stretches of our border with Mexico. Anyway, I was impressed.

https://www.defendec.com/

No advice on cameras, but I live in Drip off McGregor Ln. and this is concerning to hear. Where abouts are you? Any visual on a vehicle from the neighbor?

We are down west Fitzhugh past the olive oil company , I talked to the Sheriff again today and he said this is an isolated event and haven't had any reports of anything like this out here. Said doubtful we'll hear anything but he'd let me know if that changes.

What are you going to do with any pictures you get? Show the sheriff and hope they recognize them? What if the sheriff doesn't recognize them? Not saying not to put cameras up, but it's just something I'm not sure that people completely think through. When you don't have any cameras that caught anything, you wish you had something. Then when you get pics of people you think, I wish I knew who they were or how to find them. I would personally be more interested in getting cameras up near where they came through the fence. Maybe you get a pick of a license plate and/or the people. Maybe cameras at both the fence and barn. Just something to think about.

I hear you, I've setup a camera on that side and going to put some inside. My hope is to show them to the police or on social media and find them if it happens again. If I know them I'll definitely know how to find them. But also going to put another camera on the back corner that will hopefully catch the vehicle as well.

There was a hunting camera on the inside but it was dead, and know they had to of seen it and sure they didn't worry about it, but feel like doing something is better than nothing. Definitely has had me upgrade the security around it to make sure dead batteries don't happen again. Ideally I can get an alert when they are there and actually catch them if someone tries again.

I like keeping cell cameras inside storage rooms of the camp house and barns. Usually get a good photo on the Tactacams delivered to my phone when someone enters. So far no thieves but I'm ready. Often working within five miles of the cameras and when I'm not around a dependable neighbor is close by.
ETA that I keep the door closed going into the rooms with the camera inside and aimed at the door.

Moultrie Mobile cameras. Takes a pic every 15 seconds of movement and will send a video if you request it. Camera cost <$100. Requires an annual subscription of about $150. They take care of connecting to the cell service with the best signal; you don't need a subscription to Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.

I use Arlo Go 2 cameras. They the same brand as I use for my home security (so all cameras within the same app).

Costs:

• Camera $250: T-Mobile was(?) running a special for free cameras w/2-yr contract)
• Cellular Data: T-Mobile is $20/month/camera taxes included, and almost unlimited data (15GB). Again, T-Mobile was(?) running a special for buy one data and get the next device data at 1/2 off. So this makes your cameras roughly $15/month/camera if you buy in pairs.
• Cloud Storage: Arlo is $10/month for unlimited cameras.

I have to cover a lot of property so I went down to T-Mobile and got 10-cameras "free" ($2,500 worth of cameras) and pay $150/month. It may seem pricey but the cameras were "free" and especially if one only needs two cameras, it would come out to $30/mo (plus your single Arlo $10/mo) and no startup cost and is a pretty good deal.

Main advantages:

• HD video and images.
• Voice/speaker/mic (I've actually talked to a person on them).
• Solar charging optional, but very good battery life.
• LTE and 5G and WiFi all-in-one (so if WiFi is near, you can use that).
• IFTTT compatible (so you can program it for example to "call my cell, turn on the lights, sound the alarm, and send me a text if an 'person' or 'animal' is spotted on Camera 1 during the hours of 11pm to 5am", etc.).