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HMC

Example plan · House with garage and side gate · data checked 2026-09-16

How many security cameras do I need for every side of a house with a garage and side gate without running new wires?

Plan on 6 outdoor cameras plus a video doorbell for every side of a typical house with a garage and side gate without running new wires. This plan costs $1,185 up front and nothing a month, $1,185 over 3 years. Every required area is covered day and night. Your layout will differ, so start from this plan and adjust it.

We picked the easiest install: no new wiring, as few devices and apps as possible. This is a template result, not a site survey: your doors, trees and outlets move the numbers. Open it in the planner to match your own home.

Cameras

6

+ video doorbell

Up front

$1,185

Buy now: $690

Monthly

$0

records locally

3-year total

$1,185

hardware + 36 months

Site plan of a house with garage and side gate with 7 devicesSTREETFront doorDrivewaySide gateSide yardPatioBackyardYOUR HOMEGarage1234567RMM10 ft
Daytime view Key spot seen ×Key spot missed Router (R) / mesh node (M) Planning estimate only: check the live view before you drill.
AreaDayNightStatus
Front door Required 100% lit Covered
Driveway Required · unlit at night 95% 79% Covered
Side gate Required · unlit at night 100% 91% Covered
Side yard Nice to have · unlit at night 100% 91% Covered
Patio Nice to have 99% lit Covered
Backyard Nice to have · unlit at night 51% 35% Partly

Shopping list

Phase 1 covers your required areas; phase 2 can wait.

#DeviceWherePowerPhasePrice
1 Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) Front door frame Rechargeable battery 1 $119.99 Reolink store ↗
2 Reolink Argus 4 Pro Front eave, garage corner Solar + battery 1 $214.99 Reolink store ↗
3 Reolink Argus 4 Pro Garage side wall Solar + battery 1 $214.99 Reolink store ↗
4 Reolink Argus Eco Ultra Front eave, left corner Solar + battery 1 $139.99 Reolink store ↗
5 Reolink Argus Eco Ultra Back eave, right corner Solar + battery 2 $139.99 Reolink store ↗
6 Reolink Argus 4 Pro Left side wall Solar + battery 2 $214.99 Reolink store ↗
7 Reolink Argus Eco Ultra Back eave, left corner Solar + battery 2 $139.99 Reolink store ↗
Hardware total $1,184.93

Kits with items from this plan

Optional alternatives to buying separately. These kit prices do not replace the totals above. Check extra items, remaining purchases and whether you want to buy both phases now.

Browse all camera kits →

Monthly fees

None. Every device in this plan records locally without a subscription.

What you give up by skipping the plan

  • Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery): cloud backup
  • Reolink Argus 4 Pro: cloud backup
  • Reolink Argus 4 Pro: cloud backup
  • Reolink Argus Eco Ultra: cloud backup
  • Reolink Argus Eco Ultra: cloud backup
  • Reolink Argus 4 Pro: cloud backup
  • Reolink Argus Eco Ultra: cloud backup

Wi-Fi check

Add two mesh nodes near the right side and back walls. 2 spots are likely out of reach.

  • Front door frame -62 dBmgood
  • Front eave, garage corner -70 dBmfair
  • Garage side wall -88 dBmpoor
  • Front eave, left corner -69 dBmfair
  • Back eave, right corner -76 dBmpoor
  • Left side wall -61 dBmgood
  • Back eave, left corner -71 dBmfair

Most cameras only connect on 2.4 GHz. If your mesh merges bands into one network, turn on a separate 2.4 GHz network for them.

Power and install, spot by spot

1Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) · Front door frame Rechargeable battery

Use the quick-release mount so the camera is easy to take down and charge.

Charging: About every 7 weeks at ~30 events/day (estimate; maker: 150 days, usage not stated (we assume 10 events/day)).

• Wi-Fi battery cameras can be knocked offline by a jammer. If you can, wire the camera at this key spot.

Planning reach: ~14 ft by day, ~14 ft at night, 150° wide.

2Reolink Argus 4 Pro · Front eave, garage corner Solar + battery

Aim the panel toward the south, clear of shade.

Charging: Should stay charged most of the year in direct sun (estimate).

• Wi-Fi battery cameras can be knocked offline by a jammer. If you can, wire the camera at this key spot.

• Hold it in place with tape and check the live view before you drill.

Planning reach: ~34 ft by day, ~25 ft at night, 180° wide.

3Reolink Argus 4 Pro · Garage side wall Solar + battery

Partial sun here: aim the panel south and keep it clear of branches and the roof shadow.

Charging: Solar helps, but the maker doesn't publish battery life, so we can't estimate low-sun months.

• Wi-Fi battery cameras can be knocked offline by a jammer. If you can, wire the camera at this key spot.

• Hold it in place with tape and check the live view before you drill.

Planning reach: ~34 ft by day, ~25 ft at night, 180° wide.

4Reolink Argus Eco Ultra · Front eave, left corner Solar + battery

Aim the panel toward the south, clear of shade.

Charging: Should stay charged most of the year in direct sun (estimate).

• Wi-Fi battery cameras can be knocked offline by a jammer. If you can, wire the camera at this key spot.

• Hold it in place with tape and check the live view before you drill.

Planning reach: ~40 ft by day, ~33 ft at night, 105° wide.

5Reolink Argus Eco Ultra · Back eave, right corner Solar + battery

Aim the panel toward the south, clear of shade.

Charging: Should stay charged most of the year in direct sun (estimate).

• Hold it in place with tape and check the live view before you drill.

Planning reach: ~40 ft by day, ~33 ft at night, 105° wide.

6Reolink Argus 4 Pro · Left side wall Solar + battery

Partial sun here: aim the panel south and keep it clear of branches and the roof shadow.

Charging: Solar helps, but the maker doesn't publish battery life, so we can't estimate low-sun months.

• Hold it in place with tape and check the live view before you drill.

Planning reach: ~34 ft by day, ~25 ft at night, 180° wide.

7Reolink Argus Eco Ultra · Back eave, left corner Solar + battery

Aim the panel toward the south, clear of shade.

Charging: Should stay charged most of the year in direct sun (estimate).

• Hold it in place with tape and check the live view before you drill.

Planning reach: ~40 ft by day, ~33 ft at night, 105° wide.

What to know about this plan

  • Most microSD cameras ship without a card. Budget for a high-endurance card; it isn't priced here.
Assumptions we had to make (3)
  • night-vision range not published; assumed 30 ft
  • night-vision range not published; assumed 25 ft
  • motion-detection range not published; capped at 40 ft (typical PIR sensor)
Start from this plan and edit it Move cameras, mark what you already own, change the budget: everything recalculates.

The settings behind this plan

Areas
Front door (required), Driveway (required), Side gate (required), Side yard, Patio, Backyard
Monthly fee
Allowed
Wiring
Existing outlets, lights and doorbell wires only
Budget
No limit
Smart home
Any
Climate
Mild winters