Example plan · House with attached garage · legacy example · latest catalog review 2026-10-27
How many security cameras do I need for the backyard and patio of a house with an attached garage without running new wires?
Plan on 2 outdoor cameras plus a video doorbell for the backyard and patio of a typical house with an attached garage without running new wires. This plan costs $220 up front and nothing a month, $220 over 3 years. Everything required is covered, but the backyard is hard to see at 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 this device configuration in the planner to match your own home. Device quantities, ownership and mounting positions are preserved. Coverage here uses the legacy specification-based engine; the interactive editor uses an illustrative view and recalculates shopping from current offers. These hardware-and-plan figures exclude unlisted storage and installation costs.
A STARTING POINT · REVIEW BEFORE BUYING
Use the devices in this example
A suggested device set from this example plan. Review it for your own home; prices and compatibility will be checked again.
3 device(s). Adds missing quantities; keeps your current items and configured preferences.
Cameras
2
+ video doorbell
Up front
$220
Buy now: $220
Monthly
$0
records locally
3-year total
$220
hardware + 36 months
| Area | Day | Night | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio Required | 99% | lit | Covered |
| Backyard Required · unlit at night | 86% | 49% | Dark at night |
- At night the view of the backyard drops to 49%: use a floodlight or spotlight model, or add a light.
Shopping list
Phase 1 covers your required areas; phase 2 can wait.
| # | Device | Where | Power | Phase | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyze Video Doorbell v2 | Front door frame | Existing doorbell wiring | 1 | $59.98 | Wyze store ↗ |
| 2 | Wyze Solar Cam Pan 2K | Back eave, left corner | Solar + battery | 1 | $79.98 | Wyze store ↗ |
| 3 | Wyze Solar Cam Pan 2K | Back eave, right corner | Solar + battery | 1 | $79.98 | Wyze store ↗ |
| Hardware total | $219.94 | |||||
Monthly fees
None. Every device in this plan records locally without a subscription.
What you give up by skipping the plan
- Wyze Video Doorbell v2: cloud video history, person detection, package detection
- Wyze Solar Cam Pan 2K: cloud video history, person detection, package detection, vehicle detection
- Wyze Solar Cam Pan 2K: cloud video history, person detection, package detection, vehicle detection
Wi-Fi check
Add one mesh node near the back wall. 1 spot is likely out of reach.
- Front door frame -62 dBmgood
- Back eave, left corner -71 dBmfair
- Back eave, right corner -76 dBmpoor
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
1Wyze Video Doorbell v2 · Front door frame Existing doorbell wiring
Uses your existing doorbell wires. Check the transformer is 16–24 V AC.
Planning reach: ~21 ft by day, ~21 ft at night, 135° wide.
2Wyze Solar Cam Pan 2K · 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).
• 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, ~30 ft at night, 108° wide.
3Wyze Solar Cam Pan 2K · 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).
• 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, ~30 ft at night, 108° 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 (4)
- night-vision range not published; assumed 25 ft
- sensor width taken as 2304 px from the "2K (3MP)" label
- motion-detection range not published; capped at 40 ft (typical PIR sensor)
- night-vision range not published; assumed 30 ft
The settings behind this plan
- Areas
- Patio (required), Backyard (required)
- Monthly fee
- Allowed
- Wiring
- Existing outlets, lights and doorbell wires only
- Upfront budget
- No limit
- Smart home
- Any
- Climate
- Mild winters
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