📚 Buying Guides
Resolution, storage, and what actually matters.
Arlo Camera Offline? (2026): 7 Fixes — and Why the Fix Depends on Your Base Station
An Arlo camera going offline splits into two different problems depending on your setup: a base-station model or a WiFi-direct one. Here's how to check Arlo's signal bars, which link actually broke, and the 7 fixes in order.
Buying GuidesRing Camera Offline? (2026): 7 Fixes That Actually Work
A Ring camera or doorbell going offline is almost always a weak Wi-Fi signal, not a broken device. Here's how to read the RSSI number in the Ring app, the 7 fixes in order, and when a mesh extender actually solves it.
Buying GuidesNest Camera Offline? (2026): 7 Fixes — and Why Nest Won't Show You a Signal Number
A Google Nest camera going offline is usually a weak Wi-Fi signal, but unlike Ring, the Google Home app won't show you a signal-strength number to confirm it. Here's how to actually diagnose it, plus the 7 fixes in order.
Buying GuidesSecurity Camera Resolution Explained (2026): 1080p vs 2K vs 4K
1080p, 2K and 4K security cameras aren't measured the same way across brands. A 2026 breakdown of what resolution actually buys you — pixel density for facial ID, night-vision trade-offs, and storage cost — so you stop guessing at a spec sheet.
Buying GuidesHow Many Security Cameras Do I Need? (2026 Room-by-Room Guide)
Most homes need 4 to 8 cameras, not the 16-channel kit stores push. A 2026 breakdown of camera counts by home size — apartment, standard house, corner lot — plus how to pick an NVR with the right headroom.
Buying GuidesDo Security Cameras Need Wi-Fi? (2026): What Actually Works Without It
Most security cameras need Wi-Fi, but not all of them. A 2026 breakdown of which camera types work without Wi-Fi — PoE/NVR systems, cellular cameras, and local-storage models — and which ones genuinely can't function offline.
Buying GuidesHow to Install Security Cameras (2026): Heights, Wiring & the Steps Pros Charge $200 For
A practical 2026 guide to installing security cameras yourself — the three install paths, the exact mounting height that still captures faces, PoE and Wi-Fi wiring, drilling and weatherproofing, and what professional installation actually costs per camera.
Buying GuidesSecurity Camera Installation Cost (2026): What You'll Actually Pay, Line by Line
A sourced 2026 breakdown of security camera installation cost — labor per camera, hardware by tier, DIY vs professional, subscriptions, and the hidden line items (drives, cable, outlets, permits) that quotes leave out.
Buying GuidesIs Amazon Prime Worth It for Security Camera Shoppers? (2026)
An honest 2026 break-even analysis of Amazon Prime for security camera buyers. Amazon owns Ring and Blink — and Prime includes neither cloud plan. What Prime actually covers, what it doesn't, and the one week it pays for itself.