The most common question we get about security cameras: "Can I just use wireless cameras?" It's a fair question — wireless cameras from Ring, Arlo, and Blink are cheap, easy to install, and marketed aggressively. But after 40 years of installing security systems in Las Vegas, we have a clear recommendation: wire your cameras whenever possible.
Here's the honest comparison.
Wireless Cameras: The Convenience Trade-Off
Pros
- Easy installation: Mount, connect to Wi-Fi, done. No drilling for cable runs.
- Flexible placement: Move them anywhere with Wi-Fi coverage.
- Low upfront cost: $50–$200 per camera.
- DIY-friendly: No professional installation needed.
Cons (Especially in Las Vegas)
- Battery drain in heat: Lithium batteries lose capacity rapidly above 95°F. In Las Vegas summer, outdoor wireless cameras may need recharging every 2–4 weeks instead of the advertised 3–6 months. Some stop working entirely when the battery overheats.
- Wi-Fi dependency: If your router reboots, your cameras go offline. If your internet goes down, cloud-dependent cameras can't record at all. Intruders can jam consumer Wi-Fi with a $30 device from Amazon.
- Video quality limitations: Wireless cameras compress video heavily to conserve bandwidth and battery. You get 1080p that looks like 720p in practice, especially at night.
- Cloud subscription costs: Most wireless cameras require a monthly subscription ($3–$15/camera) for video history, person detection, and extended recording. 8 cameras × $8/month = $768/year, forever.
- Latency: Live feeds have 1–5 second delays. In a security event, that matters.
Wired Cameras: The Professional Standard
Pros
- Constant power, no batteries: PoE (Power over Ethernet) cameras run 24/7 without battery concerns. One Ethernet cable delivers both power and data.
- Superior image quality: 4K resolution with wide dynamic range, real IR night vision, and high frame rates. You can actually identify faces and license plates, not just see blurry shapes.
- Local recording: Video is stored on a local NVR (Network Video Recorder) — no cloud subscription, no internet dependency. If someone cuts your internet, cameras keep recording.
- Reliability: No Wi-Fi dropouts, no battery deaths, no firmware update reboots at 2 AM. Wired cameras have been running for 5+ years in many of our installations without a single failure.
- Tamper resistance: Hard-wired connections can't be jammed wirelessly. Cutting the cable triggers an alert.
- Integration: Professional cameras integrate with your smart home system — doorbell rings pop up live camera feeds on your touchscreen, motion at the front gate triggers recording on all exterior cameras.
Cons
- Installation cost: $500–$1,200 per camera installed (including cable run), vs. $100–$200 for wireless.
- Requires cable runs: Ethernet needs to be run from each camera location to your network rack. Easy in new construction, more involved in retrofit.
- Less flexible placement: Once wired, moving a camera means running new cable.
Our Recommendation
For permanent exterior cameras — front door, driveway, garage, backyard, side gates — always wire. These are your primary security cameras and they need to work 100% of the time, in 115°F heat, without maintenance.
Wireless cameras make sense for:
- Temporary monitoring (construction, events)
- Interior cameras in rental properties
- Supplementing a wired system in hard-to-reach spots
What We Install
Our standard residential camera system uses Ubiquiti UniFi Protect cameras recorded to a local NVR:
- UniFi G5 Pro: 4K, AI detection (person, vehicle, package), excellent night vision. Our go-to exterior camera.
- UniFi G5 Turret: Compact, aesthetic, great for soffits and overhangs where a bullet camera would look too industrial.
- UniFi G5 Doorbell Pro: Wired doorbell camera with package detection and two-way audio.
All footage stays on your local NVR — no monthly cloud fees. The entire Protect platform is managed through a single app that also controls your UniFi network.
Cost Comparison (8-Camera System)
- Wireless (Ring/Arlo): $1,200 upfront + $768/year subscription = $5,040 over 5 years
- Wired (UniFi Protect): $6,500–$10,000 installed, $0/year subscription = $6,500–$10,000 over 5 years
The wired system costs slightly more over 5 years but delivers dramatically better footage, 100% reliability, no cloud dependency, and cameras that actually survive Las Vegas weather. Over 10 years, the wired system is significantly cheaper because wireless cameras need replacing every 2–3 years in desert conditions.
Schedule a free security assessment — we'll walk your property, identify the optimal camera positions, and give you a detailed proposal for a system that actually works in the desert.