The Best Barn Cameras without WiFi – 2022

The best barn cameras work without WiFi, have excellent night vision and motion detection, and are highly weather resistant.

Our Top Picks:

1. DVR Camera system: ZOSI DVR System with 1TB HD and 4 Weatherproof Security Cameras
2. NVR Camera System: Hiseeu NVR System with 1TB HD and 4 Security Cameras – 3.0MP Night Vision
3. 4G/LTE Barn Camera: Reolink 3G/4G LTE Cellular Security Camera with Starlight Night Vision
4. Alternative Option: Vikeri 1080P 16MP Trail Camera 120° Wide-Angle Motion and 940nm No Glow

Simply put there are only two ways to set-up barn cameras without WiFi

1. A hard-wired local connection – NVR and DVR.
2. 4G/LTE cellular cameras

If your barn is close to your house, a hardwired connection will make sense. We’ll look at the main differences between DVR and NVR systems.

DVR systems for a Barn

DVR systems do not require an internet connection. There is a base unit with in-built storage and this is wired to your barn cameras. Each camera will need a separate power connection.

This can either be a plug point, batteries, or solar panels. And each of these cameras need to be connected to the base unit for storage of recorded video. 

Since there is no internet connection, all video is stored locally. You can install a monitor for live viewing but there is no way to view the cameras remotely on your smartphone.

 Storage space of 1TB gives you about 2 months of continuous video recording. After this, the previously recorded video is overwritten to make space for new video.

NVR systems

NVR systems are also hardwired and they can be set-up with or without an internet connection. 

There is a base unit where all recorded video is stored. But unlike DVRs you do not require separate power and data connections. 

A single ethernet cable between the camera and the base unit provides power to the camera and transfers video from the camera to the unit. 

If you set this up without an internet connection, the NVR creates a private network between all the cameras. A monitor can be connected for live viewing and you can connect any device to the NVR to plug into the private network and view live video. 

You can also connect a router to the NVR to wirelessly connect all cameras to the private network – still without a broadband connection. But in this case you will need a power connection for each of the cameras.

If you choose to connect the NVR system to the internet, simply plug-in the ethernet cable into a broadband router and connect all your cameras to this network.

This adds remote viewing capability so you can use your smartphone or a web browser to view live from anywhere in the world.

Best Barn Cameras without WiFi

ZOSI DVR System with 1TB HDD and 4 Weatherproof Security Cameras

Despite the low price tag, this DVR system packs quite a punch. You get four well-built cameras with excellent weather resistance and superior night vision. The DVR system is 8CH so you can add four more cameras if required. The system is ONVIF compliant so you can choose cameras from different brands as long as they are ONVIF-compliant. 

The system is mostly plug and play – the instructions are translated from another language and are hardly comprehensible. But thankfully, the cameras are easy to set-up and you probably won’t need any hand holding. If you need help, there are several YoutTube videos to guide you through any issues.

These are DVR cameras so they need to be hardwired to the base station and each camera will also require a power cable. You can choose to buy the NVR version which works with POE. The base station has a built-in 1TB HDD. This will store about 2 months of continuous video recording. 

If you have internet connection, you can remotely view the cameras from a web browser or on the app on your smartphone. However, ZOSI seems to have cut corners on both of these avenues. The software is buggy and the app is poorly developed.

This is exacerbated by poorly trained technical support agents. There is no phone so all communication is by email which means at least 24 hours for each response. It could easily take a week to explain and resolve even the smallest issues. Forums and youtube videos will prove to be quicker and more helpful.

Pros:

• Easy to set-up and install.
• Good build quality.
• Excellent price for the value.

Cons:

• Software is buggy and underdeveloped.
• Overseas, untrained, and email-based technical support.
• App needs serious improvement.

Hiseeu NVR System with 1TB HD and 4 Security Cameras – 3.0MP Night Vision

This NVR system is almost 30% higher priced than the ZOSI DVR system. For this price you get a single cable that provides both power and data transfer. You also get a more reliable connection and cameras that record ultra high-clarity video. The night vision is also a lot more developed.

AI human and animal detection means you only get accurate motion-detected footage. If you have them connected to the internet, you will receive notifications for what matters.

The build quality is excellent and you get IP66 weather-resistance. This helps the cameras perform well in real-world outdoor tests.

However, the Hiseeu system also fails miserably in the software department. Both desktop and smartphone apps are poorly developed and have limited functionality.

It is important to remember that NVR and DVR systems are mainly designed to record 24/7 continuous video for review at a later time so unless you buy a more expensive device, the software will always be limited and clunky.

NVR connections do not require WiFi. You can choose to connect these cameras wired or wireless. If you decide on the wireless route you will need to connect them to a power point. In this case they will create a private wireless network to transfer data to the NVR base station.

Pros:

• AI human and animal detection
• 2K Ultra-HD video with excellent night vision
• Wired and Wireless connection options
• Excellent build quality.
• IP66 weather resistance.

Cons:

• Limited app functionality- both desktop and phone.
• Wireless network connection tends to drop out.
• Instruction manual is poorly written.

Reolink 3G/4G LTE Cellular Security Camera with Starlight Night Vision

The price hits you like a ton of bricks. The cost of one Reolink 4G camera is equal to an NVR system with 4 cameras. The main reason for this is that Reolink is the only company with a working cellular camera.

For this price though, you get a really well-built device with a long feature list and reliable performance.

You will see a 120 wide angle view with minimal distortions at the edges. The night vision is supported by IR LED lights that work in the darkest of conditions. 

The smartphone app is user-friendly and guides you through the set-up process. You just scan the QR code on the camera and then follow the steps in the app.

There are some small drawbacks that can be ironed out with a firmware update. There seems to be a slight delay between when the camera detects motion and you get a notification. It’s only a few seconds but sometimes that could matter.

There is of course no continuous recording because the storage space on the SD card is limited to 128GB. You can choose to pay for cloud storage but you get 720P compressed video instead of the original 1080P

Since this camera functions on cellular data, you will need a data plan from Verizon or T-Mobile. This adds to the already well-priced camera cost.

Overall, this is an excellent device that performs reasonably well albeit at a higher price.

Pros:

• Completely wireless apart from power cable.
• Excellent night vision and 120 wide angle view
• Easy to set-up and install.
• Smartphone app is user-friendly.

Cons:

• Expensive – one camera costs more than a security system.
• Negligible delay in motion-detected recording
• Cloud video is highly compressed
• Needs a data plan.

Vikeri 1080P 16MP Trail Camera 120° Wide-Angle Motion and 940nm No Glow

Since the main job of this device is detecting motion and recording clear video, it does an excellent job here. And since most wildlife is active during the darker hours, the night vision is extraordinary. 

In fact this is not regular night vision where the camera lens captures ambient light to illuminate the field-of-view. With a trail camera you get 940nm no glow vision which delivers virtually invisible covert lighting through 48 IR LEDs. 

The price point is very attractive and Vikeri does not skimp on the essential features. The camera performs reliably in real world conditions – even in inclement weather. The casing is highly weather-resistant.

Some customers have complained that the camera tends to stop recording and does not restart until it is reset manually. This could be a pain if you are away from the barn for long periods of time. Sometimes a replacement device resolves this issue which makes us think this could just be a quality control issue.

For under $100, you get excellent night vision, reliable motion detection, and 75 long range 1080P HD recording.

Pros:

• Excellent price
• 940nm No Glow night vision
• Superior motion detection
• 75 ft long range motion detection

Cons:

• SD card stops recording when full.
• Battery life is abysmal.
• Tends to stop recording and requires manual reset.

How to choose barn security cameras without WiFi?

Clear Night Vision

Much of the action in barns can happen overnight. Your cattle can choose to give birth, if there is no adequate ventilation the animals will become uncomfortable and agitated, and thieves might decide to raid your barn in the cover of darkness as well. 

To avoid or at least be informed of these issues you need a camera that can pick up on any unusual movement in darkness.

 There are probably no street lights around your barn to provide some ambient lighting and you likely don’t leave the barn lights on all night either. 

A security camera with Night Vision will illuminate the view so you can still get decent video despite the absence of bright lighting.

While it doesn’t matter that much, do pay attention to the night vision distance as well. The longer the distance, the more light your barn cameras can absorb.

Weather-resistant Build

Even though your cameras are technically inside the barn, they are still exposed to dust, wind, and moisture. 

Most modern barn cameras will weather extreme temperatures. But you need a good IP rating for the camera to be able to stand against dust and moisture.

Look for an rating of at least IP66. These cameras will have a weather-resistant casing that helps keep the inside components from exposure to the elements. 

Alternatively, you could buy a weather-resistant cover and house your camera inside with only the lens exposed and this should take care of the camera inside.

Local Storage

Chances are you need to store your videos for review later – especially if there is an incident.

If your camera is internet connected, then you can choose to store your videos on the cloud. In most cases this service will require a monthly payment.

If your camera is not internet connected you will need a local storage solution. There are two ways to do this:

• Connect a hard-drive: You could connect the camera to a hard-drive that is away from the barn. If you keep it at the barn, you risk it being stolen along with the camera. 

A hard-drive will allow you to store continuous video as it has a much larger storage space. A 1 TB drive will give you two months of 24/7 recorded video. 

• Install a micro SD card: Some security cameras have a micro SD card slot. This is a good solution if you only need video when motion is detected. 

Even the highest capacity storage cards will not be practical for 24/7 monitoring and recording.

Works Without Internet

Whether your camera is internet connected or not, it needs to function even without a connection. Barn cameras without a WiFi connection are simply more reliable.

Even wired internet connections can be spotty when the barn is remote which is why the farther away your camera from your router, the weaker the connection. A good camera should continue recording video when it loses connection.

Thermal Motion Detection

You need a barn camera with infrared (IR) motion detection.

Simple video-detected motion will give you a lot of false notifications – flickering lights, moving leaves, sometimes even heavy wind. 

IR sensors only pick up motion with heat sensing – humans, animals, and vehicles which will give you reliable, and timely alerts – the only alerts that matter.