The Shields Collective / Home Wi-Fi and cameras for Cincinnati homes
Home Wi-Fi and cameras for Cincinnati homes
Wi-Fi that reaches every room, built on UniFi, for existing homes, renovations and new construction in Indian Hill, Hyde Park, Mt. Lookout, Mariemont, Madeira and Mason. We place access points from the floor plan, specify cabling for the trades, and plan camera coverage with recording kept in the house.
- Coverage from the floor planAccess points placed for walls, floors, porches and outbuildings, not just near the router.
- Separate networksFamily, guests, cameras and smart devices kept apart.
- Cameras without the cloud billRecording to a drive in the house, with the trade-offs laid out.
- Alarm consultationA do-it-yourself kit or a wired system, compared side by side with running costs.
Wi-Fi and alarms: how the options compare
There is usually a simpler option and a planned one. We will tell you when the simpler one is enough.
| Networking | Off-the-shelf mesh | UniFi, planned |
|---|---|---|
| How it connects | Units talk to each other over the air, so speed drops the farther a room is from the router. | Access points are wired back to one switch, so every room gets the full connection. |
| Coverage | Placed where there is an outlet, often near the router. | Placed from the floor plan for walls, floors and outdoor areas. |
| Cameras | Usually a separate brand, app and cloud subscription. | Same system, recording to a drive in the house. |
| Separation | Guests, cameras and smart devices usually share one network. | Separate networks for family, guests, cameras and devices. |
| Up front | Lower. Plug in and go. | Higher. Cable runs and a small rack, best while walls are open. |
| Right for | A smaller house or a single floor. | Larger or older homes, plaster walls, outbuildings, or anyone who wants it to just work. |
Alarm systems
| What to expect | Do-it-yourself kit | Wired system |
|---|---|---|
| Up front | Lower. Buy the kit and add sensors as you go. | Higher. Cable and a panel, best done while walls are open. |
| Every month | Usually a subscription for monitoring and video history. | Monitoring is optional, and you pick the provider. |
| Installation | You, in an afternoon. | Planned with the electrician, with you as involved as you like. |
| Limits | Batteries to change, and it leans on Wi-Fi and the maker's cloud. | Harder to add to once the walls are closed. |
Common questions
Should I use a mesh Wi-Fi kit or a wired UniFi network?
A mesh kit can be enough for a smaller house or a single floor. Larger or older homes, plaster walls and outbuildings usually do better with access points wired back to one switch. We walk the house and tell you which you need.
Do security cameras need a monthly subscription?
Many consumer cameras do, for video history or monitoring. A UniFi camera system can record to a drive in your house without a subscription. We lay out the options and the running costs side by side so you can choose.
Do you work on older homes in Hyde Park, Mt. Lookout and Mariemont?
Yes. Most of our work is in existing homes, many of them older Tudor, Colonial Revival and early twentieth-century houses. We measure and photograph on site because older homes rarely match their drawings, and we plan around plaster walls, original trim and existing wiring.
Will you work with my architect, builder or designer?
Yes. We are often brought in alongside an existing team. We verify conditions on site and give each trade a clear, written plan to work from.