Retail pricing dictates a $3 component cost is $12. And that $3 would have to include packaging and assembly costs. And the plastic case and button. £17 is tough to hit with all that, especially if there is an SD card included or any software development to ensure any kind of security.

They also, if you don’t turn it off, default to allowing other Amazon devices to use YOUR Ring to access the Internet.

e: Oh, sorry I misread your question. I haven't seen a lightbulb socket powerline adapter. There's no reason why they can't exist though afaik. e2: Lighbulb socket -> power plug adapter -> insert the rest here

You'd use a few things in a chain. Socket -> Ethernet over Power connection -> Cat6 cable -> Power over Ethernet injector -> Cat6 -> PoE Camera

If you want to hook up multiple cameras to one power plug, go Socket -> Ethernet over Power -> Switch -> PoE power injector on each of your camera lines -> etc

You can also buy switches that do the PoE injection for you so you don't need multiple injectors. You'd have to compare the prices, but the PoE switch is likely cheaper than a regular switch + multiple PoE injectors.

you can use a light socket to plug adapter and plug it in like normal

Local hosting for a security camera is a rather terrible idea, because it can be defeated by stealing or breaking the camera.

I'm no expert, but I believe this is down to the individual member states.

In my country (the NL) it is technically not allowed to film the public street with an automated camera, which effectively makes Ring and equivalents illegal to install in most places

Practically this is not really enforced though, so you see them everywhere anyway.

I think yes, as long as it only sees within your private property.

Why wouldn't they be? Is it illegal to record people without their permission in the EU or something? Clueless American here.

Only cameras I recommend are not consumer priced :/ Axis. You do get full access, can run your own code and offline etc.

I don't have input on cameras specifically, but I have gone pretty deep into trying to understand how to maximise security and interoperability in smart home stuff, through open source control.

A starting point for the you-in-control app to use for smart devices is Home assistant. I was surprised by how easy it was to set up self hosted smart home stuff, largely because there's loads of guides that build around home assistant. So whether a particular camera works with home assistant is a good starting search filter

Reolink for the cameras and deny them internet access. You can tell them to record to internal SD Card and / or setup an NVR like Frigate. If you don't want "roll your own" headaches and have the money for it then use gear from Ubiquiti and UniFi Protect.

i get it that tech is cool and stuff, but as ive gotten older, ive learned not to rely on it as much

if i wanted security like that, id get a closed loop camera system, all stored locally.