Wired or wireless
Wired cameras run a cable back to a recorder, which makes them the most reliable, since they get power and connection through that one line and never need a battery charged. Wireless cameras are far easier to place because they just need WiFi and often a battery, but that means charging batteries and depending on your WiFi reaching the far corner of the yard. For most homes a mix works: wired at the main spots you never want to fail, wireless where running a cable is a pain.
Where it records, and the subscription trap
This is the one that costs people money quietly. Some systems record to a box at your house, a local recorder, and that means no monthly fee to keep your footage. Others record to the company cloud, which is convenient but usually comes with a subscription you pay forever, and if you stop paying you can lose access to your own recordings. Neither is wrong, but you should know which you are buying. Ask what happens to your footage if you cancel, before you sign up.
Watching from your phone
Whatever you buy, watching live and reviewing recordings from your phone is standard now, at home or across the country. The thing to check is whether remote viewing is included or whether it is part of the paid subscription, and how the system handles it, since a decent setup lets you look in from anywhere without you having to open your home network to the internet in a risky way. A good installer sets that up so it just works and stays secure.
- Wired is more reliable; wireless is easier to place
- Local recording means no monthly fee; cloud usually means one
- Yes, you watch it from your phone either way
In Texas, alarm companies and the people who install alarms, wiring, and electronic access control fall under the state's Private Security Program, run by the Department of Public Safety, per Occupations Code Chapter 1702.