Discussion
I use Reolink wifi cameras with solar power. Been happy with them for a few years now.
The solar panel is useful insofar as they never run out of battery, but having run one without a charge for nearly 2 months at one stage, on reflection I might have saved the additional cost of the solar panels (and the "cleaner" look) and just seen fit to charge them every few months.
The solar panel is useful insofar as they never run out of battery, but having run one without a charge for nearly 2 months at one stage, on reflection I might have saved the additional cost of the solar panels (and the "cleaner" look) and just seen fit to charge them every few months.
Do you mean WiFi or totally Wireless?
Many WiFi cameras on the market, we use Imou ones from Amazon and they work fine. The setup is easy and the app works as you would expect. We use SD cards to store the footage though rather than Cloud but having tried their cloud storage, it also works fine.
You just download the app, plug them in, scan the QR code within the app and away you go. Its a doddle.
Many WiFi cameras on the market, we use Imou ones from Amazon and they work fine. The setup is easy and the app works as you would expect. We use SD cards to store the footage though rather than Cloud but having tried their cloud storage, it also works fine.
You just download the app, plug them in, scan the QR code within the app and away you go. Its a doddle.
We have a 4 camera Arlo Pro set up and it's brilliant. We have put the outdoor power leads to a couple of them on our garage (just poked them under the soffit and plugged them in inside the garage) and a solar panel on another and they're great. The one that's running on battery lasts about 4 weeks between a charge.
2k footage and storage on the hub which you can pop a USB memory stick into if you don't want to pay for a plan.
They're not cheap though, luckily Amazon messed up the pricing and we managed to get ours for £59.00 instead if £899
2k footage and storage on the hub which you can pop a USB memory stick into if you don't want to pay for a plan.
They're not cheap though, luckily Amazon messed up the pricing and we managed to get ours for £59.00 instead if £899
Thread hijack
I have an old Piper camera which has irritatingly died after 6y of use
It had good definition inc night vision and stored short clips to their cloud at no cost when triggered
There was also an alarm function such as when activated it made a massive amount of noise
I used it in conjunction with our house alarm but it was also handy to check on the dog when she's left alone for short/medium periods
So which of the previous mentioned systems give me the following please:
WiFi
Night vision
Cloud storage at free/modest cost
Doesnt need to be wireless as is near socket
Simple functionality from phone app
Im not about to extend to the whole house and garden but for a supplementary if I did buy a single camera for the kitchen then decide to splurge which ecosystem is most easily and cost effectively expanded?
Cheers
Non OP/hijack update
Euphy 3 camera system delivered today and installed in a few minutes. Obvs would have been less time as I initially forgot to disable my VPN for set up
Initial impressions good. Camera definition excellent and app very easy to initialise - I have it timed to activate all 3 cameras at bedtime with notifs for those inside only (not garden badger cam) and also those bits of the day when we are all predictably out.
Have paid for cloud storage for a single indoor cam just in case which is very reasonable at 3US/month. When on holiday or we're all out for extended periods I have a setting to send me notifs and record video for the indoor cameras only - once again the garden is a hotbed of foxes and badgers so that camera records and stores at the base station but doesnt send notifs although first impressions are the system is pretty good at prioritising humans so I may change in due course
Cost after Amazon "one off special deal" was roughly the same as a two year subscription to the Blink cloud. Im very happy with this as it stores video without extra subs although as stated the most likely camera to trigger if ne'er do wells gain illicit access is the one Ive backed up at the very modest subscription tariff
Once again thanks to the PH massive for your help
Cheers
Not truly 'wireless', and officially not designed for outdoor use, but I swear by the Neos Smartcam (£20 direct from Neos) which is wi-fi. https://shop.neos.co.uk/products/neos-smartcam
Bought an outdoor housing for it and we have a couple of them fixed outside, although they are tucked under an alcove and away from any rain. Ultimately, they are designed for indoor monitoring use but they come with a flat USB cable which can just be trapped in a window. The motion detection, night vision etc. is fantastic as is the phone app.
I previously used a few Y-Cams but the app was so unreliable and crashed more times than it worked, so ditched those and just got a couple of Neos cameras temporarily whilst I did some research on proper Hikvision (or similar) systems. Well that was over three years ago and there has been no issue whatsoever with these Neos cameras.
Bought an outdoor housing for it and we have a couple of them fixed outside, although they are tucked under an alcove and away from any rain. Ultimately, they are designed for indoor monitoring use but they come with a flat USB cable which can just be trapped in a window. The motion detection, night vision etc. is fantastic as is the phone app.
I previously used a few Y-Cams but the app was so unreliable and crashed more times than it worked, so ditched those and just got a couple of Neos cameras temporarily whilst I did some research on proper Hikvision (or similar) systems. Well that was over three years ago and there has been no issue whatsoever with these Neos cameras.
Greendubber said:
I have a Neos in my garage and it's excellent. We have Arlo for outside as I had no idea you could get cases for Neos cams.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SmartCam-Bracket-Protective-Adjustable-SmartCam%EF%BC%881Pack%EF%BC%8CWhite/dp/B07W5L47QT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NS7L49LX4ME7&keywords=neos%2Bsmartcam%2Bhousing&qid=1649145907&sprefix=neos%2Bsmartcam%2Bhousing%2Caps%2C53&sr=8-1&th=1Right here. The link isn't clickable for some reason but just copy that and they are available on Amazon for a tenner. Obviously not officially weatherproof but it does the job because mine are out the way of any rain, as I say. The Neos cams seem to cope fine with outdoor winter temperatures.
Edited by FatboyKim on Tuesday 5th April 11:16
TCruise said:
Completely wireless
Batteries last for months
Cloud based, but our are old so no subscription
Instant notifications, if you want them
2 way voice
Good night vision
Very very easy to use and set up
Pretty much my experience of Blink also, quite happy with it.Batteries last for months
Cloud based, but our are old so no subscription
Instant notifications, if you want them
2 way voice
Good night vision
Very very easy to use and set up
Clearly not the best or most full-proof method on the market, but in terms of being low cost (about £125 on Blink Amazon sales got me 2 x battery powered external cameras, 2 x wired internal cameras & one recording hub), low hassle (two screws per camera and no drilling through walls) & little ongoing cost (batteries, mainly - although the area with most traffic, above front door, is still going strong 9 months later).
The only issue I had was a rubbish Sky router and dropping internet connection. Solved with WiFi extenders and not Blink's fault.
Only negative is there is a few seconds' delay until notification and they don't pick-up oncoming motion straight-on as well, do better with movement across the camera.
The iPhone App is great and allows tweaking re automatic timing, sensitivity, clip length, areas covered etc.
I've purposefully installed the exterior cameras under eaves to shield better from weather & water, but only time will tell.
Ultimately, it's nice to be able to check-in whilst away and is only really another level of deterrent to hopefully make miscreants move-on elsewhere, so I'm happy with the utility / cost balance.
I have Neos and Blink indoors, with Reolink solar powered external ones as mentioned earlier.
I would agree that the Neos ones are great, particularly for the money. I also think the app beats that of Blink. The Reolink app and also PC viewing platform probably betters both.
Still far from pro systems but the blink to me is a very basic function compared to even the Neos, despite that also being very low budget end.
I would agree that the Neos ones are great, particularly for the money. I also think the app beats that of Blink. The Reolink app and also PC viewing platform probably betters both.
Still far from pro systems but the blink to me is a very basic function compared to even the Neos, despite that also being very low budget end.
We've got Arlo cams internally and in a property overseas. Very happy with them.
Overseas the internal ones last literally months when nobody is there, and are movement triggered - the external ones are on solar panels which give us uninterrupted recordings of any and all movement. I'm particularly impressed with their floodlight cameras as they give that extra element of security.
Our internal ones in UK are just for seeing where people are in the house really and making sure the kids aren't pinching all my beer from the bar, and typically last a few weeks between battery changes.
Externally in UK we use Unifi Protect G4 cameras which are amazing, but need a fair bit of infrastructure behind them (PoE and a Unifi NVR), but if I were starting from scratch including running cables, for instance on a new renovation, I'd use them everywhere. The software and detection is just brilliant.
My issue with the Google and Amazon offerings is their approach to how they process and use customer data. A storm is coming on that front, coupled with everything people give away on social media. But that's a conversation for another day.
Overseas the internal ones last literally months when nobody is there, and are movement triggered - the external ones are on solar panels which give us uninterrupted recordings of any and all movement. I'm particularly impressed with their floodlight cameras as they give that extra element of security.
Our internal ones in UK are just for seeing where people are in the house really and making sure the kids aren't pinching all my beer from the bar, and typically last a few weeks between battery changes.
Externally in UK we use Unifi Protect G4 cameras which are amazing, but need a fair bit of infrastructure behind them (PoE and a Unifi NVR), but if I were starting from scratch including running cables, for instance on a new renovation, I'd use them everywhere. The software and detection is just brilliant.
My issue with the Google and Amazon offerings is their approach to how they process and use customer data. A storm is coming on that front, coupled with everything people give away on social media. But that's a conversation for another day.
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