Lot’s of people have asked about video cameras for their homes. Until recently, setting up a home camera system was a pain; involving running wires through your house to the desired camera locations, and configuring a device to monitor and recorded the video. Not to mention how difficult it can be to get the footage out of the device when needed.Now, several companies offer completely wireless options with cloud recording.
First is the Ring Video Doorbell. It replaces your existing doorbell with a “smart doorbell” that is WiFi connected and has a video camera, microphone, and speaker. When someone rings the bell, or activates the motion detection, it records the video to the cloud and alerts your phone. You can remotely view video of the guest at your door and talk with them from anywhere. You can also access those recorded clips from your computer or smartphone They also offer a separate Ring Stickup Cam. It’s basically their video doorbell but without the doorbell. Both devices run on battery for up to six months on a charge. They record at 720p. Ring does offer the Ring Video Doorbell Pro which is much slimmer and records at 1080p, but requires the device be wired into the house’s doorbell wire for power and does not have a battery. Cloud video recording does cost an optional $30 per year per device. There are several competitors to the Ring Video Doorbell, including SkyBell,
You can find the Ring Video Doorbell at www.ring.com.
Next is a newer entry into the home security realm, Blink. Their home security cameras are affordable and completely wireless. You can purchase a one, two, three, or five camera system that includes the base station, called a Sync Module starting at $99. for the one camera kit. They also just announced an outdoor version of their cameras for $119 which is an excellent addition to their lineup when it is available. Their cameras run on regular AA batteries, so you can easily swap them out when they go flat. They claim a two year battery life, but I’m sure your mileage will vary.
You can find Blink’s cameras here: www.blinkforhome.com
The Nest Dropcam is an excellent camera with some caveats. It provides the best audio and video quality (1080p), but unlike the others in this list, it requires that the camera be plugged into power at all times. They offer indoor and outdoor cameras, but keep in mind you need to have access to electricity. It also doesn’t include any free cloud recording. The cost for cloud recording is $10 per month per device, so it’s not cheap.
Nest Dropcam can be found on their site: https://nest.com/camera/meet-nest-cam/
Now we move to Netgear’s Arlo. Their cameras are completely wireless using a rechargeable battery and wireless connectivity to an included base station. They offer free cloud recording, enough for 7 days of footage to be stored before the older footage is overwritten. If you need more, you can subscribe. All of their cameras only record at 720p, but that is usually enough for most circumstances. These should be easy to deploy anywhere you need a camera. They have several models of cameras, so read up on them and make sure you’re getting the one that fits your needs.
For more info on Arlo, check here: www.arlo.com
Finally, I’ll mention Canary. Canary is marketed as “The all-in-one security solution with HD camera, siren, and air monitor.” It’s a video camera with some extra features. It’s not wireless, but it’s also not unattractive to have on your living room table. They do offer an outdoor wireless security camera, the Canary Flex, as well. And unlike Blink and Arlo it doesn’t require a base station to operate. It does record at 1080p, which is great, and you get 24 hours of cloud storage for free. If you want more, you can get 30 days of video recording for $10 per month.
They also offer an outdoor camera, the Canary Flex.
Check them out at www.canary.is
In conclusion, these are just a few of the dozens of security camera options out there. This really is a burgeoning market, and I’m sure we will see many more exciting offerings from these companies and new ones in the near future. Setting up a home security camera system has never been easier, so you don’t have any excuse not to go for it. If you need help deciding on a system, or setting one up, feel free to contact me.
-Luke