What to Look For in a Smart WiFi Camera
Smart WiFi Camera does not require any wire or cable so it is flexible enough to be installed anywhere. They also do not rely on a constant power source, which eliminates the chance that thieves might cut the cables to disrupt your surveillance.
The device connects to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network so it may not work with all wireless routers. It comes with a temperature sensor and can send you alerts on your smartphone.
Features
If you’re looking to protect your home or business with a smart security camera, you need to know what features to look for. These cameras typically use your home Wi-Fi to connect to the internet and stream footage to a mobile app that you can access from anywhere. They also sometimes record footage and send you alerts when something happens around your property.
These smart surveillance cameras are a great choice for monitoring pets, kids or the house while you’re away. Some are compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, making it easier to free up your hands by controlling them through voice commands. Others are equipped with two-way audio so you can talk to whoever is in the camera’s field of vision. Some even come with a siren that you can activate to scare off intruders.
Most smart surveillance cameras are plug-and-play devices that don’t require the help of specialists to install them. They work with your existing home Wi-Fi network to connect to the internet and have an easy-to-use mobile app that you can download on your smartphone to control them. Some of them have a built-in speaker and microphone so you can hear what’s going on inside Smart WiFi Camera or outside your home, while others come with a remote power switch to give you the option of switching it off from wherever you are.
Design
The camera has a fixed lower part which houses an ethernet port for a wired connection, a reset button and slot for a micro USB cable to connect it to the mains power (EU and UK plugs are included). It also has a built-in speaker. The upper part is home to a rotating lens and a LED which shows when it is recording or active.
The app can be used to set times of the day when the camera should record or not and it also has a privacy mode that ensures the lens is covered so no footage is recorded at all. There is also a motion detection option that can be switched on or off.
Another great feature is that the camera can be connected to a smart display like an Echo Show 8 so you can see a live feed from your home or business from the TV screen. This can be handy if you want to keep an eye on what is going on when you are out of the house or office.
The dashboard for the camera allows users to be granted access at either an organization or network level and it is easy to assign rights to specific locations and cameras. The camera is also able to use cloud storage so if your business premises are broken into or damaged you can still access the video footage.
Motion Detection
Motion sensor cameras with long range detection can spot people as they walk around your house and are an effective way to deter burglars. Some models detect movement as far as 40 feet away from the camera. If you don’t want to be alerted every time someone walks past, consider a model that can distinguish between pets and humans, so you only get an alert when someone is an actual threat.
These cameras are very easy to set up and run on your own Wi-Fi network. They don’t require any complicated tweaking of your router to apply port forwarding or DDNS. They’re also easy to use, with a simple app that lets you see live video from your smartphone and control your cameras. You can also use the app to playback and capture still photos.
Some models offer the ability to store footage in the cloud, which is great for backup and retrieval. The cloud feature is also useful for ensuring that you have access to your footage even when the camera is out of power.
Some models are designed to be used as a baby monitor or hidden camera, and they include two-way audio so you can communicate with whoever is in front of the camera. This feature can also be used to check in on pets or young children while you’re at work.
Storage
There are a few different ways to store footage from a Smart WiFi Camera, with most having options for local and cloud storage. Some devices come with a microSD card slot that allows you to record up to two days worth of footage without having to sign up for a subscription plan (although this will increase the cost and limits what you can do with the device).
For some models, the camera will automatically upload any recorded videos to your account in the cloud and they’ll be available to view at any time. This can be useful if you want to keep an eye on your home at all times, and it also means that any footage captured by the camera won’t run the risk of being hacked or stolen.
If you want to save footage locally on a computer or tablet, most cameras will allow you to do so for free by installing the appropriate software. This will typically be provided by the manufacturer. This will limit what you can Smart WiFi Camera do with the camera, however, and it may not work with other smart home systems.
The Blink doorbell camera is one example of a smart security device that has the ability to record footage locally via its sync module, which can be purchased separately for PS30. This will allow you to keep up to three days of motion alert footage for free, or if you opt for the more expensive subscription plans, you’ll be able to access footage up to a month old.