The Ultimate Smart Home: Wireless Outdoor Security Cameras

woman checking doorbell camera

With the advances in cameras and in wireless and cloud-based technology, it’s now very affordable for homeowners to line up their house security camera system and monitor them remotely.

Many manufacturers now offer affordable cloud hosting, often at a fraction of what it might have cost for an identical system within the past or maybe free. High-powered batteries and wireless communication allow owners to put cameras at entrances and corners of the house without the effort of hiring an electrician to run wires. Battery life on these new cameras can range from six months to 2 years counting on the model, settings, and amount of activity within the area. However, I wouldn’t trust the anticipation on the box. The Blink XT2 camera claims it’ll last two years using two AA lithium batteries, but I didn't find that to be the case once I tried it out myself. After only two months the batteries were depleted to around 25%.

Arlo and Ring both offer solar array add-ons for his or her cameras that help keep the batteries charged. However, the camera must be plugged in to permit continuous recording. Both cameras can detect motion and supply real-time notifications to your phone. Users also can view past footage. Some companies, like Ring, require a subscription to review older footage, while Arlo provides 30 days of video playback with its Arlo Smart Plan. The Arlo Ultra camera comes with a one-year subscription, and Blink gives you seven days for free of charge .

Each company has upgraded plans that are available month to month, but you’ll economize by paying for a year at a time. The Arlo Ultra also can record locally to a micro SD card during a smart-home hub, giving the homeowner a replica of the video albeit the web connection is down or if the camera is stolen. Arlo also offers a theft replacement program for cameras purchased within the last year.

The Arlo Ultra, Blink XT2, and Ring Spot Camera all have speakers and microphones allowing two-way communication and begin recording once they detect motion. Arlo can detect if it’s an individual , package, animal, or vehicle by using AI , which is included in select subscriptions, and therefore the activity zone being monitored by the camera are often adjusted. Ring security cameras also allow adjustment of activity zones if they're hardwired or plugged in. With the battery-operated version, you’re only ready to adjust sensitivity. During testing, I found that the Ring camera was often depart by passersby, insects, and even the reflection of headlights.

Overall, if you’re looking to setup a multicamera system with remote monitoring, Arlo’s Ultra is my top pick. The Ring Spotlight may be a good alternative if you’re already paying the subscription for his or her video doorbell and need to feature a few more cameras. But the Ring Spotlight is best-suited for locations where power is out there . While Blink XT2 may be a cheaper alternative, the video quality is lower and it’s only ready to record a maximum of 60-second clips.

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