How Do Blink Security Cameras Work Reviews

Tom Lohr is an avid home improvement enthusiast. He prefers to spend the money he saves on new tools and gardening supplies.

Is the Blink domicile security camera worth the money?

Tom Lohr

Blink Review: The Skillful and the Bad

We live in uneasy times. People are calling for less police presence at a time when crime is increasing. Now more ever, y'all need to take your home security seriously. With fewer police, response times will increase as well as the odds of you needing their assistance.

A adept camera arrangement is a pivotal piece of any home security parcel. Not long ago, installing security cameras mean mounting ugly, bulky units that as well required running power wires and video cables. Not just was the installation of those systems intrusive, but it was as well costly. Fortunately, nosotros live in the 21st century and the appearance of Wi-Fi and nano electronics has fostered some decent video surveillance systems that are easy to install, require no wires or cables, and are affordable.

My Experience With the Blink Organization

I of the more popular systems is Blink. Blink consists of cameras slightly smaller than a computer mouse that operate using your home's Wi-Fi signal. The ease of installation coupled with barely noticeable cameras keeps the customers rolling in for Blink.

Later researching several options, I chose to install a Blink system a piddling over a year ago. Then, later a yr in, I offering yous an unbiased review of the system'due south pros and cons to help you make up one's mind if it'south for you.

Pro: It's Relatively Inexpensive

Glimmer is probably the most affordable system that actually works. You tin get ready with a ii-camera system for less than $200. That'south not chump modify, but it is insufficiently inexpensive.

Pro: It'south an Expandable System

You can start with ane camera if you like. Each starter organisation comes with a small hub, likewise virtually the size of a reckoner mouse, that must be plugged into an outlet in your domicile. That hub connects to your Wi-Fi indicate, and the cameras connect to the hub. Each hub can support up to 10 cameras. That's a lot of surveillance.

Mounted on my fence. No wires or cables.

Tom Lohr

Pro: Wireless and Battery-Operated Options

The cameras come with two lithium AA batteries. After they run out, yous have to replace them with lithium batteries only. Using Wi-Fi for advice to the hub and batteries for power, yous can mount the cameras just about anywhere—but screw in the mount, pop the camera on, and you lot are set. Information technology is literally a five-minute task (or even quicker). If you ever move, taking your security camera arrangement with you is a breeze.

Pro: It Works Well With Alexa

Blink is a smashing company. And then corking that Amazon bought it. Since it is owned by Amazon, it should come as no surprise that Blink works well with Alexa. You add together the cameras merely like any other device. You volition need to run an "If This And then That" or IFTTT routine to become it to piece of work using voice commands, but that is simple to practise.

It Also Works With Echo Prove

Additionally, in one case you lot have it continued to Alexa, if you accept an Repeat Show (an Echo device that has a video screen), yous can exercise a visual check by just maxim "Alexa, evidence me forepart door." As long as your camera is named "front door," information technology will display real-fourth dimension video on the Repeat Show.

Screen in which you cull which sections of the camera'south field of view to cake. (Aye, that'due south a cat cam. I was monitoring some nutrient and shelter I put out for a stray cat.)

Tom Lohr

Pro: Information technology Has a Customizable Detection Area

The Blink cameras have a wide-angle view. Information technology'south probably more than you demand. If yous leave it as it comes ready, you volition stop up getting endless alerts because it reports annihilation it sees. One of the really useful features is the editable detection zone.

Once your photographic camera is ready up, you lot order the camera to accept a picture of the area. That moving-picture show will be displayed whenever you lot access the app. In the app, you can tell the photographic camera to ignore certain areas in that zone. The field of view of the camera is divided into 25 zones. You can impact 1 of the zones and it will gray out and ignore any motility. Each of those 25 zones is divided into 12 sub-zones, then you lot can really fine-tune what areas you lot desire to ignore.

Pro: Use the Warning Signals to Activate Other Devices

Yous take to use an IFTTT routine to active Glimmer cameras. But y'all can also use that IFTTT role to cause an alarm to agile other IFTTT-compatible devices.

Gyre to Go along

Read More than From Dengarden

Whenever I go out of town, I aim a very brilliant shop calorie-free out of my back window, plow it on, and plug it into a smart plug that is plugged into an outlet. I gear up my system then that IF my camera in my dorsum yard senses movement (the "THIS" office), THEN it and then it sends a signal to turn on the smart plug (the "THAT" role), and my lawn gets flooded with light (my neighbors love this). Yous tin can practise the same with a siren or any device.

Home screen on the Blink app

Tom Lohr

Pro: It Has an Awesome App

You utilise an app on your smartphone to control the Blink organization. It is super easy to use and has a good interface with the cameras. If you get an alert on your phone, you just open the app and spotter the recorded video clip. Betwixt detecting movement, sending you an alert, and having viewable video is almost 10–15 seconds. You lot tin can likewise choose, for any reason, to do a live look in from the camera, even when it's not in the "armed" condition.

Pro: In that location's a Weatherproof Option

If you lot mount cameras outside, and you probably will, Glimmer has a weatherproof model. Mine has been through, snow, rain, ice, and baking heat with no ill effects. The indoor version is much cheaper, and the indoor version that has to be plugged in is even cheaper. Mix and friction match to build an affordable system that fits your needs.

Pro: It'due south Reliable

Other than irresolute the batteries earlier than advertised, my cameras take been maintenance and worry-free.

Pro: It Sends Temperature Alerts

The cameras accept a thermometer built in and you lot tin can prepare it to transport yous an warning when information technology reaches whatever you lot set the temperature threshold at. This is platonic if you do non have a smart thermostat and you want to go on an heart on your home's interior temperature while abroad.

Camera options and adjustment screen on app

Tom Lohr

Con: The Battery Life Isn't Great

Blink claims ii lithium batteries will last two years. They might supply power, but they definitely crusade the organisation to function less effectively afterwards eight months or so. My cameras began to non trigger on for obvious objects (like me or my domestic dog) more than 10 anxiety away. A fresh set of batteries restored them to their normal effectiveness.

Con: It Has a Terrible Speaker

One of the absurd things about mod security photographic camera systems is that not only tin you run across someone if they are near your camera, but you lot can talk to them as well. Blink cameras have the power for you to speak and heed via the camera. Y'all should be able to hold a conversation. If you lot live in the country, this might piece of work well, just the speakers in the Glimmer cameras are so weak, that if there is whatever road or other dissonance nearby, they will never hear you.

Photographic camera by my entry gate

Tom Lohr

Con: Information technology Can Send Imitation Alarms

Fortunately, there is as well a sensitivity setting for each camera. You have to play with information technology to get it set to the sensitivity level you want, merely information technology helps cut down on false alerts. What is non good at is ignoring light movement. I live nearly a busy street, and occasionally a turning vehicle's low-cal beams will sweep across my porch. The camera detects those moving light beams as a moving object, and I become an alert.

For some reason, is too detects flashing lights whether they are in an ignored zone or not. Any time an ambulance, burn down truck, police force auto, or utility vehicle with flashing lights drives past my house, I get an alert.

Con: Future Compatibility Question

This is purely speculative, but I foresee Blink existence replaced past the Ring arrangement. Why? Because Amazon owns them both. Eventually, Amazon will want to merge both systems.

If Ring becomes the dominant organisation and information technology swallows up Blink, and then Blink cameras may not exist compatible with Ring devices. Then it will become like Apple tree; in one case your device is old, they stop supporting it, hoping yous will buy a new ane. Amazon is a lot similar Apple tree: they both like money, and selling new devices is a good style to arrive.

Con: Data Storage Costs a Lot

For those of u.s.a. that purchased the Blink system earlier April 2020, we become free only limited deject storage of videos captured by the cameras. I accept never exceeded 20% of the corporeality of free storage I am allotted. Afterward that engagement, Blink introduced some newish hardware upgrades that altered the information program.

For deject storage, you have to purchase a monthly or yearly subscription of cloud storage. It'south only most $30 a year per camera, only it's still coin. The simply other option is to either buy or upgrade to the newest sync module, the Sync ii. The Sync two has a USB port that allows you to salvage videos to a USB thumb drive. It seems the "new" Blink design was fabricated primarily to steer consumers toward a data storage plan. Frankly, it's a step backward.

Original Sync module

Tom Lohr

Con: Changing Lineup Creates Confusion

It used to be Blink cameras were either the XT or XT2 model, with the XT2 being the all atmospheric condition version. While still available, they are being replaced past the Blink Indoor, Outdoor and Mini models. The XT cameras are non compatible with the new Sync 2 module, pregnant you cannot use the USB drive for storage, again steering you to a data storage program. The crossover of the previous and new systems is confusing, and not all components are backward compatible.

Con: No Monitoring Service

Many systems offering a monitoring service which volition notify the police when certain conditions have been met; like a detection of someone in your house. I never cared for those services. I tin can call the law myself if someone is on or in my property without authorization. Still, some folks similar that service, but you lot won't exist able to utilize one with the Blink system.

To Blink or Not to Glimmer?

Crime will probable continue to increase and any security system is a good investment. While not perfect, the Blink organisation will run into your bones video monitoring security needs. It is feature-rich for the cost point and super easy to set up or move.

Verdict: I Recommend It

Would I recommend Blink and buy information technology again? Admittedly. Nonetheless, Glimmer has actually ticked off its customers and fans with the new pay-for-cloud-storage greed, as well equally changing the lineup of cameras without really improving the devices much. Notwithstanding, it remains the best blindside for your cadet available. And coin is of import. Just ask the Blink developers that designed the pay-for-storage scheme.

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on January 25, 2021:

This is a very informative and thorough artilce about Blink. Thank for this information.

Ben Reed from Redcar on Jan 25, 2021:

A thorough review of an interesting product.

Umesh Chandra Bhatt from Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India on January 24, 2021:

Informative and useful.

Source: https://dengarden.com/security/Is-the-Blink-Home-Security-Camera-System-Worth-It

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