wireless

Blink Outdoor Security Camera Changes Things a Bit

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The Blink Outdoor Security Camera just came out.  There’s a minor improvement on the hardware specs from the XT2.  There is a significant change in how the video history is stored.  Along with that change is a new Blink sync module.  These last two changes go together in purposeful strategy which we will discuss a little later. We encountered the first generation from Blink over three years ago.  The Blink Home Security System was a decent wireless camera but was still a work in progress.  Seeing the opportunity for an outdoor model, the Blink XT was introduced and we liked … Read more

Blink Outdoor 4 Security Camera is a Little Bigger and a Little Better

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The Blink Outdoor 4 Security Camera is the next iteration of the company’s very successful line of surveillance cameras. The predecessor to this camera is the Blink Outdoor.  We looked at that in 2022 and liked it a lot.  Prior generations to that are the XT2 and XT.  Each generation made small improvements over the prior one.  This camera made most of the improvements on the hardware end. The great thing about the Blink line of cameras is they last a long time.  Just keep changing the batteries. So let’s look at the latest and greatest from Blink. Software You … Read more

How to Save on Batteries for a Wireless Camera

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We have seen several manufacturers introduce some nice products in the wireless home camera arena.  For this article, wireless means no A/C power cable and no Ethernet cable.  Most home security cameras handle wireless connectivity these days but only a handful do wireless power.  Those that do wireless power depend upon batteries and you can blow through these quickly.  We’re going to discuss how to save on batteries for a wireless camera. Save on batteries takes on two avenues of attack.  First is the subject of reducing consumption.  Second is the subject of lowering the cost of getting more batteries. … Read more

Blink XT2 Smart Security Camera Review

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The Blink XT2 Outdoor/Indoor Smart Security Camera is the latest entry from Blink.  Most specs are the same from the prior generation.  The introduction of two-way talk via a rear mounted speaker and enhanced recording ability set this apart from the earlier generations. We encountered the first generation from Blink two years ago.  The Blink Home Security System was a decent wireless camera but was still a work in progress.  Seeing the opportunity for an outdoor model, the Blink XT was introduced and we liked this a lot.  The Blink XT2 builds upon the older XT so readers shouldn’t be … Read more

WiFi Mesh Network Systems and Home Security Cameras

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A good WiFi router is essential when using a wireless security camera.  Insufficient WiFi coverage will render a wireless camera useless.  Problems with wireless routers can stem from the technology being too old or your home being too large.  Most wireless routers are made to cover a small to medium size home.  Anything above a few thousand square feet is often too large for a regular router.  That’s where mesh network system come into the discussion. Mesh Basics We discussed how to handle a weak WiFi signal a few years ago but times have changed and a mesh system is … Read more

Wyze Battery Cam Pro Works Great After Overcoming Setup Issues

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It was a rough start for the Wyze Cam Battery Pro but after getting past the setup issues, it was a pleasant surprise.  A solid image with a very decent motion detection capability bundled with a rechargeable battery that lasts six months between charges.  Sounds good to me. We’ve looked at several Wyze Cams in the past including the original Wyze Cam, Wyze Cam v2 and Wyze Cam v3.  These were all excellent low priced security cameras. We especially liked the Wyze Cam v3 and this camera can also be used outdoors. This is an upgrade to the company’s Wyze … Read more

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