The Wansview Home Camera is our latest kick the tires candidate. It’s inexpensive to be sure. Especially when compared to a camera like the Nest Cam or Arlo Pro HD.
So what’s missing? Why would you want to consider this camera?
The Wansview Home Camera is an entry level home security camera. Not a bad choice for someone looking for a simple and quick solution for peering in on the action. While it’s not for everyone, it might be best suited for someone on a budget that wants to occasionally peer in on what’s going on at home or the office. So let’s take a closer look at this camera.
Software
You can access the Wansview Home Camera through an iOS or Android device. The camera cannot be accessed from a web browser however there is a plugin that can be installed on a PC or Mac connected to the same network that will enable viewing on a computer. This plugin is only useful on a computer that is on the same LAN and cannot work over the internet.
Setup of the camera is accomplished through the smartphone app. Just scan the UID code and the camera is recognized. You will be prompted for the wireless network password. Once the camera is recognized by the app, you can customize the installation. A little trouble was encountered when changing the default admin userid and password during setup. Looks like the defaults need to be used during setup with the ability to change it coming after the camera is identified to your network. A strange quirk.
After this, you might feel somewhat on your own as the included manual is lacking. Searching on the Wansview web site will uncover a more complete manual. If you want to do anything beyond basic monitoring, download it. However, if you simply want a camera to peer in on what’s going on, you probably won’t need the manual as the software functionality for simple surveillance is intuitive to figure out on your own.
The online manual is re-purposed from another camera model with “not supported in this model” throughout. A manual written specific to this camera model would have been appreciated.
The Wansview Home Camera is good for watching a pet or checking in on a property. Establishing motion alerts can be accomplished through the app. An alert tells you of a motion event without any photo accompanying it nor the ability to go back in history since there isn’t any storage.
In the category of you get what you pay for, there are several features that appears the software supports. Two that come to mind is temperature and humidity alerts. When I saw these features, I was excited. Quickly though, I realized this software is used for other camera models and isn’t customized to exclude unsupported features on this model. So when you see the ability to set environmental alerts, ignore it, as it isn’t supported on the Wansview Home Camera.
Hardware
The Wansview Home Camera measures approximately 4 inches tall, 2.5 inches wide, 2.5 inches deep. The measurements include the stand.
Out of the box, this camera is designed to stand on a table or shelf. There are holes on the bottom of the stand to allow the camera to be mounted on a ceiling.
The included micro USB power cable is measures almost 10 feet which is standard for most cameras.
These is an indoor camera. Outdoor use is not recommended.
Audio is supported and the microphone provides acceptable quality. The speakers are somewhat tinny. You can’t hold a two-way conversation. Speaking from the app to the camera is accomplished by pressing and holding a button in the app.
The Wansview Home Camera features a 120 degree wide angle lens. Generally speaking, it’s enough to cover an entire room if positioned on a corner shelf.
The camera supports up to 720p (1280 x 720) lens at 30 frames per second. Generally speaking, this is sufficient for basic surveillance at a close range. Not great but not bad.
Acceptable night vision is provided with 4 IR LEDs. The manufacturer states this is good for up to 7 meters.
Recording to an on-board SD card is not supported on the Wansview Home Camera. Cloud recording is also unsupported. This is a real time camera,
Connectivity
The Wansview Home Camera connects at 2.4 GHz using 802.11b/g/n. The 5 GHz band is unsupported.
Mounts
The Wansview Home Camera will typically be used with the weighted stand on a table or shelf. The camera comes with two mounting screws which can be driven into a wall. The ends of the screws can then fit within two grooves on the base of the camera. Unlike other home security cameras, there is no support for a universal tripod screw anywhere on this camera. That rules out most alternative mounting options.
An alternative mount for this camera is the Stick-On Nest Cam Security Video Wall Mount 2 PACK. Turns out the base of the Wansview Home Camera is roughly the same size as a Nest Cam and it will fit on this mount. This mount, when coupled with the camera, is a convenient method for deploying the camera to see out a window.
Fun and Different
This is a very basic camera without many fun and different features. However, one feature which can be useful is the ability to take a snapshot or video from the smartphone app. It’s fun until you realize the recording is stored directly on your phone (remember there isn’t any on-board SD card).
Summary
The Wansview Home Camera is a lower end camera that is suited for someone on a budget looking for basic monitoring capability. The app is reasonably intuitive and it’s easy to setup. It’s cheap and reliable but low on premium features.
The absence of any on-board or cloud storage makes this a difficult choice for anyone needing to access past events. Those wanting some automation and event archival are best off looking at the well regarded Yi Home Camera or the higher end Nest Cam.
Quick Specs:
| Video Quality | Field of View | Cloud Support | SD Support | Night Vision | Mobile/Web App | Alerts | Outdoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1280x720 | 120 Degrees | No | No | Yes | Yes/No | Yes | No |
Manufacturer Link: Wansview