Having an outdoor camera that works well is a blessing. It obstructs the mischievous expeditions of the troublemakers and lets you know whether the thing crossing the door is a friend, a furry creature, or a foe.
We recommend the Blink Outdoor Wireless Security Camera for the job.
It is a wireless, weather-resistant, and battery-powered outdoor camera. Moreover, it features motion and sound detection and works well with Alexa. It also has long battery life, offers 1080p video, and a USB port for local video storage. However, its cloud storage requires a subscription.
It also allows you to create privacy zones and customized motion detection. These enable you only to see moments that you care about.
So, let’s check out the Blink Cam!
Blink Security Camera – Design and Key Features
Size
The Blink Outdoor System is a small camera with dimensions of 2.7 x 2.7 x 1.2 inches (HxWxD). It has an even smaller hub with dimensions of 0.7 x 2.3 x 2.5 inches, connecting the camera to the home Wi-Fi network. The camera is black and has an IP65 weather-resistant rating.
Two AA batteries power it with a battery life of up to two years. You can easily replace the battery by loosening the screws on the camera’s back and popping off the cover.
Camera
This camera features video motion detection. It captures 1080 pixels of footage at 30 fps. The field of view is 110 degrees and uses an LED for capturing black and white night video. It contains a speaker and microphone for a two-way conversation.
Also, it has a temperature sensor. The camera has a pair of status LEDs that let the user know whether the camera is active or the night vision is enabled.
Sync Module
A mini USB adapter operates the sync module of the camera. It consists of a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio for connecting to the home network and an RF radio for communicating with the camera. It contains Wi-Fi and power status LEDs on the front and a USB port on the side.
The USB port helps the camera connect to external storage devices such as a thumb drive to store the video triggered by events.
Cloud Subscription
If you want to store or create a backup of your videos in the cloud, you can subscribe to one of Blink’s storage plans.
The subscription charges differ from plan to plan. This subscription also provides you access to Blink’s photo capture feature that allows you to take a still image every hour.
Those images are then compiled in a video clip that lets you see what happened before a motion-triggered image is captured.
Mobile App
The Blink Outdoor Camera also has a Blink Home Monitor Mobile App. This application works with Android, iOS, and Fire OS devices.
The application opens to a screen that has panels for each installed camera. Each panel shows a still image of the camera’s field and features a button that allows the user to take a screenshot and a button for launching a live stream.
There is also an option of watching this live stream in full-screen mode by turning the phone sideways. The talk button enables the user to initiate a two-way talk.
A motion icon in the upper right corner appears only if motion detection is enabled.
Setting Screen
The setting screen checks the battery level, the outdoor temperature, and the set temperature threshold notification.
There are options for configuring the monitor sensitivity and video quality settings, creating motion zones, determining video clip length, editing Wi-Fi settings, enabling or disabling the microphone, and the photo capture feature.
Home Screen
Play, home, settings, and neighbor buttons are at the bottom edge of the home screen. The home button takes you back to the home screen, whereas the play button takes you to the screen with a list of triggered events and video thumbnails.
The user can tap on the video or image to share, delete, or view the video. The setting button leads you to the setting portal to update your account information, enable/disable certain features, access camera settings, manage local storage, and create recording schedules.
The neighbor button takes you to a screen where you can download the ring neighbor apps. This neighbor app allows you to receive security notifications and safety alerts from neighbors and the local police.
Installation
Setting up the Blink outdoor camera is a quick and painless task. You must download Bink’s mobile app, create an account, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the Sync Module.
Scan the QR code on the module with your mobile camera and plug it into the module. After a few seconds, the power status LEDs will blink blue and green.
When it happens, tap on the discover device option and connect the module to your home’s Wi-Fi network. Enter your Wi-Fi password, and the module immediately connects to the network.
The camera will be ready to add after a 30-second firmware update. Tap the icon in the upper right corner, select the camera, and scan the QR code in the battery compartment.
Then add the camera to the system you have created, which will be automatically recognized within 15 seconds. The camera will be ready for mounting after another 30 seconds update.
The camera is now ready for mounting. Attach the mounting base to where you want to install it, snap the camera onto the base, and complete the installation.
Performance
The performance of the Blink Outdoor Camera is exceptional. It delivers sharp, colorful daytime videos. The black and white video of the dark time appears to be equally flawless, and the video’s quality is excellent too.
Motion notification appears quickly on the application, with fewer false alerts. The Alexa voice command feature runs smoothly too.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Long-lasting battery
- Good quality video
- Works with Alexa
- Local and cloud storage
Cons
- It doesn’t support Google Assistant
- Needs a hub
Conclusion
This camera has everything an outdoor camera should possess, including extended battery life, 1080p video, easy installation, easy backup, etc.
It is the best choice to look for a camera that fits your budget and provides exceptional features. Although it requires a hub to connect to your home network, it comes with the box, so there is no need to worry about that.
It also has a USB port for local video storage.
The performance and the video quality are flawless for both day and night.
Good luck!
