Home Security Cameras

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

So many...so confusing!

I want to buy one. I just want the BEST ONE...PUTTING PRICE ASIDE...which one would you buy that is easy to install and has real good cameras.

maybe those who have a security camera at home which they are not too happy with could post here too.

Thank you you for your input.

FastDogWalker2 · ‎03-10-2010

We recently installed a Blink system. We have 3 cameras - front door, back porch and side door/driveway. It was easy to put up and easy to load the apps onto our phones. We have put it through it's paces and have been very pleased so far. I find it especially helpful lately because it allows me to know when packages have been delivered to our front porch. We have had it 2-3 weeks and so far no negatives. Good luck and hope you get lots of helpful info!

Mj12 · ‎03-09-2010

@FastDogWalker2that is very good to read; we just bought the Blink TSV (arrived yesterday - still in the box) and it's good to hear that you like it so far.

@SeaMaidenI'll be interested to read the replies. We were debating between Blink and Ring. I believe Ring requires a monthly subscription (I think it is around $100/year for unlimited cameras) and Blink does not - but beyond that, I'm not sure what the differences are.

LoveMeSomeQVC · ‎05-14-2016

@SeaMaiden We have both the Blink system and a Ring Doorbell. Both are easy set up and the only real drawback is that your internet has to be working to be able to view the cameras, but that is not typically an issue.

The black color Blink cameras are indoor/outdoor, which is nice. The white ones are indoor only, although we did have one under a covered porch for several months before we added the Ring doorbell. The main functionality difference between the two that I can see is that you have two-way communication with the Ring and can speak to the person ringing the doorbell (or anyone around your front door - the bell does not have to be ringing). On the Blink system you can only hear one way (whatever you are viewing) and can't communicate through the device.

Both systems are awesome! Technology is amazing.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@LoveMeSomeQVC Thanks so much for your post. What do you mean " your internet needs to be working for the cameras to work?? So you have to have your computer ON all day and night? My WiFi is on 24/7, but not my computer as it is not safe to just leave your computer on as far as security when not in use.

Could you explain this to me about THE INTERNET NEEDS TO BE WORKING....

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

You just need to have a network, so you are probably fine in that regard.

Beyond that, I absolutely ABHOR these Blink cameras! BTW, in one of the recent presentations here they lied a few times about them. I heard the rep say that you can load them on your computer to watch. You cannot and there are complaints all over the internet about that.

When you leave your house you cannot monitor them. Your phone has to be accessing your home network (and they are not all compatible) in order to see what the cameras pick up. Fortunately, we have a dual router, so we could use the part that works for this Blink system...such as it is.

Furthermore, they don't always work. More often than not anybody can walk through the range and the camera does not pick anything up.

I wish my husband had not purchased these. When you are trying to delete the videos on your phone, often you have to delete the same ones over and over. Some might show up later to be deleted again. (you can tell because the time is showing)

There are other brands of systems that, from all I've heard, are like 100% better. My husband is a very emotional thinker, so he's not one to research something before buying. He's probably QVC's target audience (glad he doesn't watch much!), as they can convince him that he should buy something.

I could go on, but I'll spare you. Just suffice to say that I would not have my safety based entirely on these stupid cameras and I am also ticked that he believed some of the lies they told in presentations, which got him to pull the trigger.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@chickenbutt Very interesting post. Thanks for sharing.

fthunt · ‎12-24-2010

After hearing David's experience - RING woke him at 2:30 AM b/c a deer was in his yard and at 6:30 AM squirrel has taken a liking to his front porch. That got me to thinking.............for a person who may wake in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep - - I def don't want a RING or anything else disturbing my rest. I have woods behind my house - skunks - raccoons - deer - rabbits. A burglar is more welcome as long as he's quiet!

Allegheny · ‎03-19-2010

@SeaMaiden Just a suggestion..Ask on the Electronics forum also.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@chickenbutt Very interesting post. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks! I hate to sound like a Negative Nellie, but whenever I can I share my experience. If you've known me at all, you have probably seen me sing the praises of products that are good. I like to be helpful and I like others to know about good products. These, OTOH, are the bane of my existence right now.

One example of when they don't work and should - I go to the store. The one over the garage doesn't pick up me leaving and sometimes it picks me up returning into the garage (by the time I'm halfway in the garage). But if anything else happens while I'm gone I won't get it on my phone unless I leave the phone home. It's not even like I will get the images when I get back home, either. Just nothing. I just got home from the store before writing this and there was not a video for my departure or my return.

This morning we had guys from the power company in our back yard. There was not a single video of any of that (I was home).

Each camera shows you, on your phone since you cannot put them on your computer, how good the signal is. I have a very good and fast network. Each of them shows the reception with all or all but one bar, consistently. Why they don't always pick up things is beyond me.

Sometimes the picture will be all bright red. Went online to find out about that when one of mine did that. Says to remove the batteries and put them back in. Not gonna climb up a ladder because I fall off ladders now, so I figured I'd wait it out and it did clear up by the next day. I don't even know what causes that but, based on my Googling, it was not an anomaly.