PLUGGED IN Keep an eye on intruders the easy way
EZVIZ Outdoor smart camera From €93
It’s not even a decade ago that the ability to install multiple home security cameras and monitor them remotely on a smartphone or via the internet would have set a homeowner back the price of a small car. Today, companies like Google Nest and Netatmo have made it easy and more affordable for homeowners to install this sort of tech.
One company I’ve been particularly impressed with, though, is EZVIZ. Their camera range is growing but their prices are refreshingly mainstream.
Their C3WN Outdoor Smart Wifi Camera is designed to be installed outside using wifi to beam its 24-hour monitoring to your smartphone or tablet, wherever you are.
Opening the box, I found the camera, a power supply, a screw kit, and a template to use for drilling holes for the installation. The power adapter supplied lets you plug the camera into the mains as it has a regular plug. However, a qualified electrician could look at installing a longer, permanent cable if your set-up required it.
The camera itself is smaller than a tennis ball, and is equipped with two wifi antennas. At the back, as well as the power cable, is an Ethernet connection, in case you can
THERE IS A BUILT-IN STROBE LIGHT AND A 100DB ALARM
run a long network cable back to your router. The dual connection is a good idea, but most people will opt for the convenience of wifi.
There is a built-in strobe light and there’s also an impressive 100dB alarm, both designed to aid with deterring intruders and the camera is dust and waterproof.
A useful extra is the inclusion of a MicroSD card slot which means footage can be saved to the camera, as well as to cloud, which provides a useful back-up facility.
The camera is set-up using the EZVIZ app for Android or iOS. There’s a QR code on the camera, and when scanned using your phone the camera is quickly added to the app. If you have a number of EZVIZ cameras around your home all of their feeds are visible in the app. Mounting the camera is also straightforward, and the included drill template helps position the screws correctly. At this stage, you can also adjust the surveillance angle and the ball-andsocket mount rotates 360 degrees and tilts 90 degrees.
That’s really useful if you’re mounting on a patio or under the eaves say, you can then rotate until you get just the right angle to cover the largest area possible.
Once operational, the full HD 1080p video footage is excellent. I couldn’t see any distortion, even around the edges of the image and colours were true to life and sharp. Later that day I had a look at the Night Vision footage captured in darkness and it too was excellent.
EZVIZ say Night Vision is effective up to 100ft and while monitored area is much shorter than that, facial features were easily identifiable.
As well as the standard video recording features, there are useful smart functions here. On recorded footage, the camera can highlight human faces instantly, helping you identify visitors.
It also does a really good job of distinguishing between humans and vehicles. You may not want to know if someone reverses into your driveway to turn, but you do want to know if someone walks up to your door through the garden.
The camera will then trigger an alert to your phone, so even if you’re out, you will get a notification.
At that point, you could decide to use the two-way audio feature, and talk to the visitor who has arrived. And, of course, the built-in spotlights can illuminate the whole garden if this takes place at night.
It is important to note that the C3WN only uses the 2.4Ghz frequency on your broadband router, not the 5Ghz channel. While the EZVIZ app works well, the Nest or Amazon Ring apps are perhaps slicker and more feature-rich.
That said, this camera is great value and reliable. Since installing it, I haven’t encountered any interruptions. With its excellent picture and smart features, the C3WN is a great option for homeowners who want some hi-tech peace of mind. More info at ezvizlife.com