☑ Buy Blink Outdoor 4 w/ Sync on Amazon: geni.us/outdoor4s (Affiliate Link) ☑ Buy Blink Outdoor 4 w/o Sync on Amazon: geni.us/outdoor4 (Affiliate Link) ☑️ Buy Blink Outdoor 4 Solar Panel (3rd Party Option): geni.us/bo4sp (Affiliate Link) ☑ Buy Sync Module 2 on Amazon: geni.us/syncmodule2 (Affiliate Link) ☑ Buy USB Drive For Sync Module 2 on Amazon: geni.us/syncUSB (Affiliate Link) Review of the Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera Mount: ruclips.net/video/zOKg4n9B-sg/видео.html UPDATE: Sept 10th, 2023 (Less than 3 weeks in) - My Blink Outdoor 4 Camera has died - the batteries are completely drained. I guess my street has wayyy too much movement and traffic for the battery to keep up with. I'm returning it, not a viable option for security where I live. Let me know what you think of the Blink Outdoor 4. Video description has links to other cameras I vastly prefer over the Blink Outdoor 4!
Thanks for watching Peter, but I wasn't very satisfied with the performance, even with their firmware update. Let me me know if you agree with my thoughts on it, or if you think I am being too critical.
@@DemCrumblies I've been searching for a review of the gen 4 since its announcement. Currently, I have a few 3rd gen outdoor cameras. It seems that the technology imposes some limitations. To conserve battery, the cameras are mostly in hibernation mode, with occasional communication through an energy-efficient low-frequency wireless network to the Sync Module. While this design enables a two-year battery life, it results in slower camera wake-up from the App and the potential to miss movements by the IR sensor. Interestingly, despite the time gap, gen 4 appears to offer mainly an improvement in camera field of view. Considering resolution, having a 2K resolution would be great, but it would lead to increased data transfer over Wi-Fi and higher battery consumption. Hence, it's unlikely that we'll see high-resolution cameras on these devices soon, given their reliance on batteries and claims of more than a year of battery life. Personally, I've set my camera to the lowest resolution, which suits my needs. Even at 1080p, nighttime recording isn't clear enough for practical use.
Hey Peter, yea, Blink is intent on advertising up to 2 years of battery life and will sacrifice performance and features to attain it. I've reviewed a variety of camera systems, which are solar based and they have lasted me all year, (even through a Canadian Winter) while transmitting 2K quality video for one system and 4K quality for another. Their camera bodies are larger to accommodate larger batteries, onboard storage, an LED spotlight, etc. but they manage to offer quality video, continuous battery life, more advanced features and with zero monthly fees, so I find Blink's offerings dated in 2023. I think they should offer two models, one with the 2 year battery life and a higher resolution version for users who are ok with one year of battery life maybe like they do with some of the Ring camera models. While the FOV is wider, I noticed that even when I had the sensitivity set to 9 in the app, the detection range is still strongest in the direct path of the camera because it did not detect even when I was within the wider field of view. By the time detection kicks in, entry movement into the frame is missed as you mentioned, so I usually get the subject moving from half the scene until they exit the frame, but the wider FOV definitely helps. Will you be looking into the 4th gen or do you have enough 3rd gen cameras to give you enough coverage? @@peterv1602
@@DemCrumblies I currently have six unsubscribed Blink outdoor cameras set up to provide 360-degree coverage. However, the cooldown period is becoming a nuisance. The time it takes for the first triggered camera to finish transmitting recorded video is longer than the time it would take for a person to walk to the next camera. This results in numerous missed events. In addition, I've positioned Ring cameras with subscriptions in the areas of highest activity. I'm intrigued by the idea of exploring new brands that offer more features without requiring a subscription. Do you have any recommended videos to watch on this topic?
@peterv1602 Yes the 10 second retrigger time is too high. You can look at these other cameras I reviewed, some are solar powered and some are hard-wired: ruclips.net/video/T7spRyiPj8U/видео.html (One of my favourite cameras!) ruclips.net/video/NWiuoAIgKqY/видео.html (Very capable solar powered camera) ruclips.net/video/ElLrj6leKUM/видео.html (4K System with 2 camera kit to start) ruclips.net/video/AMJWHKZHyT0/видео.html (Auto Pan & Tilt - long term performance remains to be seen once it goes up against Winter)
Excellent review of the software and the plan option. Most videos focus on installation, but neglect to go through the details you mentioned. Thank you.
I am becoming a big fan of blink as I have 3 of their products and there after care is first class, I am thinking of adding the door cam next as I still only have a doorbell lol.
Oh I did a review of it here: ruclips.net/video/d8fVdx7ngqc/видео.html (Just a heads up thought that it doesn't come with a Chime unit that you can plug in your home). Blink lets you use the Blink Mini camera as a chime unit for the video doorbell though.
Thank you soooo much. You are the first one to answered all my questions that I had without me trying to explain what I mean regarding this product. I liked and subscribed. The only question that I have is: What is your internet 2.4 or 5ghz?
It must be 2.4 Ghz. If your modem or router is 5 Ghz, it is also capable of broadcasting a 2.4 Ghz SSID, but you may have to log into its settings to split the WiFi bands to 2.4 and 5.0 Ghz like I had to do for mine.
Yea it's absolutely ridiculous to lock human/person detection behind a subscription fee when this is supposed to be a SECURITY camera. Without the paid plan it will just say motion detected, which could be from a leaves in a tree swaying, a squirrel, a dog walking, person, insect flying, etc.
Most of the cameras I would recommend are a bit above the price of the Blink Outdoor 4 because they have more features and offer higher resolution video than the 1080P that comes with the Blink Outdoor 4 camera. Are you only looking for cameras that do not require wired installation?
@@URLIDEA If you're looking for solar powered without wired installation, these are good cameras: ruclips.net/video/uIqB0QLL4Hg/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/76SUrpYfgFo/видео.html
I will be picking up my Blink 4 tomorrow. Never have used any security camera systems. This is a potential problem that I don’t have an answer for. I have a second home or cottage. Will cameras work without Wifi or the Blink module. The cottage does not have WiFi. Very good video.
Hey @stevebusch1205, the cameras require WiFi and The Sync Module 2 to work. If you want to have a camera at your cottage, which doesn't have WiFi, you would have to use a 4G camera that can accept a SIM card, similar to how phone accepts a SIM card. Here's an example of a 4G camera that can be used to monitor places that don't have WiFi: ruclips.net/video/PcsxoOYBdj8/видео.html
Great review! Totally agree with you about the features locked under a paywall. Kind of low for a company to sell you the hardware at a profit and then want you to keep paying them forever. If they want to use this model, then give me the hardware for *free* and have me pay a monthly fee. I use Blink at my house but no subscription; just USB. I have notifications turned off. Looked at your $40 Eufy suggestion, found it was way more expensive...must be a newer model?
Hey Erik, the eufy cameras generally more expensive upfront, but quickly pay for themselves since there are zero fees. I recently reviewed a newer model, yes, called the SoloCam S340e here: ruclips.net/video/76SUrpYfgFo/видео.html (it costs more, but has far more functionality that anything Blink has released). Btw, less than 3 weeks in, my Outdoor 4 Camera's battery actually died, so that thing is really only meant for occasional motion detection and not for anyone who lives anywhere remotely busy. I also have my old Blink Video Doorbell and Indoor Mini, also without a subscription plan, just the Sync Module 2 and a USB drive, but at this point, I keep them to answer viewer questions vs. using them as mainstays.
Hey @submariner6789 I've actually used the Blink Support site, either the Search function or chat function and it's been super helpful for me if you want to ask them specific questions: support.blinkforhome.com/
HI Adrian, I just installed this Blink Outdoor Cam 4 yesterday, I installed 2 cameras which all that is working fine. My problem is i don't have those icons! The screenshot icon & the live view icon, would you why? Thanks!! And great review it helped me alot! Mary
Hey Mary, hmm that is strange. Can you confirm that you have the latest version of the Blink App? If you already do, I would try to clear the app cache to see if it helps. Also, can you try using the Blink app on another phone to see if the same issue occurs on the second phone? That will help us to rule out if the issue is due to your phone or due to the camera hardware.
Great review! It helped me decide to keep looking for a better camera. What would you suggest for a subscription/cloud-free outdoor multiple camera system? Minor correction at 1:50: the included lithium AA batteries are NOT rechargeable. The USB-C port powers the device directly and does not charge the batteries. Charging non-rechargeable lithium batteries is very dangerous and can cause them to explode. Thanks for all your great work!
Hey @TJ-vh2ps, thanks for the correct, I'm not sure where I got that from, I must have thought they were rechargeable for some reason. I always prefer cloud-free camera systems. However, the one thing that most people mention about camera systems that store video locally is that footage can be stolen if the camera is removed, which is correct if the camera only records to a microSD card in the camera body. However, there are camera systems that will save the video to a hub that is kept in your home, and if the hub is situated or placed in an area that isn't very obvious, it's likely it can go unnoticed by someone who breaks in and your footage will still be fine even if the cameras were removed. Do you have a preference for wired or wireless cameras? If you go with wired, you'll have better features, such as 24/7 continuous recording. Wireless cameras will always be event-based recordings. Once I know your preference, I can suggest some camera models. Thanks for watching : )
@@DemCrumblies in the event that the OP doesn't reply, would you mind listing some recommended wireless cloud-based indoor/outdoor cam systems with better than 1080 res?
@@SickSickCix Hey, for solar powered options without wiring, I recommend the eufy SoloCam S340: ruclips.net/video/76SUrpYfgFo/видео.html and for indoor wired to a wall outlet, I recommend the eufy S350: ruclips.net/video/PLUAeljMqoc/видео.html This way you can use one app to monitor in and outside your home. The SoloCam S340 has two lens, a wide lens and a telephoto lens so you can use it with dual recording to both lens or just to the main lens in 2K or 3K quality. The indoor cam cam has 4K recordings since it gets continuous power from being plugged into a regular wall outlet. I'm also in the process of reviewing the Reolink Argus 4 Pro camera which is another solar camera with a super wide 180º field of view which has been fantastic so far during my testing. The AOSU solarcam D1 Max is another great solar option: ruclips.net/video/EyexghfE_ZE/видео.html however I haven't reviewed any of their indoor cameras to make a recommendation. Same goes for Reolink's indoor cameras, haven't used them yet. All of these systems require zero monthly fees unless you want to pay for optional cloud-based recordings, otherwise they let you insert a microSD card into the camera body for storage. Hope that helps, but let me know if you have any more questions : )
I believe it's around 100 ft or 30 meters, but it will depend on how many walls the signal has to go through, the wall material, etc. I think I had mine around 27 feet away when I tested this camera.
Thank you very helpful. Would you know why I'm not getting images in my notifications? I have the battery floodlight, using an Android phone. Thank you
The thumbnail images are usually only shown if you have Blink's monthly paid plan. If you have the monthly paid plan, I would contact Blink support because it should be enabled automatically at at that point.
@@nintendo1978 I actually don't agree with them putting that feature behind a paid monthly plan when so many other camera brands include basic functionality like that for free, but what can you do.
Having problem with the new Blink 4th generation. It does not want to startup. Can’t do video since we change it’s place. Everything says it is working.msync module is on and the batteries are fully charged. What do I have to do?
Hey Diane, did the WiFi network name change at all? Also, can you confirm if the Outdoor 4 camera is fully charged and powers on? If the WiFi network is the same, the camera is fully charged and powered on, you can try to delete the camera from the Blink app and try to readd it. Or you can try reaching out to Blink support to see what they recommend: support.blinkforhome.com/ They have a chat feature on their website to talk to their support.
You'll need internet at all times because it doesn't have any option for local storage. If you want an option that has local storage recording, let me know and I can recommend another camera, but with any camera you will need internet to access the recorded files later. Some cameras let you pop out the microSD card, but that means you'll have to get on a ladder to get access to the microSD card slot which will be cumbersome.
Yes, but I think you will need two separate Blinks plans. To be 100% sure though, you can contact Blink support, which is pretty good at answering questions quickly at support.blink.com
Is there a way for the camera to take snapshots when motion is detected, or is it just video? It's one of the features I wanted. I haven't found any other camera that are not expensive available.
Hey I'm not sure of any security cameras that take photos with each motion detection. Most cameras I've used will only take photos at certain intervals, but not based on motion. I'm sure there's cameras out there can do it though. What are you trying to accomplish because some camera systems will send a photo thumbnail to your phone that you can tap to see the full video of the motion.
It shouldn't because the Sync Module 2 is powered separately., Blink mentions that the Sync Module 2 actually offloads some of the work from the main camera for certain models, so it shouldn't increase power consumption at all.
You're def gonna want to run a wire or solar to that cam in the front of your house, all of that activity will drain the batteries in no time. If you have a light socket near the cam inside the house or on the porch you can run a cable from it using a Light Socket to Plug Adapter.
Question about the "person detection" option. If I opt to pay the yearly subscription, did you say it is included...or it another small fee on top of the $30 per year subscription?
Can I add more than five blink gen 4 cameras to the system? Also with a bigger property can I add two modules to get the WiFi to work better? Would all of this work? I plan on using the full subscription service. Any help or advice would be great, thanks.
If you buy the Blink monthly subscription plan, I believe you can add up to 10 Blink devices at one property, however, I don't believe the Sync Modules can provide a better WiFi signal. I could be wrong, but you can check with Blink support to confirm 100%: support.blinkforhome.com/
@@DemCrumblies Great video btw! MY understanding is the Blink Module 2 (is simply an intermediary to Wifi). The camera's and the module communicate on their own bands to send video, etc). I also understand the Module typically has a longer reach than most home WiFi routers.. so you can put it near the end of the house wifi range and then the camera's connect (from even further away) to the module only.. NOT the wifi.. once set up.
@@richardw3630 I remember when I used the Sync Module 2 with the Blink Video Doorbell, Blink support mentioning that the Sync Module 2 did some offloading from the video doorbell, which is why it would allow for pulling up live view at will, but you might be right that it can act as a WiFi extender too. I'll contact Blink support to find out for sure since it'd be good to know that for future questions. Will update when I hear back from them. Thanks for watching : ) Update: You're right when it comes to the new Sync Module Pro: support.blinkforhome.com/en_US/f-a-q/sync-module-pro-faq# (It mentions that it can provide extended range). Not sure about the older Sync Module 2 since I couldn't find info on that, but maybe it's the same too.
@@DemCrumblies Makes sense....I think it was primarily the fact that you could use it (like an extender).. for the camera's ONLY. Basically a jump point already half way to the camera.. so you could have the camera's further away from the wifi Access Point. for my 120 by 60 foot lot.. it works very well out of my high signal blocking house to the end of the front yard looking back at my house. Cheers!
@@richardw3630 Yep that's great to know because I can now suggest moving the sync module to a half way point if anyone ever reports signal issues. Thanks for sharing and putting that on my radar : )
This was very informative, one question. Is there a way to make one of the cameras available to other people to pull up and see? While the rest of my cameras are kept private?
Hi @davebarron5939, unfortunately I didn't find an option to share an individual camera in the Blink App. This is something that should be an option since other camera brands allow sharing individual cameras.
I'm having trouble getting a Wi-Fi signal to my outdoor cameras. I live in a two-story house in India. My Wi-Fi router and the Blink module are located on the second floor, while the three outdoor cameras are installed on the ground floor: one in the front, one on the side, and one at the back of the house. I only receive a full signal from the front camera, while the side and back cameras only get one bar of signal. I've installed a Wi-Fi extender on the ground floor, but I'm still unable to get a full signal to the side and back cameras. Moving the sync module downstairs hasn't helped either. I'm unsure if I'm making a mistake in my setup. Could you please provide some suggestions?
Hey it's hard to say why, sounds like maybe the wall material could be part of the issue? The camera in the front, is it closer to the Sync Module 2 and router than the cameras on the side and back? Also, are there less walls that the signal has to go through until it can reach the front camera? I'm wondering if the distance to the front camera and amount of walls the signal has to go through might be why it's signal is so strong.
@@DemCrumblies Thanks. Yes, the front camera is directly below the router and module whereas the side and back cameras are far away to the extreme right of the house. I'm trying to change wifi channel settings on my router and have to try other steps to see if there is any improvement.
Thank you for your info, by any chance do you know if I can buy one of the blink systems here in the US and if they work in El Salvador, thank you in advance
Hi Roy, yes this will work anywhere in the world if you use it without the monthly plan and only with the Sync Module 2 and a USB Drive. I'm not sure if the monthly plan is supported in El Salvador. Btw, I have reviewed many other cameras which are much better value than Blink and have solar charging capabilities. I can share some recommendations if you like.
How well does person/motion detection works. alot of times when i get a recording,its someone walking out of the frame where I'll get like 2 seconds of useful information
Unfortunately that is how these type of cameras work. Since they are not on continuous power, by the time they detect motion and trigger the recording, the subject can be out of frame. Best thing is to get a camera with a much wider field of view or a camera that can be hard wired. The new Reolink Argus 4 Pro camera is solar powered and has 180º field of view, so once it detects motion, the subject will still be seen since the field of view is so wide. I will be reviewing this camera in the next two weeks.
@@funlife2023 Thanks, can you check it tomorrow when it's online during the day and see what the Blink app reports the battery health as? I know it shouldn't matter since it's plugged in and especially if it works properly during the day, but I'm wondering if the infrared LEDs that activate at night can be part of the reason.
Nope, these Blink cameras have pretty basic overall functionality. I think some people buy 3rd party accessories that let them connect it to a USB cable while maintaining a decent amount of weather sealing though.
No, but they do need to be charged frequently. You could put a small solar panel on it or run an electrical cord to it. I bought two yesterday. And they were ok at first. By the end of the night, they wouldnt stay connected.
I have a pile of gen 3 at home, I like the simplicity but am not a fan of the detection, anything passed 20ft seems to get missed or the camera doesn't wake quick enough. Have you noticed the detection improved distance wise?
@THECBA55, I didn't notice any improvement with the motion detection. Even with the sensitivity set to 9, it didn't pick me up until I was directly in front of the camera walking slowly: ruclips.net/video/KPHwe-tQBzk/видео.htmlsi=j8mwVI0gFuVHilXQ&t=926
I have positioned Blink motion sensors at a distance from my house, utilizing them to initiate recordings on my Blink camera. However, it's crucial to meticulously fine-tune the sensor's direction and sensitivity. For instance, placing it too close to the road might lead to frequent triggers from passing cars, which emit heat and reflect sunlight. Similarly, if there are bushes in proximity to the sensor, windy days could result in an excessive influx of notifications. As a result, I've accumulated a few unopened sensors, since finding suitable spots for their placement posed challenges.
Don't waste your time.... I'm keeping my gen3 cameras until they come out with at least a new 4k camera version... This gen4 is just a redesigned and rewrapped gen3 camera all over again...smh
I'm really wondering if they will ever release a 4K or even 2K camera at this point. It's already 2023 and they're living in the year 2000 with 1080P@@jdubb0113
@@jdubb0113 Person Detection has just come out for Blink. If you want 4k/2k cameras, then go buy Arlo. You're not going to get a budget option with top of the line features. Same things with cars, tvs, computers, phones ... When amazon finally come out with higher res cameras, 8k will be mainstream. If you want higher quality, pay a higher price, easy.
Hey @MyweathernetreportsBlogspot most newer Blink cameras now require a Sync Module 2 to operate. This is what it looks like: ruclips.net/video/KPHwe-tQBzk/видео.htmlsi=8kHSmPip73rDSLiS&t=224
Any of these are wayyy better options: ruclips.net/video/AMJWHKZHyT0/видео.html ruclips.net/video/xEPOdKZ8F5s/видео.html ruclips.net/video/76SUrpYfgFo/видео.html
Hey there, try to adjust the sensitivity to the highest setting. You may also have to angle the camera down slightly. Also, how high up is it installed from the ground? If it's too high up and the angle is low enough, the detection range may not be close enough.
@@DemCrumblies Thanks, It is above the door, it wasn't record when I drove out of grage yesterday morning, but it recored when I back, it happens like that often.
@@Red_Whitenblu Ohh you mean the battery life then? I think mine lasted around 2 to 3 weeks before it completely died. I guess it isn't meant to be pointed at very high traffic areas.
@@DemCrumblies I actually bought 3. The first one was a mini camera. And it works great. Very responsive and dousent need s sync box., it worked so well that I figured Id get the "outdoor 4". The 4th generation. Kinda expensive too. But I need them. And they stink. Maybe if it wasnt a portable WiFi, it might be ok. Ill have to try it on a home internet system, or something I guess.
@@DemCrumblies And I just found out theyre NOT rechargable. But theyre supposed to last 2 years? Yeah right. And if thats the case, wht is there a type C plug that fits in the back? Maybe direct connection to Internet? Who lnows. I been dealing with this for a few wekks now and its getting old. Garbage from Harbor Frieght too
You saved yourself from a bad decision and from monthly fees 👍 Btw, I review many other camera brands that do not require any monthly fees for full functionality, you can check the video description for some of those reviews or I can recommend a camera to you if I know what kind you're looking for.
Blink says that the video quality is better and the low light capability is better, but from what I saw, it doesn't look great to me on a large screen. I haven't used to Outdoor 3 to compare, but I see the reviews on Amazon mention that the video quality isn't that great also. They really should be moving up from 1080P in 2023.
Nope. You either need a paid monthly plan to save clips to the cloud or you need to buy the Sync Module 2 and attach a USB drive to it to record clips.
For some reason my camera will record in color for the first half of the night but say after 1am or so it goes like almost black and you cant see anything..even tho same lights are still on on the street. It’s like it goes on low power mode or something but still detects motion. But you legit can’t even see it
Actually that doesn't surprise me much with Blink's cameras now. I think they prioritize battery life so much that they handicap their cameras too much. I actually returned mine because the battery died within around 3 weeks since my area is way too busy with people coming and going. But my other cameras from eufy and EZVIZ have no problem staying on with solar charging.
@@DemCrumblies Or maybe it’s because both my cameras are by some white trim and it steals all the IR away from the rest of the scene? So I guess they do have black and grey mode..just the white trim is so bright and close that it blacks everything else out. If that makes sense
Yea it makes sense, you could try to temporarily move it elsewhere if it isn't too annoying to do to see if that resolves the issue to confirm it.@@drapermike
Blink actually states that you can use this same camera indoors too, but I assume you're probably talking about something like the Blink Mini with the Pan & Tilt feature? I did a review of that here too: ruclips.net/video/hlFEv7a7oAs/видео.html (it doesn't have auto motion tracking though)
@@DemCrumbliesI see. I currently own the 3rd generation Blink indoor camera which doesn’t have the IP rating or rubberized exterior, and I was curious if they were going to upgrade that model. Great review.
@@el_puma_real Ah got it. They let you permanently connect a USB C cable on 4th gen to keep it always powered on, but you lose the IP rating, so I'm assuming this mean for users to use this feature if it'll be mounted indoors. Thanks for watching 🙂
The “3” I have is crap-came with dead batteries and likes to eat them in the winter-very narrow view,alert goes off to late if something is in my yard,off line many times,contacted Blink and usually gets back on line,tells me I dont have contract for memory but I do first impression of this brand-)_zero
Thanks for the info, but this is the worst system I ever saw. Open the boxes and no hanging hardware at all in any of the boxes? I bought it from a shopping sight. Hmmm so instead of throwing out the ones that did not pass quality, they gave them to a shopping site to sell. CRAP!!!!
which is why I came looking for this review lol. I think I'm going to go with AOSU pan and tilt cameras instead. No monthly or yearly fees and way better video quality. Plus the wireless ones tend to have solar panels so no having to pull them down to charge the batteries. The pan and tilt feature should allow me to get away with having two cameras instead of 4. If it doesn't, I'd only have to add one more camera at most. But that will be worth it in the long run because there's no subscription fees.
Hey @phototec, sorry about that. On the RUclips App or on your computer, you can press or tap on the Gear/Cog icon and reduce the playback speed to 0.75X or 0.5X to see if it helps.
That really sucks. They should at least let people use it in the app without the cloud plan. I guess there is no area in the app to change location? @@jonathanbelen4548
I've used it extensively and if I had no other context using other camera systems, I might think it's decent, but there's way better systems out there with zero monthly fees and far more powerful hardware. If you're satisfied with Blink, I don't want to talk you out of it, but from my comment section and online forums, I know many are not fond of the pay wall tactics.
This camera requires a Sync Module 2 to work properly. The Sync Module 2 lets you plug in a USB drive so it can record videos to the USB drive. If you do not plug in a USB drive, then you have to buy Blink's cloud plan to record videos to the cloud. Not sure about how it functions without WiFi though, but you can contact Blink support here and they will be able to answer all those questions better than I can: support.blinkforhome.com/en_US/faq-outdoor4/outdoor4-camera-faq@@neilcharles2520
You're welcome, good luck! Btw, I have reviewed many other outdoor camera systems that are better than Blink if you aren't locked into their ecosystem yet.@@neilcharles2520
Is the same thing with the version 3 of these cameras. Pure garbage. Unfortunately, i discovered it after purchase the 5 combo of them. Don't buy them. If you want something better then go for wyze cameras.
I didn't use the 3rd generation, but I agree that this 4th generation offering is weak. Motion detection is weak unless set to max sensitivity and the 1080P video quality is average at best. Worse though, is how many features are locked behind the paid monthly plan, which are basic features on other camera systems.
the absolute worst "brand name" low cost camera system out there. there are a lot of camera systems that are less expensive and have more features that are free or lower in cost without mandatory 30 to 50 dollar "sync modules". a neighbor gave me his two camera system when he upgraded and i can see why he got rid of it now. i went through hell to get the system registered to the blink app, the only one it would work with. my neighbor had deleted his account but somehow the cameras were still registered to his non existent app so i couldn't put them on my account until we talked to support on the other side of the planet 3 times and they were finally able to understand what the situation was and what we needed done. anyways, after getting the cameras installed i discovered how bad the video, audio, motion detection, and recording was. in fact there was no recording unless you paid for a subscription. kind of a useless security camera if you can't record. what if you need video of someone as evidence? anyways, don't buy. you'll regret it.
1000% Agree. It really is crazy that in 2023, the video quality is still 1080P and not just 1080P, but low bitrate 1080P. I basically recommend also any other camera brand except Blink when people ask me for recommendations, especially with all the paywalled features.
These are more expensive upfront, but since there's no monthly fees, it works out cheaper in the long term. I recommend these: ruclips.net/video/76SUrpYfgFo/видео.html or ruclips.net/video/AMJWHKZHyT0/видео.html @@SouthFloridaFishingClub
@@dbernards These are more expensive upfront, but since there's no monthly fees, it works out cheaper in the long term. I recommend these: ruclips.net/video/76SUrpYfgFo/видео.html or ruclips.net/video/AMJWHKZHyT0/видео.html @SouthFloridaFishingClub
JUNK JUNK JUNK!!!!!!!!!! JUST tossed mine in the garbage! The BIGGEST PITA after swapping out a router! Wouldn't re connect.... ALWAYS is an issue IF the power glitches, internet drops, ANYTHING!
Ohhh I think this is a known issue with these systems. I think the fix was to delete the cameras from the Blink App, clear the Blink app cache then readd them, but yea, the Blink system is not exactly a very high-tech system. I recommend almost any other camera brand over it.
Yea true. If you ever want any recommendations for alternatives, let me know because I've ditched Blink as my primary camera system due to having to pay monthly fees.
☑ Buy Blink Outdoor 4 w/ Sync on Amazon: geni.us/outdoor4s (Affiliate Link)
☑ Buy Blink Outdoor 4 w/o Sync on Amazon: geni.us/outdoor4 (Affiliate Link)
☑️ Buy Blink Outdoor 4 Solar Panel (3rd Party Option): geni.us/bo4sp (Affiliate Link)
☑ Buy Sync Module 2 on Amazon: geni.us/syncmodule2 (Affiliate Link)
☑ Buy USB Drive For Sync Module 2 on Amazon: geni.us/syncUSB (Affiliate Link)
Review of the Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera Mount: ruclips.net/video/zOKg4n9B-sg/видео.html
UPDATE: Sept 10th, 2023 (Less than 3 weeks in) - My Blink Outdoor 4 Camera has died - the batteries are completely drained. I guess my street has wayyy too much movement and traffic for the battery to keep up with. I'm returning it, not a viable option for security where I live. Let me know what you think of the Blink Outdoor 4. Video description has links to other cameras I vastly prefer over the Blink Outdoor 4!
why do people dislike a very informative information like this?
I'm glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching 😀
Thanks for the introduction, really great
Hope it was helpful. Thanks for watching Thomas 🙂
This is the very first review on RUclips. Thanks.
Thanks for watching Peter, but I wasn't very satisfied with the performance, even with their firmware update. Let me me know if you agree with my thoughts on it, or if you think I am being too critical.
@@DemCrumblies I've been searching for a review of the gen 4 since its announcement. Currently, I have a few 3rd gen outdoor cameras. It seems that the technology imposes some limitations. To conserve battery, the cameras are mostly in hibernation mode, with occasional communication through an energy-efficient low-frequency wireless network to the Sync Module. While this design enables a two-year battery life, it results in slower camera wake-up from the App and the potential to miss movements by the IR sensor. Interestingly, despite the time gap, gen 4 appears to offer mainly an improvement in camera field of view.
Considering resolution, having a 2K resolution would be great, but it would lead to increased data transfer over Wi-Fi and higher battery consumption. Hence, it's unlikely that we'll see high-resolution cameras on these devices soon, given their reliance on batteries and claims of more than a year of battery life. Personally, I've set my camera to the lowest resolution, which suits my needs. Even at 1080p, nighttime recording isn't clear enough for practical use.
Hey Peter, yea, Blink is intent on advertising up to 2 years of battery life and will sacrifice performance and features to attain it. I've reviewed a variety of camera systems, which are solar based and they have lasted me all year, (even through a Canadian Winter) while transmitting 2K quality video for one system and 4K quality for another. Their camera bodies are larger to accommodate larger batteries, onboard storage, an LED spotlight, etc. but they manage to offer quality video, continuous battery life, more advanced features and with zero monthly fees, so I find Blink's offerings dated in 2023. I think they should offer two models, one with the 2 year battery life and a higher resolution version for users who are ok with one year of battery life maybe like they do with some of the Ring camera models.
While the FOV is wider, I noticed that even when I had the sensitivity set to 9 in the app, the detection range is still strongest in the direct path of the camera because it did not detect even when I was within the wider field of view. By the time detection kicks in, entry movement into the frame is missed as you mentioned, so I usually get the subject moving from half the scene until they exit the frame, but the wider FOV definitely helps. Will you be looking into the 4th gen or do you have enough 3rd gen cameras to give you enough coverage? @@peterv1602
@@DemCrumblies I currently have six unsubscribed Blink outdoor cameras set up to provide 360-degree coverage. However, the cooldown period is becoming a nuisance. The time it takes for the first triggered camera to finish transmitting recorded video is longer than the time it would take for a person to walk to the next camera. This results in numerous missed events. In addition, I've positioned Ring cameras with subscriptions in the areas of highest activity. I'm intrigued by the idea of exploring new brands that offer more features without requiring a subscription. Do you have any recommended videos to watch on this topic?
@peterv1602 Yes the 10 second retrigger time is too high. You can look at these other cameras I reviewed, some are solar powered and some are hard-wired:
ruclips.net/video/T7spRyiPj8U/видео.html (One of my favourite cameras!)
ruclips.net/video/NWiuoAIgKqY/видео.html (Very capable solar powered camera)
ruclips.net/video/ElLrj6leKUM/видео.html (4K System with 2 camera kit to start)
ruclips.net/video/AMJWHKZHyT0/видео.html (Auto Pan & Tilt - long term performance remains to be seen once it goes up against Winter)
Excellent review of the software and the plan option. Most videos focus on installation, but neglect to go through the details you mentioned. Thank you.
Thank you for watching : ) Glad you found this longer video review useful.
I am becoming a big fan of blink as I have 3 of their products and there after care is first class, I am thinking of adding the door cam next as I still only have a doorbell lol.
Oh I did a review of it here: ruclips.net/video/d8fVdx7ngqc/видео.html (Just a heads up thought that it doesn't come with a Chime unit that you can plug in your home). Blink lets you use the Blink Mini camera as a chime unit for the video doorbell though.
Thanks for the review
Thanks for watching : ) @@RockinJohnny
Thank you. Very helpful video.
Thank you for watching 🙂
Good review of features and functions, I am not going with the plan but am going with the Alexa monitor integration.
Sounds good, let me know how it goes : )
Thank you soooo much. You are the first one to answered all my questions that I had without me trying to explain what I mean regarding this product.
I liked and subscribed.
The only question that I have is:
What is your internet 2.4 or 5ghz?
Awesome, glad the video helped Cesar! This camera needs a 2.4 Ghz network. Thanks for watching 🙂
@@DemCrumblies a minimum of 2.4?
If I have a 5ghz wifi in my home will it connect?
Or must be exactly a 2.4?
It must be 2.4 Ghz. If your modem or router is 5 Ghz, it is also capable of broadcasting a 2.4 Ghz SSID, but you may have to log into its settings to split the WiFi bands to 2.4 and 5.0 Ghz like I had to do for mine.
@@DemCrumblies thank you 👍🏼
So if it won’t work with the old module? But would the old cameras work with the new module?
You lost me when you said, payed person detection. Very good review that helps me a lot. I was just about to buy it.
Yea it's absolutely ridiculous to lock human/person detection behind a subscription fee when this is supposed to be a SECURITY camera. Without the paid plan it will just say motion detected, which could be from a leaves in a tree swaying, a squirrel, a dog walking, person, insect flying, etc.
Very Nice Review. Thanks
Glad it was helpful : ) Thanks for watching and good luck!
What would you recommend that is around the same price with similar features then?
Most of the cameras I would recommend are a bit above the price of the Blink Outdoor 4 because they have more features and offer higher resolution video than the 1080P that comes with the Blink Outdoor 4 camera. Are you only looking for cameras that do not require wired installation?
@@DemCrumbliesyes, I'm looking for that
@@URLIDEA If you're looking for solar powered without wired installation, these are good cameras: ruclips.net/video/uIqB0QLL4Hg/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/76SUrpYfgFo/видео.html
I will be picking up my Blink 4 tomorrow. Never have used any security camera systems. This is a potential problem that I don’t have an answer for. I have a second home or cottage. Will cameras work without Wifi or the Blink module. The cottage does not have WiFi. Very good video.
Hey @stevebusch1205, the cameras require WiFi and The Sync Module 2 to work. If you want to have a camera at your cottage, which doesn't have WiFi, you would have to use a 4G camera that can accept a SIM card, similar to how phone accepts a SIM card. Here's an example of a 4G camera that can be used to monitor places that don't have WiFi: ruclips.net/video/PcsxoOYBdj8/видео.html
Great review! Totally agree with you about the features locked under a paywall. Kind of low for a company to sell you the hardware at a profit and then want you to keep paying them forever. If they want to use this model, then give me the hardware for *free* and have me pay a monthly fee. I use Blink at my house but no subscription; just USB. I have notifications turned off. Looked at your $40 Eufy suggestion, found it was way more expensive...must be a newer model?
Hey Erik, the eufy cameras generally more expensive upfront, but quickly pay for themselves since there are zero fees. I recently reviewed a newer model, yes, called the SoloCam S340e here: ruclips.net/video/76SUrpYfgFo/видео.html (it costs more, but has far more functionality that anything Blink has released). Btw, less than 3 weeks in, my Outdoor 4 Camera's battery actually died, so that thing is really only meant for occasional motion detection and not for anyone who lives anywhere remotely busy. I also have my old Blink Video Doorbell and Indoor Mini, also without a subscription plan, just the Sync Module 2 and a USB drive, but at this point, I keep them to answer viewer questions vs. using them as mainstays.
Great review !!
Thanks for watching 😊
I have a few gen 3 cameras and wondering if they can be swapped over to gen 4 even on the floodlight camera models?
Great review 👍
Hey @submariner6789 I've actually used the Blink Support site, either the Search function or chat function and it's been super helpful for me if you want to ask them specific questions: support.blinkforhome.com/
It's usb-c so no maybe with an adapter
HI Adrian, I just installed this Blink Outdoor Cam 4 yesterday, I installed 2 cameras which all that is working fine. My problem is i don't have those icons! The screenshot icon & the live view icon, would you why? Thanks!! And great review it helped me alot! Mary
Hey Mary, hmm that is strange. Can you confirm that you have the latest version of the Blink App? If you already do, I would try to clear the app cache to see if it helps. Also, can you try using the Blink app on another phone to see if the same issue occurs on the second phone? That will help us to rule out if the issue is due to your phone or due to the camera hardware.
Great review! It helped me decide to keep looking for a better camera. What would you suggest for a subscription/cloud-free outdoor multiple camera system?
Minor correction at 1:50: the included lithium AA batteries are NOT rechargeable. The USB-C port powers the device directly and does not charge the batteries. Charging non-rechargeable lithium batteries is very dangerous and can cause them to explode.
Thanks for all your great work!
Hey @TJ-vh2ps, thanks for the correct, I'm not sure where I got that from, I must have thought they were rechargeable for some reason. I always prefer cloud-free camera systems. However, the one thing that most people mention about camera systems that store video locally is that footage can be stolen if the camera is removed, which is correct if the camera only records to a microSD card in the camera body. However, there are camera systems that will save the video to a hub that is kept in your home, and if the hub is situated or placed in an area that isn't very obvious, it's likely it can go unnoticed by someone who breaks in and your footage will still be fine even if the cameras were removed. Do you have a preference for wired or wireless cameras? If you go with wired, you'll have better features, such as 24/7 continuous recording. Wireless cameras will always be event-based recordings. Once I know your preference, I can suggest some camera models. Thanks for watching : )
@@DemCrumblies in the event that the OP doesn't reply, would you mind listing some recommended wireless cloud-based indoor/outdoor cam systems with better than 1080 res?
@@SickSickCix Hey, for solar powered options without wiring, I recommend the eufy SoloCam S340: ruclips.net/video/76SUrpYfgFo/видео.html and for indoor wired to a wall outlet, I recommend the eufy S350: ruclips.net/video/PLUAeljMqoc/видео.html This way you can use one app to monitor in and outside your home. The SoloCam S340 has two lens, a wide lens and a telephoto lens so you can use it with dual recording to both lens or just to the main lens in 2K or 3K quality. The indoor cam cam has 4K recordings since it gets continuous power from being plugged into a regular wall outlet. I'm also in the process of reviewing the Reolink Argus 4 Pro camera which is another solar camera with a super wide 180º field of view which has been fantastic so far during my testing. The AOSU solarcam D1 Max is another great solar option: ruclips.net/video/EyexghfE_ZE/видео.html however I haven't reviewed any of their indoor cameras to make a recommendation. Same goes for Reolink's indoor cameras, haven't used them yet. All of these systems require zero monthly fees unless you want to pay for optional cloud-based recordings, otherwise they let you insert a microSD card into the camera body for storage. Hope that helps, but let me know if you have any more questions : )
Very helpful!
Glad the video helped, thanks for watching @dansklrvids7303 : )
Yes great video, crappy company-product.
@@louisedery1049 Yep, I pretty much never recommend Blink products unless you're already deep in the ecosystem.
How far can the camera be away from the sink module?
I believe it's around 100 ft or 30 meters, but it will depend on how many walls the signal has to go through, the wall material, etc. I think I had mine around 27 feet away when I tested this camera.
What size of anchors to mount?
Hi there, the camera comes with a proprietary mount base from Blink. Are you looking for something different?
Thank you very helpful. Would you know why I'm not getting images in my notifications? I have the battery floodlight, using an Android phone. Thank you
The thumbnail images are usually only shown if you have Blink's monthly paid plan. If you have the monthly paid plan, I would contact Blink support because it should be enabled automatically at at that point.
@@DemCrumblies thank you for your reply. No actually I don't yet.
@@nintendo1978 I actually don't agree with them putting that feature behind a paid monthly plan when so many other camera brands include basic functionality like that for free, but what can you do.
@@DemCrumblies Thank you
@@nintendo1978 Sure, good luck 👍
Having problem with the new Blink 4th generation. It does not want to startup. Can’t do video since we change it’s place. Everything says it is working.msync module is on and the batteries are fully charged. What do I have to do?
Hey Diane, did the WiFi network name change at all? Also, can you confirm if the Outdoor 4 camera is fully charged and powers on? If the WiFi network is the same, the camera is fully charged and powered on, you can try to delete the camera from the Blink app and try to readd it. Or you can try reaching out to Blink support to see what they recommend: support.blinkforhome.com/ They have a chat feature on their website to talk to their support.
nice video but do i need internet to run it or i can record just using the module
You'll need internet at all times because it doesn't have any option for local storage. If you want an option that has local storage recording, let me know and I can recommend another camera, but with any camera you will need internet to access the recorded files later. Some cameras let you pop out the microSD card, but that means you'll have to get on a ladder to get access to the microSD card slot which will be cumbersome.
Just wondering, how many blink cameras are able to connect to One sync module 2?
I believe the limit is 10 devices per Sync Module 2.
can a person have cameras at two properties with sepperate wifi networks - for a second home for example?
Yes, but I think you will need two separate Blinks plans. To be 100% sure though, you can contact Blink support, which is pretty good at answering questions quickly at support.blink.com
Is there a way for the camera to take snapshots when motion is detected, or is it just video?
It's one of the features I wanted. I haven't found any other camera that are not expensive available.
Hey I'm not sure of any security cameras that take photos with each motion detection. Most cameras I've used will only take photos at certain intervals, but not based on motion. I'm sure there's cameras out there can do it though. What are you trying to accomplish because some camera systems will send a photo thumbnail to your phone that you can tap to see the full video of the motion.
@@DemCrumblies Thank you. I placed mine in a nest box for owls, first time doing this.
@@just1smothie Oh got it. Might be worth searching for bird watching or trail cameras if this camera doesn't pan out well enough for the owls.
Does the camera consume more power when the video clips are stored on the usb-drive?
It shouldn't because the Sync Module 2 is powered separately., Blink mentions that the Sync Module 2 actually offloads some of the work from the main camera for certain models, so it shouldn't increase power consumption at all.
You're def gonna want to run a wire or solar to that cam in the front of your house, all of that activity will drain the batteries in no time. If you have a light socket near the cam inside the house or on the porch you can run a cable from it using a Light Socket to Plug Adapter.
Mine died after 3 weeks. Definitely not meant for high traffic areas.
@@DemCrumblies Once you get it connected to a wire you won't have anymore issues with batteries dying quickly. I had to do that myself.
I ended up returning it and sticking to solar powered cameras instead, but yea, seems it requires hard wiring for high traffic areas.
Question about the "person detection" option. If I opt to pay the yearly subscription, did you say it is included...or it another small fee on top of the $30 per year subscription?
Hey @ofcbob6391, the person detection is included in the monthly or yearly subscription.
Can I add more than five blink gen 4 cameras to the system? Also with a bigger property can I add two modules to get the WiFi to work better? Would all of this work? I plan on using the full subscription service. Any help or advice would be great, thanks.
If you buy the Blink monthly subscription plan, I believe you can add up to 10 Blink devices at one property, however, I don't believe the Sync Modules can provide a better WiFi signal. I could be wrong, but you can check with Blink support to confirm 100%: support.blinkforhome.com/
@@DemCrumblies Great video btw! MY understanding is the Blink Module 2 (is simply an intermediary to Wifi). The camera's and the module communicate on their own bands to send video, etc). I also understand the Module typically has a longer reach than most home WiFi routers.. so you can put it near the end of the house wifi range and then the camera's connect (from even further away) to the module only.. NOT the wifi.. once set up.
@@richardw3630 I remember when I used the Sync Module 2 with the Blink Video Doorbell, Blink support mentioning that the Sync Module 2 did some offloading from the video doorbell, which is why it would allow for pulling up live view at will, but you might be right that it can act as a WiFi extender too. I'll contact Blink support to find out for sure since it'd be good to know that for future questions. Will update when I hear back from them. Thanks for watching : )
Update: You're right when it comes to the new Sync Module Pro: support.blinkforhome.com/en_US/f-a-q/sync-module-pro-faq# (It mentions that it can provide extended range). Not sure about the older Sync Module 2 since I couldn't find info on that, but maybe it's the same too.
@@DemCrumblies Makes sense....I think it was primarily the fact that you could use it (like an extender).. for the camera's ONLY. Basically a jump point already half way to the camera.. so you could have the camera's further away from the wifi Access Point. for my 120 by 60 foot lot.. it works very well out of my high signal blocking house to the end of the front yard looking back at my house. Cheers!
@@richardw3630 Yep that's great to know because I can now suggest moving the sync module to a half way point if anyone ever reports signal issues. Thanks for sharing and putting that on my radar : )
Great video thanks‼️
Thanks for watching Jeremy : )
This was very informative, one question. Is there a way to make one of the cameras available to other people to pull up and see? While the rest of my cameras are kept private?
Hi @davebarron5939, unfortunately I didn't find an option to share an individual camera in the Blink App. This is something that should be an option since other camera brands allow sharing individual cameras.
I'm having trouble getting a Wi-Fi signal to my outdoor cameras. I live in a two-story house in India. My Wi-Fi router and the Blink module are located on the second floor, while the three outdoor cameras are installed on the ground floor: one in the front, one on the side, and one at the back of the house. I only receive a full signal from the front camera, while the side and back cameras only get one bar of signal.
I've installed a Wi-Fi extender on the ground floor, but I'm still unable to get a full signal to the side and back cameras. Moving the sync module downstairs hasn't helped either. I'm unsure if I'm making a mistake in my setup. Could you please provide some suggestions?
Hey it's hard to say why, sounds like maybe the wall material could be part of the issue? The camera in the front, is it closer to the Sync Module 2 and router than the cameras on the side and back? Also, are there less walls that the signal has to go through until it can reach the front camera? I'm wondering if the distance to the front camera and amount of walls the signal has to go through might be why it's signal is so strong.
@@DemCrumblies Thanks. Yes, the front camera is directly below the router and module whereas the side and back cameras are far away to the extreme right of the house. I'm trying to change wifi channel settings on my router and have to try other steps to see if there is any improvement.
@@vipin_rahul Good luck, hope you can improve the signal.
Thank you for your info, by any chance do you know if I can buy one of the blink systems here in the US and if they work in El Salvador, thank you in advance
Hi Roy, yes this will work anywhere in the world if you use it without the monthly plan and only with the Sync Module 2 and a USB Drive. I'm not sure if the monthly plan is supported in El Salvador. Btw, I have reviewed many other cameras which are much better value than Blink and have solar charging capabilities. I can share some recommendations if you like.
How well does person/motion detection works. alot of times when i get a recording,its someone walking out of the frame where I'll get like 2 seconds of useful information
Unfortunately that is how these type of cameras work. Since they are not on continuous power, by the time they detect motion and trigger the recording, the subject can be out of frame. Best thing is to get a camera with a much wider field of view or a camera that can be hard wired. The new Reolink Argus 4 Pro camera is solar powered and has 180º field of view, so once it detects motion, the subject will still be seen since the field of view is so wide. I will be reviewing this camera in the next two weeks.
These are great wireless cameras for the cost.
Yea the price has dropped significantly now ahead of prime day.
hello!
why my blink camera keep offline at night?
great video
Hmm that is strange, is your camera only powered by batteries and no solar panel?
@@DemCrumblies plug in and battery
thanks for response.
@@funlife2023 Thanks, can you check it tomorrow when it's online during the day and see what the Blink app reports the battery health as? I know it shouldn't matter since it's plugged in and especially if it works properly during the day, but I'm wondering if the infrared LEDs that activate at night can be part of the reason.
@@DemCrumblies thanks, i will check tomorrow, does 5 cameras ok with 1 Module?
@@funlife2023 Yep, I believe you can have up to 10 devices on one Sync Module 2 unit.
We paid 99$ for the 3 camera plus module package on amazon.. 😊
Yep that's a good score. I see they had deep discounts during the Prime day event.
There is no hardwired or POE power option for these Blink cameras?
Nope, these Blink cameras have pretty basic overall functionality. I think some people buy 3rd party accessories that let them connect it to a USB cable while maintaining a decent amount of weather sealing though.
No, but they do need to be charged frequently. You could put a small solar panel on it or run an electrical cord to it.
I bought two yesterday. And they were ok at first. By the end of the night, they wouldnt stay connected.
Will it still work without the synch module?
I believe the outdoor 4 camera must have the Sync module 2 unit.
@@DemCrumblies thank you
@@Carolinec222 You're welcome, good luck.
"Thank you for such a detailed review. It's helping me decide whether I should buy it."too many features are blocked.
I have a pile of gen 3 at home, I like the simplicity but am not a fan of the detection, anything passed 20ft seems to get missed or the camera doesn't wake quick enough. Have you noticed the detection improved distance wise?
@THECBA55, I didn't notice any improvement with the motion detection. Even with the sensitivity set to 9, it didn't pick me up until I was directly in front of the camera walking slowly: ruclips.net/video/KPHwe-tQBzk/видео.htmlsi=j8mwVI0gFuVHilXQ&t=926
I have positioned Blink motion sensors at a distance from my house, utilizing them to initiate recordings on my Blink camera. However, it's crucial to meticulously fine-tune the sensor's direction and sensitivity. For instance, placing it too close to the road might lead to frequent triggers from passing cars, which emit heat and reflect sunlight. Similarly, if there are bushes in proximity to the sensor, windy days could result in an excessive influx of notifications. As a result, I've accumulated a few unopened sensors, since finding suitable spots for their placement posed challenges.
Don't waste your time.... I'm keeping my gen3 cameras until they come out with at least a new 4k camera version... This gen4 is just a redesigned and rewrapped gen3 camera all over again...smh
I'm really wondering if they will ever release a 4K or even 2K camera at this point. It's already 2023 and they're living in the year 2000 with 1080P@@jdubb0113
@@jdubb0113 Person Detection has just come out for Blink. If you want 4k/2k cameras, then go buy Arlo. You're not going to get a budget option with top of the line features. Same things with cars, tvs, computers, phones ... When amazon finally come out with higher res cameras, 8k will be mainstream. If you want higher quality, pay a higher price, easy.
I have a previous model of the Blink cameras. I do not know what a Sync module is.
Hey @MyweathernetreportsBlogspot most newer Blink cameras now require a Sync Module 2 to operate. This is what it looks like: ruclips.net/video/KPHwe-tQBzk/видео.htmlsi=8kHSmPip73rDSLiS&t=224
According to Blink these will work fine with Sync module 1. Sync module 2 allows for local storage on usb drive. @@DemCrumblies
Good to know, thanks!@@M0bstaJ
My outdoor Camera has manual sync module firmware update required. How can I update it manually?
You will have to use the Blink App and follow along with the instructions on there I believe.
If you are grandfathered in will i be able to use it without subscription
Hmm I'm not sure about that actually. Best to contact Blink support to be 100% sure here: blinkforhome.kustomer.help/contact/support-HJlZ2VBIH?ref=kb
If I set it up at my house can I put the camera at a different house
It won't work at the other house since the WiFi details will be different at the other house.
alternative?
Any of these are wayyy better options:
ruclips.net/video/AMJWHKZHyT0/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/xEPOdKZ8F5s/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/76SUrpYfgFo/видео.html
Could you tell why my camara couldn't record motions sometines even though it has been armed?
Hey there, try to adjust the sensitivity to the highest setting. You may also have to angle the camera down slightly. Also, how high up is it installed from the ground? If it's too high up and the angle is low enough, the detection range may not be close enough.
@@DemCrumblies Thanks, It is above the door, it wasn't record when I drove out of grage yesterday morning, but it recored when I back, it happens like that often.
I'd set the sensitivity to the highest setting, then angle it down a little bit more maybe to see how it reacts.@@yshcordaro5254
@@DemCrumblies Thank you, I will try it!
Sounds good, let me know how it goes.@@yshcordaro5254
I just bought two. They started off great. By the end of the night they wouldn't hold a connection.
Hey there, do you mean the WiFi connection is weak or poor?
@@DemCrumblies No. Its very strong. But I was thinking it might be a type of speed that doesn't work with it.(LTE/3 or LTE/4, etc)
@@Red_Whitenblu Ohh you mean the battery life then? I think mine lasted around 2 to 3 weeks before it completely died. I guess it isn't meant to be pointed at very high traffic areas.
@@DemCrumblies I actually bought 3. The first one was a mini camera. And it works great. Very responsive and dousent need s sync box., it worked so well that I figured Id get the "outdoor 4". The 4th generation. Kinda expensive too. But I need them. And they stink. Maybe if it wasnt a portable WiFi, it might be ok. Ill have to try it on a home internet system, or something I guess.
@@DemCrumblies And I just found out theyre NOT rechargable. But theyre supposed to last 2 years? Yeah right. And if thats the case, wht is there a type C plug that fits in the back? Maybe direct connection to Internet? Who lnows. I been dealing with this for a few wekks now and its getting old. Garbage from Harbor Frieght too
thank you very much for your review. i was thinking to buy these cameras but now i definetively i wont buy them.
You saved yourself from a bad decision and from monthly fees 👍 Btw, I review many other camera brands that do not require any monthly fees for full functionality, you can check the video description for some of those reviews or I can recommend a camera to you if I know what kind you're looking for.
Is the camera quality better than 3?
Blink says that the video quality is better and the low light capability is better, but from what I saw, it doesn't look great to me on a large screen. I haven't used to Outdoor 3 to compare, but I see the reviews on Amazon mention that the video quality isn't that great also. They really should be moving up from 1080P in 2023.
NOPE... It's the exact same camera quality and Camera that is on the Gen3 version...smh
Glad to know it's not just me who feels that way. @@jdubb0113
No it isn't the same. Much better low light contrast and wider field of view.
No memory card?
Nope. You either need a paid monthly plan to save clips to the cloud or you need to buy the Sync Module 2 and attach a USB drive to it to record clips.
For some reason my camera will record in color for the first half of the night but say after 1am or so it goes like almost black and you cant see anything..even tho same lights are still on on the street. It’s like it goes on low power mode or something but still detects motion. But you legit can’t even see it
Actually that doesn't surprise me much with Blink's cameras now. I think they prioritize battery life so much that they handicap their cameras too much. I actually returned mine because the battery died within around 3 weeks since my area is way too busy with people coming and going. But my other cameras from eufy and EZVIZ have no problem staying on with solar charging.
@@DemCrumblies Or maybe it’s because both my cameras are by some white trim and it steals all the IR away from the rest of the scene? So I guess they do have black and grey mode..just the white trim is so bright and close that it blacks everything else out. If that makes sense
Yea it makes sense, you could try to temporarily move it elsewhere if it isn't too annoying to do to see if that resolves the issue to confirm it.@@drapermike
Any word on a 4th generation indoor camera?
Blink actually states that you can use this same camera indoors too, but I assume you're probably talking about something like the Blink Mini with the Pan & Tilt feature? I did a review of that here too: ruclips.net/video/hlFEv7a7oAs/видео.html (it doesn't have auto motion tracking though)
@@DemCrumbliesI see. I currently own the 3rd generation Blink indoor camera which doesn’t have the IP rating or rubberized exterior, and I was curious if they were going to upgrade that model. Great review.
@@el_puma_real Ah got it. They let you permanently connect a USB C cable on 4th gen to keep it always powered on, but you lose the IP rating, so I'm assuming this mean for users to use this feature if it'll be mounted indoors. Thanks for watching 🙂
The “3” I have is crap-came with dead batteries and likes to eat them in the winter-very narrow view,alert goes off to late if something is in my yard,off line many times,contacted Blink and usually gets back on line,tells me I dont have contract for memory but I do first impression of this brand-)_zero
Yea Blink has really been slipping recently. I still can't believe that the highest resolution they offer is 1080P in 2024.
Thanks for the info, but this is the worst system I ever saw. Open the boxes and no hanging hardware at all in any of the boxes? I bought it from a shopping sight. Hmmm so instead of throwing out the ones that did not pass quality, they gave them to a shopping site to sell. CRAP!!!!
Ohh that's unfortunate. You may be able to buy 3rd party mounts from Amazon if you don't want to return it.
Currently $132 for 4
which is why I came looking for this review lol. I think I'm going to go with AOSU pan and tilt cameras instead. No monthly or yearly fees and way better video quality. Plus the wireless ones tend to have solar panels so no having to pull them down to charge the batteries. The pan and tilt feature should allow me to get away with having two cameras instead of 4. If it doesn't, I'd only have to add one more camera at most. But that will be worth it in the long run because there's no subscription fees.
Nice instructional video, however you talk too fast and the video pace is so fast, it is almost useless for a bignner to (like me) to follow.
Hey @phototec, sorry about that. On the RUclips App or on your computer, you can press or tap on the Gear/Cog icon and reduce the playback speed to 0.75X or 0.5X to see if it helps.
Blink is device not soppurted in philippines.😢
You mean the Cloud plan? Or even the Blink app won't work? I have also reviewed many other camera brands that work worldwide.
Even in the app..
When i added a camera on the blink app it says device not supported i use 4th gen blink cam😢😢
That really sucks. They should at least let people use it in the app without the cloud plan. I guess there is no area in the app to change location? @@jonathanbelen4548
If you change the location on your phone, can you trick it maybe?@@jonathanbelen4548
maybe you should hide you qr code? cool video otherwise
Yep, good point! Just lazy editing on my part. Thanks for watching 🙂
Why? Not going to matter.
Fu-K Blink, keep your camera due to a lot of B-S requirements....i was going to purchase 5-6 of these cameras but no i think NOT!
Pretty biased 'review'. Blink is an excellent system.
I've used it extensively and if I had no other context using other camera systems, I might think it's decent, but there's way better systems out there with zero monthly fees and far more powerful hardware. If you're satisfied with Blink, I don't want to talk you out of it, but from my comment section and online forums, I know many are not fond of the pay wall tactics.
Not really much better and certainly not worth the X2 price
I noticed it went on sale for a fairly deep discount during prime days, but I was not happy with the battery life on it.
All these security is great,but without wifi,they are worthless..
Yea that's why I always like cameras that came a microSD card for recording in the body.
@@DemCrumblies So without wifi and an internal SD card it will still pick up detection and record?
This camera requires a Sync Module 2 to work properly. The Sync Module 2 lets you plug in a USB drive so it can record videos to the USB drive. If you do not plug in a USB drive, then you have to buy Blink's cloud plan to record videos to the cloud. Not sure about how it functions without WiFi though, but you can contact Blink support here and they will be able to answer all those questions better than I can: support.blinkforhome.com/en_US/faq-outdoor4/outdoor4-camera-faq@@neilcharles2520
@@DemCrumblies Thanks for the info...appreciate it..
You're welcome, good luck! Btw, I have reviewed many other outdoor camera systems that are better than Blink if you aren't locked into their ecosystem yet.@@neilcharles2520
Is the same thing with the version 3 of these cameras. Pure garbage. Unfortunately, i discovered it after purchase the 5 combo of them. Don't buy them. If you want something better then go for wyze cameras.
I didn't use the 3rd generation, but I agree that this 4th generation offering is weak. Motion detection is weak unless set to max sensitivity and the 1080P video quality is average at best. Worse though, is how many features are locked behind the paid monthly plan, which are basic features on other camera systems.
These cams are trash I regret buying them
Yep agree. I listed some way better alternatives in my video description if you didn't already buy other replacement cameras.
the absolute worst "brand name" low cost camera system out there. there are a lot of camera systems that are less expensive and have more features that are free or lower in cost without mandatory 30 to 50 dollar "sync modules". a neighbor gave me his two camera system when he upgraded and i can see why he got rid of it now. i went through hell to get the system registered to the blink app, the only one it would work with. my neighbor had deleted his account but somehow the cameras were still registered to his non existent app so i couldn't put them on my account until we talked to support on the other side of the planet 3 times and they were finally able to understand what the situation was and what we needed done. anyways, after getting the cameras installed i discovered how bad the video, audio, motion detection, and recording was. in fact there was no recording unless you paid for a subscription. kind of a useless security camera if you can't record. what if you need video of someone as evidence? anyways, don't buy. you'll regret it.
1000% Agree. It really is crazy that in 2023, the video quality is still 1080P and not just 1080P, but low bitrate 1080P. I basically recommend also any other camera brand except Blink when people ask me for recommendations, especially with all the paywalled features.
Which would you recommend?
These are more expensive upfront, but since there's no monthly fees, it works out cheaper in the long term. I recommend these: ruclips.net/video/76SUrpYfgFo/видео.html or ruclips.net/video/AMJWHKZHyT0/видео.html @@SouthFloridaFishingClub
Great review, what do you recommend
@@dbernards These are more expensive upfront, but since there's no monthly fees, it works out cheaper in the long term. I recommend these: ruclips.net/video/76SUrpYfgFo/видео.html or ruclips.net/video/AMJWHKZHyT0/видео.html @SouthFloridaFishingClub
JUNK JUNK JUNK!!!!!!!!!! JUST tossed mine in the garbage! The BIGGEST PITA after swapping out a router! Wouldn't re connect.... ALWAYS is an issue IF the power glitches, internet drops, ANYTHING!
Ohhh I think this is a known issue with these systems. I think the fix was to delete the cameras from the Blink App, clear the Blink app cache then readd them, but yea, the Blink system is not exactly a very high-tech system. I recommend almost any other camera brand over it.
@@DemCrumblies honestly tried that. Tried everything. Have so many other things to waste my time with besides a camera.
Yea true. If you ever want any recommendations for alternatives, let me know because I've ditched Blink as my primary camera system due to having to pay monthly fees.