[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Blink’s Outdoor Solar Panel Charging Mount kit is a wire-free smart security system that offers an alternative way to power your security camera system. I love the idea of powering the camera system with a solar panels as it reduces the need to swap out batteries and eliminates the need to have a receptacle close by, and simplifies the installation!
The design of the solar panel charging mount is simple to install and use; just have to secure the back plate to a flat surface after removing from the housing unit, then the solar unit slides into place. The design also takes into account that users may need flexibility so the panel itself is also removable which allow you to mount it separately from the housing. This allows you to have the most options to mount the panel for maximum exposure.
The Blink Outdoor camera also has some flexibility, the mounting bracket can pivot around 360 degrees, while in the solar panel housing, the range of motion is decreased, but it’s more than sufficient to give you the optimal viewing angles
Setup of the Blink Outdoor camera was very simple and the app is fairly easy to use but the UI feels a bit dated. The overall quality of the outdoor camera is expected for a 1080p HD. The sound quality is about the same as I would expect as compared to other cameras that I’ve used. Load time from app to live stream was a bit slower than I was expecting, on average of 5 seconds, but once it loaded, everything worked fine.
Overall thoughts, easy to install and simple to setup via the app, however there are somethings to consider. The first of which, if you are not already using the Blink Ecosystem, be sure to pick up a Sync Module 2 and/or purchase a kit set that includes a Sync Module as Blink’s Outdoor camera will not work without one.
The Sync Module 2 is how the Outdoor camera communicates with your Wi-Fi to stream/store data and this will require a receptacle; this is an indoor unit. It may also be a good idea to test your Wi-Fi to ensure you have a good connection between the Sync Module and your Blink outdoor camera.
Secondly, you’ll want to look at the subscription plans to see if Blink Ecosystem/model is one that you’re interested in, while it includes free trial plan (much like other camera’s in the market), you won’t be able to save videos once your subscription model ends. If you’re good with just notification and live stream, then you’re golden.
I wish that the solar panel mount was available for individual purchase as I think it’s a fantastic accessory for standalone Wi-Fi camera systems. It’s a great way to reduce carbon footprint, and simplifies installations (no more need to run wires just to get power to your camera). I wish more security camera ecosystems would adopt an approach because it really does make installation easier.
Blinks Outdoor camera with the solar kit is an excellent value if you’re looking to add some wire free home camera systems to your home. I plan on adding a few more outdoor camera’s with the solar kit; it’s the perfect way to add some quick security on the exterior of our home with little effort!
