Reolink Keen Security Cam : FirstLook
World’s first battery-powered, wireless, pan-tilt security camera
You used to have to be an expert in order to set up a security camera, but after the cameras and monitoring software went digital it got way easier. With digital, the capabilities of the security camera evolved quickly (remote viewing, cloud storage, etc), and today it is possible to set up a monitoring system that is remotely accessed and controlled with a smartphone. We looked at a few which did exactly that (Dropcam, Nexia). While they are pretty cool, we just got a unit from Reolink which we think has them beat!
The Reolink Keen is the world’s first 100% wire-free, battery-powered, WiFi security camera. It can record in 1080p Full HD, has pan-tilt and night vision capabilities, two-way audio, and can be activated via a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor!
Reolink Keen:
- Image Sensor: 1/2.7″ CMOS Sensor
- Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (2.0 Megapixel)
- Lens: f=4.0mm Fixed, F=2.0, With IRCUT
- Angle of View: Horizontal: 90°, Vertical: 45°
- Pan/Tilt Angle: Horizontal: 355°, Vertical: 105°
- Minimum Illumination: 0 Lux (With IR Illuminator)
- IR Distance: 12 Meters
For the first time ever, we can completely forget about the AC outlet when considering where to put a security camera. No more trying to hide the wires. No more worrying about backup power. No more wondering about blind spots. Just put it where we want it and move it to wherever, whenever we feel like it. That’s pretty awesome!!!
A live view of what the camera sees may be accessed from anywhere via a smartphone running the Reolink app. The video and sound recordings are stored in the removable microSD card.
Of course, the other really cool thing about the Reolink Keen its pan/tilt capability. This means we can not only see what is going on directly in front of the camera, but we can actually TURN the camera on its base and MOVE it up and down (remotely) to see what’s going on everywhere! How cool is that??? OK, the only thing cooler is if we could activate an optical zoom…maybe in a future version 🙂
The Reolink Keen is small enough to be unobtrusive anywhere there is a flat surface to put in on. For wall mounting, included in the kit are all the hardware necessary (drilling template, screws, wall anchors) for putting up both the camera and the motion sensor.
The Reolink Keen, powered by four CR123A lithium batteries, can last for up to six months on standby. This is because Reolink has special power-saving circuitry to conserve/prolong battery life. The PIR motion sensor is also powered by the same type of battery, and can go for 3 years between replacement.
So all we need to do with the Reolink Keen is to power it up and put it somewhere. With any luck, we should have the Installation/FirstUse writeup of the Reolink Keen available before the end of Spring.
BTW, is it possible to have TOO many security cameras?
Links to items mentioned:
- Reolink Keen Wire-free Security Camera
- NEXIA Outdoor HD Security Camera (Model WCO200NX)
- NEXIA Indoor HD Security Camera (Model WCP200NX)
- DropCam Indoor Security Camera
BTW, if you order directly from Reolink, here is a 10% discount code (reolink keen-rainydaymagazine). Hurry… it is only good until June 7th!!!
It will stream live 720p or 1080p video to your phone, while the app will support up to 16 cameras, making the Argus suitable for use at home or by a small business. The app can send you emails alerting you to detected motion. It took five minutes, half of which was occupied removing and reinstating MAC address security from the wi-fi network.It’s a shame that there’s no built-in storage as you’ll need to it to record images or video of any length.