Window Sensor
The widest field of view in our review is the D Link DCS 2630L at 180 degrees. A wide field of view, which the majority of the cameras we reviewed have, is anything larger than 80 degrees, and it works best if you mount the camera high in a corner that overlooks the room. Digital ZoomDigital zoom allows you to select part of the video and enlarge it. While this helps you get a closer look at something, the quality of a digitally enlarged video won't match that of the original. The Samsung SmartCam HD Pro has the highest digital zoom in the review at 10x. Smart Home PlatformBefore you buy, check if any home automation or DIY home security
systems work with the camera. These systems can use Wi Fi security cameras to control smart locks, thermostats and other devices in your smart home. Likewise, these devices can tell the camera to record or not, based on your personal preferences. The biggest
appeal with these systems comes from using a single app to control all of the smart home devices.For example, you can create rules to have the lights turn on when motion is detected, have your doors unlock when a smoke alarm goes off, and have a camera begin recording when a sensor is triggered.Some systems store recorded video locally on an SD card or a solid state drive, while others offer cloud storage.Locally stored video is a good choice for do it yourselfers on a budget, but you have to be careful not to
Lunaoverwrite video you may need later.Cloud
Pandostorage makes it easy to store and access recorded video, but
Alarm Panel it can cost hundreds of dollars per year depending on your subscription.Some
Motion Activated Camerasystems offer both cloud storage and local storage,
Cove Alarm Paneland some provide a dedicated storage drive that gives you DVR capabilities with time lapse recording, which makes it easy to find a video event that took place at a specific point in time.All of the systems we've
Cove Glass break sensortested feature an app that lets you use your smartphone as your
Youtube command center to arm and disarm the system, create rules, add and delete components, and receive push notifications when alarms are triggered.Most apps also allow you to do things like view live and recorded
Appvideo, lock and unlock doors,
indeedchange thermostat settings, and silence alarms.Some apps will even use your phone's location services to
glassdoorautomatically arm and disarm the system according to your physical location.The more expensive systems usually come with a wall mounted
Linkpanel that acts as a communications
Link hub, with a touch screen display that allows you to do everything the app does.The display lets you
Link communicate with a professional monitoring
Link service when an alarm is triggered and view video from any of the installed security cameras.While many systems use wireless components that are installed using double sided tape, some high end systems use components that require professional
Linkinstallation. WarrantyIt is common among consumer electronics to find a one year warranty. Longer warranties give you more time to replace the unit if it stops working due to a manufacturing defect.
fire detection alarm
In addition to these alerts the Halo + Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarm adds another layer of protection to your home by also delivering weather and disaster alerts directly to you or your device using a customizable NOAA weather radio.