Reolink’s wi-fi digicam simply transitions from vanlife to homelife

As a part-time vanlifer, I’m continuously on the lookout for alternatives to be alone on the earth. But I additionally wish to really feel protected when parked in a single day at an deserted practice station the place there’s a non-zero probability of starring in a Netflix true-crime drama. That’s why I all the time journey with an axe, my reactive beagle, and — extra not too long ago — a pair of battery-powered Reolink Argus 4 Pro safety cameras.

I selected this explicit 4K digicam to check as a result of it really works straight over my Starlink Mini’s Wi-Fi connection (5GHz or 2.4GHz) and doesn’t want a SIM card or information plan like costlier go-anywhere mobile cameras. Its IP66 score makes it appropriate to be used indoors and out, even once I return residence to maximise worth for cash. And as a result of the digicam has two lenses that mechanically sew collectively footage for a 180-degree discipline of view — I’ve been testing two Argus 4 Pro cameras for a full 360-degree view of the world round my van.

There are two different issues I actually love in regards to the Argus 4 Pro digicam. First, it data on to an SD card as much as 512GB, which suggests no recurring month-to-month charges for cloud storage or providers. Second, it’s fitted with a passive IR movement detector, evening imaginative and prescient, floodlight, siren, and microphone / speaker that may all be mechanically or manually triggered to push back any intruders.

Yes, there are a number of issues that may be improved too, however none of these are deal breakers, for my part, particularly at these costs: a single Argus 4 Pro 4k wi-fi digicam prices simply $107.99 on the time of this overview — or $119.99 with a photo voltaic panel that would hold it operating indefinitely.

The Argus cameras include a couple of mounting choices within the field, however nothing magnetic. So the very first thing I did was order a pair of those rando $10 magnetic swivel mounts that connect the cams rapidly to my van’s exterior hull when parked. That means the cameras may also be rapidly stolen, together with any proof saved on the SD playing cards, which is why I mount them up excessive and out of attain.

The 4K picture high quality from the 1/1.8 sensors and F/1.0 lenses just isn’t nice regardless of my robust Wi-Fi connection. Daytime footage when parked in a snowfield on a sunny day regarded blown-out, for instance, and nighttime movies have been extraordinarily noisy with out resorting to the floodlights. But, the cameras are adequate they usually act as deterrents. The siren and floodlight could be annoying to hikers, runners, and canine walkers, which is why I’m glad they are often disabled if I’m parked close to a trailhead.

Importantly, these cameras additionally seize nocturnal guests like foxes and wolves I’d in any other case by no means have seen. Smart alerts inform me if an individual, animal, or car was detected, with footage marked by a corresponding icon for fast identification when scrolling by the archives.

The Reolink app is dangerous. When I’d hear a noise at evening, I’d launch the app to see what was occurring exterior my van as a substitute of climbing out of my heat mattress and peeking by the insulated window coverings. Unfortunately, to indicate the reside 360-degree video feed produced by the 2 Argus 4 Pros, I’ve to view them stacked on high of one another in portrait mode — or worse, side-by-side — making it troublesome to see any element captured within the 5120×1440 @15fps movies. In panorama orientation, the app can solely present one reside 180-degree video stream at a time.

I do like that the app permits me to set off the alarm or floodlight whereas viewing reside video. I may even activate the microphone and speaker for two-way audio if I want to have interaction.

I additionally like {that a} 6W USB-C photo voltaic panel could be added for lower than $15 to maintain the cameras working indefinitely in some climates. I had one working on the roof of my residence for months on finish, for instance. Even with out the photo voltaic panel, I used to be getting 6 to eight weeks off a single cost with the movement sensor triggering a handful of pigeon movies every day. Alerts could be despatched by way of electronic mail or by way of a push notification to your telephone, with the latter supporting precedence supply to override any do-not-disturb settings.

Moving the cameras between my van and residential isn’t as seamless because it might be. To transfer the cameras from my van’s Starlink to my residence community I’ve to manufacturing unit reset every gadget, which is foolish — you possibly can’t simply change Wi-Fi networks. Fortunately, the operation takes lower than two minutes, and the hassle ends in two further factors of remark in and round my residence.

The cameras could be added to Alexa and Google Home sensible houses. And should you really need it, the Argus 4 Pro does work with Reolink’s $79.99 Home Hub for improved cross-camera monitoring, reporting, and encrypted centralized storage of all of your movies in your native community — once more, with none charges.

I’ve develop into a giant fan of Reolink’s battery-powered Argus 4 Pro 4K cameras within the few months I’ve been testing them at residence and on the highway. They’re fast to arrange and supply peace of thoughts by surveillance that may be triggered mechanically or by guide intervention. And better of all, Reolink received’t nickel and dime you to dying with subscription charges since every thing is accessed over your native Wi-Fi community with footage saved on SD playing cards. For a primary, wi-fi, 180-degree safety digicam, the Argus 4 Pro is tough to beat for the value.

Photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge