Home security systems are becoming more important every day as the world faces various threats, such as crime, natural disasters, and cyberattacks. Outdoor cameras are one of the most essential components of a home security system, as they can help you monitor and protect your property from intruders, vandalism, and other hazards. With a decent outdoor camera, you can easily view live video footage of your home anytime and anywhere, as long as you have a reliable internet connection. This can give you peace of mind and allow you to respond quickly to any suspicious activity or emergency situation.
You can receive real-time alerts when your camera detects motion, sound, or other events. Some cameras can even distinguish between people and animals and send you intelligent notifications that reduce false alarms. Right now, thousands of brands develop outdoor cameras, making it possible to find various options for different needs and preferences. Today, we are going to talk about Blink outdoor cameras. In this guide, we will talk about features, installation, and maintenance for such cameras. So, make sure you read our guide until the end.
Outline
ToggleBlink Outdoor Camera
The Blink outdoor camera is a wireless, weather-resistant HD security camera that works with Alexa and can be controlled from your smartphone. It is designed to help you monitor your home’s exterior and alert you of any motion activity. One of the most attractive aspects of this camera is its extremely compact design, which delivers a great range of features. Here’s what you can expect from a Blink outdoor camera.
- 1080p HD Resolution: It has a 1080p HD video resolution that lets you see clear and detailed images of your surroundings. You can also find different options in terms of resolution based on your requirements and budget.
- 2-Way Audio: It has a two-way audio feature that allows you to talk to visitors or guests through the camera’s speaker and microphone.
- IR night Vision: It has an infrared night vision feature that lets you see in the dark up to 20 feet away.
- Privacy Zones: It has 2 privacy zones that let you block out areas you don’t want to record or view, such as your neighbor’s window or your own door.
- Cloud Storage: It has a cloud storage option that lets you store your motion clips online for up to 60 days with a subscription plan. You can also use a local storage option that lets you save your clips on a USB drive connected to Sync Module 2, which can be purchased separately.
- Photo Capture: The photo capture feature takes hourly snapshots of your outdoor area and creates a time-lapse video at the end of the day. So, you can review this time-lapse each day and take notice of activities throughout the day.
- Reliable Battery Life: It comes with a long-lasting battery that can last up to two years with normal use. You can also use an optional solar panel to keep your camera charged without replacing the batteries.
- Motion Detection: The motion-only notification feature lets you receive alerts on your phone without recording any clips. This can help you save battery as well as storage space.
- Various Additional Accessories: It is compatible with various additional Blink accessories such as mounts, covers, and skins, that let you customize your camera’s appearance, placement, or functionality.
Setting Up a Blink Outdoor Camera
Installing a complicated system such as an outdoor security camera can be tricky because it involves several steps and factors that must be considered carefully. It includes choosing the right location and angle for the camera. You need to ensure that the camera can cover the area you want to monitor, avoid any obstructions or glare, and have a stable and secure mounting surface. Also, configuring the camera settings and features on the compatible mobile app is equally important.
So to help you with that, we have prepared this helpful section guiding you on how to easily install and set up a Blink camera. Following each and every step carefully is important here because it can ensure that your camera works properly and effectively. If you skip or miss any step, you may encounter some problems, such as the camera not capturing clear and detailed images or videos of your outdoor area or the camera not working with Alexa or other Blink accessories. Hence, we suggest going through the entire section before you start.
1. Download the App
First, you need to download the Blink app from the App Store or Google Play on your smartphone or tablet. The app will allow you to create an account, add devices, configure settings, view live streams, and more.
2. Set Up the Account
Then, you must create an account with the Blink app using your email and password. You can also use your Amazon account to sign in if you prefer. You will need to verify your email and phone number to complete the account setup.
3. Set Up Sync Module and System
A sync module is a device that connects your Blink cameras to your Wi-Fi network and the cloud. You need to plug in the sync module to a power outlet and scan the QR code on the back of it with your Blink app. Then, you need to follow the instructions on the app to connect the sync module to your Wi-Fi network and name your system.
4. Check the Batteries of the Blink Camera
You need to make sure that your blink camera has enough battery life before adding it to your system. You can use the back cover opening tool that comes with your camera to remove the back cover and check the battery level indicator on the battery compartment. If the indicator is green, the batteries are good. If it is red, you must replace the batteries with two AA lithium batteries.
5. Add an Outdoor Camera to the System
You need to tap the “+” icon on the app and select “Add a device”. Then, you need to choose “Blink Outdoor Camera” and scan the QR code on the back of your camera with your app. You can also enter the serial number manually if you prefer. Then, you need to follow the instructions on the app to connect your camera to your Wi-Fi network and sync module. You can also name your camera and set the thumbnail image.
6. Close the Back Cover
You need to ensure that your camera’s back cover is securely closed after adding it to your system. The back cover has a rubber seal that protects your camera from water and dust. If the cover is not closed properly, your camera may not work or may be damaged.
7. Test the Camera
Lastly, you must test your camera before mounting it at a suitable location. You can use the live view feature on the app to see what your camera sees and hear what it hears. You can also test your camera’s motion detection, two-way audio, night vision, and other features.
8. Mount the Camera
Once the testing is complete, you can choose a location that has a clear view of the area you want to monitor, is protected from the elements, and is within range of your Wi-Fi network and sync module. You can use the included cone-shaped swivel mount or any other compatible mount to attach your camera to a wall, ceiling, or other surface. You can also use the app’s live view feature to adjust your camera’s angle and position.
Customizing Settings and Preferences
Blink cameras offer a wide range of features that can help you monitor your home’s exterior and interior, communicate with visitors and store or share your clips. However, it is important to properly set up and customize these features if you wish to take advantage of them. Here are some of the important features of a Blink camera and how to configure them properly:
1. Capturing Time Frame
This feature allows you to set the length of the video clip your camera records when it detects motion. Depending on your preference and storage space, you can choose from 5 to 60 seconds. To configure this feature, you need to go to the camera settings on the app, tap on “Clip Length”, and select the desired duration.
2. Setting Up Notification Signals
This feature allows you to receive alerts on your phone when your camera detects motion or when someone presses the talk button on your camera. You can choose to receive push notifications, emails, or both. You can also customize the sound and vibration of the notifications. To configure this feature, you need to go to the system settings on the app, tap on “Manage Notifications”, and select the options that suit you.
3. Motion Detection Threshold
As the name suggests, it allows you to adjust the sensitivity of your camera’s motion detection. You can choose from low, medium, high, or custom levels, depending on how much motion you want your camera to capture. To configure this feature, you need to go to the app’s camera settings, tap “Motion Detection”, and select the desired level or create your own.
4. Enable and Disable Cameras
If you want to save power when the cameras are unnecessary, you can turn OFF your cameras individually or as a group. This feature can save battery life, avoid unwanted recordings, or create camera schedules. To configure this feature, you need to go to the system settings on the app, tap on “Enable/Disable Cameras”, and toggle the switch for each camera or for all cameras.
5. Controlling Speaker Volume
Adjusting the volume of your camera’s speaker is used for two-way audio and Alexa voice commands. You can choose from low, medium, high, or mute levels, depending on how loud you want your camera to be. To configure this feature, you need to go to the camera settings on the app, tap on “Speaker Volume”, and select the desired level.
6. Setting Up Privacy Zones
Most of the time, cameras can be considered an invasion of privacy if the field of view extends past your own property. So, Blink cameras have a feature to set up custom zones for recording. This feature allows you to block out areas that you don’t want your camera to record or view. You can create up to two privacy zones for each camera and resize them as needed. To configure this feature, you need to go to the camera settings on the app, tap on “Privacy Zones”, and draw rectangles over the areas that you want to exclude.
7. Saving Live View
Live view lets you save a snapshot or a video clip of what your camera sees when you use the live view feature on the app. You can use this feature to capture important moments or events that are not triggered by motion detection. To configure this feature, you need to go to the system settings on the app, tap on “Save Live View”, and select whether you want to save snapshots or video clips.
8. Two-Way Audio
The most important feature of Blink cameras, or any outdoor security camera is the 2-way audio that allows you to talk to visitors through your camera’s speaker and microphone. You can use this feature to greet guests, warn trespassers, or have a conversation with someone at your door. To use this feature, you need to tap on the talk button on the live view screen on the app and hold it while speaking.
How Do Blink Cameras Work?
Blink Outdoor security cameras offer an extra set of eyes on your property, allowing you to monitor your surroundings remotely. The camera is a small, weather-resistant device with a lens and image sensor. It’s designed to withstand various outdoor conditions, like rain and snow. These cameras connect to your home Wi-Fi network. This wireless connection lets the camera transmit video and data to your smartphone or a central hub.
Blink Outdoor cameras are also equipped with motion sensors. Once the camera detects motion, it starts recording a short video clip in response. These clips are then stored on the Blink cloud servers. When the camera records a clip due to detected motion, it can also send you a notification on your smartphone. This allows you to instantly check the footage and see what triggered the camera.
Depending on the model, Blink Outdoor cameras can be powered by batteries or connected to a power source. Battery-powered cameras are more flexible in terms of placement but require periodic battery changes or recharging. You can access the live video feed and recorded clips from your Blink camera through the Blink app on your device. This provides real-time monitoring and playback.
Reset The Blink Outdoor Camera
There are different ways to reset a Blink camera, depending on the model and the issue you are using.
- Remove the batteries from the camera and wait for 10 seconds before putting them back in. This will power cycle the camera and potentially resolve the issue. This method works for most Blink cameras that use batteries, such as Blink Outdoor, Indoor, XT2, and XT.
- Unplug the Sync Module from the power outlet and wait for 10 seconds before plugging it back in. This will reboot the Sync Module and potentially resolve the issue. This method works for all Blink cameras that use a Sync Module, such as Blink Outdoor, Indoor, XT2, and XT.
- Press and hold the reset button on the camera or the Sync Module for over 5 seconds until the indicator light turns red. This will factory reset the device and erase all its settings. After this method, you will need to delete and reinstall the device in the Blink app. This method works for some Blink cameras with a reset button, such as Blink Mini, and for all Sync Modules.
Blink Outdoor Cameras – FAQs
Ans: To adjust the sensitivity of motion detection on your Blink camera, you need to follow these steps:
*Open the Blink app on your smartphone or tablet.
*Tap the settings icon (the three horizontal lines) on the top left corner of the screen.
*Tap the camera that you want to adjust from the list of devices.
*Tap the motion detection toggle to enable it if it is not already on.
*Tap the motion settings option below the toggle.
*Tap the motion sensitivity option and move the slider to the left or right to decrease or increase the sensitivity level. You can choose from low, medium, high, or custom levels.
*Tap the save button on the top right corner of the screen to apply your changes.
Ans: The ideal placement for a Blink outdoor camera depends on your preferences and needs, but there are some general guidelines that you can follow to get the best results. For starters, you should place your camera in a location that can cover the area you want to monitor, avoid any obstructions or glare, and have a stable and secure mounting surface. The best detection range is within 5 to 20 feet of the camera. You should also place your camera higher off of the ground, so you can avoid smaller animals causing motion alerts.
Ans: Depending on your preference and convenience, there are different ways to power the Blink outdoor cameras. The Blink outdoor cameras come with two AA lithium batteries that can last up to two years with normal use. You can easily replace the batteries by removing the camera’s back cover and inserting new ones into the battery compartment.
Alternatively, the Blink outdoor cameras have a USB port on the back that can be used with a micro USB cable and adapter to power them rather than using batteries. You can use any 5V/1A USB power adapter or the one that comes with the Blink Mini camera. Simply remove the silicone USB port protector on the back cover of the camera and insert the micro USB end of the plug into the camera. Then, you need to plug the power adapter at the other end into an electrical outlet
Ans: To delete a single clip in the Blink app, tap Clips to view your available motion clips. Tap the clip you want to delete and verify it before deleting it. Keep in mind that deleted clips cannot be recovered. Tap anywhere on the video that is playing and tap the trash can icon. A confirmation message will appear. Tap yes to delete the recorded clip.
To delete multiple clips in the Blink app, tap Clips to view your available motion clips. Then, Tap Edit and select each clip you’d like to mark for deletion. A blue checkmark appears over the clip’s thumbnail showing you it’s been selected. Once selected, tap Delete to delete the clips. You can also use Select All to select every clip in the list and then tap Delete to remove all of the selected clips at once
Conclusion
We hope you now know all you need to know about Blink cameras, whether it is about features, installation, or setting up the device. If you already have a private local network, Blink cameras can be a smart choice for you as you won’t have to go through the hassle of setting up any additional network for the cameras or the server. Right now, security camera systems like Blink offer compatibility with any wireless network so that you can easily set up a number of security cameras on your premises and get remote access to the video feed from all angles. You also get advanced features such as night vision, IR motion detection, and 2-way audio, which further enhances the security measures that are necessary these days. If you wish to know more about these outdoor cameras, make sure you leave your doubts in the comment section below, and we’ll respond as soon as possible.
One Response
Great guide! I appreciated the step-by-step instructions. The troubleshooting tips were especially helpful. Just set up my Blink Outdoor Camera and it’s working perfectly. Thanks for sharing!