Home security remains a primary concern for all of us, leading many to equip their homes with smart cameras to ensure necessary protection. Among the popular choices is the brand Blink. Numerous individuals have pondered whether their Blink cameras and doorbells can support continuous recording to enhance that feeling of security.
Continuous, 24/7 recording implies that every event within the camera’s range is constantly being recorded, offering undeniable advantages. However, it also comes with some drawbacks. But the question remains: Is continuous recording feasible with Blink cameras?
Blink Cameras and Doorbells
Blink stands as one of the contenders in the realm of smart home security solutions. Their offerings include both indoor and outdoor cameras, as well as video doorbells, though their product line may not be as extensive as some competitors like Ring. Nevertheless, Blink provides enough options to ensure comprehensive home security.
Their camera lineup features various models:
- Outdoor Wireless Cam
- Video Doorbell (available in wired and wireless versions)
- Mini Pan Tilt (Wired)
- Indoor Mini (Plug-in)
- Indoor Wireless Camera
Moreover, they offer a Floodlight mount for the Outdoor Cam to illuminate dark areas around your property.
To make the most of Blink’s cameras, you must download the Blink app and create an account. The app allows you to configure your cameras’ settings, such as the recording preferences for motion-detected events.
Like other smart security cameras, Blink’s devices connect to the internet and the Blink app via Wi-Fi. When motion is detected, events are recorded and stored in the Cloud for later viewing.
For enhanced features, it is recommended to opt for the Blink Subscription Plan. Blink has partnered with Amazon, so you can purchase a subscription for your Blink cameras through Amazon.com. Without a subscription, you won’t have access to recorded videos; you can only view Live View and receive motion-detection notifications.
The Blink Subscription plan offers two different tiers to cater to various needs and budgets. Subscribers can have their videos saved for up to 60 days, and some cameras like the Blink Mini allow continuous Live View, albeit limited to 90 minutes at a time.
Do Blink Cameras Record Continuously?
Regrettably, Blink cameras do not support continuous 24/7 recording; they solely rely on motion-based clips. Even with a subscription plan, the Live View feature has its limitations, capping the viewing time at 90 minutes. Moreover, this continuous Live View capability is only applicable to specific cameras, such as the Blink Mini.
Without the Cloud subscription plan, Blink cameras will not record motion-detected events. However, there is an alternative solution for those who wish to record without a subscription: using local storage through the Sync Module 2.
The Sync Module 2 is an optional device that can connect up to 10 cameras and provides local storage for motion-detected events when there is no active Blink subscription. It is compatible with certain camera models, including the Blink Video Doorbell, 2nd generation Indoor, Outdoor, and Mini cameras.
Regarding Live View footage, the ability to record Live View is exclusively available with a Cloud subscription plan. Without a Blink subscription, Live View streaming is limited to just 5 minutes of viewing time.
Smart Cameras That Offer Continuous 24/7 Recording
Having a smart security camera that records continuously indeed offers various benefits. One significant advantage is the elimination of delays between motion-detected events, ensuring no critical footage is missed. Additionally, you gain the ability to monitor activities around your home at all times, enhancing overall safety. However, there are also some drawbacks to consider.
A notable drawback of continuous recording is the accumulation of numerous footage segments capturing nothing significant. Managing and sorting through such footage can become a potentially tedious task.
Another downside is the considerable drain on battery life, which is why continuous recording is typically reserved for wired devices. Wired cameras ensure a constant and reliable power supply, addressing the battery-related limitations associated with this recording method.
Arlo
The compact and efficient Arlo cameras offer the much-needed 24/7 continuous recording feature. However, it’s essential to ensure you’re using a compatible model, as not all Arlo cameras support this capability.
You can utilize continuous recording with the following Arlo camera models:
- Pro 2, Pro 3, Pro 3 Floodlight, and Pro 4
- Ultra and Ultra 2
- Essential Indoor
- Q and Q Plus
- Baby Cameras
For cameras that also operate on battery power, it’s crucial to connect them to a power source using an AC adapter. Continuous Video Recording (CVR) will not function if the camera is not plugged in.
To enable continuous recording, you need to subscribe to CVR. Unfortunately, Apple users cannot purchase or modify the subscription through the iOS Arlo Secure app and must use Arlo.com or the Arlo Secure Android app for this purpose.
The price for CVR subscriptions starts at $9.99 per month, providing 14 days of recordings, and goes up to $20 per month for 30 days of continuous recordings.
To purchase your CVR subscription through Arlo.com, log in to your account, go to Settings, and then to Subscriptions. There, you can select and purchase the CVR subscription for the specific camera(s) you desire.
To access your recorded video footage, you can use either Arlo.com or the Arlo Secure app. Choose the camera you want to view footage for, click on Menu, and navigate to the Timeline, where you can review footage for up to 30 days, depending on the subscription you have chosen.
Google Nest
Nest Cams offer the capability of continuous recording, but access to this feature requires a Nest Aware Plan subscription. Specifically, the Nest Aware Plus tier, priced at $12 per month, is necessary to enable continuous recording. However, even with the subscription, this feature is limited to certain cameras.
For instance, the Nest Doorbell, whether wired or battery-powered, does not support continuous recording. On the other hand, Nest Cam Indoor and Outdoor models do provide continuous recording, but only when they are wired.
With a Nest Aware Plus subscription and a compatible plugged-in camera, users can benefit from 24/7 continuous video history. However, there is a condition to keep in mind.
In the Google Home app, you can access the past 60 days of continuous event history, allowing you to review continuous video triggered by motion-detected events during that period.
It’s worth noting that when it comes to complete continuous video history, users can view the past 10 days of 24/7 continuous history. The limitation to 10 days might be a measure to allocate more Cloud storage to motion-detected events, which are generally considered more crucial. Nonetheless, for the majority of users, whether having 10 or 60 days of history, this typically proves sufficient.
Wyze
One of the prominent players in the realm of smart cameras offering continuous recording is Wyze. However, achieving continuous recording requires the use of a microSD card with your Wyze camera.
The microSD card enables the camera to store all captured footage, with older recordings automatically making way for newer ones as the card fills up.
It’s important to note that continuous recording is available only with plug-in cameras like the Wyze v3. This is because continuous recording consumes a substantial amount of power, which is not feasible for battery-powered devices.
Wyze cameras that support continuous recording include:
Unfortunately, continuous recording is not an option for the Wyze Outdoor Cam, as it operates on battery power. Some argue that since it utilizes a Base Station with a microSD card slot, continuous recording should be possible. However, as the cameras themselves are battery-operated, continuous recording remains unavailable.
To enable continuous recording for your Wyze cameras, access the Wyze app and select the camera you wish to set for continuous recording. Then, go to the camera’s Settings, represented by the gear icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
Next, navigate to Advanced Settings, where you will find the option for Continuous vs Event Only recording if your camera has a microSD card inserted.
Eufy
Eufy is another brand that offers the option of continuous recording for certain smart home cameras, but this feature is not available for battery-operated devices.
Since continuous recording can accumulate a substantial amount of video footage, it is necessary to have sufficient storage space for storing all the data. Eufy cameras supporting continuous recording require external memory backup through a microSD card or Network Attached Storage (NAS).
Among the Eufy camera models that support 24/7 recording are the Indoor Cam 2K and the 2K Pan & Tilt. Additionally, Eufy’s Solo Outdoor Cams are also compatible with continuous recording.
However, Eufy’s line of eufySecurity cameras does not currently support 24/7 recording, and it remains unclear whether this feature will be extended to other cameras in their product line in the future.
For cameras that are compatible with continuous recording, users can utilize this feature without the need to pay for a Cloud subscription. To enable continuous recording, first, ensure that you have a microSD card inserted into the camera.
Next, access the Eufy app and confirm that the camera’s preferred storage location is set to local storage. Then, navigate to the recording settings and choose whether to record 24/7 continuously or within specific time frames, such as between 9 pm and 5 am.
Reolink
Like many other smart cameras, continuous recording on Reolink cameras is applicable only to their plug-in or wired models. Reolink stands out by providing users with more customizable recording options, especially regarding continuous recording.
To utilize this feature, start by accessing the Reolink app.
Next, navigate to Device Setting and then Camera Recording. From there, proceed to the Schedule page, where you can set up a schedule to instruct your cameras to record continuously.
To create the schedule, select the specific date or dates you want to edit and click on Timer. Enabling the Timer ensures that recordings occur continuously, regardless of whether there is a motion event or not. Then, simply highlight the time periods you want the continuous recording to take place.
After making your selections, remember to click Save, and you’re all set! Your Reolink cameras will now continuously record based on the days and times you have chosen.
Wrapping it up
Ensuring the security of our homes is crucial for our peace of mind. With their cost-effective solutions, Blink cameras have become a popular choice for many. However, disappointment arises when Blink users realize that continuous recording is not an available option.
Thankfully, there are alternative choices from various smart home camera manufacturers that do offer continuous recording. This allows users to reap the benefits of continuous monitoring and enjoy an added layer of security for their homes.
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