I need a Wireless Outdoor Security Camera because I have thief issues at my land. A fence was build as a deterrent, but my Dad refuses to use it because he thinks he doesn’t need it when he is there. (But he believes his backpack blower was stolen while he was sleeping in the shipping container)
I was looking for a wireless outdoor camera with IR capabilities when I was offered the opportunity to review this one. Naturally I agreed.
The camera is pretty simple. It comes with a short cat5 cable to plug into your router, mounting hardware, and a longer 115v wall wart.
Camera voltage is listed as 12v at 1.0 amps, so I think I can easily adapt it to run off of solar. Even thought the manufacturer says not to modify the device.
The camera was much clearer than I expected, and the wireless function to my phone worked much faster and cleaner than other wireless cameras I have used in the past.
After playing with it I only have a few dislikes.
- The instruction manual and app are for two different cameras which makes it confusing in the beginning.
- I can’t find the listed SD card slot so I can record. I believe the best deterrent for thievery is best done when the video of his theft is played in court. If he is in jail he can’t steal from you. (I learned later that you have to take the camera apart to insert a SD Card. I have a how to video of that process.
- My biggest issue is that the instructions say that once the camera is initialized with the router you can disconnect it and run the camera feed directly to your phone over WiFi. I have found that this is not the case even though the phone says it is happening, as soon as I disconnect the camera from the router the camera goes off line.
My issues keep me from hooking the camera where I want it, but not from using it. All in all I think it is a good camera, but I can’t get over the last two issues.
I did get this camera at a reduced price in exchange for an honest review. #Homesecurity
I have been having trouble with my videos. Because I normally shoot the videos my self as I am in the videos sometimes what I think I am
showing is not what gets captured.
This causes all manner of problems.
I recently bought a new tripod and it came with a cell phone mount and being unable to use more than one camera mount on the tripod at a time I wanted to figure out a way to use it.
Since a 1/4 20 bolt has the same threads as a camera mounting screw I figured I could hang the cell phone mount somewhere.
In looking for a good place I realized my head would be perfect. Since my head is always pointing where my eyes are looking at a diy camera mount hat would be perfect
Making the Camera Mount Hat was easy.
- First I took a punch and made a hole in the brim of the hat. If you don’t have a punch a hot soldering iron would work.
- Next use a washer and run the camera mounting screw through the hole.
- Finally screw the camera to the screw and have a good time taking video.
This project could not be any easier. Of course my wife could not stop laughing at how funny she said the contraption looked.
However, looking is a small price to pay for making videos you find useful.
As said in Jerry Maguire “I’m not in it for the money, its all about you babe”.
Seriously, I do have a horrible lack of camera skills, and bad equipment had plagued me.
Every time I save enough for better equipment I look at the reviews and promptly buy the wrong thing.
I hope that this helps me better capture the DIY projects I am working on.
Unfortunately, in a video I am working on now, I used this device when working on putting foam in the ceiling of the conex box and got sick watching it because I kept looking from place to place.
I like to do this in winter every year since there are times we can be iced in.
I had the toughest time picking which flashlight I wanted to put into my bug out bag this year though!
There are so many great flashlights to pick from and as I was thinking about it I realized that it’d be a good idea to write about what to look for in a bugout flashlight.
So, let’s start with the basics. For those who may not know, a bug out bag is usually a portable emergency kit filled with items that help you survive for 48 – 72 hours.
Of course, everyone’s bug out bag (BOB) is different and tailored to their wants and needs, but there are some essentials that should absolutely be packed such as first aid materials, a water filter, a multi-tool, and a flashlight, to name a few.
The same idea goes for picking out a flashlight for your BOB, it depends on preference but there are some essential features you want to keep in mind and that’s what I’ll be focusing on.
Best Lightweight Flashlight
A common problem with BOB is the weight of the pack. If you over-stuff it you risk it ripping or being too heavy to carry throughout the day. To help with this issue, you want to find an easy-to-carry lightweight flashlight. One that isn’t so big that it takes up a significant amount of your bag.
Multiple Brightness Modes
I can’t stress enough how important it is to have an LED flashlight with multiple brightness modes, especially with a survival flashlight. Even in an extreme survival setting, you wouldn’t want to use the highest modes constantly and drain the battery. Battery conservation is key to survival so you want a flashlight that has a variety of brightness modes that you can easily cycle through for different situations. I would also suggest packing a flashlight that has a focused beam and decent spill. The focused beam allows you to see far ahead of you and plan an appropriate path.
Waterproof Flashlight
You want the flashlight to be ready for all kinds of conditions so it’s important to get a high quality, durable flashlight. I suggest packing a flashlight that’s made of aluminum with an anodized finish. With this material the flashlight will work in all kinds of temperatures and can take a beating. You want to make sure that the flashlight you get is impact and water resistant, but preferably waterproof.
Here are the two flashlights that I’m currently choosing between for my BOB:
Klarus XT11S
I also really like the tactical features of this flashlight. The strike bezel may look small, but it can really pack a punch and I like the idea of using the flashlight as a self-defense tool. It has instant turbo and instant strobe which is important in any tactical flashlight. The XT11S has three programmable modes so you can set it to whichever you feel is best for your BOB. Personally, I like the default Tactical Setting so I can get to instant strobe and turbo. However, I think the Outdoor setting is also great with instant turbo, instant low and access to SOS. You can check out my review of the XT11S here.
Felix LD41
The LD41 runs on four AA batteries as opposed to a lithium-ion battery. I love rechargeable batteries, but I think that flashlights that run on AA batteries might make better emergency flashlights. Of course, you could use a power bank to charge the lithium-ion battery, but AA batteries are significantly easier to come by. The LD41 also features a low battery indicator so you know when it’s about time to change the batteries out. You can see my review of the LD41 here.
