Security Cameras for your RV – is Blink worth it?

Описание: Security Cameras for your RV – is Blink worth it? Let’s explore Blink as a possible RV security camera option to ensure you can stay connected to your RV while you’re away. Is Blink worth it? We’ve been using these Blink cameras for about 4.5 months so far and have been really liking our choice. Although it started out a bit bumpy on setup, we’ve grown to really like them. Are these right for you? We’ll, let’s explore!

Ironroot Voiceover (my company): https://www.ironrootvo.com/

Product Links:
** DISCLAIMER ** This video was not sponsored by Amazon or Blink (but I am an Amazon affiliate - read below). I researched this product myself and paid for its full price with my own money. However, I have partnered with Viper Broadband as I believe in their service.

Blink Doorbell: https://amzn.to/49IVpdN
NEW GEN 4 Blink Cameras: https://amzn.to/47wLHcg
USB Drive: https://amzn.to/47E24Ei

** Viper Broadband: https://www.viperbroadband.com/ - USE RVSAVE100NOW to redeem $100 at checkout when purchasing a plan + CAT18 / 5G router!

Transcript:

Security Cameras for your RV - are these right for you? Bobbie J B asks just that after spotting them on our earthquake video, so let's find out.

If it's not already obvious, we use these for both creepers AND critters. And, for the most part, they work pretty well. So what brand are we using?

These are our Blink cameras from Amazon. They're all battery operated and have motion detection from these sensors here. But are these really practical for an RV given that they are highly dependent on WIFI? Well, that depends.

If you're like us, then you'll already have a router working full-time in your RV. We use this one from Viper Broadband, but any router and Internet solution should do. Whenever we plug our RV into shore power, we automatically have Internet (usually)... Unless we have to break out Starlink, but that's another video.

These cameras work via WIFI, but they have to use this proprietary hub to store their video. A great feature is that this hub runs off DC power so it can plug right into a USB outlet, like so.

Additionally, we have installed a USB drive that serves as a video backup.

This hub is also necessary to talk to the Blink servers so you can connect straight into the RV from your phone anywhere and check out the local scene or grab video clips of past events, like so.

We also enjoy having this doorbell camera because it keeps an eye on the front of the RV as well as provides a mechanism for campground hosts or other helpful campers to get ahold of us anytime there's an emergency.

For mounting, we didn't want to drill into our walls, so we decided to use this industrial Velcro. It doesn't work perfectly yet (as sometimes it peels off the mounts and sends these cameras crashing to the ground), but it does allow us to quickly grab the cameras upon departure and store them safe inside.

The one big disadvantage is that the camera are (sometimes) very slow to load if you want to view a live feed, usually taking about 10 seconds or more. And if you decide not to pay the $10/month charge for the Blink service, then streaming videos from your hub, through the Internet, and down to your phone is excruciatingly slow - almost to the point of being worthless. If you avoid the Blink service plan, it's just faster to go back your hub when you get home, unplug your local storage, and plug it into your phone to see what you missed.

Also, be prepared to spend some good time acquainting yourself with the interface and getting your motion activation dialed in properly. You can name your cameras, set motion detection zones (so you can ignore those pesky tree branches blowing in the wind giving you false motion detection alerts), and set sensitivity. Nothing too special here.

So, are these right for you? Perhaps. We like them, but your use cases will vary. For sure we like them better than the bulky Wyze Outdoor camera alternative (sorry, those are just terrible, although their wired gen 3 cameras can't be beat!).
And we do like getting messages on our phones when the system is armed and then having immediate access to the recorded footage. But ultimately, it's a personal preference.

So if you found this video helpful and decide to grab a set, please consider using the links in our description below. It throws a few cents our way but doesn't increase your price at all - it just forces Amazon to share a bit of their profit for us so we can make more videos!

As always, thank you for watching, my fellow Squatchologists, and we'll see you next time.

For RV buying guidance, tow vehicle compatibility checks, and real-world RV ownership advice, I also publish resources at https://www.towlantern.com