IP surveillance cameras can be expensive so when LIDL brings one out at under £60 it is certainly worth taking a look. This camera can be connected by Ethernet or Wi-FI and everything you need – apart from a drill and screwdriver – are in the box.
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click image to enlargeThe camera is around 15cm long and circular at 6cm. A 7cm long mounting bracket screws into the underside of the camera, also supplied in the box are four screws and wall plugs and even an Ethernet cable extender box.
The camera is certified for either internal or external use and has a focal range of up to eight metres.
The Wi-Fi antennae screws into the rear of the camera and the joint mains lead and Ethernet cable are hard wired below this and are 90cm long, the last 20cm of this is split into two cables.
Although this is probably too short it is certainly enough to get from outside to inside a building and then either an extension lead for mains or the supplied Ethernet extender box if you use Ethernet.
The camera can store images on any Micro SD card you use.
Installation of the camera is the first job a drill will be needed for brick or concrete walls a Bradell may be enough for drilling into wood, as stated the screws and plugs are supplied.
Think about the mounting point before you start be it inside or out.
It is controlled by an App that is freely downloadable from either the iOS or Google Play Store.
It is designed to work with either a Smartphone or Tablet.
Next select the camera and let your phone scan the bar code on the camera, if this does not work you can manually enter code. Give the camera a name and then enter the default code.
The next thing to do is change the code to something else as soon as the camera is connected.
You now should have Live Mode showing you whatever the camera is looking at.
Now is probably the time for fine tuning of the area the camera is trained on.
There is a small sunshield that protrudes over the camera but try to avoid placing it anywhere where sunlight shines directly on the unit.
There are six LED’s around the lens which give decent night vision.
Live mode allows you to capture screen shots, store data with or without audio, start or stop recording and also to return to the home screen in the App.
An A5 Quick Start Guide with the first four sides in English explains everything I have just mentioned but there is also a multi-language CD-ROM in the box which contains a more detailed manual.
I doubt there are cheaper HD cameras currently available most are certainly in three figures and a lot around £200.
It seems quite ruggedly built as always with security cameras the correct mounting position is vital and then you have the intruder even if he/she disables the camera once the alert has been triggered. Also think about how low they camera covers towards the ground as otherwise you may get false alerts from pets or wildlife.
The LIDL IP Surveillance Camera is available from LIDL stores for £59.99. As with all such special offers its while stocks last.
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Comment by Lawrence Devaney, 18 Apr 2019 10:15
Cheers Lawrence