The SwitchBot Outdoor Spotlight Cam is one of several home security devices from the company and we have tested their indoor security system recently here which works really well and now we are going outdoors this time around.
Having outdoor security is equally as important as having indoor security in my book especially when you are not at home and having a simple system to set up is even better which SwitchBot is and takes only a few minutes to get up and running.
If you are not sure on how to install onto you wall or facia you can always ask someone else to do it or indeed the whole camera I often have done it myself for some folks which is fine and great to lend a hand.
Once you have the app installed you can then set all the parameters required to suit your needs and start protecting your home there is a myriad of features here on this camera including two way audio and nice loud alarm and a spotlight which gives you a color view at night but also acts as a light if you need to do something and of course there is AI built in to determine what has been spotted.
The app has plenty to toggle with and we go through it all in the video review below to give you an idea, it is best to get an sd card to store footage locally which you can download or view on your smartphone which is hand you can also view from anywhere in the world on your phone and get notifications do you are safe no matter where you are to get notifications should they arise.
I have tested this both on Android and iOS and there is not difference in how the app works and it works really well as does the camera having test other SwitchBot camera this one again yields a really good camera to have at your house and delivers each time on testing and in general and easy to recommend but do check the full video review below for more and what to expect.
Switchbot App
Features
Features AI Human/Pet Detection: SwitchBot Outdoor Spotlight Camera is able to differentiate between human, pet, and other forms of movement to help prevent false alerts. You can also receive smart alerts when motion is detected.
Weather Resistant with Great Battery Life: Dust, rain, snow? No problem, whatever the weather our battery operated security camera is made to withstand, and we’ve included a 10,000mAh battery to give you a longer charge life. Also offers an optional SwitchBot solar panel for unlimited power supply(Additional purchase required).
1080P Clear Night-vision: With a built-in infrared sensor and lens you’re now able to get an even clearer picture when recording at night, all in color. There’s also a spotlight that can be activated when movement is detected.
Includes Two-way Talk: You can communicate using the built-in mic on our cam and talk to whoever is on the other side, you can even use Alexa or Google Home and use voice commands to check devices like Echo Show (2.4Ghz Wi-Fi only).
Local & Cloud Storage Options: You can store video either via a MicroSD card (supports up to 256GB) or via the cloud using our AWS server services to safely backup your footage.
Home security is a must have be it indoor or outdoors and yet I hear today so called security experts stating there is no need at all for indoor security cameras. That is a topic at hand for another day should any security expert want to challenge me on that you can certainly fire away but I feel I will be left waiting the same way I was left reeling hering such on our airwaves more than once and is simply a pathetic comment to make.
The Switchbot indoor setup comes in several packages tailored for your needs or you can customise your own they have several bundles on offer or you can make it your own which is cool but do check out the bundles they have and not only that they are amongst the cheapest out there today and while I say cheap I have tried and tested these and avoid the cheap offerings you tend to see on Facebook that will rope you into subscription plans and below par cameras.
In our setup we have a motion sensor and window sensor on the camera side we have a 1080p pan and tilt a 2K pan and tilt and an indoor camera so i strategically place these around the home and at any entry points I seen where the could be a breach so to speak given I do have an external set up around the perimeter of my house
There is an app for these and no hub required unlike the old days when you did need a hub but you can use one if you like as they have hubs available but the less things plugged in the better these days and we just went on without one and all worked well.. Check out the app below but we have a good detailed video review below to check out what you can do in the app and the features included which is plenty I might add.
With the cameras you are in control and full control it is best to get an SD card to store locally on the device which you can then see on your smartphone or tablet these also work with Google and Alexa for those interested and can be put onto you home hubs if you wish. in the app you have so many settings to pick from which we go into detail with in the video review below but in short this setup is excellent and simple to use an navigate even for a novice there is many parameters you can pick from or customise in the app and overall for me as a whole the system is well thought out and you can get going in literally minutes.
Let’s look at the products we have tried out which give real time notifications but it must be noted you need good WiFi and lag latency can be an issue with any home security package similar and is an issue for me despite having a good plan and speed regardless what my network tells me and handing over my actual speeds and we all know how it works there and on how many other devices are connected to your hub.
With all cameras there is two way audio screen shot/photo capture, pinch to zoom, quality of image and video options, zone detection, recording on the spot and much more..
SwitchBot Pan/Tilt Cam 2K
SwitchBot Pan/Tilt Cam 2K features a high-resolution lens module, with an f2.0 aperture lens and now offers approximately 50% more pixels when videoing. This means picture quality is now clearer and colors are more transparent and natural.Upgraded auto-tracking supports horizontal and vertical movement. Compared to the previous generation, the tracking range is expanded by nearly 77%. It automatically tracks and records video whenever someone enters a home as you will see in the video. You can choose to have Pan/Tilt Cam 2K patrol specific areas at certain times of the day to allow you to focus more on the places that matter to you most.
SwitchBot Pan/Tilt Cam 1080p
When using the Pan and Tilt feature our camera can swivel from left to right and is able to tilt up and down enabling you to be able to view your entire room. You can also set 6 favorite key focal points and then simply select one to automatically pan over to the position you have set making it even easier to check specific areas on the fly. Equipped with a 1080p 2-megapixel f2.0 aperture camera, SwitchBot Pan/Tilt Cam is able to let more light in. Making images more detailed, and ensuring better results in any lighting conditions. When SwitchBot Pan/Tilt Cam detects movement, you’ll be able to automatically start tracking and recording whatever is in its sight, making sure you never miss a thing. And you’ll be able to view everything using our app via your smartphone for even more convenience.
SwitchBot Sensor Combo
Contact sensor with a detection range of up to 16.4 ft (5m), 90° horizontally, and 55° vertically
Get notifications around the clock
Sensor can detect body movement across a wider area range of up to 30 ft, at an angle of up to 110° horizontally, and 55° vertically A light sensor inside that can be used to detect what kind of light environment your surroundings are in.
SwitchBot Indoor Cam 1080p
SwitchBot Indoor Camera can help monitor your home 24 hours a day and can alert you when something unexpected happens. You can also live stream to your camera anytime, anywhere (supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks only). And with night vision, 1080p HD resolution, and 130º Wide angle lens you’ll be able to see everything in front of you clearer than ever before. You can customize your own detection zones to set just exactly where SwitchBot Indoor Cam should be watching when sending alerts, making it easier to focus more on the areas at home that matter most.
Important note
SwitchBot Indoor Cam uses high-level encryption technology to ensure your data is protected with the highest security so that no one else can access it. Your recorded data is stored in the cloud even if your device is offline (via a monthly cloud service). We also use GDPR and CCPA certifications to make sure that your user data is better protected.
Check out the video for more below and for me this is easy to recommend and would even consider changing my entire setup to this. So all we need now from them is a video doorbell. One thing I would like to see going forward is not having plugs for all the cameras and go wireless but other than that you should look into their stuff as it is good value and works well.
SwitchBot is passionate team dedicated to building products that help enrich people’s lives by making the world around us more interactive, fun, and accessible and they are conscious that sometimes completely re-fitting a home with smart products is neither economically viable, nor is it great for the environment and their mission is the fill this void and offer products that are made for people from all walks of life, across the world, one SwitchBot at a time.
Switchbot is not new for those who have not heard of them either in fact we reviewed some of their products in the past and rather than bin old stuff they can change it with tech or upcycle it which is great and the company has been around since 2016 and their product portfolio has grown to give your house a full overhaul inside and out having the latest features on board to making this a very good ecosystem to look at should you be in need to change things around, I prefer to have one ecosystem in house but due to my work it is hard to do and having multiple apps is a pain controlling your home.
This setup here is for inside your home and I have heard so called Irish security experts on radio stating it is pointless having indoor security in your house which is utter rubbish as indoor cameras can serve in well in several instances such as keeping an eye on pets your elderly relatives and more.
Today we take a look at the set-up we have been sent to check out and stay tuned for more to come from the company and if you have any questions feel free to ask and again if you have any concerns regarding security in your home or need advice please ask.
The SwitchBot Curtain came in an exciting array of connectable devices for the smart home which included SwitchBot Curtain, SwitchBot remote, SwitchBot Solar Panel, SwitchBot Thermometer and Hygrometer and SwitchBot Hub mini. The various units are designed to work for one app on your phone, reducing the need to have multiple apps for each product. This provides an ecosystem of integrated units for the smart home The kit comes with no screws or bolts or hardwiring, electrician required.
Features:
Works with – retrofit property.
For any types of curtains rail No matter it is Rod, U Rail track, or I Rail track, SwitchBot Curtain can always fit.
Support U Rail Curtain
Support Rod Curtain
Support Rail Curtain
This kit is designed to work with (Note the SwitchBot Hub Mini, is required for this to work and sold separately)
This is excellent for the ecosystem to control the units from a security perspective open and close the curtains at random times or used for other features in terms of connecting to the thermometer/ hydrometer to check the temperature or turn off / on other connected devices.
Make your curtains smart in seconds, also makes your existing curtains motorized and automated with 30-second installation. schedule, and touch and go.
The marketing team for SwitchBot may get legal action and in my opinion, this is false marketing without giving the full truth, and are setting up customers to fail.
The process involves opening the box, read the instructions, download the app via the QR code, register your account, await a SwitchBot verification code via email, physically set up the SwitchBot curtains, set up the app on the phone, and configure, calibrate the curtains, notwithstanding read the 48-page guide for installation and charge the kit for 10 hours, if taking a short cut and not reading the manual prepare for the “ Factory reset on numerous occasions “ by holding the contact button for 15 seconds. All this in 30 seconds installation!
Battery:
Charging takes 10 hours while once charged lasts an excellent time up to last 8 months depending on the usage. An alternative option to minimise the need to charge the kit would be to purchase (sold separately) the SwitchBot Solar Panel which would mitigate the need for charging, The kit is supplied with modern USB C charging cables which if not going for the solar panel option could be charged leaving a power bank attached to the SwitchBot Curtain overnight removing the need to remove the SwitchBot Curtain from its hanging position. This is a real positive for the smart home. The other devices came with a standard battery which is easily changed as required.
SwitchBot Thermometer and Hygrometer
Once configured which is easy, this will mirror the temperature in the room to your app which is ideal to set alerts if the temperature drops below a certain temperature e.g., Child’s bedroom which can be configured to take an action. The Hygrometer is used for measuring the humidity of the air. For maximum heating effectiveness and comfort, humidity levels should be between 30% and 50%. In the summer, a maximum of 55% is tolerable this is great to be aware of if monitoring the elderly. The Thermometer is slow to change temperature, having placed this is a fridge down to 2 degrees Celsius, on placing within the kitchen it took approx. 10 minutes to raise back to the normal temperature while appears correct when compared with 2 other temperature gauges. The app does keep a record, which can be displayed graphically of the temperature which can be exported as required for a day, week, month or year.
SwitchBot Hub mini
This is required to allow the technology to connect the smart home to your router and connected remotely to the devices and the likes of Alexa. This as many products do not support connection from your router on 5G and do not support does not support WEP and WPS for now, (which as stated by SwitchBot ) makes users vulnerable. If this does not connect instantly on the first go, a requirement may be required for a techie to login into your router to configure firewall rules as troubleshooting.
SwitchBot remote,
The remote is possible the most used items, simple in what it does, configured via the app to e.g., top button press = close, bottom button = open. Again, instructed in the manual but configured via the App. This is ideal as once configured, no app, phone, Wi-Fi etc. is required just press the button to open or close which has worked faultlessly once configured and calibrated.
App use, SwitchBot:
The app has got a rating of 2.8 out of 5 with over 100k downloads, the rating would not be considered a good rating but can often be caused by an older version of the software or bug. In my opinion, I believe this is a fair result for the app having various issues on the initial setup, (albeit tried on an older phone – and got an error when tried to use the Forget Password – error Validation error detected, with code lingo in terms of the details must satisfy regular expression pattern.) This was again used on newer android phone and technically worked with FAQ, but a lot of time spent on trial and error, (Hence read the manual and app details to prevent hours of futile time setting up)
Once the app is set up, controlling the curtains or configuration of the other devices was standard in terms of adding a new product with challenges to establish how to link one product to another, various links to videos were available to view online in this area via the FAQ.
Brand:
SwitchBot has been around since 2016 with a tag line of, we help you to create a comfortable home with innovative smart home products. Which I would agree with (once their app get a makeover) https://switch-bot.com/
Overall:
My biggest niggle on this product is the claim “30-second installation” which is compounded by an app that still requires work and manuals that in my opinion are written by someone English is not their first language. Notwithstanding the above, the product once setup works well, and has been the focal point of many visitors who have been very impressed with the simplicity of the unit, allowing it to be used via the App, or remote once configured, alternatively connect via various smart home option E.g., Alexa. Again, the simple things have been done, pulling one curtain manually, the Touch & Go kicks in to close/open both curtains as required ensuring an equal balance with both open / closed as required. The remote, or the Touch & Go requires no smartphones required once setup and has the advantage of no cables needed to run or electrical wiring to be done. Keeping with one standard brand in terms of one smart home ecosystem again is another positive ensuring when you change the phone or do a smart reset you are not stuck with numerous apps to configure as required. This is ideal for the elderly if set up by a junior person and calibrated to allow them easy of use for the curtains and visibility to see the temperature of the rooms when away.
This has the potential to be a colossal winner once the app & setup nuances are updated.
Got curtains? Want to make them smart and enhance your home with some smart tech well here is a product that does exactly that and it is a simple setup. The award winning smart home product (Good Design Award 2020), is a small wireless robot that makes any curtains motorised and smart with a 30-second installation. After attaching to your curtain, you can open and close it with your smartphone. Or, just set a schedule to automatically open or close the curtain. With spring arriving, and lighter evenings here, Switchbot’s sunlight sensor can open your curtains at the perfect time to save energy, and you can set it to open to wake you up with natural light without getting out of bed. Check out the unboxing below and if you have any questions feel free to ask.
