We’ve written about adding home security many times in the past, particularly one that does not require having to make alterations to your home. I received a review sample of the SpyWfi™ Auto Tracking PTZ Night Vision Nanny Security Camera from The Home Security Superstore so I thought I’d share its attributes, and what I found out when I tested it. It does come with some good features such as 1080p HD resolution, auto-tracking capabilities, and night vision. However, it is important to be aware of its storage options and subscription requirements. Let’s delve into its features, performance, and overall value.
Design and Build Quality
The SpyWfi™ camera has a sleek, modern design that looks pretty good on any surface. It looks pretty and solid, with a build that seems durable. To be honest, I accidentally dropped it as I was setting it up; fortunately it fell on some boxes below the shelf and did not break. But I DO NOT recommend dropping it, I’m just glad it still continued to work in spite of being dropped!
The PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) functionality is facilitated by a motorized system, allowing the camera to move smoothly in various directions. This flexibility ensures it can cover a wide area, making it ideal for monitoring large spaces or specific rooms within your home.
The camera’s design is both practical and discreet, allowing it to blend in the rest of the furniture.
Image Quality
One of the standout features of the SpyWfi™ camera is its 1080p HD resolution. This provides clear, detailed video quality, which is essential for identifying faces, objects, and activities. The clarity of the footage significantly enhances the ability to discern important details compared to lower-resolution cameras.
The camera performs pretty well in both daylight and low-light conditions. During the day, it delivers vibrant and sharp images, ensuring you don’t miss any crucial details. At night, the integrated night vision capabilities come into play, enabling the camera to capture clear footage even in complete darkness, which is crucial for 24/7 surveillance.
Auto Tracking Feature
The auto-tracking feature of this camera is particularly noteworthy. It employs advanced motion detection technology to follow moving objects within its field of view. This functionality is especially useful for monitoring children or pets, as the camera can track their movements around a room. The ability to follow a person or object without manual adjustment is a significant advantage, ensuring that no activity goes unnoticed.
However, the auto-tracking feature can occasionally be a bit sensitive. There may be instances where the camera might track unintended movements or get momentarily distracted by background motion. While these occurrences are relatively infrequent, they are worth noting.
PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) Functionality
The PTZ functionality enhances the camera’s versatility. It can pan 355 degrees horizontally and tilt 90 degrees vertically, allowing it to cover a broad area. This range of movement is particularly beneficial for monitoring large rooms or outdoor areas.
The zoom feature, although digital rather than optical, allows users to focus on specific areas or details. While digital zoom can lead to a reduction in image quality compared to optical zoom, it remains a useful tool for getting a closer look when necessary.
Connectivity and Integration
The SpyWfi™ camera connects to your home WiFi network, enabling remote access through a smartphone app. This feature allows you to view live footage, receive motion alerts, and control the camera’s movements from anywhere with an internet connection. The app interface is user-friendly, making it easy to navigate and access the camera’s features.
I should mention that I initially had some issues connecting to my home wifi, even when I brought it closer to the router, as the instructions stated. I contacted the company, The Home Security Super Store to get some help on this issue. I got help right away, and was advised that I need to connect to my router’s 2.4GHz signal and not the 5GHz. I checked on other cameras, and almost all cameras only work with 2.4GHz signals at this time. Fortunately, we are able to switch between 2.4GHz and 5GHz, and as soon as I connected to the 2.4GHz, it connected just fine.
The camera also supports two-way audio, allowing communication with individuals in the camera’s vicinity. This can be useful for interacting with family members or pets or even deterring potential intruders.
Storage and Subscription
It is important to note that while the SpyWfi™ camera offers high-quality video and advanced features, it does not save footage automatically. To store video recordings, you must either insert a microSD card (sold separately) into the camera or subscribe to their cloud service specifically designed for this camera. The microSD card slot supports up to 128GB of storage, which can be sufficient for personal use. The cloud service, on the other hand, offers the advantage of remote storage and access but requires a separate subscription fee.
This aspect is a critical consideration for potential buyers, as the need for additional storage solutions or subscriptions may affect the overall cost and convenience of the camera system.
Installation and Setup
Setting up the SpyWfi™ camera is pretty straightforward. The included instructions are clear, and the process involves mounting the camera and connecting it to your WiFi network. You’ll also need to download an app for your phone. The camera supports both iOS and Android devices, and the app provides a step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth setup process. I should mention that the app does contain ads.
One potential consideration is the placement of the camera. Since it requires a stable WiFi connection for optimal performance, it should be positioned within range of your network. Additionally, the camera must be installed in a location that provides a clear line of sight for effective tracking and monitoring.
In my case, I didn’t want the camera falling off the shelf where I installed it, so I placed a velcro strip underneath so it could stick to the shelf.
Performance and Reliability
Overall, the SpyWfi™ Auto Tracking PTZ Night Vision Nanny Security Camera delivers on its promises of high-definition video quality, effective auto-tracking, and reliable night vision. The PTZ functionality and remote access features further enhance its usability, making it a versatile addition to any home security system.
However, the lack of automatic footage storage unless using an SD card or subscribing to a cloud service should be noted. I’m not crazy about having ads in the app. Despite these minor limitations, I found the camera worked well enough.
Conclusion
In summary, the SpyWfi™ Auto Tracking PTZ Night Vision Nanny Security Camera offers a variety of features that cater to both security and convenience, with its 1080p HD resolution, night vision capabilities, and PTZ functionality. While there are minor areas for improvement, such as the need for additional storage options and the digital zoom’s limitations, the overall performance and feature set make it a worthwhile investment for those looking to enhance their home security. The camera itself is reasonably priced. Remember to purchase an SD card for storage (if you don’t have one already) or you’ll need to subscribe to the cloud service to be able to view video. The Home Security Superstore also provides great customer service, and they offer a lot of home and personal security products that are affordable for most budgets. I’d recommend you check out this camera for yourself, compare to other security cameras in a similar price range and find one that meets your needs.
We are an affiliate of The Home Security Superstore which means we received a small commission if you click through one of our links when you shop, at totally no cost to you. This helps keep the lights on at the blog. Thanks!
About the author
Bernie Carr is the founder of Apartment Prepper. She has written several books including the best-selling Prepper’s Pocket Guide, Jake and Miller’s Big Adventure, The Penny-Pinching Prepper and How to Prepare for Most Emergencies on a $50 a Month Budget. Bernie’s latest e-book, FRUGAL DIY has just been released on Amazon. Her work appears in sites such as the Allstate Blog and Clark.com, as well as print magazines such as Backwoods Survival Guide and Prepper Survival Guide. She has been featured in national publications such as Fox Business and Popular Mechanics. Learn more about Bernie here.
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