Having a stranger break into your home is possibly one of the worst nightmares anyone can have. Our home is where what we value the most is, and it is understandable that we need something that eliminates that insecurity that we feel
One of the most common solutions is to install an alarm, but it is not the only one; In recent years, the option that is growing the most is the security camera. With one, we can control the perimeter and/or the interior of our houses 24 hours a day, and thanks to the latest technologies, also from our smartphone.
Arlo is a company specializing in smart home security products, specifically security cameras and doorbells. Its products adapt to technological advances, highlighting the disappearance of cables, although they include many more things. We have had the opportunity to test the Arlo Essential Spotlight camera that has just arrived in Spain from Securitas Direct.
This is the Arlo Essential Spotlight
Img: Kit with solar panel, Essential Spotlight camera and base station
The evolution of camera sensors has come a long way since the first one, now we can take a photo and show even the smallest detail, and of course this technology has also been taken to security cameras.
When we talk about the resolution of the Arlo Essential Spotlight, we mean a camera that offers 1080p with Full HD with a viewing angle of 130 degrees. In turn, it comes equipped with an integrated 6,500 K focus and one of the things that has caught my attention the most is color night vision thanks to the double 850 nm IR LED, which is capable of capturing up to 7 .5 meters in total darkness.
The camera has a range of up to 91 meters without obstacles, and a zoom that offers 12 increases. When it comes to sound, Arlo has incorporated a microphone with noise and echo reduction as well as a speaker that allows two-way communication.
This camera is quite versatile when it comes to the position in which we can install it; firstly thanks to its size, 89 x 52 x 78.4 mm, but also because according to the company it is resistant to temperatures ranging from -20°C to +45°C, so it doesn’t matter where you live or where you go to put, it will work correctly in all cases.
In terms of connectivity, the camera only works with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, and it comes integrated to work with Amazon Alexa, Google Voice Assistant, Apple HomeKit and IFTTT.
Easy installation
Perhaps the point that stands out the most about this Arlo camera is the simplicity of the installation. Without the need for a technician to come to your house, and without cables that you don’t know where they plug in, installing an Essential Spotlight in your house is done in 3 simple and quick steps.
The first is to install the base station using your Ethernet cable and your house power, followed by downloading the free Arlo app, available for e . It is important that the WiFi is 2.4 GHz. The next step is to connect the app with the security camera.
To do this, you will have to press the sync button on the camera for a couple of seconds, until a blue light starts blinking, indicating that it is ready to read the QR code that will appear in your mobile app. Once you hear the beep, the app will search for your camera to add it to its list of devices.
When the camera is registered on your mobile device, you only have to place it in the place you want. You only need the support with which it comes included, and secure it with the screws (also included). Being wireless, it gives you much more freedom to place it anywhere; yes, when working with WiFi it is necessary that for its correct operation there is a good signal.
Img: Camera connected and installed
As an option, it is possible to complement the camera with a small solar panel, which would be installed next to it, to ensure that the Arlo Spotlight Essential does not run out of battery at any time.
All of this makes Arlo’s camera a viable option for those who want to protect their home without having to buy a lot of equipment. The truth is that the whole process is very fast and without major complications, in what later was the app finding the camera.
24/7 protection
Here the most important thing when we are going to buy a security camera is to know what capabilities it has and what they are for. We can do this by dividing its functions into three aspects: See, Deter and Protect.
The Arlo Essential Spotlight camera is capable of distinguishing, using its intelligent analysis, between people, animals and vehicles to automatically send alerts, either by email or by notification, of everything that happens in your home. You can also use the microphone with two-way audio to communicate with whoever is abroad, as well as revisit all the recordings of the last 30 days, since the camera collects these videos in the cloud, although you can only do the latter if you have the subscription with Securitas Direct.
The good thing about this camera is that through the mobile app you will have full control, this is live access to the camera image as well as the customization of your security needs, such as what alerts to receive, at what times and even which cameras (if you have several) you want to have special attention.
Img: Arlo app features
In turn, it has been designed so that if it detects any movement, its powerful spotlight will turn on with the intention of dissuading any intruder. The same goes for the built-in siren, or in the event that you have a powerful and intimidating voice, you can say something directly from the microphone.
Finally, the connection with the Securitas Direct 24/7 Alarm Receiving Center allows the company’s security experts to verify any possible intrusion attempt, activating the security protocol if necessary.
Lastly, as the camera is connected to the 24/7 Alarm Receiving Center so that the company’s security experts can verify the intrusion attempt and activate the security protocol.
Customizable and high quality
After testing the Arlo Essential Spotlight camera, I can say that if what you are looking for is a security camera that can be adapted to any environment, that shows high-quality images and that you can access the information it collects from your smartphone, this may be the one for you.
The image that it offers both day and night is of high quality, especially due to the fact that it includes color in its night recordings. The microphones it has are also very useful, either to give voice commands or to interact or scare away people who come to your house.
However, having to pay, after the free trial, to be able to access its more “premium” functions, such as reviewing the recording history, is a negative point, although it may be the only one that stands out the most.
The Arlo security camera is already available whether you buy it on its own or if you go with the option that comes with the solar panel.
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