04 Nov
Blog

Blue by ADT Outdoor Camera Review: Major Connectivity Issues

Blue from ADT mounted upside down

"Blue from ADT Outdoor Camera"

"The Blue by ADT wireless outdoor camera has its advantages, but connection problems make the camera border unusable."

  • Crystal clear optics and audio

  • Easy to install

  • Expandability of the SD card

  • Common connection problems

  • Boring box-shaped design

  • Bad battery life

  • Bad app experience

If you are interested in improving the security of your home, ADT is happy to send technicians to your home and install sensors, cameras, and all sorts of other security devices in your home. An invoice will then also be sent. However, smart home technology has advanced to the point where we can set up much of our security at home ourselves without the need for skilled workers. Not to mention, ADT founded Blue by ADT, the DIY branch of the company's Home Security Tree.

We've already looked at Blue by ADT's video doorbell solution. Now we have the outside camera in our sights. Blue by ADT offers a versatile, battery operated outdoor camera that follows the video doorbell in the hot look department. The device I tested is the pearl gray version – a darker graphite version is also available. The camera is generally large and box-shaped, with a large camera sensor on top and the diagonal slash in the corner. The device is IP-65 weatherproof and quite easy to install. But what comes after the installation is not that easy. We'll get to that.

installation

The battery can be removed for charging.

The base plate of the camera can be easily detached wherever you want. I found it difficult to take the plate off at first. Once it's turned off, simply lock it in place with the three included screws and turn the camera back on. The camera is fully adjustable – 360 degrees rotation in one axis and 90 degrees rotation in the other, so you can basically point it at anything you want.

Connecting the camera to the app is as easy as opening the app and adding a new device. Just follow the steps to pair the camera with your WiFi and you're ready to compete in the races (or, as I mentioned earlier, you should at least be). The app allows you to adjust the video settings, including mirroring the video if you've mounted the camera upside down. Personally, I think this should happen automatically, but it's easy enough to find the option.

Low battery

Screenshot of the camera view in the app

You can customize a number of other aspects of the video feed, such as: B. Detection zones, notification settings and video quality (720p or 1080p). The camera has a wide 130-degree field of view and a full night mode, just like the Nest Outdoor IQ camera. The camera comes with a removable battery that can be used to power the camera for two to three months. In my tests, the battery life was just under a month. I've seen a pretty constant drop of 4% per day over the three weeks I've tested, so in math you can't get the two to three months promised by ADT, compared to the 365 promised by the EufyCam2 Days is still minimal is professional.

When I put the camera in the front yard, I made the mistake of placing the camera within sight of our Halloween decorations, which were blowing in the wind and setting off motion alarms. I forgot to set the notification settings to people only, so it may also have a negative impact on battery life. I'll get the hit for it.

Just like the video doorbell, the camera is very sharp here and has excellent resolution even at night. Plus, the two-way voice function is loud and clear. ADT's Blue knows exactly what it's doing in terms of optics and audio, which is really great. What's not great is the connectivity department.

Can you hear me now

So now we come to that. Simply put, keeping this camera connected to Wi-Fi was a nightmare. I placed the camera in three different places in and around my house. I added a doorbell extender provided by Blue by ADT. I reconfigured my mesh network base stations to keep this camera connected and in the end it was just a hit or miss.

I'll be the first to admit that my networking skills are not great. I may not have the optimal setup for my mesh network here in my house. But at the height of the connectivity problem, I had the camera placed less than 30 feet from one of my network nodes. I put the camera on my porch, which was just a window away from the network. The camera's habit of disconnecting frequently was insane.

A camera can only be reassured when it is doing its job, and this one is not.

I worked with a Blue by ADT product manager to resolve the connectivity issues. In the end, it helped a lot to put the camera on the porch, but even that wasn't a bulletproof solution. While I admit that Wi-Fi is rarely as good as people think, I just can't imagine being the only consumer Blue by ADT will ever encounter with a setup like mine.

Our opinion

Simply put, the connectivity issues the camera suffers from make this a non-starter. A surveillance camera is so named because it gives the user a sense of security. This camera doesn't. Even if the camera itself was inside where every other device of mine is plugged in and staying connected, that camera still failed. It honestly confuses the mind.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. Despite the camera's good performance, which includes ease of installation, the connectivity issues plaguing this device make it impossible to recommend it over alternatives. With other models such as the Wyze Cam Outdoor you get everything that the Blue Outdoor camera offers. For better connectivity, you can use a cable camera like the Vivint outdoor camera.

How long it will take?

The camera is built very robustly. I don't expect any problems with the construction of the device. The camera is also weatherproof according to IP-65. ADT's Blue recommends installing the camera under an awning. If you follow these instructions, the camera should last for a while. A one-year guarantee applies to all Blue by ADT devices.

Should I buy it?

No. As long as the connectivity issues persist, there are many better options. With a camera, you can only have peace of mind when it is doing its job, and it is not. The app also needs to be revised. If you want a professionally installed system, ADT is a great choice. But if you want to do it yourself, stay away.

Editor's recommendations




01 Nov
Blog

Blue by ADT Video Doorbell Review: Not Done Cooking Yet

Photo of the doorbell on the wall.

Blue from ADT doorbell camera

"The boring hardware and an app that urgently needs redesigning make this experience uncomfortable."

  • Clear video, even at night

  • face recognition

  • View all of the video feeds on the main screen of the app

  • Boring hardware

  • Sluggish app

  • Buried camera controls

  • Late notifications

What do you do when you're an old security company constantly challenged by newbies to the DIY space? Smart Home Tech makes the installation of security systems from complex to rudimentary accessible to the everyday user. ADT recognized this and passed a "If you can't beat them, join them" policy. So Blue was born from ADT.

One of the main focuses of the Blue by ADT security system is that Blue doorbell camera. This is a doorbell camera with a 180 degree field of view and facial recognition that can see who is at your door. Your front door is the center of coming and going around your home. Therefore, camera cover is critical to any security system.

It's a gray box

The hardware for the doorbell isn't particularly exciting. I checked out the Pearl Gray version which has a modern, if a bit boring, look. Basically, it is a rounded rectangle. At the top is a large black camera lens that is set to 130 degrees by default. However, you can expand it to 180 degrees if you don't mind a little fisheye effect. Every Blue by ADT device has a diagonal slash on the bottom that glows blue when the device is in operation. This is a nice accent. The ring light around the doorbell is a nice addition to the aesthetic that shows people exactly where the button is so they don't smudge the camera lens thinking it is a button.

This isn't the bulky doorbell I've checked, but it sure is a chunky boy. You want to make sure that the look of the doorbell matches your current front door decor. We tested the Pearl Gray version. There is also a darker graphite option.

The doorbell is mounted in an unusual way. It comes with a power plate that you connect the wiring to. Then mount this power plate on your wall. The doorbell itself has a tiny on / off switch that you have to set to "on" before you click the doorbell onto the power plate. The doorbell also includes a small battery backup for times when you lose power. However, our tests have shown that this is measured in hours rather than days.

The video from the Blue Doorbell camera is crystal clear

After connecting the doorbell to the app, all the usual video doorbell tasks will be performed. You will receive motion notifications and when the bell rings. You can also purchase an additional carillon extender for around $ 50. This is a large gray box that you plug into an electrical outlet. The extender doubles as a doorbell, a Wi-Fi extender, or both. I loved having the extender plugged into a back room so I knew if someone was coming to the door and I couldn't hear our mechanical doorbell.

The doorbell also has facial recognition, which didn't seem to work very well for me. I only tested the doorbell for a few weeks, at a time when not too many people came to visit. It is possible that face recognition might show up on my face over time, but I give it the benefit of the doubt that I just haven't tested it long enough.

Crunchy video quality

The picture quality is quite good. The video is sharp with good detail, although there is a very noticeable fish-eye effect when the lens is set to 180 degrees. Even at night the video is crisp and clear. You can set the video quality between 720p and 1080p. Clips are recorded whenever an event occurs. However, these events are limited to movement and people. It would be great to see Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) step in here to interrupt the movements. I also want the doorbell to tell me if there is an animal or a package on my doorstep. You can get this from the Nest Hello doorbell. The app also lets you manually adjust the camera's brightness and contrast, which is lovely, but that leads to my biggest problem with the system.

Then everything falls apart because of the app

The app isn't that great. It certainly has some high points, but the overall experience is very slow. It takes 7-10 seconds for the doorbells to ring. Motion notifications can take minutes. So if someone takes Santa Claus off your front door, you will be too late to stop them. Videos take between 10 and 30 seconds to load. This is a very long time to stare at your phone and wait for it to take action. Switching between menu options started slowly, but that actually cleared up towards the end of our review period.

The first time you log into the app, each camera you set up will take a snapshot to refresh the main screen. Refreshing this snapshot can take up to 10 seconds, which makes it feel less like a guard guarding the base and more like a rent-a-cop trying to turn off the TV when the boss walks in. As I mentioned earlier, you can adjust the brightness and contrast, which is lovely, but the part of the app where you do the adjustments is four levels deep in a menu. Then you need to go back to the main screen and wait for another snapshot to be taken to see how your customizations have evolved.

Blue is constantly expanding the capabilities of this device so you should see upgrades in the future too.

The app isn't all bad. The first time you enter the app it will show all of the cameras you have set up and you can live stream them all at once which is lovely. The home page also has an up-to-date history of all recorded events, as well as a crime monitoring section similar to the Ring & # 39; s Neighbors app. You can also partition off parts of your porch that you don't want to detect movement from. When you use the talk feature to speak through the doorbell, your voice will be loud and clear.

However, when you factor in the app's sluggishness as well as some rare connectivity issues, it's not a good experience overall. I worked pretty hard with a product manager at Blue by ADT to resolve some of the connectivity issues and I think we resolved most of them. But in the days since that conversation, I still noticed the doorbell was occasionally disconnected from the WiFi. No other doorbell I have tested has such failures. ADT's Blue said there were more server-side changes released this week. Hence, it is possible that this will help clear up some issues.

Our opinion

There are some great ideas here. Not only is the hardware pretty uninspired, but it also checks a few boxes, including battery backup, easy installation, and crisp video quality. But the app, which is vital to the overall experience, is really making things sour. It needs to be revised. There are also some connectivity issues. It is very likely that updates to the app will fix most of the problems. However, for now, this is a doorbell that is difficult to recommend.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. The blue doorbell camera doesn't do anything other doorbells don't. The 180 degree field of view is adjusted by the Vivint Doorbell Pro. The talk function is taken over by practically every other doorbell camera on the market. The doorbell doesn't record 24/7 footage so you no longer have to scrub through a timeline – like you would with a Nest Hello. Other than that, the motion detection is very accurate, so you basically get clips of everything that goes on outside your door. Unfortunately, the app and uninspired design hold that back.

How long it will take?

The Blue by ADT video doorbell is solidly built, so I can imagine it will last for several years. It's water resistant and can withstand temperatures of -40 ° to 104 ° F, or as we like to call it "September" in Chicago. In addition, the Blue by ADT video doorbell works with Google Assistant, IFTTT and Alexa and the offer is solid. Blue is constantly expanding the capabilities of this device so you should see upgrades in the future too. A one-year guarantee is given on Blue by ADT cameras.

Should you buy it?

No. In the video doorbell space, there are too many alternatives that work better than this one. The product costs $ 199, and while the video quality and expandable chimes are good, the app makes the entire experience untenable. There are just too many alternatives out there that do a better job.

Editor's recommendations




04 Mar
Blog

Blue by ADT Review: DIY Home Security Is Finally Here

blue from adt rating three cameras

"Blue by ADT is a solid DIY alternative to expensive security systems, but Amazon Ring and Google Nest have better apps."

  • Two-way audio with noise reduction

  • face recognition

  • Multiple privacy features

  • Works with LifeShield systems

  • Further components will follow shortly

  • Bad motion detection

  • Slow app

  • Bulky design

DIY security systems are becoming more and more attractive as they offer both homeowners and tenants affordable home security options that they can customize. LifeShield (now "Blue by ADT") has become a household name in DIY security systems. Blue by ADT announced three new cameras at CES 2020.

These cameras can work alone or as part of a LifeShield system. But Blue by ADT will release additional components in the coming months. I tested three new Blue by ADT cameras – the inside camera ($ 200), the outside camera ($ 200), and the video doorbell ($ 200). I also tested the Chime and Extender accessory ($ 50).

Here is my full review of the Blue by ADT security system.

Bulky but attractive

The indoor and outdoor cameras are both rectangular with a gray and black color scheme. The indoor camera is 4.3 inches tall, 2.6 inches wide and 1.8 inches thick. It comes with a stand that you can place on a table, desk, or bookcase. or you can mount the camera on a wall.

While the outdoor camera is completely wireless, you need to connect a power cord to the indoor camera, although it has a temporary backup in the event of a power failure. The outdoor camera is similar in size to the indoor camera, but is shorter and thicker (3.7 x 2.8 x 2.7 inches).

The video doorbell corresponds to the aesthetics of the surveillance cameras with the same color scheme. It has a thicker profile than other popular video doorbell options on the market because it measures 4.9 x 1.7 x 1.4 inches. The doorbell button is surrounded by a blue light ring, so your visitors know where to press. Each device – both the cameras and the video doorbell – has red lights that are activated when the cameras detect motion.

DIY installation

Setting up the cameras, doorbell, and chime wasn't the worst experience, but it wasn't as seamless as I expected. The carillon gave me a bit of trouble. To connect the carillon, you need to connect it to Bluetooth so that the app can find it and then connect to your Wi-Fi network. The app couldn't find the carillon when I tried it for the first time, but finally made a connection after performing a factory reset.

The outdoor camera was easy to assemble.

Setting up the indoor and outdoor cameras was relatively painless. However, the app made me re-enter my Wi-Fi credentials for each connected device instead of just letting the camera choose from my phone's Wi-Fi settings.

A positive note is that the outdoor camera was easy to install, stays securely in place, is IP65 waterproof and can withstand temperatures between 14 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

The doorbell has battery support, but is not permanently operated with battery power. You must therefore connect the device to the electrical wiring of your doorbell (alternating current / 16-24 VAC transformer). However, the installation process is no more difficult than with most video doorbells on the market.

Once you've completed the installation process, you'll need to connect the doorbell to the app and re-enter your Wi-Fi credentials.

After you've connected all of your devices to the app, you can set your preferences and which features you want to use.

Functional, with a few quirks

Since the system contains several components, I will go through each one individually.

The outside camera

The outdoor camera battery lasts a long time. After two weeks, the camera's battery was still over 90 percent. It withstands different weather conditions because I placed it in the middle of my garden and the heavy rain and moisture did not affect the operation. However, the lens can become foggy. Therefore, you may want to spray an anti-fog spray on the lens.

The outdoor camera battery lasts a long time.

It has a 1080p picture with a 130 degree field of view. HD night vision works well, but night vision isn't as good as some other cameras on the market (it's not comparable to the Arlo Pro 3). The outdoor camera offers other advantages such as face recognition, bidirectional speaking and compatibility with Alexa and IFTTT. It comes with a month of free video storage. However, there is also an SD card slot for local storage. The camera has motion detection, but the motion detection function has some special features. It appears that the sensitivity to movement adapts to the sensitivity of the camera to the proximity of the movement, as opposed to the type or severity of the movement.

The inside camera

The indoor camera offers many features that we all expect from a modern surveillance camera – 1080p video, bidirectional speaking, motion detection with zones and night vision. It also has facial recognition.

A cool feature is the ability to watch out for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and send you a notification in response. It has an SD card slot and battery support in the event of a power failure. When you buy the camera, you also get free video footage for one month. The inside camera is a bit bulky, but works reliably overall.

The video doorbell

The video doorbell offers night vision, face detection, bidirectional speaking, motion detection with zones and much more. You can set the video doorbell to ring the chime and extender, or you can have it ring on your existing doorbell.

The doorbell has a 1080p image, a wide 180 degree field of view and IP65 water resistance. The doorbell has an excellent picture and you can see a lot of your porch and front lot if you place it properly.

The carillon and the extender

Another device that is an optional component of the Blue by ADT camera system is the carillon and the extender. This device plays motion signals and video doorbell chimes and at the same time extends the WiFi range and the battery life of the cameras.

It is an approximately 5-inch box that is connected to an electrical outlet. Two antennas protrude so that the cameras get a better Wi-Fi signal. It has the same color scheme as the cameras and the doorbell. Once you plug it into an electrical outlet, you don't really notice it.

The blue from ADT App

In the app, you can customize all kinds of settings, set your notification preferences, view video feeds and clips, communicate through your cameras, and more. You can activate a data protection mode for both surveillance cameras in the app and set a security question.

The app is not always fast, but it works well with the main functions of the cameras. The biggest problem I've experienced is the accidental disconnection of the outside camera. Some of the features, like the invite user feature, are also a hit and miss.

Blue from ADT and LifeShield

Additional components for the Blue by ADT system are expected to be released in 2020. Blue by ADT will come out later this year with a base and keyboard. The indoor camera can also serve as a base, so you can add a keyboard and sensors to your DIY security system.

The Blue by ADT cameras are backwards compatible with LifeShield systems.

You can currently use or purchase existing LifeShield products, and the Blue by ADT cameras are backward compatible with LifeShield systems. If you want professional monitoring, you can pay $ 20 a month (the first month is free) and there is no long-term contract.

Overall, this new DIY push is a welcome effort and is establishing itself as a competent offering in the same room as other players such as SimpliSafe, Nest Secure, Abode and Ring Protect. Even better, the company's website has been updated to reflect upfront prices for its products and services, as opposed to the "call us to get a quote" approach that has served many security system companies in the past .

Data protection functions

I asked ADT to explain some of the data protection functions of the cameras in detail. In addition to being able to put the cameras into data protection mode, Blue by ADT uses password security measures such as blocking login errors and enforcing password strength to reduce the risk. However, I haven't seen an option for two-factor authentication in the app.

The blue cameras are encrypted throughout.

The blue cameras are encrypted throughout. ADT's security features include service-wide encryption, which improves security for communication between devices, the ADT cloud and the Blue by ADT app. ADT agents cannot view live video or saved Blue videos from ADT cameras, and the cameras have an SD card slot that allows customers to use local storage.

warranty information

Blue by ADT cameras are guaranteed for one year.

Our opinion

The cameras in the Blue by ADT system are brand new and like many new products there are a few kinks. However, each of the cameras and the video doorbell offer useful functions, the integration of additional safety equipment and compatibility with assistants such as Alexa.

Is there a better alternative?

If you just want a surveillance camera or just a video doorbell, better and less expensive options are available. For example, the Wyze Cam V2 is a good choice for those looking for an affordable surveillance camera as it sells for just $ 20. And despite recent safety concerns, the Ring 2 is still an excellent video doorbell that offers easy installation and battery power. You can find a refurbished Ring 2 for under $ 100.

How long it will take?

The cameras and doorbell are robust and should last for several years if properly cared for. The doorbell and the outdoor camera are both waterproof and should be suitable for outdoor use. In addition, the cameras will become more powerful in the coming months as Blue by ADT is expanding the system and launching new products.

For example, the indoor camera will be given the ability to become the basis for a more complete system. Although the cameras are currently compatible with Alexa and IFTTT, they still need to be certified for Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant, so they should get additional features later this year.

Should you buy it

No. For those looking for a complete security system, Blue by ADT may be worth a look if budget is your main concern. However, if you only need a standalone surveillance camera or a video doorbell, Ring and Nest does better.

Editor's recommendations