7 Blink XT2 Camera

Blink XT2 Camera What's in the Box? The  Blink XT2  camera system comes with the following parts and accessories: In the box, you’ll get: Blink XT2 camera USB cord Mounting screws (optional) Drywall anchors (optional) Window sling (optional) XT2 camera accessories What is the USB cord for? The USB cord is needed for initially pairing the camera to the Sync Module. It may also be needed for future updates to the system. What is the USB cord NOT used for? The USB cord does not currently allow: Transfer of video footage to an external local server; only cloud-based storage is available at this time Charging the camera; the XT2 is only powered by 2 AA lithium-ion batteries https://moderncastle.com/

Blink XT2 Camera Specifications Blink Model XT2 Type Indoor/Outdoor Size 2.8 x 2.8 x 1.4" Weight 3.5 oz Video Quality 1080p Night Vision Yes Field of View 140° (diagonal) Power 2 AA batteries (non-rechargable) Motion Detection Yes 2-Way Audio Yes Local Storage No Cloud Storage Yes; 120-min limit Siren No Live Streaming Yes Returns Varies by retailer Warranty 1-Year Limited Price Check Price ...

Blink XT2: Setup Similar to Arlo's security cameras, the Blink XT does not connect directly to your home Wi-Fi network. Rather, it communicates via a proprietary wireless link to the Blink Sync module, which connects to your Wi-Fi. That way, the Blink XT camera can run on battery power; the Sync module needs to be plugged into an outlet. (Image credit: Blink) Blink says that the XT2, which runs on two AA batteries, can last up to two years without replacement batteries. This estimate assumes that you use the camera for roughly 900 minutes of video events, including Live View, motion-activated recording and two-way talk. The more the camera records video, and the more you use two-way talk and live video, the less uptime the camera will have. Fortunately, the Blink XT2 kit comes with both the camera and the sync module; extra cameras cost $89 each. MORE:  Best Home Security Systems Setup takes about ...

Blink XT2 Camera Setup & Usability Setup for the Blink is pretty easy and straightforward. You’ll need to connect your phone and camera together, using a local wifi network. You’ll also need to work with the Blink “Sync Module”. Let’s go over how to get started. How easy is it to setup? The Blink security system is very easy to setup. It basically takes three quick steps. Create an account on the Blink app using your smartphone. Plug in, add sync module, and connect to Wifi. Insert batteries into the XT2 and sync your camera. How easy is it to install? Once the camera is setup, you can install it. Installation can be done in two different ways. Free-standing With mount Freestanding, the Blink camera will basically just sits upright on a flat surface. You can place it on a table or shelf indoors, or even outside. NOTE:  Of course, remember to consider theft if using the camera freestanding outside. ...

Blink XT2 Camera  Setup Process: Simple and straightforward There’s an easy-to-follow Setup Guide included in the Blink XT2 box. Our first step was to download the Blink Home Monitor App and create a Blink account using our email address. Each Blink XT2 system consists of a Sync Module along with one or more cameras (in our case, just one). The Sync Module, which has to stay plugged into power at all times, is what communicates your Wi-Fi connection to the Blink app and Blink devices. (If you already have a Sync Module, you can buy the XT2 as an add-on camera; everything is compatible.) To set up the Sync Module using the app, we took a photo of the QR code on its back, then plugged it in near our router until the lights blinked blue.  The camera’s microphone and audio quality sound is fairly clear, but definitely not top of the line. Each of these steps is outlined very clearly on the Blink app, and we had no problems ...

Blink XT2 Camera  Compatibility: As easy as you'd expect Just as you’d expect from an Amazon-owned company, one of the Blink XT2 Camera System’s key features is its ability to connect to your Alexa smart home device. By doing so, you can arm and disarm the system by voice and see the feeds from your camera on other Amazon devices. We loved this feature since we are already accustomed to using our Alexa speaker for other controls in our home. However, you can’t do everything you need with the Alexa app. To really control the camera settings and view the live video, you have to download and familiarize yourself with the Blink Home Monitor app, available on iOS or Android. The app makes it easy to connect, control, and view multiple cameras—not to mention view saved videos and even create an arm and disarm schedule for your system. The app itself is very simple; we had no trouble using it to access live video, record and sp...

Blink XT2 Camera  Battery: You don't have to think about it The Blink XT2 is completely wire-free, and we didn’t have to worry at all about battery life during our two weeks of testing. It was so nice to be able to set up the cameras, leave them alone, and trust they wouldn’t run out of battery while we weren’t home. Blink claims the batteries included in the box (regular AA lithium batteries) will last up to two years of standard camera use, but even if you had to replace them, it would be cheap and easy to do so. Amazon also equipped the XT2 with a better battery life than its earlier camera model, the Blink XT. It was so nice to be able to set up the cameras, leave them alone, and trust they wouldn’t run out of battery while we weren’t home. To check battery life, you simply open the camera of your choice on your Blink app. When it’s time to replace batteries, it will say “REPLACE.” You can also turn on battery notification...

Blink XT2 Camera  , Video, and Sound Quality: Nothing fancy but does the basics well The Blink XT2 system has a full-color 1080p HD camera, infrared HD night vision, and passive infrared PI for motion detection. The picture was clear in daylight and in night mode. You can easily zoom in and out of recorded and live video from the Blink app, although the picture quality will decrease if you do so, similar to the camera on your cell phone. We noticed that, in some cases, if a person was passing in and out of the camera’s sightline quickly, the Blink camera would record after they’d already gone. It does take a few seconds for the Blink camera to begin recording triggered motion, and the live video feed has a slight delay. The delay isn’t out of the ordinary for home security systems, but the Blink was a little slow for our liking. We noticed that, in some cases, if a person was passing in and out of the camera’s si...

Blink XT2 Camera Video: Day vs. Night During the day, the footage was clear and had a good level of distinction between figures. In the image below you can see a little overexposure at the window, but it wasn’t too bad. Day Indoor daytime video performance When used outside, the results were comparable. Overall, it’s got a good level of detail and figures are easy to spot, wherever they are on the screen. Daytime video performance Night Nighttime means a shift to grayscale mode, which may make it harder to separate figures of similar color. But overall, it’s not bad. Indoor nighttime video performance When used outside, darker areas could be an issue. The image below shows the scene next to the house with a mounted floodlight. As you get further away from the house, there is less contrast but much of that is to be expected. Outdoor nighttime video performance During our indoor ...

Blink XT2 Camera Audio The quality of the audio is pretty good as far as detecting audio on screen as well as enabling 2-way audio from your smartphone to the camera mic. Audio in and out was easily discernible and clear. The Blink camera does not include an audible siren. The Blink App To view your recorded footage or get instant notifications, you’ll need to download the Blink app. This app helps to organize activity snippets with easy-to-read time stamps. At the top, there is a storage bar that shows exactly how much storage you’ve used and how much you have left. Blink security camera app Once your camera is paired to the app, you’ll have some options when motion is detected. First off, you’ll receive an instant push notification to your phone. From there, you can: View : view stored video for yourself and watch a live-feed Ignore : ignore the alert; regardless of your decision, the footage is stored on the...

Blink XT2 Camera Design The  Blink XT2 security camera  has a matte black composite shell with a camera lens located in the middle. It has a simple aesthetic with no physcial controls on the camera itself. The body of the camera is wide enough that it can comfortably sit on a flat surface without the use of an additional mounting plate or bracket. Front view of the Blink XT2 camera Simply, the XT2 is designed to be able to wirelessly sit anywhere without much effort. What’s on the back of the camera? The back of the camera has the audio output as well as a small mounting port. You can choose to use this port or sit it up on a flat surface without a mount. Back of the Blink XT2 camera What does it do? This camera is designed to be an indoor / outdoor camera that is powered by two AA batteries (that last up 2 years). When motion is detected from the camera, the Blink XT2 will send you an automatic...

Does Blink XT2 Camera require a subscription? No. Blink does not require a subscription and in fact, they don’t offer a subscription at all. They offer free cloud video storage, up to 120 minutes. After capacity has been reached, it will start deleting the oldest footage. Unfortunately, Blink does not allow additional video storage beyond the 120-minute limit. Also, there is no local storage available if the internet connection is lost. The Sync Module Although Blink does not require a monthly subscription, it does require the purchase of a Sync Module. A Sync is included with “Camera Kits”, but if you purchase an “add-on camera”, you’ll need to purchase the Sync separately. CHECK PRICE:  Click here to check the price for the Sync Module. This Module is the main point of contact between the camera and the cloud-based server. Blink XT2 Sync Module It’s a one time purchase and can pair up to 10 Blink cameras to a s...

Blink XT2 : Design Unlike most security cameras, which have circular designs, the XT2 is square, with rounded edges. At 2.8 x 2.8 x 1.4 inches, it's about the size of a coaster and should be pretty inconspicuous wherever you decide to mount it. The XT2's Blink Sync module, needed to connect the camera to your Wi-Fi network, is roughly the same size and shape. (Image credit: Blink) The XT2's flat sides and bottom also mean you can rest it on a shelf easily. Included with the camera are a mounting kit and screws, so you can attach the camera to the side of your house. However, there's no way to secure the XT2 against theft; it's best to just mount it up high.  The XT2 is rated for outdoor use and has an IP65 rating, which means it should stand up to rain, hail and snowstorms. The camera I set up on the outside of my house made it through a number of pretty intense thunderstorms without a pro...

Blink XT2: App Blink's app has a good, but not great set of features, including customizable activity zones, motion sensitivity and video quality. The app also lets you set the length of each recording (from 15 to 60 seconds), as well as how long the camera's motion sensor should wait before reactivating. (Image credit: Blink) Activity zones are set by selecting squares on a grid. The basic grid is 5 x 5, while an advanced setting divides each square into a 4 x 3 grid, giving you 300 squares in total. It's pretty easy to set up. Less intuitive is the camera's scheduling feature. You can set the XT2 to arm and disarm multiple times per day, and you can set custom schedules for each day. But the method to add or change these settings is confusing, requiring you to go back and forth between two screens, one showing a clock with the days of the week below and one showing a grid of the entire week. It ...

Blink XT2: Free cloud storage One of the best things about Blink's cameras is that there's no fee for storing videos. That said, you have only a limited amount of cloud storage, about 2 hours in total, and clip length is limited to 60 seconds. (Image credit: Blink) The Wyze Cam also limits you to 14 days of free cloud storage (and 14-second clips), but you can insert a microSD card into the camera should you want continuous recording and longer clips. However, I wouldn't expect continuous recording with the XT2, as that feature would drain the camera's batteries in no time. Blink does not offer any paid storage plans either.  Blink XT2: Smart home Not surprisingly, the Amazon-owned Blink XT2 works with Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa. If you have a Fire TV device or an Alexa-enabled display, you can ask the voice assistant to show you a live view from the camera. You can also ask Alexa to a...