I have an outdoor CCTV camera on my review Eufy 4G LTE Starlight Camera with 2K resolution and night vision. Its key advantage is complete autonomy. It does not require constant power due to the built-in battery. Or it can be completely independent of an external source, thanks to an additional solar panel created specifically for this camera. Stationary Internet is not needed, as there is a SIM card slot for connecting to a 4G mobile network.
Contents of delivery
The box with the camera contains all the necessary accessories, which can be divided into three groups. The first contains a bracket and a mounting kit (4 self-tapping screws are given with a margin, although 2 are needed), the second contains an adapter and a plug for connecting to a solar panel, and the third contains a USB-C cable. You can also see a SIM card in the picture, but it does not work in Russia.
Appearance and installation
Externally, the Eufy 4G LTE Starlight Camera does not look like a stereotypical street surveillance camera. Instead of a massive body with deliberately IR illumination, we have a small camera made of white plastic on the same miniature swivel bracket. Of the vulnerable moments, only black gloss, on white, no traces remain.
By the way, there is infrared night illumination for night shooting, but all the elements are mounted as neatly and neatly as possible. And the few connectors located at the back are covered with a dense rubber plug. The build quality is excellent, there is no doubt about the declared protection IP67.
outdoor use
The camera is mounted on a swivel bracket, fastened with two self-tapping screws (mounting kit included). Everything is made of thick plastic without problems with reliability, so I have no concerns about fixing the camera. Camera placement options are limited only by imagination and materials into which it is possible to screw self-tapping screws (if necessary with dowels). There is only one recommendation: for maximum coverage of the territory, the camera must be installed at a height of at least 3 meters above ground level.
The camera is guaranteed to work in the temperature range from -20 to 50 degrees Celsius. And the IP67 standard assumes protection against water ingress up to complete short-term immersion (not to mention simple rains and showers). That is, Eufy 4G LTE Starlight Camera is ready for year-round operation in the harsh conditions of central Russia. Unfortunately, more severe frosts did not fall during testing – now a comfortable winter has settled in Moscow.
indoor use
If desired, Eufy 4G LTE Starlight Camera can be hung indoors, its compact size and discreet design allow. If desired, the standard bracket can be replaced with any mount with a standard 3/4 tripod thread.
Autonomy and solar panel
A fully charged camera can last up to three months. All this time, she will monitor the situation, record video when sensors are triggered, and send notifications. Access to the video stream at any time is also a matter of course. After three months, the camera will need to be removed from the bracket and connected to charging via USB-C.
Or there is an alternative option – a permanent connection to the EufyCam Solar solar panel. It is made in the same style as the camera and is a small platform on a rotating bracket. The panel should be positioned so that the photocell receives as much sunlight as possible. At peak, up to 2.6 W is generated, and this is enough to fully charge the camera in one sunny day. That is, even in conditional St. Petersburg, where the weather is gloomy most of the time, such a kit will be completely autonomous from external power.
On the USB-C camera body, near the solar panel, there is a 4-meter microUSB cable – you will need a complete extension adapter for connection. It has a recessed connector in a rubberized frame, the plug on the cable is also rubberized, so you don’t need to worry about rainfall, the setup is designed for outdoor work. The solar panel is certified to IP65, giving protection against directed water jets. The second point is the protection of the connector on the camera with a rubberized plug with a hole for USB-C.
Software and features
The 4G LTE Starlight Camera, like other brand security systems, works in conjunction with the eufy Security app for Android and iOS. The program is functional and looks good, but for the most part it is not translated into Russian. Fortunately, there are no complex terms, so for mastering you need to know only the basics of English.
Since the camera is connected to the Internet via 4G, you can connect to it at any time and see what is happening. Thanks to the built-in microphone and speaker, there is a so-called two-way communication. That is, the ability to say something through the camera to scare away the person who entered the site. Speaker volume is sufficient. On the street, the average mode of the three available was enough for me. Other features of the application’s interface include taking a photo, forcing video recording, turning on the night light, and activating the alarm mode. An alarm involves flashing a flash and/or a loud siren sound to confuse an intruder.
The rest of the time, the camera works in standby mode, that is, immediately when motion is detected, it sends a notification to the smartphone and starts recording video. The duration of the recording is configurable, the default is 20 or 60 seconds. To reduce false positives, you can configure the response only to a person, excluding animals and birds. You can also set activity zones. Smart detection works as advertised, no false positives really noticed.
All recordings are stored in the built-in 8 GB memory. The volume seems small, but this is enough, since one video lasting 60 seconds in maximum quality takes about 10 MB. The camera is not tied to the cloud from the manufacturer, which means that it does not require monthly payments for a subscription to the service. But keep in mind, we are talking about amateur-level video surveillance for personal needs. Professional systems have very different storage and redundancy requirements.
The quality of shooting in different conditions
The Eufy 4G LTE Starlight Camera has a wide-angle lens with a good sensor that records high-resolution 2K video. During the day, the camera pleases with an excellent dynamic range, so there are no local overexposures or blackouts in the video. Detailing allows you to look at faces, and the application displays a photo of the intruder immediately at the time of sending a signal about penetration into the territory. However, I conducted a shooting test in an urban environment to demonstrate the details, high frame rate (nothing twitches) and sufficient bitrate (the image does not break up into “squares”) of the finished video.
The sensor and optics are fast enough not to give in at night. And even without night vision, the image remains detailed and not noisy. Shooting in poor conditions is a measure of the quality of modern video equipment. And Eufy 4G LTE Starlight Camera passes this test with dignity. Below is a video taken without night vision. Please note that in difficult conditions there are no frame rate drops or problems with bitrate.
But there are also two night vision modes at your disposal. The first is classic black and white with infrared illumination. The second is colored using powerful LED spotlights. Both LEDs are activated when motion is detected and only work during video recording to save power. And of course, the flash for color night photography consumes more energy than infrared illumination.
Review
Previously, when trying to establish video surveillance in the country, it was immediately necessary to acquire a Wi-Fi router with a 4G modem in order to provide the camera with Internet. Still, you can’t forget about backup power, since there are blackouts in the same suburbs. But the more different equipment in the system, the lower the final reliability. FROM Eufy 4G LTE Starlight Camera you can get by with just a camera, since there is a 3-month battery inside, built-in memory and 4G connection. For maximum self-sufficiency, it is definitely worth buying an EufyCam Solar solar panel.
And the link really works exactly as stated. It’s a turnkey all-in-one solution that works right out of the box. It is difficult to imagine a more user-friendly camera for monitoring a private house or cottage. I did not like only the weak Russification of the application, but this moment does not affect the quality of the video in any way. I would also like to have Wi-Fi in order to use the camera in places where there is still a stationary Internet point. But keep in mind, we are talking about non-professional equipment designed to monitor the house, cottage and other private objects. Do not use the Eufy 4G LTE Starlight Camera in situations for which it was not designed.
Pros:
- high resolution 2K shooting;
- built-in memory and independence from third-party services;
- readiness to work on the street in harsh Russian conditions;
- two modes for high-quality shooting in complete darkness;
- full autonomy paired with a solar panel;
- good design in the style of modern gadgets.
Minuses:
- the application is not fully translated into Russian.
May not like:
- the camera has USB-C, and the solar panel has microUSB;
- a complete trial SIM-card does not work in Russia.
Source: Trash Box
I am Joyce Corbett and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. My current role is as an author at World Stock Market, where I focus primarily on the tech section. My specialty is creating engaging content that helps to explain and demystify complex financial topics.
