Tech talk: Peace of mind with the EZVIZ EB3 Smart Home Battery Camera
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A big fan of home security specialists EZVIZ, I recently reviewed their eLife BC1C 2K+ battery-powered home security camera which now sits proudly on my back garden wall, so far successfully deterring any ne'er-do-wells with its powerful lights and my booming 'get off moy laand!' personally-recorded message should anyone set an unsolicited toe across my threshold.
So for the front of my property I was keen to assess the similar-looking EB3, which EZVIZ says is a step-up from its predecessor with ultra-clear 2K vision for advanced detail capturing and its night vision with far-reaching colour nocturnal views of up to 15 metres.
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Hide AdBut before going into the tech side of things, just a few words about set-up. Like its sister cam, I deemed it important to site it well above head height to deter any interference, so ideally it should be fixed at least level with your upstairs windows.
A one-off bit of wall-drilling is necessary, but before you do so, it makes sense to first test that the camera can access your wifi clearly from your chosen spot.
Ensure you've given your camera that extra bit of juice via the included cable and your own charger plug, as you never know the amount of power the camera already has. Mine was only at one per cent so needed a good half-day to fully charge.
Once you accessed the settings and checked the battery level is at 100% you can now download the EZVIZ app from the iPhone App Store or Play Store for Android phones, press the large '+' sign top right to add a device, scan the QR code on the camera or included quick-start manual, and then follow the wifi connecting prompts.
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Hide AdOnce connected and you can see the camera's images on your phone, you can mount the camera base to your outside wall which will need affixing with two screws (6mm drill bit did the job for me).
I have to say at this point that with its predecessor there was also a magnetic half-sphere mount option which the metallic base on that camera could then attach to. This has been dropped in favour of a plastic camera base and the screw thread which is more secure, but not as handy for quick release.
So with set-up complete after only a few minutes, what can this camera do?
Thanks again to its two spotlights, nothing will be missed, however dark it may be. What's even better, homeowners can choose between the colour mode or the infrared mode, as preferred.
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Hide AdIntegrating a PIR sensor, the EB3 camera can distinguish people from pets or even a flurry of autumn leaves, notifying the connected mobile device of any significant activity. No intruder would stay undetected and would be be loth to return to the property as the camera also benefits from active defence, setting off a loud siren with two flashing spotlights when intruders are seen.
You can also adjust the sensitivity of the PIR detection, so you can get the device to ignore people walking along the pavement outside (or your neighbour in his back garden), and there is also two-way audio, allowing communication whether at home or away, ideal for verbally scaring off an unwanted visitor or instructing a delivery driver.
The two-way audio can be utilised on a smartphone or, by pre-recording a 10 second voice message that automatically plays upon human motion detection.
The EB3 is easy to use with no base station and can essentially be sited anywhere near a home without complex wiring or expensive installation fees.
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Hide AdIt has a very reliable 5200 mAh battery, which only needs to be recharged every 120 days, but if it means your having to get the ladders out you might wish to avail yourself of the EZVIZ solar panel which can be purchased separately for £29.99.
I easily sited this just above the EB3 to keep it permanently powered, but there is plenty of cable should the panel need to be placed in a more sun-prominent position.
The EZVIZ solar panels are made to efficiently transform sunlight into free, green power to make home security sustainable and keep costs lower.
The EB3 can also be easily managed via the EZVIZ App, on site or remotely. What’s more, live viewing can be voice-enabled with “Hey Google” or “Alexa” to check what’s happening on a bigger screen. It is highly weather-resistant, working efficiently, however severe the weather conditions, come rain or snow.
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