Ezviz Hub and camera kit is great for who needs it

Properties such as holiday homes which are now left unoccupied could use a functional security system, writes Noel Campion

With us all working and staying at home right now, the last thing on our minds is home security. However, those with other properties like holiday homes, which are not occupied right now would be comforted to know everything is safe and secure. Of course, this spell of staying at home won’t last forever, although it may feel like it and now might be a good time to consider options like the Ezviz 4G Hub and Battery Camera Kit.

Unlike most camera security systems, the Ezviz 4G Hub and the camera has a unique feature that many others do not — it does not need wifi to work. This is a major advantage for those who have holiday homes that don’t have any broadband. Of course, you can also use the system with your existing broadband.

In the Ezviz 4G Hub kit you’ll find a single indoor/outdoor C3A camera along with mounting options, the 4G hub, power adapter for the hub and an ethernet cable. The 4G Hub allows for the simultaneous connection of up to six cameras, but strangely, doesn’t support other Ezviz cameras or devices.

Too often, devices for security are function over form, but the Ezviz Hub and C3A camera are both designed with style. Security cameras are more likely to be fitted into a home setting than an office and so a nice design and finish are important. The hub is an off-white colour, with a rounded cylindrical shape and has a non-moving, turbo-fan like vent on top to allow heat to escape. In the middle of the fan is a sync/siren off button for setup and turning off the siren should it go off.

Setup only takes a few minutes if you are good with technology if not, the process is still easy with only the minimal amount of steps required to get you up and running. The Ezviz apps are free for both mobile and PC, but there is a cloud-based subscription service too. If you want to use Ezviz’s Cloud Storage, you can try it on a free 30-day trial.

This will provide 24/7 recording of motion detection, but you are only backing video clips that are created each time the camera detects motion. It is important to understand, this system cannot record continuous video like a CCTV setup that is permanently wired to the camera. This isn’t a big deal for many scenarios since the camera is totally wireless with a large 5,500mAh rechargeable battery that can last for months on a single charge.

All cameras come with a free 30-day trial, but after that, Ezviz charges €4.99 per month for 7-day playback (€49.99 per annum) or €9.99 a month for 30-day playback (€99.99). All video is secure on EU based servers and encrypted with bank-level security.

Thankfully, you are not limited to just cloud-based storage since the hub has a MicroSD slot for up to 128GB cards. You don’t need a really expensive microSD card either, so even the maximum 128GB card can be purchased for as little as €20.

The camera can be mounted pretty much anywhere as long as it’s within range of the hub. The camera also includes an ultra-wide-angle, 126-degree field of view and night vision up to 25 ft (7.5m), for day and night video capture and viewing.

The C3A camera is weatherproof IP65 rated, so it can be used outside. It uses Pir for motion detection which works well, but is not as ‘smart’ as other cameras I have used that are based on software. You cannot set motion zones and it cannot distinguish between a human and a moving car for example. Again, depending on your situation and use case, Pir is good enough for most needs.

Using the Ezviz app you can view up to six cameras. You can view live video from the camera at any time, but it will not record video unless you enable motion detection. You can have motion detection on all of the time or set schedules for up to four-time segments per day.

Video quality is good and can be recorded up to full HD 1080p. Via the app, you can also use the camera as a two-way radio. For example, this means you can talk to delivery people if you have the camera at the front door.

The Hub is 4G capable and can function as a router as well. Of course, this means you’ll have to get a 4G Sim with a data plan. It also has a built-in 2,600mAh battery that will keep it going for over one hour if you get a mains power cut.

Also in the event of a power cut, you can use the hub as a hotspot to connect two other devices, such as a phone and a laptop. The hub also has a 100-decibel siren that alerts users and deters possible intruders whenever the camera motion sensor is triggered. The siren is ear-piercingly loud, but if the camera is outside and the hub is inside, it is not going to be very effective.

Overall, the Ezviz 4G Hub and Battery Camera kit is full of great features for those who need it. However, if you do not need the 4G feature or outdoor placement, there are better and cheaper alternatives including the Ezviz PT Security Camera for (£60 - €68).

Available now from amazon.co.uk £290 (€330).