TaoTronics 1080P HD WiFi Security IP Camera with iOS/Android App, Pan, Tilt, Zoom, 2-Way Audio, Motion Alerts, and More

Since I just moved to a new and bigger apartment, I thought it is time for an upgrade to a newer security camera. For starter, this security camera sports 1080P display, higher resolution than the 720p version I have (even though both use the same E-Hawk app).Second of all, the new model does not require a separate antenna! The previous model required an extended antenna, and it is quite easy to lose it when you are packing things and moving to a new place.Thirdly, the new model uses microUSB power port, not the unreliable power connector of the past. The plug connects securely to the camera, and no longer comes loose by moving the power cord around.As with the previous model, it does not come with a SD card. You will have to supply your own, but once it is inserted, the recording feature works like charm. Your security cam is essentially storing your footage on its SD card, but you can access the footage from anywhere around the world. The speed of the video obviously highly depends on your home Internet upload speed.In this review, I should also go over a little bit on the setup process. In the past, it was a little painful as you have much higher success rate of setting up the camera if you first connect with a wired ethernet cord, and then setup the wireless portion afterwards. Now, in this new model, you can skip the wired connection set up all together. Once you enter the wireless password in your phone app, it will sound off this gibberish aural noise so that it can transmit the password to the camera directly. It sort of reminds me of early days with dial up Internet modem where you hear that noise in the beginning of getting on the Internet. It did catch me off guard, but it works. The downside is that if someone figures out the algorithm, and is nearby, they can easily capture the wireless password by just listening in on the noise.Overall, it is a huge improvement over the previous release. It has fewer moving pieces, and it is more compact and more user friendly than before.

This review is for the TaoTronics 1080P HD WiFi Security IP Camera Model: TT-HS005 U.Security/surveillance cameras are a must have in today’s world. These small devices not just deter crime and enhance security but also help you keep an eye in your home when you are away. This model is an indoor camera with built-in antenna that runs off your home wifi. It can be controlled via the free eHawk smartphone app available for iPhone and Android or via the web browser at http://ehawk.taotronics.com/. The item arrived in a well-packaged box and included the camera unit, user guide, mounting bracket and hardware, network cable, USB charging cable and a tiny utility tool for resetting the device if ever needed.Installing the app was easy and it doesn’t really take a lot of storage space. Next, launch the app and we can easily setup & configure the camera. Plug-in the USB cable to power up the camera and also hook it to your network router via the included network cable. The camera can now be added to the app either by scanning the QR code (found at the base of the unit) OR by manually entering the device ID (also found on the base). You can also configure other details like - add a device nickname, admin password, etc. There is no need to manually input network IP addresses or swap network cables to get this camera up and running.Once you manage to have the app successfully communicate with the camera we can go ahead and configure the wifi details for the camera and get rid of the wired cable connection. One issue that I ran into was that the app restricts wifi password to 30 characters; so if your home wifi has a longer password, it will need to be shortened. Further on my network, the camera was only access the 2.4 GHz channel and not the 5GHz. 2.4GHz channel offers coverage for farther distances, but performs relatively slower; not the best of things for a device meant to stream video footage.The camera supports mp4 format for videos and comes with 3 different settings for recording quality – Smooth, Standard and 1080p HD. It has a wide viewing angle lens and supports full 350° pan, 100° tilt and digital zoom. These PTZ settings can be remotely controlled via the smartphone app. I did notice some lag on the app when you try to pan, especially if doing it in quick successions. Occasionally the app ends up freezing or crashing altogether. The trick is to slow down and be patient and the app will work like a charm.The app settings allow a lot of customization to tailor it to your need. The built in motion sensor can be configured at various sensitivity levels and can trigger an alarm that is also configurable. Note that the app doesn’t have to be open or active on your phone for the notification to get triggered.The infrared LED helps shoot extremely bright and detailed videos, even is low-light conditions or complete darkness. The videos can be viewed live by streaming through the app or accessed from the micro-SD card for offline viewing later. The built-in speaker and mic allow two-way audio between the camera and the app letting you hear what’s going on as well as communicate with anyone within the range of the camera. The microphone and speakers are located at the base of the camera housing. Also located at the base are the wifi and Ethernet connection status indicators, Ethernet and micro-USB ports, the reset button and the micro-SD card slot. One thing I disliked was the unit did not ship with the micro-SD card! Further, the card slot doesn’t have a spring-action so in case you have to remove the card you will need to use your fingernails or some tweezers, which are not included in the package. Videos recorded on the memory card can be easily downloaded via the app, for offline viewing.The package also includes the mounting hardware and a mounting bracket that can be screwed into the base of the camera unit. The bracket is angle-adjustable but cannot be resized.Overall, it’s a pretty well made product and certainly way better than many of the other pricey security cameras that I have used in the past. Also, their customer service is superb. The first unit I received was defective and they happily replaced it in no time. I will certainly recommend this to others who want to invest in making their homes more safe and secure!

I knew this camera would solve our problems- what I didn’t know is how much fun it would be - and how easy it would be to set up!My husband had everything ready to go in just a few minutes - and the app installs quickly and easily also! We can watch the areas that we want under surveillance right from our iPads and smartphones! You can even listen and talk thru the IP camera! The camera automatically switches to infra-red when the lights are out! I want one in every room- AND on the porch to catch the theives who steal my packages!!!!The best features on this IP camera IMO:• I can move the camera up/down/side-to-side and zoom in/out with my ipad or smartphone by swiping left-right/up-down or pinching on the screen!• The resolution is HD - so clear I can see my dogs eyes blinking when the camera is near the ceiling!• Real time video• Fast and Easy set up!• Affordable• Expandable - you can link multiple cameras together for surveillance on many areas• Takes/records screen shots and video- right to your device or you can hook up an external driveIt has never been so easy to keep an eye on your home (inside or out), children, and pets. With this TaoTronics HD WiFi Security Camera I can see who is at the door before opening and keep my family safe. We definitely plan on adding more cameras to this network to safeguard our family!