The Blink outdoor cameras can stay connected up to 400 feet away from your home thanks to a new hub.
The Blink outdoor camera can now take advantage of its new long-range protocol.
Blink, Amazon's affordable security camera company, has introduced its new Sync Module XR, now available on the market. This third-generation controller offers the ability to extend the range of the battery-operated Blink Outdoor 4 cameras up to 400 feet. This is made possible by a new long-range radio system integrated into its custom-designed silicon. However, this increase in distance also comes with a reduction in video quality.
The Sync Module XR is available for $59.99 and is offered in a package that includes a free Outdoor 4 camera, which normally retails for $99. This module acts as a Wi-Fi bridge for Blink cameras, allowing coverage of up to 250 feet in XR mode and up to 400 feet in XR Plus mode. In this regard, it is four times more effective than the previous Sync Module 2, according to Jonathan Cohn, Blink’s product director.
The new XR protocol, specifically designed to operate on the 900MHz frequency, is intended to optimize video transmission with very low power consumption. Through tests conducted by Blink, it has been confirmed that this protocol can penetrate an exterior wall while maintaining coverage up to 400 feet, although video quality significantly decreases as distance increases. At distances of 250 feet, quality reaches up to 720p, while at 400 feet it drops to 360p, a notable decrease from the standard 1080p quality achieved with a robust Wi-Fi connection. This suggests that the utility of the cameras may be more oriented toward wildlife observation than security monitoring, as it is unlikely to see details such as faces or license plates at that resolution in low-light conditions.
Blink cameras are recognized for their compact design and long battery life, allowing the Blink Outdoor 4 to operate for up to two years on a pair of AA batteries, which can be extended to four years with an additional pack. This feature, along with the new long-range capability, makes them an ideal choice for monitoring peripheral areas of properties where Wi-Fi signal does not reach.
In the realm of connectivity, few companies have found effective solutions to extend the signal beyond a home’s reach. Outdoor-mounted security cameras need to connect to Wi-Fi, but those placed farther away may struggle unless an outdoor Wi-Fi extender is acquired, or LTE technology cameras are used, which require monthly subscriptions for operation.
A favorable aspect of the Blink system is that it does not require a subscription for recording videos or maintaining connectivity, although there is a $3 monthly option available. The Sync Module XR can store video locally on a microSD card of up to 256GB (not included), surpassing the 128GB capacity offered by its predecessor, the Sync Module 2, which used a USB.
It is worth noting that the Sync Module XR can only extend the range of two Blink Outdoor 4 cameras at a time using the XR protocol. However, it is compatible with up to 10 Blink cameras operating on Wi-Fi and also provides local storage for recorded videos. Compatible cameras include the Blink Mini 2, the Blink Video Doorbell, the Blink Floodlight Camera, and earlier versions of Blink cameras.
The Sync Module XR is already available on Amazon for $59.99, and the launch offer includes a free Blink Outdoor 4 camera. Starting in January, the price for a package that includes the Sync Module XR along with the camera will be $139.99. With Black Friday around the corner, it is likely that the current Sync Module 2 ($49.99), which is frequently sold with Blink cameras, will see significant discounts; however, to access the new functionalities, the new XR module will be necessary.
