Adventures in setting up was a mess, but while I am still learning stuff, the picture is excellent. But the tiny booklet is worthless in how to set up, although the website has lots of info but has to look at scads of articles.
I have used Dropcam for many years, which can access via Internet site. I have a Gigiblast fast Internet service. I rarely use a smartphone other than for mapping when traveling; I can not type on those tiny keys. I have six 28" monitors in front of me at my home office, and when I travel, I pack a full Logitech keyboard with a laptop. I use the camera for my large home office security, especially when traveling.
I spent days researching and reading reviews wanting when traveling to view from a PC or Laptop. So decided on this Reolink E1 Zoom, and then the excitement (confusion) to set up began,
The quick start guide started me on a many-hour journey to figure out.
First, it says to mount the camera. Ah... isn't that like getting the cart before the horse or whatever that expression is. No, let me coddle the little guy on my desk, so I can do whatever has to be done without trying to work on it mounted (which will be on a cabinet top)
Starting with downloading and launching App OR Client software. I am a nerd and read that it is either, not both. So I got the client, and, of course, I was totally lost. So I went to the app store on my PC, and it indicated it was not available on "other" devices. OK, I dug out my smartphone and found I am still trying to figure out why I already had the app. But I couldn't find the cute little guy (aka camera). Well, you have to plug it in!
I had read/scanned all the reviews and remembered something about not using the little thing on the bottom to plug in since it was the tiny mic, so I could destroy it if you thought that was where you plug in power. But OK, the picture shows it's a power port. So plug it in, and some women started screaming at me in many languages; that startled me, and I didn't catch what the English said. OK, something works.
Unless I am blind, nothing in the little guide says anything about the Ethernet connection. Now I go back to OS/2 days before the Windows GUI (dos screen) and back to old card readers - you know, IBM punch cards - yes, I am old.
I have a MAZE router system. All the Ethernet ports are full, as are my six ports on a switch. I have MOCA for TIVO, two for NAS, and a printer, and I don't know what else since it's a mess and set up years ago and just works.
OK, pull one of the NAS connections and find a spare cable - hopefully, the yellow one works, or is that a "patch" cable... well let's try it vs. some 30-foot ones! This part goes smoothly, besides turning the big Orbi router upside down and getting my magnifier to read the tiny printed password. OK, set up pw for the camera, etc.; that part is fine.
The rest of the setup went fine, and we got a great video on the client both in the light and at night. Beware; however, if you are in the same room and testing, the audio may get scratching feedback or constant echoes.
Now the microSDXC SanDisk 256k. The first challenge is the human-proof security packaging. I made multiple attempts with a knife, scissors, and willpower just to tear open the plastic security wrapping just to get it and the readout of the package.
I recalled from the research you have to point the guy all the way up to get to the tiny port. OK, little guy, open WIDE... barely clears the tiny opening. After a few failed attempts and finding a video watching at a slow speed to be sure I was putting it in the right with almost no clearance when it closed its mouth, I think it is in! I hope I never have to get it out!
Now the guy tells me that it has to be formatted. Look all over the client app setting until you give up and find instructions and videos on the website. I must dig out my smartphone again since I have to use the app. Once found from all the zillions of articles in the support part of the web, the video and directions gave good directions. This is after I searched the client's 66-page online manual and found nothing on how to format the disk.
I still must learn some options and settings, but it now seems excellent. It would have saved many hours of frustration for us that are not camera geek's if some of this was in a well-organized, one-place how set of instructions.
Hopefully, this review might help others as inexperienced with the camera setup as I was.
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