Reolink Argus 2: close surveillance at a low price
15.6.2018
Translation: machine translated
Reolink is upgrading its Argus with the Argus 2. The network camera now comes with a built-in battery. Let's see what it can do.
He glides with velvet steps over the raised flowerbed and scrapes the earth, determined. Suddenly, an alarm siren sounds. He flees, frightened.
My cat wouldn't stop peeing on my balcony. How did I solve the problem? Despite being a fervent opponent of surveillance cameras in the private sphere, I went against my principles and tested the Argus 2 from Reolink.
My cat wouldn't stop peeing on my balcony.
What does the camera offer?
The previous version filled a gap in the private surveillance camera market, as it was entirely wireless, had only the essential features and was cheap. Its successor does the same, while improving on some points.
The biggest new feature is the built-in battery. According to Reolink, it's supposed to last up to six months in standby mode, but it all depends on how you use it. Practical: the camera sends you a notification when the battery is about to run out. You can also buy a solar panel that will charge it outdoors.
You'll have to forgo geotagging, activity zones and smart home integration. Cloud recording wasn't yet available during my test, but Reolink intends to offer a solution in the next few weeks, which explains the current supply shortage. The devices will be updated in the firmware and then delivered as is so that you can use this feature straight away. Another solution: a micro SD card (64 GB maximum, and no, it's not supplied with the camera - you'll have to buy it yourself). You'll have to buy it yourself).
The camera's main features:
- full HD video and images
- wireless
- diagonal viewing angle: 130̈°
- PIR motion sensor (120° viewing angle)
- motion recording on micro SD card
- IP65 waterproofing
- two-way audio
They come with the camera
- Reolink Argus 2 camera
- Battery (microUSB cable for charging included)
- Outdoor security mount
- Magnetic mount
- Protective case
- Reset pin
- Video surveillance information sticker
- Fixing accessories (screws and drilling template)
Installation
Reolink promises installation is as easy as pie and, indeed, all you need is a smartphone, pc or mac.
I use my smartphone and download the Reolink app from Google Play. I then simply launch it and follow the instructions. I get the first image in less than two minutes.
At first glance, the image quality is quite decent. The camera produces standard video at 15 frames per second, but you can choose various frame rates (2, 5, 10 or 15). You can also change the resolution if you wish.
The application
The app is intuitive. Name your camera to better differentiate them if you have more than one. I chose "Reo". Yes, I know, it's not very original... If you want someone else to access the camera, a simple QR code to scan in the app will suffice.
Other settings are possible: video, audio, local recording, alarm, lighting and notifications. What's more, the app keeps you informed at all times of the battery status if you wish.
I'd like to dwell briefly on the motion sensor. The Argus has a PIR sensor that reacts to changes in temperature. The advantage of this is that it only picks up living creatures. The camera will therefore not react to the movements of plants in your garden.
Sensor sensitivity is set in the application and has an impact on the detection range. It is divided into three levels: low (up to 4 metres), medium (up to 6 metres) and high (up to 9 metres). You can also choose how the camera reacts to movement: send you an e-mail, sound an alarm or make a recording. Don't forget to enter your email address in the app's menu beforehand.
The alarm is not particularly loud (approx. 80 dB). It's not enough to scare off burglars, but it will scare off other rascals, like cats.
The outdoor test
As you gathered from the beginning of my article, my cat annoys me by relieving himself in my flower beds. Since I want to test the solar panel at the same time, I start by placing the camera outside.
The solar panel assembles quickly, all I have to do is position it and plug it into the Argus 2. As I'm a tenant, I have no desire to drill anything. So I put the panel and the camera in my flower bed, on the security bracket. My tactic has one drawback: the solar panel has to be exposed to direct sunlight to be powerful enough. Daylight alone isn't enough.
Unfortunately, the surrounding trees prevent the rays from reaching my balcony at times. I temporarily move the camera so that I can test the solar panel anyway. As soon as the rays land on it, Reo's battery charges. It lasts quite a long time, even in direct sunlight. The charge level reached around 5% after 6 hours of sunlight.
OK, the solar panel is working, let's get back to the actual test. Whether it's my cat or me, the sensor detects living things very well. I set the sensitivity to high. The alarm is never triggered by mistake. The camera also works very well at night, the quality is very good. I receive alerts in near real time on my smartphone (I notice a delay of one second at most). I now know when my cat is up to mischief in Biel while I'm at the office in Zurich.
The app sends you notifications or an e-mail depending on your preferences. The e-mail contains a still image. As soon as I open the notification, it sends me to the live feed. I can catch my scoundrel in the act. If I miss anything, I can view the playback recordings in chronological order. So I know exactly what happened on 22 May at 09:59:13: my cat met Reo.
I can also download a video to my smartphone via a download button on the playback screen. The clips, however, have a maximum length of 30 seconds.
As I've already mentioned, the Argus 2 wasn't designed for long recordings, but as it works very well, I don't need it. In any case, in the private sphere, the law limits me enormously. I'm not even allowed to put a camera outside my flat door, because the stairwell of my building is a communal space. So I'm picking on my poor defenceless cat.
The indoor test
Given my fascination with the way my cat pees, I continue inside my flat by placing the camera above its litter tray, for want of a human guinea pig. This time, I mount it on the magnetic support. It's a little easier to orientate, but it slides around quicker than on the safety stand.
Installing the camera there has two advantages: it's always on, but not too often, and the room has no windows. It's plunged into darkness after dark. I'm curious to see the image quality obtained.
Reo again proves to be completely reliable. However, the camera always goes off when I close the bathroom door (behind which is the litter box) because of the 120° viewing angle of the sensor. It would be great if I could define activity zones, but the Argus 2 doesn't have this feature. Even if I set the sensor sensitivity to the lowest level, it still detects me.
I can't complain about the image quality indoors. Reo takes perfectly decent shots, whether in artificial light or in the dark with the door closed.
I can't complain about the image quality indoors.
Summary
The Argus 2 is very versatile for its price. It's easy to set up and handle. What's more, it's wireless, unless you connect the solar panel to it. It's really handy, but only when the sun is shining. Otherwise, it's best to use the charging cable.
Image quality is good, and the motion detector is reliable. The battery discharged at about one per cent per day. So the 180 days claimed by the manufacturer is a bit ambitious, but I have to say that the camera was triggered a lot (approx. 20 times a day) and I used it a lot, which of course decreased the battery capacity.
The battery capacity is good, and the motion sensor is reliable.
What's missing is smart home integration and other features like activity zones. Still, the Argus 2 has plenty of settings. All in all, it's worth buying if you want a surveillance camera. It's quite capable.
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
