Home cameras were expensive and complicated. It didn't matter if they were for security or other purposes. Either way, they were mostly used by the wealthy, the paranoid, or both.
ContentsFeaturesConfiguring the Annke 1080P IP CameraUsing the Annke 1080P IP CameraImage QualityConclusionWe have come a long way. Not only have cameras gotten smaller and cheaper in general, Wi-Fi makes it much easier to place them wherever you want them. The Annke 1080P IP Camera is a Wi-Fi camera you can control from anywhere with your phone, and it's surprisingly affordable.
Note :This is a sponsored post and was made possible by Annke. The actual content and opinions are the sole views of the author who maintains editorial independence, even when an article is sponsored.
This is an indoor camera, which means it is not weatherproof. Nevertheless, the viewing angle is adjustable, either manually or using the app. Therefore, if you install it near a window, you will probably be able to capture the activity outside very well. In case you're trying to see if raccoons are getting into your trash at night or if it's actually your neighbor, the camera also has night vision with a range of twenty feet.
If you can manage it, plugging the camera into your router with the included Ethernet cable is the easiest way to set it up. The other method plays audio from your phone, and it works well but is more prone to dropouts or interference. Either way, you will need to download the Myannke (iOS) app to your phone for the setup process.
First, the app will ask you to set up an Annke account to link multiple devices if you have any, then you need to set up the camera with your Wi-Fi information. After that, you set a password for the camera, give it a nickname and choose the time zone you are in.
Once you have completed the initial setup, you can unplug the Ethernet cable. Move the camera to the desired location (as long as it is within Wi-Fi range) and plug it in.
The main way to interact with the camera is the Myannke app. If you've never used this type of camera before, one of the most fun things is controlling the orientation of the camera. You can rotate it as well as move the angle up and down just by swiping around the screen. It's intuitive when it comes to control and lets you aim the camera with ease.
You can use the camera without any sort of storage, but it does have a micro SD card slot. As mentioned above, you can adjust the bitrate of the captured video to optimize quality, storage space, or a balance of both.
This camera only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, not the 5 GHz frequency commonly used for faster speeds and lower interference these days. Considering the lower price, that makes sense, but I often had issues with 2.4 GHz and my router. As a result, my best bet was to use the camera plugged in through the Ethernet port.
Plugged in, I had no issues with the camera, with the video feed from the camera only experiencing a short delay. Only standing in the same room and waving at the camera while watching the stream on my phone could I detect the delay.
In day mode, the image quality is comparable to what you would expect from a webcam. It's not pretty, but it's not meant to be. It's supposed to be functional, and the camera absolutely delivers in that regard.
The infrared night vision mode seems to be where the Annke really shines. Whether you want to keep an eye on your garden or see what your cats are up to at night, this camera will capture it. Details are easy to see and image quality seems superior to day mode.
Although the camera can record to an optional memory card, you can also capture from your phone. You can capture snapshots and video recordings on your phone, with or without audio in the case of video.
The only real downside to this camera is that it's limited to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. If it supported 802.11ac on the 5 GHz band, it would be a phenomenal deal for the price. Even with the Wi-Fi limitation, I still came away with an overwhelmingly positive opinion of the Annke 1080P IP Camera.
I imagine most people who buy this camera plan to put it in one place and leave it as it is. If so, I would recommend making a wired ethernet connection there if possible. Yes, it's less convenient, but the stability of the connection would be worth it. If you plan to move the camera from time to time, stick to Wi-Fi.
Considering the price is under $50, what you get for the money is an impressive bargain. There are smarter, more capable IP cameras on the market, but you're going to pay a lot more for most of them.
For a limited time, you can grab the Annke Camera for 40% off using code VAVQKQ46 . This discount will be available until July 31 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
