Traditionally setting up a home CCTV system could be an onerous and pricey task, involving wires, drilling holes, power supplies, data recorders and hassle.
But tech companies are coming up with increasingly credible ways of providing the same service with considerably less fuss.
The new indoor and outdoor battery powered Nest Cam is one such option.
DESIGN
Shaped a bit like a handle free cup, the device is simple and compact in its design.
Available in just the one colour of Snow white, the plastic case is made of 47% recycled materials.
To the front is the camera, surrounded by a black plastic plate, with a small LED placed above the lens that lights up when recording and also the microphone and speaker.
To the rear is a tiny reset button, while on the underside there is a snug magnetic power cable socket and a threaded mounting hole.
It is heavy, not only because it must contain a heap of electronics and a large battery, but also a heavy magnet to bind it to the disc shaped magnetic mount.
And bind it does, in a way that provides reassurance that it isn't likely to come off it wind or rain.
The mount comes in two parts, with a circular piece for attaching to a wall or wood and the visible front plate, to which the camera sticks, that twists onto it.
If you are attaching it to metal, Nest says it may be possible to simply stick the magnetic plate to the metal and the camera to the plate.
The magnetic bind allows you to move the camera around in many different directions, although not at a 90 degree angle.
You can also buy a separate indoor mount with detachable power supply if you decide you want to deploy the camera internally rather than externally.
There is no light and siren on this model, but Nest will be releasing a separate device later in the year with lights attached.
INSTALLATION
Setting up the Nest Cam is relatively straightforward, although not completely.
For starters you must have a Google account and have downloaded the Google Home app on your mobile or tablet.
In the app you tap add device and follow the instructions to set it up, by choosing the home you want to add it to and then scanning the QR code on a removable sticker placed over the camera’s lens.
You then have to plug the camera into its power supply, and begin the process of pairing it through the Wifi network you are using for both the phone/tablet and the camera.
After you have decided whether you want it indoors or outdoors, a location for the device then has to be selected.
A few more box ticking steps follow before the Cam is ready to go.
It doesn’t take too long, but there were a few little glitches along the way before everything was up and running.
OPERATION
Once set up, the camera is pretty much ready for immediate deployment.
Obviously it needs to be placed somewhere where the Wifi is good and constant – a test is a good idea before you drill anything.
Nest recommends it is installed between 1.8m and 2m from the ground, because on battery power the motion sensor works best at this height.
This may be an issue if you want to leave the camera in a very publicly visible place because at this height it can easily be tampered with.
Above this height, Nest says you’ll need to buy an additional compatible mount accessory.
It takes around 5 hours to charge the battery, so before you deploy it, it makes sense to top it up to 100%.
Although it has a battery, it is possible to use it with a cable – but to do so, you’ll have to invest in a separate weatherproof cable.
But really one of the strongest features of this device is its ability to operate for a long period on battery alone.
If used with certain settings it appears to be very efficient and after three days use, it was still showing 94% capacity.
Google claims it can last up to three months without a recharge, in certain conditions.
The live video colour daytime feed provides a 130 degree field of view and can be monitored from the Home app.
The quality from the 2MP sensor is pretty good, with the device delivering up to 1080p at 30 frames per second and HDR.
From the app you can also adjust settings for the camera.
In terms of video this includes the length of time it will record for when triggered, the sensitivity of the motion sensor, the video quality and what happens with the status light.
It is also possible to adjust audio features – turn the microphone on the camera on and off, choose whether to record the audio or not and adjust the volume of your voice when talking though the camera.
Battery life can also be managed through a series of choices too.
You can also decide what activity events trigger recordings and send you notifications – like people, animals, vehicles or even all motion.
The motion sensor proved pretty effective, triggering for the right events and sending notifications quickly as they happened.
OTHER FEATURES
As a standard feature, the Nest Cam will give you access to the last three hours of video activity recorded in the cloud - not really very long for most people's needs.
If you want more than that, you’ll have to pay for it through a Nest Aware subscription.
The options are €5 a month or €50 a year for 30 days event history (i.e. activity that triggers the camera).
Or €10 a month/€100 a year for 60 days of event video history along with 10 days of continuous recording video history (although continuous recording requires the camera to be connected to power).
Whichever subscription you opt for, it includes all nest cameras/video doorbells in your home.
If you go with the free three-hour option, you can easily view events back in the app, but you can't download them.
A subscription also allows you to set up customised notifications based on facial recognition.
So if you want to know, for example, that the kids are home from school, it will alert you when they arrive.
If the device loses its Wifi connection, it will record on the device for up to one hour and upload to the cloud when the connection is re-established.
It is also free to set up activity zones, which allow you to select particular parts of the field of view that you want monitored, with the rest left out.
Useful perhaps if the camera is facing a gate and busy road, and you only want to know when someone steps onto your property.
The Nest Cam also works to an extent at night using night vision and 6 high powered infrared LEDs, although the further away the action is from the camera, the less clear the image which is also black and white.
It is also possible to set home and away routines.
CONCLUSION
If a quick and easy video security solution is what you are seeking then the Nest Cam is worth considering alongside the growing number of other similar products out there.
It is pretty easy to set up, very easy to use, has many features and crucially the long battery life means you won’t have to take it down every week or possibly even every month to recharge it.
And at €199 it won't break the bank.
But if reliability, constant recording without the need for a subscription or a cable, and the ability to playback without having to rely on the cloud are what you require, then the old-fashioned route may be more your thing.
