Did you got a blink camera and can’t adjust it to get the best quality?
These cameras are a popular choice for home security, thanks to their affordability, ease of use, and long battery life. But with so many settings to choose from, it can be tough to know where to start.
Blink Outdoor cameras come with a lot of features and settings that you can use, and in this article, we will dive into the best settings for Blink outdoor cameras and all of the settings that you can adjust to get the best quality for your cameras.
What’s a Blink camera?
Blink cameras are wire-free security cameras designed to keep an eye on your home, inside and out. They’re known for their ease of use and flexibility in installation, making them a popular choice for homeowners looking to enhance their security.
Blink camera products
Blink Outdoor (3rd Gen)
Blink Outdoor 4 (4th Gen)
What is the best settings for blink outdoor camera?
The best setting for a Blink outdoor camera will vary depending on your specific needs and environment. However, there are a few general tips that can help you get the most out of your camera:
- Set the motion detection sensitivity to medium or low. This will help to decrease the alerts of false alarms.
- Enable activity zones. This will allow you to define specific areas of the camera’s view that you want to monitor for motion.
- Set the clip length to 10 seconds. This will give you enough time to capture the important details of an event without using up too much battery life.
- Set the night vision to auto. This will allow the camera to automatically adjust to low-light conditions.
So, let’s start with the important settings that you need to adjust to get the best quality of your cameras:
Change the default name
It’s a good idea to change the default name of your Blink camera to something more descriptive. This will help you to easily identify the camera in your Blink app, for example, you can name the cameras with their coverage area (front door camera or backyard camera)
To change the camera name, open the Blink app and tap on the camera that you want to change the name of. Then, at the top right corner click on the settings gear. Under General, tap on Camera Name and enter a new name for your camera.
Motion detection
Motion detection is one of the most important features of a Blink camera. It allows the camera to record video when it detects motion so that you can stay aware of what’s happening around your home.
To adjust the motion detection settings on your Blink camera, open the Blink app and tap on the camera that you want to adjust the settings. Then, at the top right corner click on the settings gear. Under Motion Detection, you can adjust the following settings:
Sensitivity
This setting controls how much motion is required for the camera to start recording. We highly recommend it to be 5 which is the middle sensitivity unless you need a higher sensitivity depending on what do you need to record.
Duration / Clip length
This setting controls how long the camera will record video after it detects motion. The recommended time for the recording duration is 20+ seconds to make sure that you capture what is happening. Note that when you increase the time of recording this will affect the battery lifetime. You can actually choose the option of (End clip early if motion stops) to enhance the battery lifetime.
Retrigger
This setting controls how long the camera will wait before it starts recording video again after it has detected motion. And we highly recommend it to be 10 seconds to make sure that you are capturing all moments.
Activity zones
Activity zones allow you to define specific areas of the camera’s view that you want to monitor for motion. This is useful for areas such as your front door or driveway.
To create an activity zone, open the Blink app and tap on the camera that you want to create an activity zone for. Then, at the top right corner click on the settings gear. Under Activity Zones, tap on the Create New Activity Zone button.
On the next screen, drag your finger over the area of the camera’s view that you want to include in the activity zone. Once you have selected the area, tap on the Save button.
Privacy zones
Privacy zones allow you to define areas of the camera’s view that you do not want to monitor for motion. This is useful for areas such as public sidewalks or highways and you need to stop getting alerts from street cars.
To create a privacy zone, open the Blink app and tap on the camera that you want to create a privacy zone for. Then, at the top right corner click on the settings gear. Under Privacy Zones, tap on the Create New Privacy Zone button.
On the next screen, drag your finger over the area of the camera’s view that you want to include in the privacy zone. Once you have selected the area, tap on the Save button.
Device Monitoring settings
Device Monitoring settings allow you to receive notifications when your Blink camera detects motion or when the camera’s battery is low.
To adjust the Device Monitoring settings on your Blink camera, open the Blink app and tap on the camera that you want to adjust the settings for. Then, at the top right corner click on the settings gear. Under Device Monitoring, you can adjust the following settings:
Motion Detection Notifications
This setting controls whether or not you will receive notifications when your camera detects motion.
Low Battery Notifications
This setting controls whether or not you will receive notifications when your camera’s battery is low.
Email Notifications
This setting controls whether or not you will receive email notifications when your camera detects motion or when the camera’s battery is low.
Camera temperature
In this section, you will find the camera temperature at the moment. Note that the camera can operate normally between -4°F to 113°F and mini-cams operate with a temperature between 32°F to 95°F, you can also select temperature alert choice to notify you if the temperature of the cameras exceeds the limit.
Night vision settings
The night vision setting controls how the camera adjusts to low-light conditions. You can choose from the following night vision settings:
Auto: The camera will automatically adjust to low-light conditions.
Off: The night vision feature will be disabled.
On: The night vision feature will be enabled.
You will find also Infrared (IR) intensity which is the amount of heat the sensor can use to detect motion in dark areas, you can actually choose the medium option as it’s the suitable spot for the sensor.
To adjust the night vision setting, open the Blink app and tap on the camera that you want to adjust the setting for. Then, at the top right corner click on the settings gear. Under General, tap on Night Vision and select the desired setting.
Video settings
The video settings allow you to adjust the quality and resolution of the video that is recorded by your Blink camera. You can choose from the following video settings:
480p – saver resolution
720 – standard resolution
1080 – Best resolution
If you need the best quality for the video you can choose the 1080, note that this quality is taking more battery consumption when recording.
To adjust the video settings, open the Blink app and tap on the camera that you want to adjust the settings for Then, at the top right corner click on the settings gear. Under Video, tap on Quality or Resolution and select the desired setting.
Audio settings
The audio settings allow you to adjust the volume of the audio that is recorded by your Blink camera. You can also choose to enable or disable two-way talk.
Volume: High, medium, or low.
Two-Way Talk: Enable or disable two-way talk.
We recommend using medium voice settings to avoid any distortion in the recorded video.
To adjust the audio settings, open the Blink app and tap on the camera that you want to adjust the settings for. Then, at the top right corner click on the settings gear. Under Audio, you can adjust the following settings:
How can I improve my Blink camera signal to Wi-Fi?
There are a few things you can do to improve your Blink camera signal to Wi-Fi:
- Move the camera closer to your router.
- Use a Wi-Fi extender.
- Upgrade your router.
- Check your router’s firmware for updates.
- Change your router’s channel from 5GHZ to 2.4GHZ.
What is the best distance for Blink outdoor camera?
For motion detection, Blink cameras are effective up to 20 feet. However, the optimal distance depends on factors like camera placement and sensitivity settings.
How far the Blink camera can be from the internet router?
The best distance for a Blink outdoor camera is within 100 feet of your router. However, the camera can still work at distances of up to 400 feet, but the signal may be weaker.
What is the best retrigger time on Blink camera?
The best retrigger time for a Blink camera is 10 seconds. This will give the camera enough time to record a new clip if motion is detected again after it has stopped recording.
Conclusion
With the right settings, your Blink Outdoor Camera can be a powerful tool for safeguarding your home. Personalize it, fine-tune the features, and adapt it to your unique needs. A well-configured Blink camera can provide peace of mind and valuable insights into your surroundings. So, go ahead, tweak those settings, and keep a watchful eye on what matters most to you.
Remember there are no best settings for blink outdoor camera but there is a setting that you can adjust to get the best quality videos that you need depending on your objectives.
