I’m weighing the pros and cons of setting up a Blink Mini 2 or Tapo C120 wired system to monitor my driveway and backyard.
Both setups cost about the same (6 cameras, sync module, and USB stick for Blink vs. 6 cameras with microSD cards for Tapo). I’m not interested in paying for any subscription.
From what I’ve read, Blink cameras seem to have a wider field of view and possibly better audio, while Tapo offers more AI features (like person detection) without needing a subscription. Another factor is Blink being US-based vs Tapo from China.
Are there any other things I should consider? Which one would you go with and why?
I had a rough experience with Blink Outdoor cameras. Had to return them because of poor signal strength, even though my ieGeek battery cameras worked fine in the same spot with around 70% Wi-Fi strength. My Blinks barely had a signal at all. They need a solid connection across three types of wireless/radio signals. Maybe a wired option would be better, but based on my experience, I wouldn’t go for them again.
Now I’m using two Tapo C310 cameras in the same location, plus an indoor Tapo. Important factors to me have been Wi-Fi connection, storage type and cost (free vs. cloud), customer support, and design features that impact usability. I’d suggest trying one model out to see how it performs, then maybe switch if needed.
Rocco said: @Cruz
Thank you for the insights. What’s the main difference between the 310 and 120 models? Is there much price difference?
There’s a ton of different models, so you’ll need to pick based on what matters to you.
Between those two, the 120 is 4MP, and the 310 is 3MP. However, the 120 has a shorter infrared range (about 30ft vs. 98ft on the 310, supposedly). The 310 has an Ethernet input if you want a wired connection, but the adapter isn’t waterproof, so I had to make a little cover for it. Not sure how the 120 handles that.
One downside I’ve noticed with Tapo compared to ieGeek is their video storage.
You have to pay for cloud storage, though microSD is free for both. Tapo offers a 30-day cloud trial, I believe, while ieGeek gives unlimited short 5-second clips on their Basic cloud plan.
Also, Tapo’s app doesn’t let you delete clips manually, so they pile up until they’re overwritten. The clips tend to be around 75 seconds minimum, which can be a lot if you’re capturing small events like leaves blowing. With ieGeek, I can set clip length and delete unwanted ones right away.
Lawrence said: @Cruz
In my opinion, deleting clips is kind of unnecessary since they get overwritten eventually.
It’s not pointless if you need to go back and find a specific event. Having lots of unnecessary clips makes it harder to locate important ones. It’s better to save what matters and clear out the rest.
@Cruz
That’s what screenshots are for, though. Personally, I find it pretty quick to locate clips when I need to. Even on my Reolink system with 24/7 recording, it doesn’t take me more than a couple of minutes to find what I’m looking for.
