Not like most of the outside safety cameras we check, the Vosker VKX 4G is meant to be used in industrial purposes similar to monitoring development websites, parking tons, farms, and different areas the place energy and Wi-Fi are unavailable. It delivers sharp 1080p video and encompasses a rechargeable battery, a built-in photo voltaic panel, and mobile connectivity. It makes use of a sturdy weatherproof enclosure and presents each free native and subscription-based cloud storage, and a mobile knowledge plan is included within the digital camera’s $249.99 worth. Nonetheless, the VKX doesn’t provide reside streaming, colour night time imaginative and prescient, or third-party integrations. In the event you require a extra consumer-centric digital camera, the Arlo Go 2 LTE/Wi-Fi Safety Digital camera (listed for $249.99 however sometimes accessible for round $199.99) options mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity, works with a lot of different sensible residence units, and helps Alexa and Google voice instructions, incomes our Editors’ Selection.Design and Options: Mobile and Photo voltaic PowerThe Vosker VKX appears to be like extra like an previous Polaroid digital camera than a sensible outside safety digital camera. It measures 4.6 by 4.5 by 6.0 inches (HWD), weighs 21 ounces, and has an IP65 weatherproof ranking. The highest of the digital camera holds a 6-by-4-inch photo voltaic panel, and the entrance holds the lens meeting, a movement sensor, a deterrent gentle, a lightweight sensor, an IR LED, and a microphone.
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All the entrance of the digital camera swings out to disclose the battery compartment. Right here, you’ll discover an on/off change, battery and mobile sign stage meters, an SD card format button, a check button, and SIM and microSD card slots, each of that are hidden behind a detachable panel. The SIM card supplies mobile service through AT&T or Verizon which is included within the worth of the digital camera. You additionally get a 32GB SD card, which is able to present storage for as much as 54 hours of 15-second clips or 75,000 photographs.There’s an adjustable mobile antenna mounted on the left facet of the digital camera and threaded mounting holes on the underside and on the again. Behind a rubber gasket on the underside of the digital camera is a USB-C charging port. The VKX comes with a mounting bracket and mounting plate, mounting screws, a USB-C charging cable, and a wooden screw mounting possibility.
(Credit score: John R. Delaney)
The digital camera captures video at 1080p and makes use of the IR LED for black-and-white night time imaginative and prescient, however it doesn’t help colour night time imaginative and prescient, a characteristic that’s accessible with the Arlo Go 2. Furthermore, to preserve energy, the VKX eschews options discovered on most outside safety cameras geared towards residence customers. For instance, it doesn’t help reside streaming, and video clips will not be robotically accessible for viewing. As a substitute, it’s important to request them. Right here’s the way it works: When a movement occasion happens, the digital camera will start recording, and its companion Vosker cellular app (accessible for Android and iOS) will ship an alert. A thumbnail of the occasion seems on the app’s residence display screen and occasions display screen, however if you press the play arrow, you solely get a three-frame preview, which consists of three nonetheless pictures that play again and again. If you wish to view a 15-second video of the occasion, it’s important to press the Request Full HD Video button. The requested video seems on the occasions display screen inside a minute or two and is saved on the SD card and within the cloud.You may all the time take away the SD card to view recorded video on a PC, however if you wish to watch it utilizing the cellular app and obtain alerts, you’ll should subscribe to a safety plan. The $10 monthly Primary plan contains as much as 500 alerts, seven days of video historical past, and the power to obtain 10 photographs or movies monthly. The $15 monthly Alerted plan upgrades that to 1,000 alerts, 15 days of video historical past, and 20 downloads, whereas the $20 monthly Elite plan supplies limitless alerts, 40 downloads, and 60 days of video historical past. The VKX comes with a free seven-day Elite trial plan.Though the digital camera lacks reside streaming capabilities, it does provide an on-demand characteristic that permits you to request a 15-second recording everytime you need through the app. It then sends an alert to your telephone when the video has been processed and locations the clip’s thumbnail on the occasions display screen. If that you must see greater than the three-frame preview, you possibly can then request a Full HD video. Battery life will depend on how lengthy the photo voltaic panel is uncovered to daylight and different elements similar to exterior temperatures and each day utilization, however Vosker claims you must get at the very least six months of energy on a cost if situations are very best. To save lots of battery, you possibly can have the digital camera seize photographs relatively than video clips when it detects movement. Alternatively, you possibly can set the seize mode to TimeLapse and have the digital camera take snapshots at preset intervals to trace on-site exercise.The Vosker cellular app opens to the house display screen, which shows panels with nonetheless photographs of the newest occasions. The latest occasion has a yellow digital camera icon that sends an on-demand request. Faucet any panel to open a display screen the place you possibly can play the three-frame sequence, request a Full HD video, or request an on-demand video.On the backside of the house display screen are Cameras, Occasions, and Account buttons. The Digital camera button opens an data display screen for every put in digital camera. Right here, you possibly can see the mobile sign power, SD card storage capability, remaining battery life, and firmware data, together with safety plan particulars similar to remaining video and photograph downloads and when your subscription will expire. Faucet the three dots within the upper-right nook of the Digital camera display screen to entry a settings menu from which you’ll allow Good Notifications (for autos, people, animals, or different), create on/off schedules, arrange detection zones, allow the motion-based deterrent gentle, and configure seize settings. The Occasions button opens a display screen with thumbnails for all recorded occasions, and you may faucet anyone to request a video. The Account button shows your plan fee standing, profile data, language preferences, and help matters.
(Credit score: Vosker/PCMag)
Set up and Efficiency: Easy Setup, Sharp VideoPreparing the VKX digital camera for first use was straightforward, though I did expertise a slight video supply hiccup at first. I used the USB cable to cost the battery in a single day, downloaded the Vosker app, and created an account. I inserted the battery within the digital camera and tapped Activate Digital camera on the welcome display screen. I made certain the digital camera was turned off, chosen the VKX from the listing of cameras, and gave it a reputation. I then chosen Main Residential Property from the listing of doable monitoring makes use of, which additionally included Building Websites, Farms, Searching, Automobiles, Wildlife, and Others, then scanned the QR code on the within of the battery door when prompted. I turned on the digital camera to confirm the sign and skipped the choice to pick out a plan since I used to be utilizing the free trial. I connected the digital camera and mounting bracket to my yard deck utilizing the included {hardware} and was prepared to check.The VKX carried out effectively in testing. The recorded video appeared sharp, with good colour saturation in the course of the day and good distinction at night time. Movement detection was correct, and alerts arrived immediately. At first, I used to be not receiving requested or on-demand movies, however after a fast repair on the backend by the oldsters at Vosker, the difficulty was resolved, and movies arrived inside seconds.Verdict: Video Safety for Distant LocationsThe Vosker VKX digital camera is probably not the only option for typical residence customers, however that’s not the corporate’s audience. As a substitute, this digital camera is greatest suited to distant industrial purposes the place energy and Wi-Fi will not be accessible. It delivered clear 1080p video in testing with correct movement alerts, and since it’s utterly wi-fi and makes use of mobile expertise, it’s a snap to put in and relocate as wanted. Battery-saving choices and a built-in photo voltaic panel present sufficient juice to energy the digital camera for as much as six months, making it very best for distant areas. Nonetheless, it doesn’t provide reside streaming or sensible options similar to voice management and third-party integrations. For that, you must look to our Editors’ Selection winner for mobile safety cameras, the Arlo Go 2.
The Backside Line
The Vosker VKX 4G Digital camera is a rugged battery-powered outside safety digital camera that connects to your telephone utilizing mobile connectivity. It delivers sharp 1080p video and has a built-in photo voltaic panel however doesn’t help reside video streaming or third-party integrations.
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About John R. Delaney
Contributing Editor
I’ve been working with computer systems for ages, beginning with a multi-year stint in buying for a serious IBM reseller in New York Metropolis earlier than finally touchdown at PCMag (again when it was nonetheless in print as PC Journal). I spent greater than 14 years on workers, most lately because the director of operations for PC Labs, earlier than hitting the freelance circuit as a contributing editor.
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