FYI - I just noticed older saved videos seem to be disappearing regardless of USB space remaining. It looks like they get deleted after 30 days. So remember to save them to your phone, email to yourself, etc. if it's something important. I don't see why this is necessary; it's not taking up space on their servers...it's simply my own USB drive.
Curious, I can't find anything online that would do that automatically to your locally saved clips. Is perhaps the USB full? I am considering these because they're on sale now, and will probably use a bigger USB drive.
say goodbye to privacy...i will be honest with you...that is why they are not very clear..they storing those videos in the cloud regardless of local storage...its how these guys operate..they want those videos in their cloud...that is why they dont want to make one that is strictly local storage only...they are deleting them after 30 days for you to view...for dis-comfort to force you to go with the cloud option so they can get extra money from you...really those videos are in their cloud, not deleted...i am telling you this because am a software engineer and i understand how these tactics work..it was called "sync" module for a reason and not "local" module..because whatever you see is already in their cloud
Man I got my USB drive plugged in and it seems to recognize it. But it says no live recordings without a plan. I’ll get notifications that something was detected but it doesn’t record it to the USB at all. All I can do is switch to live view after the fact. How do I get it to record to my USB when it detects something??
You just helped me and my mom out so much, she started crying when I finally helped her with her problems with the camera because she has been so stressed and depressed about things not working. thanks a lot, liked and subbed.
@@OneclickOutside Battery life makes me nervous cos I was really playing with my cameras when I first got them (startling my mother when she let the dog out, hehe). Then I got the warning about usage and had to scale back a bit. Was nice watching the live thing but had to stop so that batteries last.
@@OckGal i’m only about six months in and everything‘s OK so far. A friend of mine said he doesn’t get anywhere near two years, but he has a lot of activity on his cameras with the family being home all day and setting them off.
It's more accurate to view the Blink Outdoor subscription as optional backup of the video files to offsite cloud storage. This IS a benefit in the event the sync module is stolen or destroyed in a fire before the video files can be backed up to other local storage. The USB doesn't need to be moved to a PC or similar to download to local storage back up. Each video file can be downloaded to the mobile device's own storage by pressing the download symbol (down pointing arrow) while viewing each video. Then the video files can be shared (uploaded) from the mobile device to other device storage via email, text, NFC, etc. Or simply share the video files immediately while viewing them. Continuously delete unnecessary videos (pretty much all of them) to save on cloud and thumb drive storage. More importantly, in the event of intrusion, much easier to find the pertinent videos if very few of them to rummage through.
@@OneclickOutside Fun gadget indeed (minus the pesky battery usage). Ours picked up the mailman but by the time it started recording, he was gone and it wasn't anything to see, lol!
Thanks. I just moved and am perplexed as to what security camera system I should purchase. This video at least shows me in real time how Blink works rather than read and watch their advertisement hype.
Thanks for this! I'm still on the free trial and was worried I was gonna be having to move the usb from the module to my pc just to see the clips. I saw some reviews making it sound that way, so glad that's not how it is!
@@OneclickOutside thanks for the video. When I clicked sync module, I didn’t have an option for local storage, I wonder why that is? I have a hub device, but the app doesn’t give me that option like your did shown on your video. I bought 3 cans a while back and recently added a doorbell which came with a trial plan.
@@Awfulavery I’m not sure. Maybe try another USB drive to see if that helps. It needs to be 1-256GB. Other than that, reinstalling everything from the beginning is the only other idea I have.
Thanks so much for this review. Like yourself I've watch numerous videos but still came away not really knowing what local storage ment to your options. Thanks fella now I do . 👍
I have two blink outdoor cameras, and a blink doorbell camera. I have the $10 subscription, I like it, one of the big things I don't like about not having the subscription is that if you have a lot of clips, it doesn't let you select them all at once and delete, you have to go one by one and delete each clip
My thing with these usb storage devices is... Can't someone just reach up to the Camara, and pull your USB device out? No recording evidence after that!!!
The USB Device is connected to the Sync Module and that device is indoors. If you don't buy a Sync Module you have to Pay the subscription Service to use the Cloud storage otherwise you can't save any recordings.
Does anyone know how to speed up when the cameras starts recording? I am only getting the tail ending of motions or nothing at all. Seems like the cloud was a little better than what I am currently getting on the USB. Hopefully Amazon isn't playing games.
You can get storage on a thumb drive and you recordings will be on it I have a Ring subscription for most of my cameras have 2 blink on the side for my home.
Great Video Buddy. Blink outdoor uses 2 AA (Lithium) that can be bought from the market easily when battery is dead. I am to put it at the entry door and downside is that it can easily be stolen as it is screwed to the base, I am thinking of making a box mount. Your ideas are welcome Cheers!
Thanks for this information. Your the only reviewer that had taken the time to explain what is going on. I don’t like the subscription idea but having the videos saved on a USB drive is by far the best idea. I’m using both indoor and outdoor cameras and the new mini cam is 1/2 the price as the outdoor units. I have placed a few indoor cameras in a water proof case and works great no problem. Hope to see more of your videos. They are easy to follow with no extra unnecessary crap that some the channels are doing.
I don’t like the new update as much. But the local storage still works fine. All of my videos are stored on the local USB drive under “Clips”. I don’t have the subscription so there are no tabs; only the option to save locally.
Super appreciate this as I was totally confused and ended up getting a monthly subscription. Prepaid for a bit yet, however will figure out how to get off that as I am tired of all the monthly paymts like you mentioned plus would like to add another camera or two. Thank you sir!
My wife and I were looking into the blink system and were wondering, if the camera detects motions and starts recording let’s say a 10 sec clip then notifies you. After that, If the motion/people are still in range, will the system continue to record 10 second videos and send you multiple notifications? We’re curious to know that if some thing/someone that is unwanted is on our property, will we only get to see the first 10 seconds of whatever there doing then just be left to wonder what’s going on at our house after that? Or could we get multiple 10 sec clips until they are off the property/out of the camera range. Thanks and I apologize for such a long question but wanted to try and make it clear what I was asking. FYI: We will be using the free local storage option, not sure if it matters concerning my question.
That’s a good question. There is a setting for each camera called retrigger time. It can be set from 10 to 60 seconds. This is the time where the camera will not detect motion and start a new clip. I have mine set to the shortest, 10 seconds. You can also adjust the length of recording from 5 to 60 seconds. So by adjusting both of these settings, you can hopefully tweak it to fit your needs.
Thanks for finally explaining this properly. When you played back those few clips was it accessing the USB storage? I'm asking because in a different video the guy said you had to unplug the usb drive and plug it into a computer to watch the clips.
I don't have a hub, I only have 1 blink doorbell camera (the long skinny one) I can see my videos as motion detected as people walk by. Can I not watch those anymore once my free trial ends? Since I don't have a cloud hub or whatever.
Thanks for video! Without the subscription, do you get notifications to your phone when motion is detected, and is this the only time it actually begins recording?
You still get notifications. It will start recording when motion is detected. It won’t save a recording when you view video manually. You will get a notification, and when you click on that it will open a live view of the video. Usually by then it’s too late to see what triggered it, so it’s best to ignore that and just open the saved videos. Then you’ll see the UPS guy or whatever triggered it. So there’s not much difference. The playback is a little slower from the USB vs cloud but just a second or two. And the saved videos won’t have images as thumbnails, but just a generic “play” button.
Thank you for this review. Furthermore, thanks for summarizing how it works without subscription in the description. 2 question, 1) so if you have a subscription, and camera detects motion, would it still record when you view live (it's important to save those kinds of footage in case someone steals package/breaks in)? 2) do they still delete all videos after 30 days? Thank you!
Thanks for the video! One question: Do the camera motion detection send notifications even without a cloud subscription? (Sorry for the broken English 😂)
So is buying a separate usb for each camera what you have to do once the free trial ends? How do I know which kind to get? Thank you for the helpful video!
Thank you for this video I've been trying to do so much research trying to figure out if I don't pay their subscription if I'm able to view past clips through the app on my phone if I have the hub with a USB stick. So basically the only difference I see is instead of it being in the cloud and access that way it is saved to the USB drive and then you could view it on your phone because it transfers the data from the hub? I was really afraid I would have to reject the memory card every time just to see a clip say if I'm at work and someone came to my door I would be able to see it through my phone without a subscription
Yes you can view them from your phone. I didn’t want to have to remove the USB drive either. Technically that would work but it would be a huge pain if you were checking videos every day. It’s also nice to view live sometimes, just to see what’s going on at home during a storm or whatever. I may buy a third camera next time they go on sale for $59/ea.
This was the question & answer I needed didn't want to remove the USB drive every time just to view clips👍🏾glad I can watch on my phone Thank You 😊 I'll put my USB in tomorrow got it Thursday but didn't mess with it until I searched how it would work without subscription
great video ! these cameras seem to be garbage ... i've run the course of my free cloud trial over a year ago.. now i've put in a 256gb memory stick. They will not record to the stick (i've tried a few) for more than few hours. In other words, they record after i unplug and re plug the sync module 2 for about 3- 6 hours. The cameras still light up as if they are recording the motion but nothing is there in the app under the events nor on the stick .. the cameras stop and never restart unless i unplug and replug the sync module 2.. Both cameras are inside my house next to the sync module 2 in the same room with the wifi router ... what gives !? the cameras recorded to the cloud with out issue while i had the free trial !!!!
I've never drilled brick, but I did concrete which should be the same. Use a masonry drill bit and buy specific screws like Tapcon anchors (blue ones). I hung some heavy frames on my concrete basement walls and they work great. These light cameras won't take much. It's just a matter of finding screws small enough to fit thru the camera holes.
Thanks very much, I am of the same mind set, didn't want to be paying monthly. I have mine set up since yesterday, just getting the settings right. I am happy you showed that the local storage of clips will still show on your phone, whew otherwise what is the point espicially being away from home a lot. Thanks again.
I too am having issue getting an understanding on how to set up the jump drive and how to view on my app. My free trail has ended and I want to use my jump drive but it’s not showing in the clip list. How do I get access to the jump drive video via the app? Thank you
When I had the subscription, there was an option to choose to watch videos from the cloud or USB. Without the subscription, it should only show the USB by default. I’m not sure why they are not showing up. Maybe you can try another USB drive. Or unplug the module then plug it back in to reset.
Thank you for the video. My free trial is about to be up. I was thinking of getting a USB drive instead of the subscription. The three big questions I have using just the usb drive are: 1. Will I still get immediate motion alert notifications from the app? 2. Will it record the motion alert to the app? 3. Will I be able to watch the recorded motion alert through the app? I’m reading too many conflicting answers.
Yes to all three questions! Of course there is a little lag when getting an alert. I’ll get a notification, click, then see the UPS guy walking away or already back to his truck. I think that’s expected with/without the subscription. The only major thing you’ll miss without the subscription is no recording live views. That’s when you click the button to watch live manually. You’ll see what’s happening, but it will not be recorded and saved.
@@OneclickOutside thank you for your reply and clearing that up! I’m experiencing major lag on some motion alerts. Sometimes, I will get notification alerts from something that recorded from 12 hours or before. Have you experienced that before?
@@Mason-RRC that’s strange, I’ve never had that. On iPhones you can change how alerts come in. Only when the app is open, a pop up on the main screen, etc. I’m not too familiar with the details, but that’s something to look at in the settings. I guessing other phones have similar settings.
@@OneclickOutside I get similar delayed notices. I think they are because I have some of my cameras in the mode that periodically takes snapshots. After a period of time it sends the series of photos like a video.
“Yes” to all your questions. The only major thing it won’t do is record “live views”. That is when you manually hit the view button and watch something live. Without the subscription, it won’t save those.
Yes, that’s how I’m currently using it. If you’re just starting out, you can buy cameras as a kit with the module. Then you can buy separate camera later if you want to add on. The only thing I sort of miss is having the live view recording. That’s when you hit the video camera button to watch something live manually. With a subscription, that video is saved. Without a subscription, it’s not saved at all. Only videos initiated by movement are saved, which is still useful.
@@OneclickOutside so we’re able to see videos live with the module, you just can’t save it? And do the videos automatically save when it detects motion?
@@he927 yes when motion is detected it starts recording and saves immediately to the USB. And you can see video live whenever you want by hitting the button, they just won’t save like you said. With a subscription, you have the option to save or not save those live views. I don’t miss that too much, it just depends on what you’re using the cameras for. It’s not a dealbreaker for me.
Skip to 3:15 he talks about other stuff before. Still need more info, like can I delete those videos on my flash drive from my phone or do I need to plug it into a cpu???
Good prices right now. I almost got a third, but have been spreading the cash thick lately so I need to calm down. Still liking this system a lot and I don’t have any complaints.
I have the camera standalone no module. I recently started having problems with the app just continuing to load and wont let me see who is at the door from how long it takes. I would have to get off the wifi re open the app to hopefully get it to work. The blink app doesnt have the camera or video button on the screen like yours does so Im not sure how to see the live view. Btw I dont have a subscription plan either. Do I "Need" the module to even see live view?
shouldn't the app make some notification on your phone if someone comes to the door and you're not home? mine doesn't and it has the slider blue for notification if someone rings the bell.
It should. Maybe check that it’s activated and try turning the sensitivity up s little. Also make sure notifications are turned on in the iPhone settings (i’m assuming android phones have something similar if you’re using that)
So far it's not working for me. :( It says my sync module is on and connected. When there's motion in front of the camera, the light will turn blue. However it doesn't record now that my free trial has expired. I just only have my old cloud vidoes on there. Nothing on the sync module. :(
When there is motion, it doesn’t even start recording? It should, and your phone should get the notification at the very least. I’m not really sure how to get it working. Maybe deleting the system and setting it back up from scratch? p.s. when I say recording, I don't necessarily mean saving to the USB but actually turning on the camera and showing video. If it's not even doing that, something is wrong but I'm not sure what. Also, when you go to the app where it shows the saved videos, check at the top. There might be two icons, one for cloud video and one for local (USB). You'll have to click on the local tab to view what's on the USB. After the subscription ends, the cloud icon should disappear though. Here's a help page explaining my scenario with local storage. You may want to try another USB drive just to be sure that's not the issue. support.blinkforhome.com/en_US/sync-module-2/sync-module-2-local-storage-operation
@@OneclickOutside thanks for the reply! Ok, so, my cloud free trial ended last night. Nothing was showing up in local storage at the time of my previous comment, despite me getting alerts. So, I was getting motion alerts but not seeing any new clips. This morning, I now see clips from the wireless outdoor cameras but my two blink minis (plug-in cams) still are not showing clips even though I get motion alerts. Maybe just a slow system?
@@Allie8725 is it possible you have the subscription on some cameras but not others? I’m not sure but maybe you get that every time you make a separate camera purchase. When you have the subscription, the USB is a backup only and you can’t play directly from that. Since you’re just expired, I would give it one more day to see what happens.
Thanks for the video @Oneclick Outside. Question - In the non-subscription (using sync module 2), does the recording go from camera-->cloud-->sync module/USB? or is it directly from camera-->sync module/USB? Asking to understand, if sync module doesn't record for some reason, at least it is available on cloud which is not accessible to us since we do not have a subscription.
Delay in my reply I know, but I saw somewhere that said it takes a bit longer with the usb because it does go to the cloud, then back to the usb for whatever reason. Not sure how accurate that is, but seems silly.
I’m not sure why that would happen. I would guess it is defective, but since it works when you record, that doesn’t sound like the case. Try resetting the module with the small button next to the USB port. You may need to go thru the setup again afterwards. If that doesn’t work I would try contacting blink support.
I need help So I just installed my mini outdoor with sync module 2 camera about a month ago n now it said it can't save video because the 30 days trail is over What???? Any suggestions?
Someone else had that same issue. I’m not sure what’s going on, but check that the USB drive is 1GB-256GB. It most likely is, so next check the settings for your camera to make sure both “enable motion detection” and “motion recording” are switched on.
This doesn't work for all of the sync modules. From my understanding it only works with the sync module 2. Can you let us know what model sync module you have?
I did all your steps to do without subscription, except Im not seeing the videos at all. Says I have no clips, but the camera goes off when we are outside. Cameras are working. what am I not doing? Please help
You probably have the right size USB drive, but make sure it’s more than 1GB and less than 256GB. Maybe try another USB drive just to be sure that’s not the cause. Also make sure “motion recording” is clicked on in the settings for each camera.
got the usb card now so since they want me to pay for cloud which is bull crap thats why i bought these because of no fees if i turn camera on to record then i wont be able to view tnem in real time unless i go to my usb and put it in the computer and look at it correct or is there a way to see my recording on my phone
Question WHY HAVE TO PAY ANY SUBSCRIPTION for my CAMERAS PROPERTY ( paid for the device and pay for internet service battery or electricity AND MONTHLY CLOUD SERVICE, WHATS GOING ON ) They do something because you not use their cloud service, yes like APPLE with the iphone. What are doing ISNOT FEAR
That's why I like the option to only use the USB drive. They do keep some features from you without the subscription, likely as an incentive to get you to subscribe. The videos are then stored on their servers, so I can understand having to pay for that. But it's not worth it to me.
I use USB drive as well and I am trying to add back a camera I deleted. I keep getting message Camera did not connect to the Blink Cloud. Is the camera in range of your wi-fi router. It will not get past this message. Any ideas?
@@OneclickOutside It's interesting it seems my Sync Module is "linked" to the cloud but I do not have a subscription to the cloud. I am USB drive and no subscription to the cloud. I've sent an email to Blink technical but have not heard back. I do not want to change anything with the sync module because I fear it will drop the other cameras. I cannot figure out how to get this camera added back. UGH!!!
Glad I could help! I actually cancelled mine a day or two before because I thought they would automatically renew the subscription since it’s tied to my Amazon account. Not sure about that though, something to watch.
So if I understand this correct you can watch the videos with out a subscription but can only watch live if you have a subscription unless your fast and catch it as it happens
@@TinkersGarage You can still watch live anytime by hitting the video camera icon, but those won’t be saved. Videos triggered by motion will function the same: they are recorded, saved and you will receive a notification on your phone.
So do I have to pay for the cameras to record or something? You said something about $6 I plan on getting a USB drive but do the cameras not work after the trial runs out?
They will continue to work after the trial. I think I cancelled mine a couple days before it expired just to be sure. Now I just use the two cameras and everything records to a USB drive. No cost at all, other than the original purchase of cameras and module course.
I have a question! How can I see the videos that are recorded to the cloud? I am asking because I know where to go and watch the videos that are detected when the motion control is selected. For example, my motion control is off but my cameras are armed and are recording the entire day, so where are I can watch those videos?
If your motion detection is turned off, no new videos are being recorded. Unfortunately they don’t offer continuous recording with these cameras. They wouldn’t be able to handle it anyway due to the battery power.
Does anyone know how to select all and delete video all at once from the usb drive? It seems i have to delete one by one. I can do it from the computer but i would like to do it on my phone.
Reading some of the comments and answers from here, basically if you don't have a subscription and you go in to the app and want to watch the live feed, it won't record correct? If so, do you know if while watching the live feed on your phone, can you screen record it?
@@OneclickOutside I just read somewhere that the way to get around this is to activate screen recording on your phone before watching the live feed. Have you tried that?
@@OneclickOutside I have a Galaxy, it records with audio though. Thanks anyway for answering. Atleast there's a way to get around that live feed thing.
FYI - I just noticed older saved videos seem to be disappearing regardless of USB space remaining. It looks like they get deleted after 30 days. So remember to save them to your phone, email to yourself, etc. if it's something important. I don't see why this is necessary; it's not taking up space on their servers...it's simply my own USB drive.
Curious, I can't find anything online that would do that automatically to your locally saved clips. Is perhaps the USB full? I am considering these because they're on sale now, and will probably use a bigger USB drive.
Strange, it means the camera is managing the storage perhaps treating it like a free cloud storage that use to be in the older Blink cameras.
say goodbye to privacy...i will be honest with you...that is why they are not very clear..they storing those videos in the cloud regardless of local storage...its how these guys operate..they want those videos in their cloud...that is why they dont want to make one that is strictly local storage only...they are deleting them after 30 days for you to view...for dis-comfort to force you to go with the cloud option so they can get extra money from you...really those videos are in their cloud, not deleted...i am telling you this because am a software engineer and i understand how these tactics work..it was called "sync" module for a reason and not "local" module..because whatever you see is already in their cloud
Man I got my USB drive plugged in and it seems to recognize it. But it says no live recordings without a plan. I’ll get notifications that something was detected but it doesn’t record it to the USB at all. All I can do is switch to live view after the fact. How do I get it to record to my USB when it detects something??
What does the armed option actually do?
You just helped me and my mom out so much, she started crying when I finally helped her with her problems with the camera because she has been so stressed and depressed about things not working. thanks a lot, liked and subbed.
Things can be frustrating. Glad I could help!
This is the best review ive ever since on the blink camera. Simple and straight to the point. Thank you!
Excellent video, now I can order mine. Was confused about the storage as well, thanks for the video
You’re welcome! It’s still working out well. The only unknown at this point is the battery life. I’ll be happy if I get at least a year.
@@OneclickOutside Battery life makes me nervous cos I was really playing with my cameras when I first got them (startling my mother when she let the dog out, hehe). Then I got the warning about usage and had to scale back a bit. Was nice watching the live thing but had to stop so that batteries last.
@@OckGal i’m only about six months in and everything‘s OK so far. A friend of mine said he doesn’t get anywhere near two years, but he has a lot of activity on his cameras with the family being home all day and setting them off.
@@OneclickOutside I cut back a lot so hopefully mine last for a while. I hate being tied down to batteries but have no place to plug them.
Thank you for taking the time to clarify the difference without the subscription
You’re welcome! Glad I could help.
It's more accurate to view the Blink Outdoor subscription as optional backup of the video files to offsite cloud storage. This IS a benefit in the event the sync module is stolen or destroyed in a fire before the video files can be backed up to other local storage. The USB doesn't need to be moved to a PC or similar to download to local storage back up. Each video file can be downloaded to the mobile device's own storage by pressing the download symbol (down pointing arrow) while viewing each video. Then the video files can be shared (uploaded) from the mobile device to other device storage via email, text, NFC, etc. Or simply share the video files immediately while viewing them.
Continuously delete unnecessary videos (pretty much all of them) to save on cloud and thumb drive storage. More importantly, in the event of intrusion, much easier to find the pertinent videos if very few of them to rummage through.
Yes it would be worth the small fee if I used it for security. It’s mostly just to monitor stiff while I’m away, another fun gadget to be honest.
@@OneclickOutside Fun gadget indeed (minus the pesky battery usage). Ours picked up the mailman but by the time it started recording, he was gone and it wasn't anything to see, lol!
Allowing Amazon into your security system isn't "secure" at all.
Thanks. I just moved and am perplexed as to what security camera system I should purchase. This video at least shows me in real time how Blink works rather than read and watch their advertisement hype.
Thanks for this! I'm still on the free trial and was worried I was gonna be having to move the usb from the module to my pc just to see the clips. I saw some reviews making it sound that way, so glad that's not how it is!
Yeah moving the USB would have been a total dealbreaker.
@@OneclickOutside thanks for the video. When I clicked sync module, I didn’t have an option for local storage, I wonder why that is? I have a hub device, but the app doesn’t give me that option like your did shown on your video. I bought 3 cans a while back and recently added a doorbell which came with a trial plan.
@@Awfulavery I’m not sure. Maybe try another USB drive to see if that helps. It needs to be 1-256GB. Other than that, reinstalling everything from the beginning is the only other idea I have.
Best video I've watched about this device simple, straight to the points. Thanks
Thanks! I usually ramble on and on, so I did well this time!
So easy to understand and to the point I appreciate that thank you.
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching.
Is this still the case in 2024 ?
Very informative video, you answered exactly how it works without the subscription based model.
Thanks Man 🤙🏼🤙🏼
Great video straight to the point and answer my question. Thanks bud!
Thanks so much for this review. Like yourself I've watch numerous videos but still came away not really knowing what local storage ment to your options. Thanks fella now I do . 👍
Glad it helped!
I have two blink outdoor cameras, and a blink doorbell camera. I have the $10 subscription, I like it, one of the big things I don't like about not having the subscription is that if you have a lot of clips, it doesn't let you select them all at once and delete, you have to go one by one and delete each clip
Ours isn't saving anything? The USB is formatted correctly and it recognizes it just nothing is in the USB portion on the app
Exactly was I was looking for & EXTREMELY helpful!! Thank you👍
My thing with these usb storage devices is... Can't someone just reach up to the Camara, and pull your USB device out? No recording evidence after that!!!
The USB Device is connected to the Sync Module and that device is indoors. If you don't buy a Sync Module you have to Pay the subscription Service to use the Cloud storage otherwise you can't save any recordings.
@inflames8019 So, hiding the sync module is crucial!
Does anyone know how to speed up when the cameras starts recording? I am only getting the tail ending of motions or nothing at all. Seems like the cloud was a little better than what I am currently getting on the USB. Hopefully Amazon isn't playing games.
😊set the sensitivity’s scale all the way to 8. That will help pick up movement sooner.
And here I thought the USB port was for an "as well as" option versus an "instead of" option. Thank you! 😁👍
Yes, it could be a nice backup to the cloud. But I like to skip subscriptions whenever possible. They got me on the hook permanently for Prime though!
@@OneclickOutside Likewise. 🤣
You can get storage on a thumb drive and you recordings will be on it I have a Ring subscription for most of my cameras have 2 blink on the side for my home.
Great Video Buddy. Blink outdoor uses 2 AA (Lithium) that can be bought from the market easily when battery is dead. I am to put it at the entry door and downside is that it can easily be stolen as it is screwed to the base, I am thinking of making a box mount. Your ideas are welcome Cheers!
True, one of mine is within arms reach so anyone could rip it off in about 2 seconds. I hope not!
@@OneclickOutside I covered mine with some chicken wire . Makes it a little harder for them .
Wow! Thank you this video was extremely helpful and the picture on your phone is very clear. I was on the fence about purchasing.👍🏽
You’re welcome!
Thanks for this information. Your the only reviewer that had taken the time to explain what is going on. I don’t like the subscription idea but having the videos saved on a USB drive is by far the best idea.
I’m using both indoor and outdoor cameras and the new mini cam is 1/2 the price as the outdoor units. I have placed a few indoor cameras in a water proof case and works great no problem. Hope to see more of your videos. They are easy to follow with no extra unnecessary crap that some the channels are doing.
Glad I could help! I'll take a look at the mini camera too.
Thank you! Clear and Concise.❤
Thanks for watching. Glad I could help!
Thank you for clearing everything up. Your video and comments answered all of my questions.
Glad it helped!
New updated version of the app no longer has the local storage tab forcing you to pay for storage on any new cameras
I don’t like the new update as much. But the local storage still works fine. All of my videos are stored on the local USB drive under “Clips”. I don’t have the subscription so there are no tabs; only the option to save locally.
Super appreciate this as I was totally confused and ended up getting a monthly subscription. Prepaid for a bit yet, however will figure out how to get off that as I am tired of all the monthly paymts like you mentioned plus would like to add another camera or two. Thank you sir!
Hi great review how are they holding up please may I ask and would you still recommend the free usb storage option.
Wow! This makes so much more sense! Thanks for the video!
Glad I could help!
Thank you so much for sharing this information. I was getting ready to start my subscription and this will save me $10 a month!!
My wife and I were looking into the blink system and were wondering, if the camera detects motions and starts recording let’s say a 10 sec clip then notifies you. After that, If the motion/people are still in range, will the system continue to record 10 second videos and send you multiple notifications? We’re curious to know that if some thing/someone that is unwanted is on our property, will we only get to see the first 10 seconds of whatever there doing then just be left to wonder what’s going on at our house after that? Or could we get multiple 10 sec clips until they are off the property/out of the camera range. Thanks and I apologize for such a long question but wanted to try and make it clear what I was asking.
FYI: We will be using the free local storage option, not sure if it matters concerning my question.
That’s a good question. There is a setting for each camera called retrigger time. It can be set from 10 to 60 seconds. This is the time where the camera will not detect motion and start a new clip. I have mine set to the shortest, 10 seconds. You can also adjust the length of recording from 5 to 60 seconds. So by adjusting both of these settings, you can hopefully tweak it to fit your needs.
@@OneclickOutside okay, thanks brother for the response!
Thanks for finally explaining this properly. When you played back those few clips was it accessing the USB storage? I'm asking because in a different video the guy said you had to unplug the usb drive and plug it into a computer to watch the clips.
Yes these are playing off the USB thru the app after I canceled my subscription. I haven’t had to unplug the USB drive for any reason yet.
@@OneclickOutside thanks for the quick response. I really appreciate it.
@@MakerDan55 no problem!
I saw that video too and glad I found this one because I almost didnt pull the trigger because of that .
Thank you! Great quick info - exactly what I needed to make a decision 😃
You’re welcome! I’m still liking my setup coming up on 1 year now. Batteries still going strong.
Great video. Thanks for explaining about saving to USB.
Why is there a static sound when viewing the video? Mine is the same way.
The 1 I have those not have local storage. Now it does not save my pictures
I don't have a hub, I only have 1 blink doorbell camera (the long skinny one) I can see my videos as motion detected as people walk by. Can I not watch those anymore once my free trial ends? Since I don't have a cloud hub or whatever.
Thanks for video! Without the subscription, do you get notifications to your phone when motion is detected, and is this the only time it actually begins recording?
You still get notifications. It will start recording when motion is detected. It won’t save a recording when you view video manually. You will get a notification, and when you click on that it will open a live view of the video. Usually by then it’s too late to see what triggered it, so it’s best to ignore that and just open the saved videos. Then you’ll see the UPS guy or whatever triggered it. So there’s not much difference. The playback is a little slower from the USB vs cloud but just a second or two. And the saved videos won’t have images as thumbnails, but just a generic “play” button.
@@OneclickOutside Dude, you're awesome! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. You're helping a lot of people! 👍👍👍
@@TechFOD you’re welcome! I better watch it though…I love Amazon but they may not like the free local storage option after a while 😬
@@OneclickOutside this answered my question as well, thanks for all of this great info!
Thank you for this review. Furthermore, thanks for summarizing how it works without subscription in the description. 2 question, 1) so if you have a subscription, and camera detects motion, would it still record when you view live (it's important to save those kinds of footage in case someone steals package/breaks in)? 2) do they still delete all videos after 30 days? Thank you!
Thanks for the video! One question: Do the camera motion detection send notifications even without a cloud subscription? (Sorry for the broken English 😂)
So is buying a separate usb for each camera what you have to do once the free trial ends? How do I know which kind to get? Thank you for the helpful video!
Thank you for this video I've been trying to do so much research trying to figure out if I don't pay their subscription if I'm able to view past clips through the app on my phone if I have the hub with a USB stick.
So basically the only difference I see is instead of it being in the cloud and access that way it is saved to the USB drive and then you could view it on your phone because it transfers the data from the hub?
I was really afraid I would have to reject the memory card every time just to see a clip say if I'm at work and someone came to my door I would be able to see it through my phone without a subscription
Yes you can view them from your phone. I didn’t want to have to remove the USB drive either. Technically that would work but it would be a huge pain if you were checking videos every day. It’s also nice to view live sometimes, just to see what’s going on at home during a storm or whatever. I may buy a third camera next time they go on sale for $59/ea.
This was the question & answer I needed didn't want to remove the USB drive every time just to view clips👍🏾glad I can watch on my phone Thank You 😊 I'll put my USB in tomorrow got it Thursday but didn't mess with it until I searched how it would work without subscription
@@OneclickOutside are you still able to view the recorded videos from your phone without the cloud subscription?
@@lelandphill4408 yes, they play with the app and just run off the USB
So I need to buy a sync module now with a USB stick?
great video ! these cameras seem to be garbage ... i've run the course of my free cloud trial over a year ago.. now i've put in a 256gb memory stick. They will not record to the stick (i've tried a few) for more than few hours. In other words, they record after i unplug and re plug the sync module 2 for about 3- 6 hours. The cameras still light up as if they are recording the motion but nothing is there in the app under the events nor on the stick .. the cameras stop and never restart unless i unplug and replug the sync module 2.. Both cameras are inside my house next to the sync module 2 in the same room with the wifi router ... what gives !? the cameras recorded to the cloud with out issue while i had the free trial !!!!
Thank you for your review really helpful! I was wondering do these also come with a siren sound?
Glad I could help! No siren or any kind of alarm.
Thanks for video. Had subscription. Gonna cancel it. And use usb. Appreciate the video.
Can you install on the brick on house? If yes what I use??
I've never drilled brick, but I did concrete which should be the same. Use a masonry drill bit and buy specific screws like Tapcon anchors (blue ones). I hung some heavy frames on my concrete basement walls and they work great. These light cameras won't take much. It's just a matter of finding screws small enough to fit thru the camera holes.
Thanks very much, I am of the same mind set, didn't want to be paying monthly. I have mine set up since yesterday, just getting the settings right. I am happy you showed that the local storage of clips will still show on your phone, whew otherwise what is the point espicially being away from home a lot. Thanks again.
Glad I could help!
Thank you so much for detailed explanation 😅
Will Blink give you audible echo motion alerts without the subscription?
I too am having issue getting an understanding on how to set up the jump drive and how to view on my app. My free trail has ended and I want to use my jump drive but it’s not showing in the clip list. How do I get access to the jump drive video via the app? Thank you
When I had the subscription, there was an option to choose to watch videos from the cloud or USB. Without the subscription, it should only show the USB by default. I’m not sure why they are not showing up. Maybe you can try another USB drive. Or unplug the module then plug it back in to reset.
My system will not record clips on my cellphone using local storage?
How can you view them without a subscription?
Great video..answered all my questions!
Good deal! Glad I could help.
Why doesn’t my app show a preview of the camera view? It appears black, and i have to click to see the view??
Question: without Amazon plan, do you still get the notification when the camera detect a mouvement??
Yes you still get those as long as your phone has that turned on. I believe iPhones ask you the first time you open the app.
I’m going to invest! Thanks for sharing! 💯
Using up my free subscription. Bought the extra storage as well as an extra cam for hall for extra security.
Thank you for the video.
My free trial is about to be up. I was thinking of getting a USB drive instead of the subscription. The three big questions I have using just the usb drive are: 1. Will I still get immediate motion alert notifications from the app? 2. Will it record the motion alert to the app? 3. Will I be able to watch the recorded motion alert through the app? I’m reading too many conflicting answers.
Yes to all three questions! Of course there is a little lag when getting an alert. I’ll get a notification, click, then see the UPS guy walking away or already back to his truck. I think that’s expected with/without the subscription.
The only major thing you’ll miss without the subscription is no recording live views. That’s when you click the button to watch live manually. You’ll see what’s happening, but it will not be recorded and saved.
@@OneclickOutside thank you for your reply and clearing that up!
I’m experiencing major lag on some motion alerts. Sometimes, I will get notification alerts from something that recorded from 12 hours or before. Have you experienced that before?
@@Mason-RRC that’s strange, I’ve never had that. On iPhones you can change how alerts come in. Only when the app is open, a pop up on the main screen, etc. I’m not too familiar with the details, but that’s something to look at in the settings. I guessing other phones have similar settings.
@@OneclickOutside I get similar delayed notices. I think they are because I have some of my cameras in the mode that periodically takes snapshots. After a period of time it sends the series of photos like a video.
“Yes” to all your questions. The only major thing it won’t do is record “live views”. That is when you manually hit the view button and watch something live. Without the subscription, it won’t save those.
One question without subscription the cameras work the same as for alerts and live streaming
Can you give a link for the USB storage device?
But you can't watch the clips on your phone if you don't have subscription?!
So as long as I get one with a sync module I can use it w/o paying a subscription?
Yes, that’s how I’m currently using it. If you’re just starting out, you can buy cameras as a kit with the module. Then you can buy separate camera later if you want to add on. The only thing I sort of miss is having the live view recording. That’s when you hit the video camera button to watch something live manually. With a subscription, that video is saved. Without a subscription, it’s not saved at all. Only videos initiated by movement are saved, which is still useful.
@@OneclickOutside so we’re able to see videos live with the module, you just can’t save it? And do the videos automatically save when it detects motion?
@@he927 yes when motion is detected it starts recording and saves immediately to the USB. And you can see video live whenever you want by hitting the button, they just won’t save like you said. With a subscription, you have the option to save or not save those live views. I don’t miss that too much, it just depends on what you’re using the cameras for. It’s not a dealbreaker for me.
@@OneclickOutside okay thank you, and are you also able to delete videos from the usb drive from the app?
@@he927 yes I delete them from the app daily…since I never remember to disarm it before driving home :)
Skip to 3:15 he talks about other stuff before. Still need more info, like can I delete those videos on my flash drive from my phone or do I need to plug it into a cpu???
Yes you can delete them from your phone.
How do you get the camera to show the view on the home screen? Mine shows blank for each camera.
Can you delete them on the app that stored on your thumbdrive? The speed is pretty good on the new thumb drive, see no need for the subscription
Do you still have positive things to say about the system? I just ordered 5 cameras on sale for $219
Good prices right now. I almost got a third, but have been spreading the cash thick lately so I need to calm down. Still liking this system a lot and I don’t have any complaints.
But without a subscription you cant record live video e.g your watching what's happening live outside your home and you cant record it for evidence
I have the camera standalone no module. I recently started having problems with the app just continuing to load and wont let me see who is at the door from how long it takes. I would have to get off the wifi re open the app to hopefully get it to work. The blink app doesnt have the camera or video button on the screen like yours does so Im not sure how to see the live view. Btw I dont have a subscription plan either. Do I "Need" the module to even see live view?
I honestly don’t know, but I’d bet a lot on that being the case (need the module)
How do you erase the photo after you've taken that photo.
shouldn't the app make some notification on your phone if someone comes to the door and you're not home? mine doesn't and it has the slider blue for notification if someone rings the bell.
It should. Maybe check that it’s activated and try turning the sensitivity up s little. Also make sure notifications are turned on in the iPhone settings (i’m assuming android phones have something similar if you’re using that)
Still get notifications without subscription?
So far it's not working for me. :( It says my sync module is on and connected. When there's motion in front of the camera, the light will turn blue. However it doesn't record now that my free trial has expired. I just only have my old cloud vidoes on there. Nothing on the sync module. :(
Having the same issue
When there is motion, it doesn’t even start recording? It should, and your phone should get the notification at the very least. I’m not really sure how to get it working. Maybe deleting the system and setting it back up from scratch?
p.s. when I say recording, I don't necessarily mean saving to the USB but actually turning on the camera and showing video. If it's not even doing that, something is wrong but I'm not sure what.
Also, when you go to the app where it shows the saved videos, check at the top. There might be two icons, one for cloud video and one for local (USB). You'll have to click on the local tab to view what's on the USB. After the subscription ends, the cloud icon should disappear though.
Here's a help page explaining my scenario with local storage. You may want to try another USB drive just to be sure that's not the issue.
support.blinkforhome.com/en_US/sync-module-2/sync-module-2-local-storage-operation
@@OneclickOutside thanks for the reply!
Ok, so, my cloud free trial ended last night. Nothing was showing up in local storage at the time of my previous comment, despite me getting alerts. So, I was getting motion alerts but not seeing any new clips.
This morning, I now see clips from the wireless outdoor cameras but my two blink minis (plug-in cams) still are not showing clips even though I get motion alerts. Maybe just a slow system?
@@Allie8725 is it possible you have the subscription on some cameras but not others? I’m not sure but maybe you get that every time you make a separate camera purchase. When you have the subscription, the USB is a backup only and you can’t play directly from that. Since you’re just expired, I would give it one more day to see what happens.
@@Allie8725 I have several Blink mini indoor cameras too, any updates on your end?
Thanks for the video @Oneclick Outside. Question - In the non-subscription (using sync module 2), does the recording go from camera-->cloud-->sync module/USB? or is it directly from camera-->sync module/USB? Asking to understand, if sync module doesn't record for some reason, at least it is available on cloud which is not accessible to us since we do not have a subscription.
I can't say for sure, but I assume it's going straight to the USB and not the cloud at all without a subscription.
Delay in my reply I know, but I saw somewhere that said it takes a bit longer with the usb because it does go to the cloud, then back to the usb for whatever reason. Not sure how accurate that is, but seems silly.
What about 4 cameras and 1 sync hub. Can they all sync all without subscription?
I only have 2, but amazon says you can have up to 10.
If you have the cam and sync box all hooked up, but no USB card or subscription to cloud are you still sent movies to your phone ?
Why is mine a blank gray screen when I turn it on? No pictures/video unless I click to record
I’m not sure why that would happen. I would guess it is defective, but since it works when you record, that doesn’t sound like the case. Try resetting the module with the small button next to the USB port. You may need to go thru the setup again afterwards. If that doesn’t work I would try contacting blink support.
Do I need WiFi or can I use it with app just to use with my phone. So not having WiFi in my rv will the cameras alarm to my phone
Yes you'll need wifi. The cameras connect to the module, and the module connects to your wifi.
I need help
So I just installed my mini outdoor with sync module 2 camera about a month ago n now it said it can't save video because the 30 days trail is over
What????
Any suggestions?
You can purchase the subscription to keep the recordings online. But I prefer to use a USB drive on the module for free.
@@OneclickOutside oh ok
Any particular size USB stick ?
Have you tried seeing if you can access these files if you are away from home and not connected to the same wifi?
Yes I do it from work often and other places.
can you help me please i have a usb but its not recording the motion clips & saving to usb.
Someone else had that same issue. I’m not sure what’s going on, but check that the USB drive is 1GB-256GB. It most likely is, so next check the settings for your camera to make sure both “enable motion detection” and “motion recording” are switched on.
Thank you! Answered my question!
This doesn't work for all of the sync modules. From my understanding it only works with the sync module 2. Can you let us know what model sync module you have?
I just purchased this about 5 months ago, so I’m assuming that’s the current version.
Thank you so much ,love the video
I did all your steps to do without subscription, except Im not seeing the videos at all. Says I have no clips, but the camera goes off when we are outside. Cameras are working. what am I not doing? Please help
You probably have the right size USB drive, but make sure it’s more than 1GB and less than 256GB. Maybe try another USB drive just to be sure that’s not the cause. Also make sure “motion recording” is clicked on in the settings for each camera.
Box what box are you storing this on ?
got the usb card now so since they want me to pay for cloud which is bull crap thats why i bought these because of no fees if i turn camera on to record then i wont be able to view tnem in real time unless i go to my usb and put it in the computer and look at it correct or is there a way to see my recording on my phone
Yes you can view the videos through the app, played off of the usb drive
The back of my device won’t stay on 🤷🏽♀️ thank you for information on this device.
I have one but I can't see live view .do I need a module to watch live??
I’m not familiar with how they work without the module, but I’m pretty sure you need that to make most of the functions work.
could you see the local stored clips through the app without wifi in the same network?
Yes, you can view them anywhere you have access to the Internet.
Question WHY HAVE TO PAY ANY SUBSCRIPTION for my CAMERAS PROPERTY ( paid for the device and pay for internet service battery or electricity AND MONTHLY CLOUD SERVICE, WHATS GOING ON ) They do something because you not use their cloud service, yes like APPLE with the iphone. What are doing ISNOT FEAR
That's why I like the option to only use the USB drive. They do keep some features from you without the subscription, likely as an incentive to get you to subscribe. The videos are then stored on their servers, so I can understand having to pay for that. But it's not worth it to me.
I use USB drive as well and I am trying to add back a camera I deleted. I keep getting message Camera did not connect to the Blink Cloud. Is the camera in range of your wi-fi router. It will not get past this message. Any ideas?
Sorry I don't know. I recently considered adding a third camera, but haven't yet so I'm not sure about adding them.
@@OneclickOutside It's interesting it seems my Sync Module is "linked" to the cloud but I do not have a subscription to the cloud. I am USB drive and no subscription to the cloud. I've sent an email to Blink technical but have not heard back. I do not want to change anything with the sync module because I fear it will drop the other cameras. I cannot figure out how to get this camera added back. UGH!!!
Hey. So after subscription is expired, you can still watch all motions away from the house if a USB storage plug in? Thx
Yes, it works well. My subscription ended about two months ago so I’m just using the USB.
@@OneclickOutside perfect, mine will expire tomorrow and your video is the one explains the situation with a subscription the best.
Glad I could help! I actually cancelled mine a day or two before because I thought they would automatically renew the subscription since it’s tied to my Amazon account. Not sure about that though, something to watch.
So if I understand this correct you can watch the videos with out a subscription but can only watch live if you have a subscription unless your fast and catch it as it happens
@@TinkersGarage You can still watch live anytime by hitting the video camera icon, but those won’t be saved. Videos triggered by motion will function the same: they are recorded, saved and you will receive a notification on your phone.
@Oneclick Outside
Which specific flash drive did you use for this video?
Just a really cheap 8GB drive from a local bank that was giving them away.
So do I have to pay for the cameras to record or something? You said something about $6 I plan on getting a USB drive but do the cameras not work after the trial runs out?
They will continue to work after the trial. I think I cancelled mine a couple days before it expired just to be sure. Now I just use the two cameras and everything records to a USB drive. No cost at all, other than the original purchase of cameras and module course.
But how did you get them to start saving once your subscription ended? I got the sync module with usb but I can’t get them to save the clips???
I have a question! How can I see the videos that are recorded to the cloud? I am asking because I know where to go and watch the videos that are detected when the motion control is selected. For example, my motion control is off but my cameras are armed and are recording the entire day, so where are I can watch those videos?
If your motion detection is turned off, no new videos are being recorded. Unfortunately they don’t offer continuous recording with these cameras. They wouldn’t be able to handle it anyway due to the battery power.
How long do the camera record on motion
Does anyone know how to select all and delete video all at once from the usb drive? It seems i have to delete one by one. I can do it from the computer but i would like to do it on my phone.
There used to be an “Edit” button that you can click then select all. But they got rid of that for some reason.
Reading some of the comments and answers from here, basically if you don't have a subscription and you go in to the app and want to watch the live feed, it won't record correct?
If so, do you know if while watching the live feed on your phone, can you screen record it?
Correct. If you manually start watching it live, that’s it. It will not record that; only videos trigged by motion get saved.
@@OneclickOutside I just read somewhere that the way to get around this is to activate screen recording on your phone before watching the live feed. Have you tried that?
@@JMCHAMAKITO oh yeah that would work! iPhones have a quick way to do that. It will just capture whatever you see on your screen. No audio though.
@@OneclickOutside I have a Galaxy, it records with audio though. Thanks anyway for answering. Atleast there's a way to get around that live feed thing.
@@JMCHAMAKITO +1 Samsung, -1 Apple 😆