This Camera Can Record Forever! Swann MaxRanger 4K Review

[@craiglee795]

Hi CJ. Well presented & informative. Similar to you, I had the Ring system initially & have since changed to the Swann 4kMR. My initial reason for installing security cameras was to watch over where I park my trade vehicle. The Ring is more intuitive to use, but there are still limitations. I also wanted light in the area the camera covers for when I get home after dark & need to do some work around my vehicle. The Ring has great lighting. Neither Swann nor Ring allow you to turn the cameras on & leave them on manually - or even adjust it out to a minute or more whilst running on battery only. The Ring is supposed to allow longer light run times if it is supported by a USB input - but after mucking around to set this up - I still couldn't get the light to stay on. My main camera is around 5 meters from the vehicle & 10 meters from the street end of the driveway. With the Ring I couldn't get it to start recording as someone entered the property during the day (it's range is better at night) & I couldn't even make out the sign writing on my vehicle at 5 meters, let alone recognise the face of an intruder or the rego number of a car in the driveway. I also realised that if someone turns off my power, I have no security footage - so considered installing a UPS on the router. The Swann's picture quality is streets ahead of the Ring & the sensor range far more appropriate for my setting. The app seemed difficult to use at 1st - but once I got used to it I find it better in terms of live view etc than the Ring. The dedicated DVR / wireless base station has a battery backup - so whilst you can't remotely stream if the power is turned off, you still get the footage. I did need to recharge the batteries after about 6 weeks, but now that the days have started to lengthen here in Melbourne the batteries are sitting at over 90% - even after a windy night when the sensors can be triggered very often. I have one camera set up on a shade sail post. I've had no success in trying to stop movement of the shade sail from triggering the camera on a windy day. That said, the main camera is mounted where the Ring was & it gets less phantom triggers than the Ring did in the same place, despite longer sensor range.

[@MrLincoln87]

I wonder if the AllSecure cameras would be the way to go, and just add your own solar panel thingys (swanns are only $80) - $557 allsecure+panels vs $689 maxranger Don't really need the max range for a suburban house, and the bigger solar panels might be the way to go in low sunlight areas in winter. Good review tho

[@adammusic1124]

great video, thanks for doing this for us... Just wondering does the footage for this system record audio as well as video?

[@CJYing]

Yes, recorded video definitely includes audio as well!

[@prajwalbista9413]

Hi CJ, I am going to buy this tomorrow. Some questions: 1. Is the siren sound loud enough? Do you know what is the siren DB? 2. Is there any delay in motion detection? I was using similar system from Eufy. There was a bit of lag between the actual event and motion detection notification on the app. Eg: when the app notifies about detection of a person on the front yard, in real, they are already knocking the door.

[@ailfawka6278]

So many people are used to being forced to manage their hardware through the companies servers via a phone app, that when met with a local closed loop system, they'd probably feel somewhat puzzled 😂

[@ianahicl5234]

If you're in a different country, can you still access the cameras. As you no longer in the same network?

[@CJYing]

As long as you have internet access, you'll be able to access the cameras!

[@rudolphvanthoff1391]

The app is very awkward to navigate settings. I cannot find record duration. I am comparing these with the similar priced Eufy s340 (a pair of with no home base). The Eufy second lens for 3x is a game changer. So much clearer for far away detail (20m). We get a lot of activity in our street and it’s helpful to have the range. The night vision on the eufy is marginally better too. Although I suspect each is boosting the other for infrared..

[@neynK]

How did you mount your cams? Did u just drill a hole into your home?

[@CJYing]

Yessir 😊

[@shalindapathirana4154]

I mounted these on gutters and they get heaps of sun light. Still have to charge them manually evry 4 to 6 weeks.. Don't think the solar charging is working.

[@CJYing]

Yeah I'd definitely get in touch with Swann if that's the case. For me I had to slightly tilt the camera in a way that it faced the direct sunlight a bit better

[@bernardbrianmorahan7279]

Can the camera be left on constant charge and record.

[@CJYing]

Haven't tried that but can't see why it won't be possible. You can still view the feed whilst plugged in

[@tonyc7248]

Yeah if you can get charged, my in full blast sun light won’t charged, the system say charging but Is not ,the second one I got charging whit out problem whit not much light and the third one no consume battery life , you got 24 months free warranty so you are cover, my advice pay attention abut you battery percentage in sun light charging mode and how long it take to recharge and you see the problem.