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LIDL Security Camera 

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IP surveillance cameras can be expensive so when LIDL brings one out at under £60 it is certainly worth taking a look. This camera can be connected by Ethernet or Wi-FI and everything you need – apart from a drill and screwdriver – are in the box.

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The camera is around 15cm long and circular at 6cm. A 7cm long mounting bracket screws into the underside of the camera, also supplied in the box are four screws and wall plugs and even an Ethernet cable extender box.

The camera is certified for either internal or external use and has a focal range of up to eight metres. 

The Wi-Fi antennae screws into the rear of the camera and the joint mains lead and Ethernet cable are hard wired below this and are 90cm long, the last 20cm of this is split into two cables.

Although this is probably too short it is certainly enough to get from outside to inside a building and then either an extension lead for mains or the supplied Ethernet extender box if you use Ethernet.

The camera can store images on any Micro SD card you use.

Installation of the camera is the first job a drill will be needed for brick or concrete walls a Bradell may be enough for drilling into wood, as stated the screws and plugs are supplied.

Think about the mounting point before you start be it inside or out.

It is controlled by an App that is freely downloadable from either the iOS or Google Play Store.

It is designed to work with either a Smartphone or Tablet.

Next select the camera and let your phone scan the bar code on the camera, if this does not work you can manually enter code. Give the camera a name and then enter the default code.

The next thing to do is change the code to something else as soon as the camera is connected.

You now should have Live Mode showing you whatever the camera is looking at.

Now is probably the time for fine tuning of the area the camera is trained on.

There is a small sunshield that protrudes over the camera but try to avoid placing it anywhere where sunlight shines directly on the unit.

There are six LED’s around the lens which give decent night vision.

Live mode allows you to capture screen shots, store data with or without audio, start or stop recording and also to return to the home screen in the App.

An A5 Quick Start Guide with the first four sides in English explains everything I have just mentioned but there is also a multi-language CD-ROM in the box which contains a more detailed manual.

I doubt there are cheaper HD cameras currently available most are certainly in three figures and a lot around £200.

It seems quite ruggedly built as always with security cameras the correct mounting position is vital and then you have the intruder even if he/she disables the camera once the alert has been triggered. Also think about how low they camera covers towards the ground as otherwise you may get false alerts from pets or wildlife.

The LIDL IP Surveillance Camera is available from LIDL stores for £59.99. As with all such special offers its while stocks last.

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Comment by Lawrence Devaney, 18 Apr 2019 10:15

Hi I bought one of these and fitting, setting up was relatively easy.  The picture quality day and night is more than acceptable. However, I was finding that certain areas either did not activate the record when a pedestrian entered the property or the recording might have started too late and the pedestrian is off camera.  I thought at first that I might have the device at an angle downwards that was only giving a short range but then realised that passing vehicles on the road were triggering the record function. So I thought that possibly I had the camera too head on/direct and the beam wasnt being cut, no luck changing the angle. I am toatally perplexed and the manual provided sheds no light on the issue.
Cheers Lawrence
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Comment by Bicky, 14 Mar 2019 16:16

Hello.  I have got the camera linked to my i phome and PC. I want to just have the camera record MOTION outside in the night but I cannot work out how to do this . Help
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Comment by paul bickford, 11 Mar 2019 14:31

Hello.  I have got the camera linked to my i phome and PC. I want to just have the camera record MOTION outside in the night but I cannot work out how to do this . Help
Rating:

Comment by Ross, 10 Mar 2019 21:47

Price in Feb 2019 UK is £69.99
Have tried the camera but will be returning it.
I'm sure this camera will be fine for some but for me not up to scratch. Would be worth paying more for a higher end camera.

Image Quality - poor - was blocky through the app on my android, certainly not 1080p. you have to set the setting for the higher res too. Maybe it records at higher res after sticking a mem card in it etc?
Night vision seemed very poor. Was difficult to get a clear pic from more than 1m from the cam.

Power - Not true 802.3 POE - you have to use the adaptor from the box.

To configure you have to use a smartphone app or the software disk. No Web GUI for it.

I work with CCTV systems at work, and have configured a few different IP cams etc so I know how good and bad different makes can be.
Rating:

Comment by Greg, 23 Feb 2019 16:33

It tells me I have the wrong security code.

I've entered the correct DID, but I have no idea how to find the correct security code.

I've tried resetting everything and starting from scratch but it just runs into this problem every time.

Any suggestions?
Rating:

Comment by john gleeson, 27 Jan 2019 9:45

Bought one for 80 euro fitted it up high in wind and rain working amazingly well crystal clear. So far so good. Well worth 80 euro. Installed fitted and working in under an hour. I can see my home anywhere from my phone. Audio works too will pick up voices from quiet a distance.

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OverallLIDL Security Camera rated 80 out of 100

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