Arlo by Netgear 4 HD Camera Set From Best Buy Review

UPDATE: We are still using our Arlo HD Camera Set and love the security it gives us. Arlo did come out with a Pro 2 Series and we picked up an individual one to add to our existing system. It gives us the option to converse through the camera at the front door. The Pro 2 series also offers an alarm which can be remotely activated in the event that you see your house is being broken into. The Pro 2 series Arlo cameras are also rechargeable and I have found that one charge seems to be lasting much longer than the batteries do in my older cameras.

I’ve never been one who freaks out about being home alone. Even as a kid, it just didn’t bother me much. I’ve always felt pretty safe in my home and didn’t have many concerns until last year when I started hearing about midday break-ins around my area. Particularly disturbing to me was the fact that the thieves were ringing the doorbell and, if no one answered, going around the back of the house and busting in the door. Since I rarely answer my door when I’m working, this was a bit unsettling.

When I was offered the chance to review the 4-pack of motion-activated NETGEAR Arlo Smart Home security cameras, I quickly said YES! I loved the idea of being able to monitor the front door from my office as well as being alerted if there was motion around my house.

I had a few concerns about the system before receiving it. I was concerned that our WiFi might not extend far enough to be able to place one of the cameras by our garage door. I was also concerned that the picture on the cameras might not be very good, especially at night. And lastly, I was worried that set up and installation would be difficult.

Turns out I had nothing to worry about! Best Buy sent along a NETGEAR – Nighthawk DST AC1900 Wireless-AC Gigabit Router with DST Adapter. This router is designed to eliminate any WiFi dead zones and does a great job of extending my signal to every corner of the house and then some. The cameras record in 720p and provide an amazingly sharp image even at night.

Lastly, set up took less than 5 minutes and basically consisted of me plugging in the base unit and pushing the sync button. Easy peasy! Jay was nice enough to handle the outdoor installations since that did require using the step ladder. Each camera has a magnetic base that can be attached to the house via the enclosed screws and anchors. Adjusting the camera is as easy as sliding it into the position you would like. The camera are completely wireless which makes the whole process very smooth.

Once installed, you can customize how you would like the cameras to work on your computer or through the mobile app. If the camera detects motion, you can elect to receive an alert or a text. You can also have the camera record from 10 seconds up to 2 minutes and recordings for a week are saved on the free program. If you’d like to save more, you can upgrade for a small fee. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the cameras so that they aren’t going off every time a bug flies by.

One thing I really loved was that everything you need to get the system up and running is in the box – even the batteries. Set up and installation really is easy enough that anyone could do it (assuming you can reach the areas where you would like to mount the cameras.) This 4 camera set is only $499.99, as the individual cameras start at $159.99 each.

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.