BlinkOutdoor (3rd Gen) + Solar Panel Charging Mount - wireless, HD smart security camera, solar-powered, motion detection – 1 camera system

Bought this item in Nov of 2022. AA batteries do not last long although it should only be for backup since the solar panel + built in battery should provide primary power. I get the low battery warning in less than a month after I changed them. I used to blame the cloudy weather but with 2 summers already, the performance did not change. I read on some reviews that the cable from the solar module to the camera might be defective. I guess that's the case here. Waste of money!Updated:I was surprised that customer service contacted me after this review to ask details of the issue I was having. As it was almost 2years since I bought the product, I don't expect any sort of warranty anymore. Then I received an email regarding an RMA. If at all, a new cable would suffice but a new set was sent to me. I just installed the new system hoping I won't emcounter the same issue. But just for the customer service, I'm giving this a 5star!

I bought this to put above my garage where I have no power. It is a high traffic area and I didn't want to have to replace batteries every couple of weeks. The first unit I received was not charging. I contacted Blink and they sent me a replacement after answering a few questions. I was very happy with the customer service.The second unit has been running with no issues. I have not had to change batteries after several months of use. I like that I can detach the solar panel and place it where I will get the most sunlight. Remember to check the battery in the solar unit not only the camera. You have to remove the tape on this battery so that it can charge. I must have missed this step when I was reading the instructions. Now I can see the camera is running off this battery and only uses the camera batteries when needed.I have 6 blink cameras and have never been disappointed. Great products, easy to use app, and excellent picture.

The solar powered camera is a great idea - and why I bought this camera and solar panel combination. I got it to replace a camera I have had for quite a while. The old camera was under a tree canopy so I had to locate the new solar camera where it can collect the suns rays. The mounting bracket is fairly large and it took me awhile to create a suitable place to mount it with screws as are provided - all I had were metal posts in the desired spot.On set up I found this camera very difficult to plug into the solar portion - seems weird but the cord is short so you can't see and the plug is difficult to line up properly with the port to be able to advance it. Then I had trouble getting the camera to work reliably. It is a little further from my house and WIFI source d/t being in a new location but I have an interior camera 15 feet or more farther away in a shed which works reliably and very well. I have contacted tech support but I email earlier in the day and they email at night (when it is dark and I don't go where this cameral is in the dark - it's up a steep hill). So 1 message a day, unless I miss that I have gotten an email for a day or two so this has been drawn out. They have me trying various things and I'll let you know how it turns out. This new camera does not seem to connect to the WIFI very well, often I cannot connect to access the settings, randomly it stops working and just when I think it's never going to work again, I'll get a few more events from it, and this is true even when I have brought it inside my house to troubleshoot. It just does not seem to have the sensitivity of all my other cameras. IDK - still trying but since it took me a few weeks to set up I am outside the 30 days, right now I cannot recommend this camera.Update from a few days ago - still back and forth with tech support - try this, try that (granted them access, uninstall & reinstall making sure the red light is on, take the batteries out for 30 sec, move sync module to withing 5 ft. of WIFI device - it always had/has been, lengthen the time the clip records, on and on) - I did all that and it still is not working correctly; and they are not really helping me. I even put my old camera back up there - about 5 ft. away with another camera being 15 plus feet away that works & I put batteries in the old camera and it is picking up cars driving by and people walking buy but the New Camera does NOT. I have taken away another star - the thing does not pick up anything more than 3 feet away and they don't care. I'm seemingly stuck with this lemon, and I plan to never buy BLINK devices again.