How To Set Up Swann Camera For Motion Detection

For this review, we're revisiting a classic with Swann, a visitor that's long been considered a pioneer in DIY habitation security. Their huge lineup of products, from wireless and wire-free cameras to wired systems, has made Swann a elevation pick among homeowners, and for us, likewise.

We think Swann's all-time asset is their diverseness of solid, reliable wired camera systems. Getting wired cameras means you lot're getting a stable, about flawless connection that's not susceptible to interference, and Swann ranks among the best wired photographic camera brands for but that reason.

Our team picked upwards Swann's Smart Security Arrangement Wi-Fi series, a package that includes two bullet-style 1080p Hard disk drive cameras and a four-channel network video recorder (NVR).1

Swann Cams and NVR

As this is such a massive brand, we wanted to get a full film of everything a typical Swann system has to offer.

Swann is a company with a long history in home security, so we knew nosotros were getting a reliable, well-made production. Merely we besides know that Swann cameras aren't cheap, particularly if you're looking for larger systems to secure an unabridged house. Is a Swann system worth the money? Would it meet our expectations? We answer those questions and more, starting at present.

PROS

Well-Established Company
Huge Selection of Cameras
Wireless, Wired, and Wire-Free Models Available
Truthful Detect Heat and Motion Sensing
Smartphone Controls
Free Local Storage
Easy Setup Options

CONS

Subscription Required for Cloud Storage
Wireless Connections Prone to Interference
Easy to Get Overwhelmed by Options
Build Quality Could Exist Improved

Unboxing our Swann Cameras

Swann Packaging

We were pleased to meet that Swann's package includes everything we need to install, set up, and use the cameras starting from day i. That said, our Swann system (our model number is NVW-490, in case yous're interested) allows for plenty of options for connecting to our home Wi-Fi, thank you to its four-channel 1080p recorder (the black box) that includes a 1 TB hard drive.

Did You Know: Swann makes swell cameras, merely you're not going to find fancy product names or sleek designs here. They're pretty no-frills, so if y'all're looking for something a flake more than stylish, check out our full experience with Arlo cameras.

Also, we practise want to point out that at that place are 2 extra channels on our NVR that are intended to connect 2 more than Swann cameras to the system. This is good news for us considering Swann has a whole lot of cameras we could add together on to our system if we wanted to: Floodlight cameras, spotlight cameras, pan-tilt-zoom cameras, and fifty-fifty indoor nanny cams.

Clearly, if you desire a brand with variety, Swann'south a great pick. How practise we know this? Here's a brief await at how we review Swann cameras besides as other fast facts well-nigh Swann:

Swann Camera Features

Days Tested	15+
No. of Cameras	22
All-time Asset	Wired Camera Systems
Video Resolution	1080p Hd
Price	$58+

But back to installation. As nosotros lifted the cameras out of the box, we noted they included mounting screws and drill template, which told us that installing our cameras would be relatively simple – seeing every bit nosotros've go somewhat handy with a drill.

Swann Cams

If you're non comfortable drilling holes into walls, that'due south totally OK, simply it could be that DIY photographic camera systems aren't for you, and it's time to look into a fully wired option that can be professionally installed. ADT security systems, another industry classic, offers professional person installation and continuous monitoring. We recommend starting there, and you can always add together on more cameras later.

Swann Cam, Mouse, and NVR

Equally is expected with photographic camera systems like this, we didn't quite get that lightning-fast installation and setup experience with Swann as we did when we installed Ring's security cameras. In that location was just some legwork involved for the NVR, with its numerous inputs and cables for united states to plug in to get everything up and running.

Back of Swann NVR

Go along in mind, though, that installing even the all-time outdoor cameras is usually a bit more than complicated than installing indoor cams, especially if you lot're dealing with power adapters, network cables, or other connections. Merely that'due south not to say this was a tough job; when it comes to multi-camera systems like this, we'd definitely put this installation process in the easy cavalcade.

And, about that black box … if you're non familiar with it, network video recorders are common with many security cameras, and Swann makes several packages that include them. Basically, an NVR works by storing and organizing videos that the camera processes through its own built-in chipset. Like the VCRs of days gone by, nosotros but connected our NVR to our Television set, which streamed our cameras and immune u.s.a. to search through recordings. And, thanks to the Ethernet cablevision included in the box, we were able to connect the box to our Idiot box via Ethernet to stabilize our connection.

Swann Outside Cam

Swann Exterior Cam

Setting Up Swann

To fully understand how these cameras would perform in our habitation day to day, our first stride was to gear up upward our Swann cameras through their corresponding app, AlwaysSafe. If you choose Swann, this is where you'll be able to control your cameras' motion detection, set movement zones, schedule recordings and alerts, and more.

Swann App Settings

Once we downloaded the app, we took a cursory await around before syncing our cameras to it. Right away we could run across this app'south layout was pretty simple and barebones. That, we learned, is a reflection of the camera's relatively limited features. It doesn't have artificial intelligence-powered person detection,2 for instance, which is a powerful feature common in Ring, Arlo, and even Amcrest'south assortment of cameras.

On the other hand, it did allow us lots of different ways to customize our cameras. For case, even though Swann's camera can produce 1080p image quality, we can reduce that resolution to "fluent" (ordinarily effectually 720p) to reduce strain on our home Wi-Fi. This has ever come up in handy for the states, every bit our Wi-Fi service isn't always stellar. This is something you'll want to keep in heed, particularly if your Wi-Fi speeds aren't super fast.

Swann App

Pro Tip: Considering Swann makes so many cameras, they have several unlike apps that correspond to different devices. Then be sure to cheque your organisation's box or instruction manual to meet which app works with your Swann camera.

To complete our setup, we had a few options. We could sync our cameras to the app using the QR codesiii on the back of the cameras, or we could enter our UID, which is a number we found when we pulled up our cameras' display on our Boob tube after installing the NVR.

Swann UID

This tripped us up for a moment. It's of import to note that for these cameras to work on our phones, we had to give the app permission to access non only our photo library, but our phone's camera as well.

Swann App Photo Permission

To do that, nosotros went into our phone's settings and added camera permissions to our Swann app. This is super easy to do, but if you don't want the app to continue to take access to your camera, you can simply turn off that setting after your cameras are synced to the app.

We do desire to note, though, that Wi-Fi cameras are pretty much all akin in this way: You have to let the cameras to interact with your network, and in society to do that, they need access to some features on your phone that y'all might consider individual, like your location and your photos. Again, if that'due south a concern for you, consider steering yourself toward a wired arrangement with professional monitoring. Or, you lot could e'er go with a SimpliSafe organisation, which is one of the easiest security systems we've ever installed. Information technology really depends on your preference, and of course, your budget.

So, once our cameras and NVR were all synced, nosotros had a nice, clear 1080p display on both our smartphone and our TV.

Swann Cameras on our TV

Past the way, the "video loss" you lot're seeing on the bottom half of our TV? That'due south there because there are only two cameras continued to our NVR, but it's really intended to house four.

Now, it was time to do some deep exploration of these cameras and meet how they would fare in the face of threats like porch pirates, motorcar intermission-ins, and more.

Our Feel With Swann Cameras

Swann Cam

There's a lot to like in Swann, with its vast product selection and its impressive motion detection technology. But that'due south not to say they're a cracking fit for everyone. In that location were some points of business organisation for us, too. Hither's a quick rundown of some features nosotros liked, along with a few that could exist improved:

True Discover Oestrus-Sensing Applied science

One selling point for u.s. was the brand'south True Detect estrus- and motion-sensing sensing technology. While heat-triggered motion detection (likewise known every bit passive infrared, or PIR, detection)4 is not new in cameras, the unique thing near Swann's technology is that it senses heat from both people and vehicles to trigger alerts and push notifications.

Swann Motion Detection

That means, for ane, you lot won't get notifications for things like flight bugs or branches swaying in the wind, which will go on your storage space from filling up too fast. Rut-sensing motion is pretty common in outdoor cameras, and so we're glad Swann makes this feature accessible and like shooting fish in a barrel to employ. We also liked beingness able to brand quick changes, like turning PIR off if we'd rather reduce the number of alerts nosotros're getting.

Free Local Storage

Swann NVR

Cheers to that super-versatile NVR in our Swann organization, we had a number of options for power and network connectedness. But the best part of an NVR, in our view, is the huge corporeality of storage it gives us. This one contains a 1 TB hard drive. That's ane terabyte,5 which is … a lot of bytes, trust us.

This ample video storage means, first and foremost, we weren't going to have to jump for a cloud storage subscription – although Swann does offer one. For people like us, who would rather not get locked into contracts or monthly subscription fees, this is an option we're quite fond of.

FYI: If y'all happen to demand more video storage for your Swann, nosotros like that yous can also add a micro SD card to the NVR for additional local storage, or fifty-fifty attach another hard bulldoze (up to four TB) via USB.

Limited Move Detection

When the cameras detect movement, they work like virtually other security cameras practise: by producing a video containing the motility, sending usa a notification that motion was detected, and – subsequently a few minutes of waiting – letting us admission that video through either the AlwaysSafe app or our TV.

This is all well and good, except that we discovered Swann doesn't give u.s.a. whatsoever indication of where or what the motion is. For example, when we were due to have a package delivered, nosotros wanted to see if it had arrived while we were out walking the domestic dog. We received a motion notification on our phone, and after that brief waiting period, we had our video, ready to view.

Keeping in mind that nearly of the videos these cameras produce come in betwixt two and 3 minutes, nosotros now had to watch the entirety of our video to find out if the fine folks at UPS had delivered our package, or if it was something else entirely.

Sure enough, it was something else entirely: It turns out information technology was my dear husband checking out some maintenance issues on the porch. The package, as of this writing, hadn't arrived nevertheless.

Then, we had to sit through the whole clip to acquire what we'd missed – not a huge deal, only we've seen a few brands handle this ameliorate. When we unboxed a Canary camera system, for instance, we received motion alerts that included thumbnails with green outlines around the activeness the camera captured. This allowed us to know exactly what activity the camera had picked up as presently as nosotros opened our app. For on-the-become folks, the more than insight we tin can become from our cameras right away, the more effective they'll exist.

With Swann, nosotros were spending more than time viewing our recordings, waiting for the videos to load, and trying to make sense of all that activity. This wasn't a deal-breaker, particularly considering the relatively low price point of Swann cameras. In fact, it's almost to be expected. But it's all the same something to keep in listen.

Swann Indoor Video Quality

Nosotros also become that it's a somewhat unfair comparison, because Canary is known for being heavy on advanced tech.

Pro Tip: If yous're finding it hard to download or load footage from your Swann camera, we suggest reducing the camera'due south resolution to "fluent" and trying once again. That mode, your Wi-Fi signal won't have to work quite every bit hard, and loading time should speed up.

Limited Field of View

These days, we're finding that folks seem to be really interested in getting the widest possible viewing angle from their security cameras — and we're right there with them! It makes sense, as the more than coverage you have, the fewer cameras yous need, correct?

And then that's why we were a little dismayed to see that our Swann cameras, despite a wide-angle lens, have a mere 75-degree viewing angle. That's quite a fleck lower than some of Swann's rivals, notably Lorex's wireless cameras, whose security cameras boast a 120-degree field of view or college, depending on the model.

Despite this minor shortcoming, we still had no problem finding advisable angles and positions for our Swann cameras that gave us enough of coverage. It was particularly adept at keeping an actress eye on our always-in-movement offspring, every bit seen in this clip:

Weatherproof Equipment

Swann Outside Cam Installed

With an IP65 atmospheric condition rating, we knew our Swann cameras would be able to withstand virtually weather events – barring extreme flooding.

Merely at that place's merely one more affair nosotros found to be a chip defective about our cameras: the quality of the devices themselves. Though they are weatherproof, they just don't feel as sturdy or solid every bit other cameras, in our experience. Just something to keep in mind as y'all're shopping around.

Smart Home Integration

"Does it work with Alexa?" is one of the nigh common questions we hear when it comes to shopping for security cameras. Having reviewed several of Swann's cameras before, we can say this for sure: Many of their cameras practice, in fact, work with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free vocalization command of the cameras.

Information technology just so happens that our Swann system, the NVW-490, does not accept this adequacy. This was definitely a downside for us, as the majority of cameras we've reviewed allow for integration for at least ane smart dwelling house device (usually Alexa). Nosotros really think smart dwelling house integration should be standard in security cameras nowadays – especially those with "smart" in their names.

But once again, with such an extensive and various selection, it wasn't hard for us to pop over to Swann'southward website and immediately hone in on several cameras with features that our current system lacks, including some intriguing home automation features. Swann's NVR- and DVR-based cameras don't generally provide this feature, but after a quick look at the visitor'due south product folio, we found a handful of cams that would do the task, including their Wireless 1080p Security Camera (SWIFI-CAMW) also as their 1080p Alert Indoor Camera (SWIFI-ALERTCAMPK2).

Swann Alert Indoor Camera

Swann Alarm Indoor Photographic camera

Those cams are definitely worth a 2d look if you're looking to use your cameras with a smart home assistant, but for us, being able to cast our cameras onto our Idiot box was just as effective.

Did You Know?: If you are looking for more than home automation in your cameras, we covered all that and more in our home automation systems guide.

Client Service

With then many companies scaling back operations in low-cal of the COVID-19 pandemic, we're never quite sure what to wait out of customer service these days, which includes fifty-fifty the brands we've lauded for customer service in the past.

In the case of Swann, we can report a by and large pleasant customer service feel. When we hit a snag during setup, nosotros turned to Swann's live conversation beginning, hoping that would be a fast, efficient way to get clarity on our issue.

Swann Support Chat

At offset, we were kicked off the chat queue, as you can meet above. Just when we started a new conversation, someone greeted u.s. within less than a infinitesimal.

Whether that someone was homo or robot, we tin't definitively say. Only they were quite helpful either manner.

Pricing and Subscriptions

In our tests and experiences with Swann, we've found their prices to be largely fair and reasonable– simply we wouldn't call them cheap, either. It's important to note that Swann is big on packages, so if you're looking to save money in the long run, you'll find the package options to be more economic. But the individual cameras can get pretty pricey.

Equally an case, most of Swann's bullet cameras, which is the way of cameras nosotros tested, run from $99 to about $170. Have notation, though, that Swann offers resolutions all the mode up to 4K ultra Hard disk drive in their cameras, so this is definitely a "yous get what you lot pay for" scenario.

See below for just a small sampling of pricing for Swann. And bank check out our full roundup of Swann prices hither.

Swann Camera Pricing

Swann Model	Camera Blazon	Cost
1080p Wi-Fi Alert Camera	1080p Hard disk Wi-Fi	$89.99
Wi-Fi Floodlight Security Camera	1080p HD Wi-Fi	$179.99
Master Series 4K Dome Camera	4K HDR hardwired	$119.99
Swann Wi-Fi Serial 1080p Photographic camera	1080p Hard disk Wi-Fi	$99.99

FYI: Bullet-style cameras are popular in the manufacture when information technology comes to blueprint. Non just are they cracking for both indoor and outdoor protection, we likewise believe they're amongst the best deterrents to potential intruders.

Our Smart Security System, with its two cameras and four-channel recorder, toll u.s.a. $269. Indeed, pricing on Swann is all over the place, so it's important to take your time to find the product that'due south best for yous.

That said, if you're looking to store large amounts of video, we're glad to see that Swann makes that option pretty affordable, too. The $iv.99 monthly fee for Swann's ExtraSafe plan, for case, is only slightly higher than Ring's standard cloud subscription option at $3 per calendar month. But you might too notice that while Swann'south plan includes 30 days of storage, Band's monitoring plan actually offers double the storage for that same $iii monthly fee. Just something to keep in mind.

Here's a breakdown of Swann'south video storage options:

Swann Video Storage	Local Camera Storage	ExtraSafe Plan
seven-day Local Retentivity	Yeah	Yes
Cloud Storage	2 days	30 days rolling
Ongoing Back up	No	Yes
xxx-24-hour interval Free Trial	No	Yeah
Price	Free	$4.99 per calendar month

Our Verdict and Recommendations

All told, our Swann NVR arrangement performed every bit any quality security camera should; with a strong Wi-Fi connectedness, we enjoyed clear, smooth live views of both of our cameras, and nosotros didn't have to worry almost false notifications, thanks to Swann'southward True Detect oestrus sensors.

For those reasons, as well as all the other features and options we observed throughout our tests of Swann products, we can say without a doubt that these are good, solid security cameras.

Swann Outdoor Night Vision

With all that said, though, we would nonetheless be hesitant to recommend Swann over more than feature-rich cameras, which are condign more popular in an industry that'due south growing past leaps and bounds. We're finding that folks these days tend to gravitate toward cameras that offer more than Swann'due south relatively bones feature fix, and we'd include ourselves in that category, too.

For those reasons, we recommend taking a closer expect at one of Google's feature-rich Nest Cams instead. However, knowing those cameras as well come with a high toll betoken, you might also want to look into Band's Stick Up or Spotlight Cam — two of our favorite outdoor security cameras.

Swann FAQs

Are Swann cameras cheap?

For the most part, aye. Prices range from $59 to $179 per camera, and Swann'due south product option is huge. Most cameras in their lineup autumn into the low- to mid-range when it comes to pricing.

Does Swann piece of work with Alexa?

Non all of Swann'southward security cameras offer smart home automation in their feature sets, only many of them do. Swann's 4 Camera iv Channel 4K Ultra Hd DVR Security Arrangement, for example, offers smart habitation integration through Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant for live streaming and voice commands.

How is Swann's customer service?

We encountered some issues with live chat on Swann's website, which kicked us out a couple of times. So when that didn't piece of work, nosotros tried phone support, which turned out to be a pleasant experience with an amanuensis who seemed quite knowledgeable about the products.

Do I have to become a subscription to use Swann cameras?

No. Cheers to a local storage pick via a micro SD card, you tin can employ Swann cameras and store video internally. This eliminates the need for a subscription to store video in the cloud, although Swann does offer a couple of options there.

Are Swann cameras easy to install?

Swann is designed for the DIY type, so their cameras don't require complicated installations. That said, Swann's outdoor cameras might have some basic handiwork (climbing a ladder and using a drill), but overall, we found Swann'south cameras quite simple to install.