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Two Xiaomi devices for a smart home. How I fought with a Xiaomi camera for $25

Do you want to know exactly what your staff is doing at work, how much time the nanny devotes to your child, or just to protect your living space? The GeekHome store invites you to familiarize yourself with IP camera technology.

IP cameras are surveillance cameras with which you can watch from anywhere in the world what is happening in your home, office, business or any other room directly from the screen of your phone, tablet, computer or laptop. You can buy a Xiaomi Yi IP camera in Moscow at the lowest price with a guarantee in our Geekhome store, which is located in the city center.

IP cameras Xiaomi Yi Home, Xiaomi Yi Dome and Xiaomi MI Small Square Smart are equipped with motion sensors and night vision function. The presented IP cameras can shoot in HD 720p and FULL HD 1080p resolution, depending on the selected model. Thanks to the built-in motion sensor, Xiaomi Yi IP cameras automatically start recording what is happening in the room when motion is detected. By enabling the alarm function, IP Camera will send you an alarm notification with a video fragment. A nice bonus is the presence of night vision functions, a speaker and a microphone. Even in complete darkness, the infrared sensor will make it possible to see everything that is happening.

In our store you can get acquainted with the characteristics of IP cameras, prices and photos, as well as read reviews from real customers.

Instructions are available for this device

For IP camera YI Home Camera Global Version (white) is available detailed instructions in Russian. Read detailed information You can use the device by pressing the button

More details

*Please note that the camera does not recognize the QR code from devices with a screen smaller than 5 inches. There may be connection problems.

Smart IP camera

Xiaomi Yi Smart CCTV, thanks to the built-in IR illumination, the camera has the ability to shoot in complete darkness. IP camera Xiaomi Yi Smart CCTV is a web camera from a series of products for the “smart home” from Xiaomi.

With the Xiaomi Yi Smart IP camera, you can be aware of the events happening at your home or work, at any time, from anywhere in the world. With the help of a smart camera, you can see your close relatives, pets, or track the health of your elderly parents while on the other side of the world. You can take photos of your children even if you are away from home. Don't miss a single exciting moment from your children's childhood.

ATTENTION! On this moment The camera only works with Android devices.

Thanks to the 1280x720 HD resolution and F2.0 aperture, photo and video images remain clear and rich even in cloudy weather. The camera lens has a viewing angle of 111 degrees, so the camera can show you large area, covering almost the entire room in which it is installed.

Thanks to the built-in speaker, you can send voice messages. Just by looking at the screen and holding the call button, you can communicate with your loved ones.

The built-in motion sensor of the Yi Ants camera can detect a moving object, and thanks to the presence of a MicroSD slot, with the ability to use a memory card up to 32GB, record what is happening. Simple settings of the camera application will allow you to receive a notification on your smartphone, in the form of a photo or video, if someone comes while you are not at home. Now you will always be aware of what is happening at home or at work, in your absence.

Instructions: Xiaomi Yi Smart IP Camera

Installing Xiaomi Yi Smart

There is a USB connector at the bottom of the device; use a cable to connect it to a power source. A successful connection will be indicated by an indicator located on the front panel.

Before installing the gadget, make sure it is available stable signal WiFi. Install the device close to the router!

Synchronization with Mi router

Easy and fast installation in two clicks

Download the Mi router program, wait for the indicator to activate yellow color. Next, go to the “Smart Settings” section, click on “Fast Sync”. The blue indicator indicates that the connection was successful.

Connecting to other routers

Download and install the Smart Home mobile application (alternatively, you can use the Mi Xiaomi Smart Camera program. Scan the QR codes and complete the installation.

Inclusion

Press the power key, after 20 seconds of waiting the yellow indicator will light up. If the light does not light up, press the reset key, holding it for five seconds, after which the blue indicator will turn on, the switching on has been completed.

Working with Xiaomi Smart Camera

In the image you can see instructions for adding a camera.

After adding the camera, the user will be able to watch the video remotely
and other content.

Using the Remote Video App

Safety regulations

Do not install cameras near metal products;
Do not mount the camera near a microwave oven or on the back walls of furniture;
Handle the cable carefully, leaving enough space for its comfortable use;
Do not mount the device away from the router, as if the signal is lost, the camera will not be able to work correctly.

Connecting to another Internet network

When connecting to the Internet, you should press the reset key and hold it for several seconds. After the blue indicator turns on, you should connect to the network again, after which it is ready for full use.

Presence of toxic substances

Xiaomi Yi Smart IP camera is a product that meets European quality standards and environmental requirements.

Hi all. Today I want to talk about the IP camera from Xiaomi. There have already been reviews of this camera, but these were regular versions, this one with night vision (IR illumination). I’ll also tell you how to modify it for full use (access through a browser, correct time zone, etc.). Why it is needed, I think it’s clear: we remotely watch the picture from the camera, listen to the recording from the microphone, receive notifications about the danger on the phone (movement in the camera). Now the topic of “smart home” is very actively developing. Xiaomi also keeps up and constantly releases new devices: humidifier, rice cooker, IP camera, light bulb, etc. Of course, this is not a smart vacuum cleaner or a refrigerator that determines what is in it, but still there is progress.

We start, as always, with the characteristics of the IP camera (translated into Russian).

Characteristics.

Model: Xiaomi Xiaoyi Ants camera with night vision.
Matrix: 1/4" CMOS
Matrix resolution: 8MP
Video Resolution: 320 x 240, 640 x 480, 1280 x 720 ( HD)
Frame frequency: 20 fps (1280 x 720)
Audio input: built-in microphone.
Audio output: External speaker.
Lens material: glass.
Viewing Angles:
Horizontal angle: 92.7°
Vertical angle: 48.7°
Diagonal angle: 111.2°
IR illumination: 940 nm.
Night vision working distance: 5 meters
Data store: Micro SD card up to 32GB and Xiaomi router.
Cloud video storage: Yes
Protocol support: IPV4,UDP,TCP, HTTP,RTP/RTSP,DHCP,P2P
WiFi: IEEE802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n Draft
Compatibility: iOS 6.0 and above, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch,Android Device.

Contents of delivery.

Box with YI logo, 5V 1A power supply, instructions completely in Chinese, peephole + stand, adapter from the store.

Appearance.

The camera itself is compact and neat.

Separate peephole.

Separate stand. Adjustable only in height. The stand is weighted and does not tip over in any position.

The back side of the camera, signed all the connectors.

There is a 2 color indicator on the front side. Orange - ready to configure. Blue light - connected to WiFi, ready to use. Indicator can be disabled in the settings to make the camera less noticeable.

Setup. Connect to the application.

First, go to 4pda in the topic about Xiaomi IP camera:
Download the YI Home application from MultiROM:
It is recommended to use this application, as it makes installation easier and has fewer problems.

I’ll also note: I have a camera version v. 2.1, October 2015.
The firmware is stock 1.8.5.1 K (it seems that they do not recommend updating to a version later than L, otherwise the camera will not work outside of China).

Setting up the camera is so simple that I don’t even see the point of showing anything. A minute in time, no more.
1) Create a Mi account if you don’t have one yet.
2) Download the application.
3) Turn on the camera, launch the application.
4) Click + at the top right and follow the instructions in Russian in pictures.
There you need to enter your login and password for the WiFi network and wait a little. All!

On 4pda they scared me that I needed to set it up with dancing and a tambourine, but everything worked out. Moreover, Xiaomi is a huge plus for such intuitive instructions in pictures in the application itself.

Yi Home application interface.

Main screen. Here we see all our cameras (there may be several of them, the name is shown + last photo from the camera). From here we can also go to the gallery via the Photo button.

We select our camera and get into the control window.

What you can do and what you can see.
1) Enable audio recording on the camera microphone.
2) Enable video recording.
3) Take a photo.
4) Go to full screen view.
5) The middle button is like Alarm - a sound is made on the camera.
Information: date, time, camera name, scale with information about when the recording was made (you need to record the time on the camera, more on that below), connection speed, how much traffic we spent viewing the image.
Also displayed here important points When there is movement in the camera, we receive a notification on the phone (you can turn this off).

Basic camera settings.

In addition to selecting HD and SD recording quality, there is also a settings menu on the main screen.
You can change the camera name, update the firmware, turn on/off the indicator, turn on/off the motion detector and notifications, etc.

Video test (day and night shooting), audio and photo of Xiaomi IP camera.

Mini video. Instead of a thousand words)

Test shot in complete darkness (the eye cannot distinguish objects). Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised (IR illumination gets 10 points).

Daytime photo. The quality is average, but it will work for an IP camera.

What can be added. What did I do?

All possible improvements are located here in the FAQ section:
You can access the camera through a browser, make it work without the Internet via a mobile hotspot, translate the voice acting into Russian, etc., etc.

I was interested in: access to the camera via a computer and the correct time zone to correctly display the timeline when the recording was made.
Thanks to the enormous work of w3bsit3-dns.com users, this couldn’t be easier.
I leave a link to the instructions:
You need to download the archive with scripts and load it onto your memory card, turn on the camera and you're done.
Now our time is correct (Moscow by default) and you can view video from the camera from any computer, and not just through the application.
To do this, download VLC media player. Then go to the camera application, camera settings / network information / IP address, remember it.
Next, go to VLC player -> Media -> open URL -> write rtsp://CameraIP:554/ch0.h264, where CameraIP is the IP that we remembered.
We see the picture from the camera and rejoice :)

Some metrics.

I will not insert photos so as not to clutter the topic.
Power consumption: 5V 0.2 - 0.3 A.
Traffic consumption: 70 - 120 kb/s depending on settings.
Device temperature after 2 hours of use: 34.3 degrees Celsius.

Conclusion.

An excellent IP camera for security for relatively little money. Great functionality, including sound from the camera, cloud storage, IR illumination,motion detection.
The only thing is that I would like a higher resolution picture, but everything is fine.

Video material.

Admit it, you've probably at least once wanted to install a video surveillance camera at home or on your property. Often this is a tribute to security, but some, for example, use such devices to communicate with their pet, others simply watch what their neighbors are doing, and still others use them as a video baby monitor. Be that as it may, a video surveillance camera is a useful thing in many cases. And here, in terms of price-quality ratio, there is probably nothing better than Xiaomi devices.

We decided to take a closer look and compare two popular IP cameras from this manufacturer - Small Square Smart Camera and Mijia 1080P. Let's start the story with the second one, since it evoked special emotions.

Mijia 1080P, as the name implies, records video in Full HD quality, which allows you to get high-quality video recording even at night - for this, the camera has infrared illumination, which consists of eight small bulbs and “sees” at a distance of up to 10 meters, and also a high frame rate of 15 frames per second (20 frames during the day) for a detailed view of objects. IN daytime the device pleases wide angle visibility of 130 degrees (that is, this camera has very few blind spots) and recognition of 32 different zones - you can conveniently program the desired area to warn of movement.

The stability of the wireless connection is ensured by support for Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz/5 GHz, so connecting to the camera from an application on the iPhone (or other smartphone) always takes a couple of seconds. Let's look at the package and move straight to the connection.

The packaging is in the Xiaomi style - it seems like there is nothing superfluous, but at the same time there is everything you need, this is what the Chinese company learned from Apple. The kit includes the camera itself on a stand, as well as a cable with a power supply and a double flat “plug”. You probably have plenty of adapters for European sockets; if not, they cost several tens of rubles.

By the way, the camera itself is a small black washer - everything else belongs to the holder. That is, in essence, you can install it anywhere in such a way that knowledgeable person won't notice anything. At the end there is a micro-USB connector for power, a slot for a micro SD memory card, a microphone and a reset hole.

The installation process took longer than expected. First of all you need to install on iPhone app Mi Home, in which all settings are carried out. The main catch here lies in the choice of region - it is best to click on China so that everything works as it should. When choosing a different region, our camera either simply did not adjust, or the application subsequently did not identify it. But in the end, as they say, the man turned out to be smarter.

The application is modern and, admittedly, works stably. The main playback window shows the current connection speed to the camera, allows you to pause the broadcast, select image quality, turn on/off sound, take a screenshot, record video, turn on the microphone for voice communication, go to sleep mode and open settings. There are a lot of items, but, on the other hand, it’s convenient that they are all on one screen, so you don’t have to rush around the application.

The settings provide the ability to change the camera name, set an access password, share access to the camera, turn off the status indicator (it’s really quite bright), “apply” the date and time, and much more. It’s probably easier to say what’s not here. The camera can save recorded video both to a memory card and network storage- from a NAS, or a regular network folder. After installing a microSD card, you can rewind time on the timeline and watch the recording on the same screen.

Very important advantage cameras - the ability to not only activate a motion sensor, but also enable automatic recording when activity is detected. This way, attackers will not remain incognito, and you can later demonstrate the video if necessary.

And now pay attention - this camera costs less than 3 thousand rubles in Russia. I remember several years ago I bought HappyCam for use as a video baby monitor for 5-6 thousand rubles, while the camera recorded a maximum of 440p, was much larger in size, and had more functions. mobile application- several times less. , of course, do not stand still, but it’s great that this is reflected in the price the best side(in the case of Xiaomi).

Small Square Smart Camera costs about a thousand rubles less - in fact, it is the previous generation of the first hero of our review. The delivery set is the same - camera, power supply, USB cable two meters long.

At the base of the camera there is a folding stand with a magnetic base, which allows you to hold it on a metal surface. There is also a button for installing/resetting and a slot for microSD cards. The camera rotates relative to the mount to obtain the desired viewing angle.

The camera can also be connected in the Mi Home application, the main thing is to select “China” as the region. After this, the installation process will take a couple of minutes, and you can use the camera.

The camera interface is very similar to that of the Mijia 1080P. It is possible to take a photo, start recording, activate a motion sensor, but, however, there is no convenient tape for rewinding in real time. Another drawback is the menu. Although most points on English language, their Chinese counterparts are often found. If you have a head on your shoulders, you can figure it out without problems, but for many the language barrier may become an obstacle. But this camera can be used as a smoke and carbon dioxide sensor.

I liked the script support for automating work with the camera. You can, for example, set the motion sensor to turn off when you come home, or turn on the camera if you suddenly get ready to go somewhere. The camera has a viewing angle of 110 degrees; It records not to say that it is excellent, but it is sufficient for everyday needs. In the dark, the infrared illumination turns on, with the help of which the camera continues to see everything that is happening.

In fact, for the money the camera is very good. Having paid about one and a half thousand rubles, we get the camera itself, a motion, smoke, carbon dioxide sensor with the ability to build a smart home system from Xiaomi based on Mi Home. That is, for example, if you buy the same lamp and kettle from Xiaomi, you can set a scenario for turning on the camera, light and kettle when you wake up. And you don’t have to wait a long time for ordered devices from China - in Russia, some stores sell them with minimum markup.

If I had to choose between Small Square Smart Camera and Mijia 1080P, I would probably choose the second one due to its more attractive and modern interface. However, the “cube” is in no way inferior to it in terms of video recording quality, and if you are looking for more a budget option, feel free to pay attention to it.

The widespread brand Xiaomi (Xiaomi) is today well known to consumers in the CIS countries.

Having begun its penetration into the Russian-speaking market with inexpensive smartphones, in which the technological hardware was somewhat unstable, the manufacturer continuously improved the quality of its offerings.

The range of products has also improved. Today in price lists you will find not only a reliable phone, but also Xiaomi, DVRs, routers and much more.

Features of Xiaomi products

If we consider Xiaomi products from the perspective of the approach to the development of ergonomics and standard schemes hardware solutions, we can immediately highlight several distinctive features brand products.

The number of controls and adjustments is minimal. However, buttons and other elements make it easy to access the desired functionality. At the same time, the location of each switch is carefully thought out and convenient.
Xiaomi devices are emphatically technological, with housings of a somewhat minimalist design. Typical WiFi CCTV camera for Home Xiaomi- this is a simple lens, without excessive adjustments, a smooth body with minimal roundings, made of plastic.
In hardware solutions, there is a clear balance between cost and level of technology of nodes and key elements. For example, sensors are used to achieve an ideal picture, characterized by reliability and reliability. But the model range of such structural elements belongs to the segment of long-used, well-known products that do not belong to the latest technological generation of products.
In terms of the software shells used, there is also a desire to use inexpensive and reliable solutions. The Xiaomi WiFi camera will not offer any special features. The software for its management and configuration is based on standardized shells and operating systems. It is reliable, predictable, intuitive.

Xiaomi products have another distinctive feature: the manufacturer strives to offer as much useful functionality as possible.

For example, relatively inexpensive cameras have smoke and temperature sensors and pamper the owner with the capabilities of real optical zoom.

In addition, the brand follows the path of optimal compatibility of all its devices.

This means that the Xiaomi WiFi security camera provides access from a smartphone from this manufacturer, control and configuration using proprietary software.

It is precisely because of these features that Xiaomi products enjoy deserved popularity among consumers. Today the brand cannot boast of the most attractive prices.

However, in terms of the overall balance of cost, convenience, simplicity and functionality, the Xiaomi CCTV camera can confidently win the competition against any competitor in its price segment.

Review of the Xiaomi IP camera range

Among the range of offers digital cameras Xiaomi can find an option that can fully satisfy the owner’s needs in solving specific problems.

The manufacturer offers models for home and street, with directional or all-round visibility, miniature devices and solutions of average size.

Small Square Smart Camera

Small, similar to a cube on a support, the camera from Xiaomi will offer the owner not only a high-quality image, but also ample opportunities to access data.

To the highlights technical solution relate:

eight times digital zoom;
image resolution 1920x1080 pixels;
night mode and corresponding infrared illumination;
built-in microphone and speaker;
smoke and carbon monoxide detector.

The camera can be integrated into the alarm system to activate an alarm; the image and sound from it can be obtained remotely by connecting with a Xiaomi smartphone or other device.

High-quality images are guaranteed by a 1/2.7″ CMOS sensor. The camera operates at temperatures from 0 to 40 degrees, consumes only 0.5 watts, has a viewing angle of 110 degrees, and can save data to a card with a capacity of up to 64 GB.

MiJia 360° Home Camera

Convenient, technologically-looking MiJia 360° Home Camera is built on a powerful processor platform, has many automatic adjustment modes, and can change the direction of the lens by 75 degrees vertically.

Features of the model include:

multi-LED night mode illumination, with a range of up to 10 meters;
connection via WiFi, microUSB, ability to store data on a memory card up to 32 GB;
operating temperature range - from -10 to +55 degrees. If there is a need and allow climatic conditions, MiJia 360° Home Camera can be used as an outdoor dome camera xiaomi cctv, when installed in places where the device will not get wet;
built-in speaker and microphone;
Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity;
motion sensor with its own system for sending service messages.

This camera got its name due to another feature: the block with the optical sensor rotates freely 360 degrees. The device generates a 1080p video stream, H.264 compression, images up to 1920x1080. The camera has a 1\8″ sensor with a resolution of 4 megapixels.

Yi Home International Edition

If you need a home camera with universal capabilities, including support for access protocols, Yi Home International Edition will be an acceptable option.

The device has a number of features that make it suitable for solving literally any problem.

built-in motion sensor can send messages to the owner’s phone;
there is a built-in speaker and microphone for negotiations;
infrared illumination in combination with a sensitive sensor allows you to shoot video in minimal lighting;
photo resolution reaches 1280x720 pixels, which in combination with optical zoom allows you to obtain high-quality images;
Almost all popular access and data transfer protocols are supported;
the device is made in a body of minimal thickness, which allows you to hang the camera flat on the wall;
Supports saving data to a memory card;
The camera can broadcast a data stream to several networks at once.

Although Yi Home International Edition cannot boast of FullHD video, it will be extremely convenient as a video baby monitor, security device, or motion detector. The camera's viewing angle is 111 degrees, which allows you to cover a large observation area.

Dafang 1080P

A camera that is called a favorite according to many users.

It is extremely simple and unprepossessing appearance, however, it has irreplaceable features, easy position adjustment and other conveniences.

The key features of the model include:

having its own WiFi transmitter, the camera can act as a separate access point for direct connection;
the wavelength of infrared illumination with 6 diodes is 940 nm, which allows you to highlight the smallest details of the image in night mode;
the camera covers a large area thanks to a viewing angle of 120 degrees;
Possibility of adjusting the position 93 degrees vertically and 360 horizontally.

The device can operate at temperatures from 0 to 40 degrees, humidity up to 90%, provides a WiFi connection, and offers to save data to a memory card.

The power cable connection scheme is also interestingly implemented: into a stationary stand on a non-slip suction cup, on which the camera body rotates freely. The device generates a FullHD 1080p video stream, with an image resolution of 1920x1080 pixels.

YI Dome Camera 360°

A device that can replace several cameras at once is the YI Dome Camera 360°. Features of the model include a servo-drive mechanism.

Using the control software, you can set up to 8 viewpoints. And the camera, according to a configured algorithm, will independently change the direction of view in order to cover the necessary parts of the observation area.

Other features of the device include:

position adjustment in two degrees of freedom, with a full rotation of 360 degrees horizontally and 115 vertically;
viewing angle of 120 degrees;
built-in motion sensor and system for sending messages to the owner;
built-in microphone and speaker, two types of voice calls;
infrared illumination and night photography;
memory card support.

The camera can be accessed either through WiFi router, and through direct connection with a smartphone.

Advantages and disadvantages of Xiaomi cameras

Xiaomi cameras offer many useful features at an affordable price.

To the undoubted advantages model range include ease of setup, good quality images, attractive functional content of devices.

They are made in neat, discreet cases. However, it is worth noting the disadvantages of some solutions. In particular, there is a focus only on proprietary software.

If you use a shell from Xiaomi, you can connect to the camera with literally two touches of the sensor. Setting up is no less easy.

If you use third-party software, you may have to spend a lot of time setting the necessary parameters before starting to use video surveillance.

Conclusion

Xiaomi cameras make it possible to get excellent functionality, high-quality video and many attractive options for little money. The products are very competitive in their price segment.

Therefore, they are confidently gaining popularity among a wide audience of consumers interested in the ease of setup and use of video surveillance equipment.