Summary
If you’ve been looking for an affordable home security camera option, you likely stumbled upon Amazon-owned Blink cameras. And while they’re great, range can be an issue. However, thanks to the newBlink Sync Module XR, Wi-Fi range is no longer an issue around my home and property.
Blink Sync Module XR
The all-new Blink Sync Module XR can extend the range of your Outdoor 4 security cameras between 250 and 400 feet, letting homeowners monitor their entire property beyond Wi-Fi reach.
Price and Availability
The Blink Sync Module XR is $69.99. It is the hub that communicates with Blink Outdoor,Mini Indoor, or Floodlight security cameras. If you already have one of Blink’s many cameras, you probably have an older Sync Module 2 or the original Module. While those will still work, the XR delivers more features and, more importantly, an extended range beyond W-Fi with select cameras. Get yours from Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers.
More Range Where You Need It Most
The Sync Module XR lets you connect to security cameras beyond your home Wi-Fi network. you may use the module in regular mode, XR (extended range up to 250ft away), or XR+, which works through exterior walls and up to 400 feet away from the module. However, operating in XR+ mode lowers the video quality.
I’ve enjoyed Blink cameras for over five years and slowly upgraded my system with newer models. However, after moving to Texas and buying a brick house, coverage became somewhat of a problem. Cameras started to struggle thanks to distance and interference. Even worse, trying to put a camera outside on my property was nearly impossible, even with the best Wi-Fi mesh system around.
But then the XR Module arrived, which allows for greater range with the Blink Outdoor 4, and I figured it was worth a shot. Let me just tell you— the Blink XR worked far better than I expected. The connection to my Outdoor 4 is better than ever; I no longer miss alerts, the live view works every time, and it’s much faster to start playing. Then, the camera on my backyard shed, which didn’t work before, is seamlessly operating in XR mode.
Better yet, I’ve also noticed improved connectivity (more bars) with my older Blink cameras. Connectivity is important when you’re transferring photos and videos between cameras, sync module hubs, and phones over Wi-Fi. Whatever Blink did inside this thing works! My entire experience in the Blink ecosystem is better.
The Blink Sync Module XR can handle 10 cameras at a time, but only two can take advantage of the extended range feature. If you need more, you’ll need another module.
Several Steps Forward, But a Few Steps Back, Too
The new Blink Sync Module XR isn’t just for extending the range further than typical security cameras. It also delivers faster alerts and an improved design and comes with more features if you’re willing to pay for them. The sleek new module now uses USB-C for power and comes with a microSD slot for local video storage. That way, you don’t need to pay a monthly subscription.
Older models had a USB-A port for thumb drives and received power from MicroUSB, so these upgrades are nice. I also don’t have many thumb drives these days, but I have plenty of microSD cards, so that’s nice, too. Local video playback is fast and affordable.
Unfortunately, the range benefits of the XR only work with the latest Blink Outdoor 4 camera, and like everything these days, all of its features are tied to subscription plans. As a result, several helpful features from my old, cheaper cameras are no longer available.
For example, even though alerts to movement in my driveway are almost instant, that phone notification doesn’t show an image preview. It’s nothing but an alert. Older models without the “early detection mode” have a photo, which instantly lets me see if I need to act on that alert. And if not, I can delete the recording right from the notification.
Oddly enough, you could disable early detection on older cameras but not the newer, more expensive Blink Outdoor 4 with the XR module. That means I have a better and newer product, but one with fewer features. Ridiculous. I can’t get an image preview when my camera picks up something, and since it’s a “recording in progress,” you can’t delete it either. Instead, I have to wait for it to finish, open the app, then delete the recording. This isn’t unique to Blink; allthe best camerashave this issue, and I think it’s silly.
Should You Buy the Blink Sync Module XR?
I absolutely love Blink’s newSync Module XR. It made my entire home security system faster, smoother, and more capable. Obviously, you’ll still get buffering and delays at times, and no wireless camera system is perfect, but it does the job I expected it to.
Honestly, I had my doubts that it’d actually help with range issues, but the XR delivered. It works, and it works well. Whether you have a few finicky cameras on a system or never bothered trying to mount a Blink camera too far away, get theBlink Sync Module XR and Outdoor 4 bundleand give it a try. You’ll be glad you did.
