Even though we own two homes, and both have security systems, it can be frustrating when I want to know what is going on at the other home when I am away. When I heard about Drop Cam, I knew I just had to have one (and will likely buy another one!). Dropcam is an extremely simple way to keep tabs on what is going on, when you cannot be there. It is a small Wi-fi video camera that you can install in minutes (literally), and you can enjoy peace of mind eternally.
Dropcam is a cloud-based Wi-Fi video monitoring service with free live streaming, two-way talk and remote viewing that makes it easy to stay connected with places, people and pets, no matter where you are.
I was thrilled when I received a Dropcam for review, and couldn’t wait to try it out as soon as it arrived. The Dropcam I received {$149 ARV} is the basic model, and has a 107 degree field of view and 4x zoom, 720p HD video. It is small enough to put just about anywhere – you can either plug it in and set it on a surface, or attach it with the included hardware.
I set up the camera in my bedroom, as we have four indoor cats, 2 of which are 5 months old. Sometimes the older kitties pick on the babies, and naturally, that is disturbing. Now when I am downstairs, I can check on what is going on upstairs by either pulling up Dropcam on my computer, or by using the app on my iPhone. I can choose to have notifications sent to me via my phone, when Dropcam detects movement. I absolutely love this feature! It is seamless, and very, very impressive.
Here is what the live view looks like (you can also turn your smart phone sideways to see it bigger). See one of my cats on the bed?
When you order a Dropcam, you will get a few free days of the cloud service, which allows you to see the feed for the past 7 days. After this period, you can choose to not pay anything and just use the live video, or you can pay a small monthly fee to be able to view the past 7-days ($9.95/month) or the past 20-days ($29.95/month). You can also choose to pay a year at a time, for discounted prices. I decided to use the cloud service and pay the monthly fee (which I just signed up for yesterday, as I missed being able to see the activity feed without the cloud service!
This is what the feed looks like. It breaks it down into the times when there was activity, and you simply scroll down to see what has been happening. Each item in the feed will show a quick little snippet, to help you decide if you want to view a particular video or not.
The Dropcam has night vision too! As you can see in the feed above, the last three videos were taken in the dark. You can choose to not use night vision if you want, and you can customize many other settings as well.
You can find the Dropcam app on both the App Store and Google Play. I cannot begin to tell you the peace of mind that comes with knowing I can check in at home anytime I want, even when I am on the go, miles away.
I SO wish I had a Dropcam when my children were babies/toddlers. Oh how many trips to their room would have been saved during the night, as I was constantly worried and checking up on them. With the Dropcam, you can either watch live footage from your computer, or if you are on the go, you can check-in often, using the handy Dropcam app. I absolutely love that I can see what is going on at home, when I am not there! Luckily my kids (who are 17 and 23) do not tend to have parties when we are away, but if I ever suspected that they did, this would be the perfect solution to make sure my house was not being destroyed, that shady “friends” were going through our things, or that other frivolities were not taking place in our absence.
One of the really neat features of Drop Cam is that you can take clips and share with others! Since my room seems to be one of the more popular places in the house, I set the Dropcam up in there so I could share some of the activity with you. I have the Dropcam set way back on my file cabinet, in between a stack of books and a stack of CD’s, so please pardon the view of the top of the file cabinet.
Thanks to the really nice folks at Dropcam, I am giving one away!
THE GIVEAWAY:
One (1) winner will receive a Dropcam ($149 ARV)!
Open to US only. Ends 12/16.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
No purchase necessary. Open to residents of US only. Giveaway ends December 16, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. (PST). ONE ENTRANT PER HOUSEHOLD/IP Address! I check all entries – cheating will not be tolerated. Winner will be notified via email and needs to reply within 48 hours, or a new winner will be chosen. Please make sure you check your spam folder – I will not be responsible if you did not receive winning email notification. Winners name(s) will be displayed on the post, and will also be posted on Winners List shortly after drawing has occurred. Winners will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter. Screenshots of winners available by request. Prize will be shipped directly from sponsor or their PR Agency unless otherwise noted. Eighty MPH Mom is not responsible for prizes lost in transit, although every attempt will be made for prize delivery.
**By entering this giveaway, you confirm that you have read and agree to my giveaway rules. Sponsor reserves the right to limit one prize per person/household (of this item/prize pack). Please allow 6-8 weeks for deliver of prize {though it is usually much sooner}. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. Odds of winning: The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. All prizes will be awarded. Void where prohibited by law.
*I received the above product, free of charge, to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
73 Responses
I would use it in my boys room to keep and eye on them
I’d definitely set it up to face the front of our house just for extra security measures.
spy on my kids, of course
I would use it as a security cam and use it in the garage, kitchen and other places, as needed. I love its portability.
Entryway.
I would put it in front room
I do not have babies but I am the caregiver to my elderly Mom and I would love to be able to use this camera to make sure she is OK in her room and monitor her safety.
I would use it at my office to see who was entering.
Had a break-in last year so can definitely set up the Drop Cam facing the entryway!
I would give it as a Christmas gift.
I would put this in our nursery
There’s been kids coming into my yard lately, or walking by leaving garbage and teasing the dogs. Also dog walkers that don’t pick up after their dogs. Would be nice to finally catch it on camera so the cops would do something about it.
id use it to watch my house when im gone and i think i can buy a swivel and hook it up to and do my from yard it would be on timer though which is perfect
I’d use it to catch the kids messing with my mailbox 🙂
main entryway to the house
I’d use it in the front of the house.
I’d use it in my living room.
I would use it to keep an eye on my dogs when I can’t be in the same area as them.
I would give this to my cousin for Christmas
I would use it in the nursery if I won.
OH I WANT this!! I would use it for wildlife viewing! You might think I’m crazy, but I LOVE to see what comes into the backyard at night! I hear things at times- trying to get the bird suet and it”s TOO dark to see- I catch them sometimes with a flashlight and a quick look and this cam would be SO FUN with nightvision!!! I can watch the wiley coons and things out there with this. I want it
I would use at my front door.
I would use it to monitor our entrance way.
I would use it in our son’s room!
I would put it in the entry way into my home.
I would watch my doggies at home while I worked! Hope to win!
I would use the Dropcam to monitor my daughter when she is downstairs in the playroom.
I’ve got a weird use for it. I would use it to spy on hedgehogs with litters! Safer than peaking in on them when new mothers often kill their babies!
I would give it to my brother to watch over his son!
I would put it in my living room.
Tell me in a comment how/where you would use the DropCam if you won!
i cant think of any reason except securuty back up
In my living room
I would definitely use this to see what my kids are up to while I am not home 🙂
I would use it in the babys room to monitor her
I would put it in the living room to keep an eye on who is coming in the house.
if i won this awesome dropcam i would use it by putting it in our boys bedroom so i can checkin on them without having to actually disturb them.
aemgeg4 (@) yahoo (dot) com
I would direct it towards my back patio doors
I would install it in my living room. I have dinners in my home often, and sometimes things come up missing. This would be nice to have!
I would use it in my home to keep an eye on my dog. He is older now and starting to have health problems. I want to be sure he is ok during the times I am not at home.
I will give it as a gift for Christmas
I would give this to my daughter who has three children and another on the way!
I would use it at the front of my house as a security camera.
I would give the Drop Cam to my brother so that he can keep an eye on my nephew. He would probably put it in the baby’s bedroom.
I would actually give it to my brother as a gift.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
My wife would use this for our puppy litter.
I would use it in my living room, to keep an eye on the house (the kitties, etc…) while I am at work and also when I go to Central America for a month in the summer months since we’ve had break ins when we were gone in the past 🙁
I would use in the backyard to keep watch on the animals.
security cam
I would use it to compliment my audio baby monitor.
I would use this in the entry of my house.
Would totally use this to check in on my toddler when he’s crying!!
I would put this in my apartment!
I’d put it in my living room which allows me a view of my dining room and entry door.
Hmm…just a lil spy cam to watch the teens when online downstairs? Or to see WHO backed into our small white fence in our driveway? Or to see who is snitching cookies? Or just to keep to watch the little one when she is sleeping (which is most common I’d guess). We’d have lots of uses actually.
NEar the front of my house
I would use the drop cam in the living room.
out the side window, someone has been coming into our yard
hard to say where i’d use it
Suppliment the house secutity
I’d use it in my baby’s room for now and as a security camera later.
would use to monitor the front of the house
I’d put it in our little one’s room.
I’d probably put it in the playroom and watch the kids remotely.
I would use it as a nanny cam.
I would use it out my back window to see what is getting in my trash can at night! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I would use it in my daughters playroom.
I’d have it in my daughters room to keep an eye on her.
In my backyard to monitor the little critters in my garden.
my front entry way would be a good location
I would give it to my sister in law
I’d use it on my entryway!
I would use the drop cam in my son’s room to keep an eye on what he’s doing.
Thanks for the giveaway…we would use to monitor a detached garage.