The Abode Edge Camera boasts features we’ve never seen in a home security camera, including 1.5-mile transmission range, on-camera AI-powered image processing, and a 6,000mAh battery that can operate the camera for up to a year between charges.
Until now, if you lived on a large property and needed to set up a security camera to monitor areas far from your home—such as a gate at the end of your long driveway; a guest house, shed, barn, or other outbuilding set far back from your house; or if you want a camera mounted on a pole far enough away to capture a view of the entire front or back of your home—a pricey LTE camera attached to a pricier cell-phone service plan was your only option. No conventional Wi-Fi security camera would be able to reach your router.
This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras.
The Abode Edge Camera transmits video over Wi-Fi HaLow (802.11ah), a Wi-Fi spin-off that uses wireless spectrum below 1GHz, compared to the 2.4- and 5GHz spectrum that Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Wi-Fi 6/Wi-Fi 6e (802.11ax) networks use.
Because sub-gigahertz radio waves are so much longer than radio waves at higher frequencies, they can travel farther and more easily penetrate any physical barriers between the transmitter and the receiver.
Abode
The “Edge” in the camera’s name refers to its ability to perform image processing on the camera itself, versus uploading that task to a server in the cloud. The chip used for this has onboard AI models and algorithms related to object detection, facial recognition, and anomaly detection. Abode says that the speed at which video analysis is performed enables instant decision-making and response, and the reduced latency will make automation applications faster in turn.
In addition to having a very large battery (6,000mAh), the Abode Edge Camera’s passive-infrared motion sensor and AI detection feature puts it into a deep sleep mode when there’s no activity to record.
To allow the camera to be deployed virtually anywhere, Abode outfitted it with an IP67-rated enclosure. That means it’s impervious to dust ingress and that it can withstand being blasted with a pressure washer. In other words, it should be good to go as long as it’s not completely immersed in a pool of water. (You’ll find everything you need to know about IP codes at the preceding link.)
The Abode Edge Camera can be deployed on a stand-alone basis or it can be incorporated into any of Abode’s home security systems. While there will be a subscription plan attached to the camera, it won’t be anywhere near as expensive as an LTE plan for cellular-based cameras.
A single-camera video plan will cost $3.99 per month and will include Abode’s AI-enabled Smart Detect, on-demand live view, and an up to 10-day timeline with captured video clips that can be viewed and downloaded.
To deploy more than one camera, you’ll want the Abode Standard Plan that supports an unlimited number of cameras. It costs $6.99 per month.
The Abode Edge Camera is expected to ship later in the first quarter, with an MSRP of $199.99.
Author: Michael Brown, Executive Editor, TechHive
Michael is TechHive's lead editor, with 30+ years of experience covering smart homes, home networking, and home audio/home theater. He holds a BA in Multimedia Journalism, authored the book Desktop Video Production, and was awarded Best Online Review by the Computer Press Association. Michael built a smart home in 2007 and used it as a real-world product-testing lab. Now living in the Pacific Northwest, he is converting his 1890 Victorian bungalow into a modern smart home. Michael has worked at CNET, PCWorld, Electronic Musician, and Maximum PC. As a freelancer, he contributed to New Media, Camcorder, MacWeek, and more.