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Customer reviews

Rating 4.3 out of 5 stars with 27 reviews

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89%
would recommend
to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers often highlight the excellent camera quality, with praise for the 1080p resolution, clear image, and minimal lag in video playback. The wide field of view and long USB cables are also frequently mentioned as positive aspects. There were no negative customer comments reported.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 27 reviews
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Perfect wireless cameras with hub & many features

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    We are using 8 Lorex wired outdoor cameras for more than 5 years now and looking for wireless camera systems to extend monitoring within the house. I got Lorex Home Center with two 1080p WiFi Cameras. It came with all the required accessories either to put as an outdoor camera or an indoor camera on a desk. It came with 1 Lorex Home Center, 1 Power Adapter, 1 Ethernet Cable, Quick setup guide, and two 1080p cameras with all accessories. Lorex Home Center is a great addition to Lorex monitoring products and it can be configured with a wired or wireless network. Setup is relatively easy. I have connected Home Center with the provided power card and installed two cameras in desk stand mode in kids room. There are options to unlock the home center with a password of facial recognition. There are tons of other features like setting up screensaver, weather, and clock. After setting up the Home center, I was able to add two cameras easily and named them to manage it easily. I have positioned the cameras within kids room and selected one of the rooms in-home center. I was impressed with the quality of camera output and coverage of the entire room. I really liked the feature of local storage and there is no data transferred/hosted in cloud like other monitoring systems/cameras. It is one of the main reasons I have installed in the kids room for privacy and there are no monthly fees as well. We are using it for checking kids what they are doing in their rooms and two-way talk to call the kids to come down from the 2nd floor instead of yelling from the 1st floor. The Lorex home center has integrated voice control like Alexa and Google and you can use voice over control like “Lorex show all cameras” Home Center can be paired up to 8 – 1080p, 4 – 2K QHD wireless cameras, or 32 sensors. Cameras can record 1080p HD resolution and there are various configurations that can be done in the Home center for notification, motion events, etc. Lorex Home App is super helpful to monitor the kids remotely. The display quality could have been better in Lorex Home Center hub. Lorex is stepping into wireless camera systems which included Hub with no monthly fees and local recording. It is definitely an important factor for privacy to record locally instead of sending data to the cloud.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Easy setup, crystal clear pic and overall great!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Over the years I've accumulated a bunch of different cameras, all intended for, and used by me, as security. But this is really the first camera system I've had with an integrated hub and it's really nice. Getting this thing unboxed and setup was amazingly easy, I'd say I had it up and running within about 15 minutes of taking it out of the box. It's very simple and the on-screen guide easily walks you through all of it. I must admit, although I'm a tech nerd I was a little wondering if this was going to be a bear to setup and was pleasantly surprised. Mounting the camera was very easy and took me, a man who is as clumsy as they come, about 5 minutes for each camera mount. It comes with a bunch of install stuff to install with but I basically just used 3 screws, then screwed the thingamajig on, then popped the camera ona nd voila! done... Using it is also very easy. The Lorex (I keep wanting to call it Lorax LOL) is as simple as saying "Lorex show me the front door" and it wakes up and goes to the front door camera on your screen. There was a time or two where it didn't hear me but for the most part it's very cooperative and fast. The camera uses 5Ghz and for that I was also a little concerned as the range on 5Ghz can be short but again, no problems at all there. About the only con I can think of is despite recognizing a kid on a bicycle a ways away (pretty surprised at that) on the edge of the camera zone it failed to recognize my foster teen daughter going out the door this morning at 6:45am. It caught my other foster teen at 6:48am in full and recorded the clip but the first child it missed altogether which is a bit puzzling. Hopefully just a glitch. Overall though I'm very impressed with this camera set as it's hub is really nice, very very easy setup and excellent monitoring. Combine that with no monthly fees and I have to say: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Very, Modern User Friendly Camera System

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Pros: -Simple To Setup & Use -Modern voice commands for camera viewing -No monthly subscription fees -Local video & photo storage via Micro SD card Cons: -Cameras are not rechargeable, need a power outlet for them to function -Cameras are clear 1080p picture, personally prefer package with more higher resolution cameras (cameras can be added to system) Lorex has increased the security device offerings and I believe they are getting better and better each time. I believe this Lorex Home camera system can be installed and setup by almost anyone. Instructions were easy and simple, and the hardest part is the physical installation of the wireless cameras to the location of your choice. The best part of this system is it is very easy to use with touchscreen functions and can be used to manage all of your Lorex devices from a single device. Everything was packaged neatly and separated well in the box. All cables that are needed come in the package including a USB extender and power adapter (cameras connect to their power adapter via a USB A type connector), a Western Digital Surveillance Grade 64GB Micro SD Card (for storing video or photos locally), an ethernet cable (option for connecting the Home Center station to router instead of via WiFi), and 2 different mounts for either installing the camera onto a wall or a ceiling (doubles as a countertop stand as well). Installation was simple and pretty similar to other wireless camera installations with the exception of the need for a power outlet. The cameras connect to the Lorex Home Center station via Wi-Fi but their power power source is a wall adapter similar to phone chargers. I personally would've preferred to see rechargeable battery cameras as other wireless cameras but the Home Center allows for additional cameras to be added and connected to it. Other than that, when the cameras were powered on, an audible noise was produced from each camera, signifying it was ready for setup. Following the prompts on the station allowed for quick setup. Another thing to note is that the cameras cannot be too far from the base station (Lorex doesn't specify how far). A Lorex range extender device can be added to the setup to allow for a longer range for devices to connect to the Home Center station as well. The Lorex Home Center has many nice features and is pretty compact. It includes a decent sized touchscreen, very useful voice commands (such as, "Lorex show me the last person from the front door"), a small speaker for video audio playback, password lock and face recognition unlock function, privacy features like disabling the on-board microphone and front camera, and many more nifty features. One thing to note about the station was that more devices can later be added to it for a centralized security system. As long as it is considered a "compatible device" by Lorex, it can be added. More cameras, doorbells, sensors, and range extenders can be added. Now for the cameras. Although we are in 2020 and everything seemingly must be 4k, the included 1080p video recording is great for most applications. I personally prefer higher resolution cameras but these are still great for security monitoring and for recording those pesky porch pirates. The great thing about the included cameras is that they're able to detect regular motion or if a vehicle or person is detected within the video frame. Other than this, the cameras also allow for two way communication (its nice to give a "Thank You!" once in a while to those delivery drivers), includes night vision, a small light, and a port for additional micro SD storage. Overall, I can see this being a great value, especially with this taking the place of a home security system. Lorex doesn't charge any monthly fees and videos are stored locally onto the Home Center station via a micro SD card. What's not to love?

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Very loud two-way communication

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I am really enjoying my experience with the Lorex Home Center since we got it about a week ago. This has been a great addition to my home to help secure it and compliment my security system that I already have in place. I placed my cameras inside the house with one upstairs in my loft and the other downstairs that has a great view of the front door, living room kitchen area and back door. This camera can cover every possible way to enter my house from the bottom floor and it is perfect. Setting up the Lorex Home Center was extremely easy and straight forward. Lorex gives you a few options on mounting the cameras. Inside the box are wall mounts (screws and drywall anchors) and a stand to place the camera on a flat surface. Each camera requires a power source and they come with a lengthy USB type A cable and power plug. If the attached cable is not long enough, you are also given a USB extension cable. The hub itself will need an internet connection in order to view the cameras from the Lorex Home App when you are away from your home. You are free to use either Wi-Fi or Ethernet, I chose the Wi-Fi method since I have a Wi-Fi mesh system at home, and I have great signal all over. Registering the cameras to the home hub unit was easy as could be and I did not have any issues with the installation. Everything just worked right the first time. This system is nice because there are no cloud storage fees and all the data (from what I can tell) is stored locally onto the included 64GB micro SD card. You can expand that storage with up to a 256GB micro SD card, or you can use up to a 1TB M.2 SSD. There is a plastic panel on the back and you just pop it off and remove the two screws holding the metal cover off and that will expose the M.2 slot. I have yet been able to get mine to work so I am still trying to figure out how to use that feature. See my photos for the M.2 Slot. The cameras are full 1080p and have great quality in the day and really good quality at night. These are Lorex’s active threat deterrent cameras that come equipped with a bright led spotlight, a siren (sort of cheesy) and two-way communications. I am really impressed with the sound quality of the speaker/microphone in these cameras. I have some other wireless cameras (think birdy) and the audio on those expensive cameras are just severely lacking. The Lorex cameras blow them out of the water with the sheer volume, crispness and clarity. Since my cameras are mounted inside I am able to catch my dogs up on the couch and tell them to get off through the cameras and they obey, this really comes in handy when I am at work and I want to check in on them during the day. Another great feature is the smart detection, which will alert you to a vehicle, person, or package. I tested it out and it worked well for most alerts, but the sensitivity does not seem to be affected much when you adjust it in the Lorex home app or the home hub. Alerts would come through to my phone via push notifications and the home hub would ding every time. I had to turn this feature off to keep my alerts down, and when I finally moved the cameras inside, I turned it off since there would be no need to be alerted to vehicles inside my home…I hope. The Hub itself reminds me of a Google Home device, but with a Lorex spin on it. It has a pretty decent speaker so you can use it to play music on, it has the Lorex voice assistant built in for voice commands and a bright touch screen for displaying weather, camera live views, alerts, and recorded video. There is also a build in camera in the home hub itself which allows you to unlock the device with facial recognition. Lorex has included a slide cover for the camera so you can easily block its view if you are worried about that sort of thing. I found the facial recognition to work well, but the placement of the camera is not the best. If the hub is mounted on a table, you must lower yourself down to be right in front of it. It would have been nice to have the camera mounted upwards so you could stand in front of it, perhaps on a swivel of some sorts to accommodate different height requirements. You could mount this on a high shelf that is at eye level, but that does not work for me, so I will just use the passcode feature. The voice assistant is pretty good and knows some basic commands and the wake up command is “Hey Lorex”, but I found it to pick up words that don’t even sound close to that, so there might be some adjustments in the software that Lorex will need to do. What is nice about the Lorex Home Hub is the ability to add additional devices to this. I believe you can add up to 8 total cameras and a Lorex wireless video doorbell, security sensors, and flood light cameras. It really could be your one stop shop for all your security needs around your house. I look forward to adding more cameras and doorbell to my home and really take advantage of what this can do.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Security to last you through the night

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Lorex home security system is a great home security system for those do it yourselfers looking to avoid the monthly fees of a traditional set up. Let's see if this set up will work for you. Out of the box your going to get everything you need for set up minus the necessary tools. You'll get screws, anchors, and even a template that will help line up the holes for you. This is a wired set up so drilling and wire routing will need to be done. Now don't be too worried about setting this up, as the most difficult thing is going to be getting a long enough drill bit to drill through the wall. Although this set up can be used indoor it was designed to be mounted outside near a entry way, i.e. front or back door. In all reality im not that much of a handy man and i had this thing mounted and wires ran in about a hour. Now the cameras will wirelessly feed the data to the main hub which comes in the form of a tablet style display. The main hub needs to be connected to the internet which can then be done either through a ethernet cable or wireless. I chose wireless as it was easier and the stream quality was excellent with no drop outs or distortion. The main hub comes with a pre-installed micro usb card which will act as the storage for your footage allowing you to not have to pay monthly fees for cloud storage and it will also help reduce your internet usage as it does not need to transfer these files over to a cloud storage. The micro usb can be updated any time to whatever memory is to your liking. I don't want to waste any more time so i want to jump right in to how well both units function. Let's talk about the cameras for a minute. The cameras come with a two way mic, smart detection lens, single led spotlight and a built in siren. The picture quality is phenomenal epically at night. I have a gone through so many security cameras over the last few years and these cameras are hands down some of the best i have seen at night. I have uploaded a picture for you guys to see just well they look in the darkness. In the photo you will notice i don't even have my porch light on and it is still able to pick up enough light from the street to illuminate some good footage. Now the two way mic is crystal clear and i was able to hear the person outside my door and they were able to hear me very clearly. The camera has a built in spotlight which by default will come on everytime motion is detected and then it will shut off after about 10 secs and then go on a cooldown for a few minutes so that you don't continue to blind the person at the door. Now don't worry if this gets annoying this setting can be turned off through the main hub. The smart detection lens will pick up on motion and then try to determine what it is picking up on. For example it will notify you if it detected a person or a vehicle. I will say it is very good at picking up on the vehicles and decent at picking up people. Several times my outside flag would be waving in the wind and it would think it was a person. One thing i dislike about this set up is how overly sensitive the motion detection is and the fact that there is no adjustment to sensitivity level at this time. I was constantly getting notified via the main hub or through the free app via push notifications. It got so annoying that i ended up turning off the push notifications just so my phone wasn't so cluttered with messages. This is kind of disappointing seeing as how i want to be notified when someone really is at my door and not every single time a leaf blows down the street no where near my house. Let's dive in to the main hub. The main hub is set up just like a tablet with two antennas at the top to help pick up on the cameras and transmit wireless to the internet. Set up of this hub is super easy and only takes a couple minutes. The hub comes with some security features incase you don't want people going through your footage or looking at your cameras. There are two forms of security in this matter. One is through a passcode that you can set up while the second method is in the form of facial recognition. The main hub has a built in forward facing camera that once it detects said persons face it will unlock the screen automatically. Now if your worried about the government spying on you Lorex thought ahead. There is a slide at the top of the lens that when moved over will block the camera lens. Once the tablet is set up you can then move forward to set up multiple cameras, doorbells, or window/door sensors. Speaking of which this set up is designed to allow you to build a full on home security system. What i mean by this is that you can set up a ring style doorbell, couple more cameras and door/window sensors which will then allow you to set 'Away' and 'Home' alarms. Through the main hub you can set up different display and settings. You can set up your screen saver and widgets. So far it only looks like you can have one widget display at a time right now. For me i chose the time and weather so that when i wake up in the morning i can see what the weather is gonna be. The main hub is also voice activated as well. Simply say "hey lorex" and the unit will wake up allowing you to speak a few commands such as "Turn on the back door camera." One thing i do want to note is the fact that there have been many times where the voice activation has gone off and no one was even talking. Through the hub there are many settings allowing you to set up your home security based on your liking. For example you can set up rather or not the hub chimes whenever the camera detects motion and what sound chime you would like. There are many more settings but this was just one basic example. Here's my final take away. With more and more kids being home schooled as a result of Covid, we can't always stay home with our kids. We have to got to work without being worried about their safety. This set up is a must have for me because it allows my kids to view who is at the front door by simply looking at the hub. This means they don't need a cellphone or app to view these cameras. While at the hub they can view who is at the door, talk to them to see what they want, and if they feel threatened they can then set off the alarm (which is built in to each camera). While this set up may have some minor flaws it is a great unit which will give you and your loved ones some peace of mind with really easy to use settings. With the option to expand in to a full blown home security system that allows you avoid monthly fees this is almost a must have. Do yourself a favor and check it out for yourself. I really think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    3.5 stars A lot of room for improvement

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I had high hopes for this system. After set-up it has a lot of room for improvement. The Lorex Home Center comes with a home command center and 2 cameras that can be used indoors or outdoors. Set up was pretty easy. I sometimes joke that I need to call a kid to help me set some of these smart devices up but that wasn't necessary with this system. It uses QR codes to add devices. Each camera comes with a stand for use indoors or a mounting for use outdoors. There is even a stick on template for mounting. Each camera comes with 10 feet of cord attached as well as a 10 foot extension with a weatherproof connection. The power cords are USB with an attachment to plug into a standard electrical outlet. The cameras have color and have 1080p and night vision. The view is 129° and they come with an SD card for offline recording. There is also a microphone and an LED "warning light". I really like the microphone. With my current wired Lorex system I often wish I could hear what is going on. These cameras allow you to hear as well as speak. The Home Center plugs into a standard electrical outlet. You can connect to it wirelessly or with a wired connection. It has a 7" touchscreen display that can use facial recognition to turn on and let you see your cameras. There is also a passcode option. You can choose a picture for a screensaver or have it display the weather. You can also choose which camera to display or you have the option to see them all in a tile format. There is an option of connecting to a music app to enable you to play music through its speaker. Each camera, as well as the command center, has a privacy setting to allow you to disable viewing. Additionally, there is an option to turn off the microphones. Other setting preferences are available. I was easily able to add the Lorex wireless camera that I already have. There is a variety of devices that you can add to this system including a doorbell and a floodlight. You can have up to 32 devices so there is plenty of room for expansion. I was surprised at the quality of the video and sound. The picture is pretty much real time. There is very little delay. There are a few things that I really dislike about this system though. I'd like to think that they will be addressed and updated in the future. The first thing is that the command center is not a camera. It has a camera in it that is used for the facial recognition but it does not capture video of the room. Even the other brand Home Hubs that I have have cameras in them. The second thing is that while you connect to the system through the Lorex Home app, you can only use it from one location. In other words, if your command center is logged into the app to capture video from your other cameras, you cannot be logged into the app on your phone at the same time. So, if you aren't at home and something happens, you have to kick the command center off the app so that you can log on to it through your phone. What happens if there is an event and another family member is at home monitoring it through the command center and you try to use the app so that you can see what is happening as well? Or, if you are in the bedroom and the command center is in the kitchen and there is an event? You can't just open the app on your phone to see what is going on. Hopefully that will be corrected in the future.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Love these cameras by Lorex

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I recieved these in return of my unbiased review. Great 2 pack of security cameras with a camera video hub. Setup is super easy, although install is kinda pain as the cameras are hardwired for power. These cameras have great wifi range and a great picture with good quality audio which is also 2 way. I like that you get 2 different style camera mounts for versatility. My one complaint is that when you get on the lorex app via a different device smartphone or tablet you have to sign in each time. I wish it would keep you logged in on both like my other security cameras. These can connect to either 5 or 2.4 ghz wifiwhich is nice. The built in led spotlight is a nice feature for nighttime. I highly recommend these cameras.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great Home Monitoring System

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Admittedly I didn't know much about Lorex's systems until getting the Lorex Home Center with two 1080p WiFi Cameras. Now I'm a true fan of their systems! The piece that is a game changer on this system is the Hub Unit with a 7" touch screen. Any other monitoring or camera system used in the past had just the camera and it could be monitored on your own device. This system includes the hub unit, 2 1080p WiFi cameras, all the needed cabling and mounting accessories. Setup is straight forward and done on the hub unit. You can set a password as well as use facial recognition for logging on. Simply walk through the setup manual to connect to a wifi system or hardwire it, plug in the cameras and they pretty much connect automatically; however there are a multitude of settings for the cameras. Now the hub unit can be personalized with screensavers, weather, clock, etc. That's about it for the initial setup, now the biggest piece is deciding on the location for the cameras and getting them mounted. Again, Lorex does supply all sorts of mounting hardware and options. There is also a separate set up guide for the cameras which walks through all of the setup and customization options. This is when the hub really shines. It's the control center for your home's new monitoring system including the cameras, notifications, playback of recorded video and more. It also provides local weather, the time which is really nice to have. As I now work from home and receive packages on a daily basis, it's become my direct communication tool with Fedex and UPS drivers. The camera alerts me of activity in the driveway and I can communicate with the driver about where to leave a package or if there is outbound boxes to be picked up. The drivers all really seem to like it as it makes my stop very efficient for them as well as myself. Pros: - Touchscreen Hub Unit to control the system - Mobile app supports the system remotely - Ease of setup, customization and use of the hub and cameras - Expandable with additional cameras, doorbells, sensors and floodlights - No monthly fees - Ability to record events on a supplied SD card - Integrated Voice Control - Audio support on cameras Cons: - Wired cameras can be a bit of a challenge when locating and mounting - Lack of support for multiple facial recognitions on the base unit Overall this is the best home security/monitoring system I have owned and will be used for many years to come.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Easy setup, many features, clear video/audio

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Lorex Home Center isn’t my first security camera system, but it is the first one that I’ve owned that has an integrated monitor base station and smart home type features. My previous system was a wired DVR, and it was a lot of work to running the cables from each camera to the DVR. Since the Lorex cameras for the Home Center are wireless, all I needed to do was ensure that the cameras were placed within 20 feet of a power outlet and that the Home Center base was located centrally relative to the cameras and my WiFi router. Initially, I was having intermittent difficulty getting the Home Center to reliably bring up one of the camera’s video feeds, but after I moved the Home Center closer to that camera this issue went away. Each camera has a 10 ft integrated USB power cable and comes with a weatherproof 10 ft extension cable as well as a USB wall adapter. You also receive two mounting template stickers, one for each camera, to map out where to drill the holes for wall/ceiling mounting. This makes securing the camera to a wall or other surface super easy since you just place the stickers on the wall, pilot the marked positions, and peel them off when you’re done. I also made a photocopy of the stickers just in case I wanted to move the cameras later. I appreciated that each camera unit includes cable management clips, screws, and wall anchors to make your installation look tidy afterwards. Setting up the system only took about 10 minutes. Just plug in the base station and setup a passcode to unlock the device and disarm the cameras and sensors. Then plug in the cameras and add them directly on the Home Center or alternately through the mobile app. You can also choose to setup ‘face unlock’ on the base station as it has a small camera above the touchscreen LCD that is only used for facial recognition purposes. Only one face unlock user can be stored at a time. A separate device password also needs to be set for the base station and each camera if you want to add them to your Lorex account on the Lorex Home mobile app. Once set up, you can use the base station monitor to view the cameras live any time, activate the mic for two-way communication, since each speaker has both a built-in mic and speaker, trigger the audible alarm or deterrence light (a bright spot light), and change various settings in addition to manually initiating a recording or photo snapshot. You can shut off the live camera feed by enabling “privacy” mode. These same features are also present in the mobile app. Just be aware that this system is not “always-on” and continuously recording/saving footage the way a traditional DVR system would. While you can view the cameras' live feeds any time, it only saves footage when there’s a motion-triggered event or if you manually start a recording. You can also choose to be notified for motion detection events and set a schedule for the times during the day when you want those triggered. You can receive notifications on the Home Center with an audible signal and/or a push notification on your phone. Each camera can be customized to detect motion, people, and/or vehicles with the ability to block out “zones” in the field of view of each type and set the overall sensitivity of the sensor. I thought this was pretty neat because this helps to reduce the amount of nuisance notifications, for example, if your camera is pointed towards a busy street and you’re really only interested in capturing a person on camera, or if you want to ignore motion in the sky portion of the camera's field of view. You can also set a notification cooldown period where you wouldn’t receive additional alerts, up to 30 seconds, though that still seemed a bit too frequent to me. To access your cameras and video footage anytime from anywhere you have an internet connection, you must connect the Home Center case to your home WiFi network wirelessly (5 GHz only) or wired using the included Ethernet cable. However, the system does not require internet to operate, and it works perfectly fine completely offline; you would, however, lose the ability to access your system though the mobile app and cannot receive automatic notifications while using the system offline. Recorded video/audio footage are saved locally to the SD cards (up to 256GB) installed in the Home Center base station and/or in the cameras. The base station comes with a 64 GB SD card pre-inserted, so you can get started right away, but in case the Home Center loses power, you may want to install SD cards in the cameras themselves as a backup recording method. You can also choose to install a 1TB M.2 SSD (SATA interface only) in the Home Center to have 4 times more max storage space. Since all the footage is saved locally, there is no monthly cloud storage subscription fee to access or store your footage. If you link your Home Center and cameras to your Lorex Home account, you can also share your devices with other users you want to have access to the live views and recordings. I found the footage and snapshots captured by the 1080p cameras to be clear and detailed, both indoors and outdoors, and even in pitch black conditions thanks to the auto-activated infrared lights. The interface for both the Home Center base station and the mobile app are easy to navigate/use, and the two-way audio for communicating with someone near the cameras was actually better than expected, with the best audio quality when the person was within 6-8 feet of the camera. For me, the deterrence siren could actually be a little louder, and I would have liked to have seen customization options for the duration of both the deterrence light and siren (only active for 10 seconds from the time of being triggered). However, the system is expandable with a range of wireless Lorex products including a video doorbell, door and window sensors, and floodlight camera. It supports 8 Wi-Fi cameras and 32 sensors total. I liked having the option to issue voice commands to the Home Center using the wake word ‘Lorex’ to bring up the live views of camera, recorded footage, or trigger the security features. It just takes a little while to get familiarized with what commands are available to use. If you prefer privacy, both the mic and camera on the Home Center can be disabled. While I was able to connect my Lorex account to my Amazon account, you do need an Echo device with a screen, like the Echo Show, in order to utilize Alexa commands; though, there’s only really one command for the skill to show the live views of the cameras. I also thought it was cool that it grabs weather information from the internet based on your location, and can display it on the screensaver and even tell you the hourly/weekly forecast. Overall, I’m pretty happy with this security system. It was easy to install and setup, is intuitive to use, and has more advanced AI and smart home features than my older DVR system.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    Unique idea but unfinished

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Pros No subscription fees Outlet power means no charging batteries Active deterrence light is very bright High frame rate catches even faster motion Two-way talk allows you to interact with people Wireless connection makes pulling cable unnecessary Recordings include 5 seconds of video before trigger Direct power means faster response and alerts Direct wireless and connection through existing Wi-Fi options Motion alerts show thumbnail even on Apple Watch AI for people and vehicles greatly reduce false positives Option to add SSD internally Video comes up fast for remote viewing App automatically adjusts resolution based on internet speed Cons Lorex has a weak track record of support after the sale Storage of videos is directly in base station and easy to steal Lorex name on front makes it easy for thieves to know to take it Voice assistant is slow and rigid in commands Voice assistant wake word often heard randomly Facial recognition is slow and only works in good lighting Touchscreen is low quality and inconsistently responds to touch Instructions are very vague, and setup is not well thought out App and configuration options feel unfinished No information if continuous recording is an option with an SSD Base station periodically freezes or lags Recordings are periodically corrupted No privacy zones to block off recording those areas Power adapter is very deep making it hard to keep in weather enclosure Mounting system is extremely finicky and feels prone to breaking Screen saver option rarely shown as base usually shows pin code pad No zooming option on base station No instructions for adding cameras to Wi-Fi directly Deterrence light triggers color night vision right as the light shuts off Speech is extremely hard to hear on microphones Wind causes an electronic popping sound on recordings Design The Lorex Home Center is a departure from the normal security system where the recorder is hidden away with no screen. It looks more like a home assistant giving you the impression it is part of a smart home setup. On the side is a microSD card slot where you can install the included WD Purple 64GB Surveillance MicroSD card. Listed in the specs but not in the instructions is a slot to accommodate up to a 1TB M.2 SSD. The slot is located on behind plastic panel on the back of the unit. Recordings are stored directly on the base station with a very conspicuous Lorex logo. Any thief can easily recognize what it does and make sure to take your recordings as they take your belongings. Setup The wizard on the screen makes setup fairly basic as long as you just do exactly what it tells you. Advanced configuration isn’t quite as clear cut since the instructions don’t tell you how to do it. For example, if your cameras aren’t close enough to the base station to directly connect wirelessly, there is an option to connect the cameras directly to Wi-Fi and then from there to the base station. While the instructions say it is possible, they don’t tell you how to do this. On the hardware side, the plastic bases on the camera are made of what feels to be a flimsy plastic that creaks as you install it. Adjustment is very finicky and once you have it adjusted at what you think is the right angle you take it back off and tighten a plastic screw inside hoping the camera didn’t move while you took it off. There is also a thin plastic locknut that if you twist the camera even slightly the locknut comes loose. The power adapter also causes issues. It is so long that it prevents the weather cover from closing on your outdoor plug. Performance and Usage The first noticeable difference is in the speed of AI and alerts. With the cameras using plug in power and local processing it can determine if an object is a person or a car very quickly compared to a battery powered, Cloud AI, camera. So far, false positives have been very low when using person and vehicle detection. It’s nice to have a security camera system that you can depend on alerts. If you get a person or vehicle alert, it isn’t just for a branch moving or a bird flying by. Furthermore, when you are alerted on your mobile device it sends a thumbnail and the video is ready to watch almost instantly. A nice touch is it also shows the thumbnail on the Apple Watch. While there is an app for Android, iOS, and AppleTV none of them feels finished. Navigation feels like a work in process and on Apple TV you are often met with a screen with no cameras. Using in on an iPad means you get a blown up phone interface and worse yet it will log you off your phone if you log into an iPad. Similarly, you cannot be logged into more than one Apple TV. Unfortunately, if you want to look at the feed on a PC, Roku, or Fire Stick you are out of luck. If Lorex could just work on the functionality and polish of the existing apps this might be foregiven. Overall, the best description for the apps is passable and nothing more. With H.265 compression and the automatic resolution on the mobile app streaming video is very quick, when it works. Sometimes there can be a 20 second delay in the video feed even on a good connection. On a poor connection it will drop down to SD quality, but the issue is that at random times the base station seems to lag or timeout. There doesn’t seem to a discernible pattern to it as sometimes it can go a day or two and work near flawlessly but other days it gets so bad it warrants restarting the base station. It’s possible it could be related to the SD card as occasionally a video is partially corrupted. It might also be possible it is a result of an early firmware. Over time, the issues haven’t gone completely gone away but they have lessened. If you want to expand to more than the included 2 cameras, you are most likely going to want to upgrade to an actual SSD as reliability with a MicroSD is questionable at best. It would be nice if adding an SSD would allow a continuous recording option but there is not mention of such a feature. If there was one word to describe the base station, it would be unfinished. The base station screen seems mainly intended to monitor and view recordings. It almost seems the perfect place would be your bedside so you can conveniently check on alerts in the middle of the night. The promotional videos show you conveniently walking up to it and having your face recognized and just using the wake word to display any video or live video you wish. In reality, the pin code to login is faster. It also only works with one person. The screen also seems to be of low resolution and often seems to miss touches. It has a light sensor to adjust screen brightness, but the way it is set it is often to dark or bright. It also has an option to have a screensaver of your images, but you rarely see it because if the screen is on then it is usually on the login screen. It would be nice if there was a way to have it display the screensaver, clock, and calendar and then either just display the alert counter or a brief thumbnail or video for the active event without requiring you to login every time. Although having the option to be completely offline is nice, you can feel it in the slowness and rigidity of the assistant. You have to be very precise in your wording but also the assistant seems to think nearly everything is the work “Lorex” as it would constantly hear people talking or the TV and say it can’t help with that. Ironically it often didn’t hear the actual wake word and would take repeated attempts to wake. This could still be corrected via future updates, but unless Lorex deviates from the normal history or abandonment after the sale it is unlikely to improve. Unfortunately, odd interface choices and sacrifices seem to be common in the security camera market. It almost seems as if companies are still trying to evolve from what business customers want to what consumers want. If you can deal with the odd interface choices, the biggest question is how good is the video it records? Well to start, you are going to see the light areas well or the shaded areas well, but not both. It just can’t handle the difference very well. On the positive side, the 30fps is a welcomed departure from the norm and translates to be better capturing of fast motion. It still isn’t going to catch the license plate number of a car driving by. Realistically that feature currently isn’t available in any camera at this level. Night vision is decent with a hot spot in the middle of the IR lights which send light out about 35 feet giving you the ability to recognize things out to maximum of 40-50 feet and identification of people working to about 20 feet. Night vision has an issue with the deterrence light. When enabled, the light turns on first and then triggers color night vision. The moment color night vision turns on, the light turns off. What you end up with is a few seconds dark color video where even the slightest vision causes a person to completely disappear. The microphone is poor in most cases with speech barely recognizable beyond 10 feet and wind noises cause buffeting sounds and an odd electronic popping sound. Speaking off the camera is extremely good with decent volume. Final Thoughts Overall, the Lorex Home Center has some interesting concepts but really needs refinement in functionality. Many can be addressed with software updates and others are, unfortunately, just normal for this class of security camera system. If your primary concern is maximum security or the most polish app, this isn’t the system for you. If your main desire is for a camera system with that doesn’t require pulling wires through the attic, paying subscription fees, changing batteries, or getting tons of false alerts and you can deal with the hardware and software quirks this could potentially work for you.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    Suprisingly Good UI, and Presentation, but...

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Alright Let me get the bad out of the way first. The quality of the camera is not the greatest, I know them being wireless and also being 1080p are some of the drawbacks, but the quality drops as a lot the further the object is from the camera. I wanted to point this out since it is one of the biggest reasons you get security cameras. If you are not able to see the face of a burglar or the license plates or a car, your evidence wont be of much use. I would say 3 to 4 meters is the max distance you are able to recognize someone before they become pixelated. It shows they spent more resources on making a friendly UI and features than the quality of the cameras. I will go over the features anyways but I would not recommend these cameras if you are trying to watch everything around your house in detail. Let start with the packaging of the cameras and the home center. As you open the box, you will see everything is ordered and placed neatly placed inside smaller boxes. The Home center is somewhat big but does not have a cheap feel to it. Once turned on, you have to go through the set up which is pretty easy. The UI in the home center, even maybe the mobile app, have an apple feel to them. What I mean by that, is that everything is easy to find and customize. The screen is also very responsive and it feels smooth when you do everything on the home center. Setting up cameras was also pretty simple. You plug them in, go to the home center. and wait for the home center to detect them and bam you are ready to go. I have seen that Lorex has a variety of other add ons such as sensors, doorbells, lights, and other types of cameras. Anyways to make my review short and simple, I would not recommend getting this combo of cameras and home center. Yes the user interface is one of the friendliest, but that does not really matter if can't see much through the cameras.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    A Good DIY Security System

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Lorex Home Center with 1080p WiFi cameras is a good do-it-yourself security system. Setup is relatively straight forward. Mount the cameras where you want them using the supplied hardware and templates and plug them in. The included power cables are long enough to allow for the cameras to be mounted almost anywhere. Once cameras are installed, setting them up in the home center is pretty easy and the home center walks you through it. Pros: * Setup is pretty straight forward * You can setup the mobile app to view your cameras on the go * Can expand system easily with additional cameras, doorbells, etc. * Voice activated home center * No monthly fees * Record locally to SD card * Two way audio on the cameras Cons: * Cameras are 1080p and not 4K * Touchscreen on home center seems “cheap” * Navigation of home center is not overly intuitive * Face recognition on home center to unlock only recognizes one face. Not easy to use with more than one person who may need to check footage. * No subscription fees * Cannot add existing Lorex hardwired cameras to home center. I already had a Lorex system, but they won’t work in the home center, just the remote app. Overall, the Lorex Home Center with WiFi Cameras is a good security starter pack. There are better systems available, but the ease of setup and use with this system means you can be up and running in no time. In the end, I just setup the cameras in the Lorex mobile app and don’t use the home center much. This way I can quickly keep an eye on my camera recording, motion detections, get alerts, etc. right to my phone.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Good for the price. Functions as needed.

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Works fine. Not too hard to install and get running. Haven't had need of the phone app yet and haven't installed it. Documentation included and on line is less than extensive. Possibly as a result I can't see if it is possible to get the display to go on when the sensors are activated. I can live with this but it is the reason for a one star demotion.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    I would recommend!!

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Couldn’t hook everything up using the Wi-Fi so I did a hardwire. This way I don’t have to keep charging the cameras. Had one camera go offline, but took it down and rebooted it to the monitor and is back on line. If you don’t have a strong wi-fi, at least 5G, and you don’t mind keeping the camera power cords plugged in, I believe you will like the Lorex system. The cameras have beautiful clarity.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great Stand-Alone Home Security System

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I got this system because it's a complete stand-alone home security system with no apps or internet connection required. (But you can use them to give the system more functionality). I very much liked the idea of not having to be connected, not having any fees, and not having to use a separate device to access and monitor the system. I haven't been disappointed. This is a high-quality system with all the features I expect in a security system. The system's "Home Center" is a mini computer of sorts with a 7 inch touchscreen used to setup, control, and monitor the system. The Home Center has audio and video, can respond to voice commands, and gives audio alerts to events. It walks you through a very simple setup process including connecting wirelessly to the security cameras. Once I had the cameras in place I was up and running in minutes. The cameras are outdoor, 2-way audio, 1080p, w/LED and color night vision. Not battery powered but plug-in, which can be both a pro and a con because it did somewhat limit where I was able to place them. (But I never have to worry about recharging batteries.) They came with their own extension cords which gave them about a twenty foot reach. The camera video quality is excellent as is the recorded video playback. I also like that the system can be added to - extra cameras, video doorbell, motion sensors and range extender. (I didn't need a range extender for the two cameras I have set up so far.) I feel that this system was a good value for the price and would recommend it, especially for anyone who might have no or unreliable internet service.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Clean, easy setup

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Home Center (essentially a console) and two 1080p HD cameras were well-packaged. Something I really liked about this setup was that nothing was missing: the cameras’ USB cables were very long, and a long extension was supplied with each one; ample mounting hardware is included, along with several ways to attach the cameras. The control center’s interface is nice: uncomplicated and pretty intuitive. Navigating the screen doesn’t behave as smoothly or as quickly as one would expect from other touch-oriented devices, like a smartphone. Granted, this system doesn’t have the performance needs of a smartphone, but the sluggishness of the display gives a poor impression. I had a great deal of difficulty getting the facial recognition to function. Entering a code isn’t so bad though, especially since this isn’t a device one should need to use very often.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Camera quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    One of, possibly THE, best security camera systems

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    UNBOXING, SETUP, AND INITIAL IMPRESSIONS: As most who’ve read my reviews might know, I’ve tested several security camera systems, and, for the most part, there’s not a lot of differences between them. These days, they set up very easily, as you access them via a monitor (the ‘old school’ way), or via an app (the modern way). Yet, here comes Lorex, once again, with a new “game changer” – the Lorex Home Center. The “Home Center”, itself, kinda resembles a Google Home Hub, or Lenovo Smart Display, and is the ‘brain’ of the system. now, this ‘brain’ isn’t just for viewing the cameras…no…it can be used for controlling other “smart” Lorex devices, such as a video doorbell, sensors, and whatever else Lorex comes out with (and, yes, there ARE more devices/accessories coming). But, more on that, later. Upon opening that main box, I found several smaller boxes. Were not talking a “box within a box”, but “boxes within a box, and more boxes within three of those boxes. For those (like myself) who try to be environmentally-conscious, Lorex has done an excellent job in creating one of the most extensive, and simultaneously most environmentally-friendly, packaging jobs I’ve seen – the use of plastic is kept to an absolute minimum (the largest piece of plastic is the small 4”x6” Ziploc bag that the Quick Start guides come in). one box contains the Home Center, and all its accessories. Another box contains one camera, and its accessories. A third box is identical to the second. And, final, the fourth (fairly small) box contains the Quick Start guides, and other printed materials. Honestly, there’s really no need for the fourth box, other than to help keep the other three boxes from moving around inside the outermost box. Setup isn’t (and can’t be) done via the app. All initial setup is done using the Home Center’s touchscreen display…and, it walks you through every step. I did run into a couple of very minor problems (one of which I caused, myself), but both were quickly resolved. First, when the display says you need to have the camera close to the Home Center, in order to “add” it, they really mean it. initially, I attempted the binding process with the camera plugged into a kitchen outlet, about 10ft away, and that was too far – it’s best to probably have it within a few feet. Second, while the Home Center can be connected to your network via Wi-Fi, if you are planning to do so, and you use MAC filtering, I HIGHLY recommend getting everything set up via Ethernet, then adding the Home Center’s MAC address to your router’s programming, and then switching the Home Center over to the Wi-Fi connection…otherwise, you’re gonna have problems that you could have avoided in the first place. Once you’ve completed setup through the Home Center, only then do you open the Lorex Home app (if you haven’t already downloaded it, a QR code appears on the screen, to take you to the app install page of your phone’s app store), and log in (using the same email & master password you created during initial setup). HOME CENTER: Overall, the Home Center is easy to use. Like your phone/tablet, the Home Center automatically ‘locks’ after a user-specified amount of time…and, like most phones, you have two ways of ‘unlocking’ it – your passcode (up to six digits), or face unlock (visual, through the Home Center’s camera). A quick word on the camera – there IS a privacy slider, just above the camera, that covers the lens internally, so you won’t need to worry about anyone “spying” on you (Lorex ISN’T Facebook, or Amazon, so you should already know you have less “privacy issues” to worry about). The touchscreen is very responsive, and easy to understand. I might go so far as to say it’s easy enough for your cat (sorry, dog-people) to figure out…but, thankfully, (most) cats aren’t that smart…yet. The Smart Home comes with a 64GB microSD card pre-installed, but it can be upgraded to a higher-capacity card. According to my short call to their customer support, the maximum capacity supported is 256GB. There is also a USB port on the back, but it does NOT support external HDDs or SSDs…it is ONLY for USB thumb drives, for transferring videos from the microSD (as some computers, especially desktops, don’t have built-in microSD slots). While Lorex doesn’t specify/indicate what the USB port’s maximum storage capacity handling abilities are, they have indicated to me that USB thumb drives MUST be formatted as FAT, FAT32, or exFAT…the Home Center does NOT support NTFS formatting. Additionally, each of the cameras also has their own microSD slot, with a 16GB card factory-inserted, and the ability to support up to 256GB cards. LOREX HOME APP: As with the Home Center, the app is also quite easy to navigate. I could say more…but, honestly, there’s not really much need to. While the controls are different, it’s just as easy to operate the system, as well as change settings, from the app. One thing I will mention – the first time you go to access the cameras from the app, it’s probably best to do it while connected to your home’s Wi-Fi. After the initial connection, connecting via your cell phone’s LTE (or 5G, if you have it) data connection should be simple…although, it does take several seconds to make the “connection”. ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS: Image quality is extremely good (for 1080p cameras), and the ‘lag’ is very minimal (less than 2 seconds). I haven’t had the opportunity to test the audio quality remotely, but, in all honesty, I’m not worried, as that’s a feature I’d very rarely use (if at all). The security light LEDs are quite bright, considering their small size, so that’s a plus. As “bright” as the lights are, the ‘siren’ is a bit of a joke. When you go to activate it (via the app), you’re given a “warning” about how loud it is. Trust me…it’s NOT loud, and wouldn’t even scare away the neighbor’s dog/cat. Unfortunately, there is one “elephant” in the room – Lorex’s customer support. There’s little chance you’ll have need to call them…but, if you do, be prepared to get frustrated. The only reason I was even calling was to obtain the microSD & SSD/HDD storage information. The first person I spoke with REALLY needed to take a class in “listening to what other people say”. She asked me the same question, using different words, three times, even though I had answered the question the first two times (in answering the second time, I even used easier-to-understand words, in hopes she’d comprehend). After the third time, I asked for a supervisor. Thankfully, the supervisor was not only easier to work with, but was easily able to provide the information I was asking about. FINAL VERDICT: The product, itself, is outstanding. There are several ‘wireless’ security camera systems on the market, and, while many are “good”, few are “very good”, and even fewer are “outstanding”. The Lorex Home Center Security System is one of the last categories. The Home Center is what makes this security camera system stand out above others. As much as I like the Arlo system I’ve been primarily using (I also have Google Nest, & Logitech Circle), it doesn’t have…nor is one even available…a touchscreen base unit. However, the Arlo base has an alarm that’s not only loud enough to scare away 4-legged neighborhood animals, it’s loud enough to scare the 2-legged variety, as well. While the not-so-loud siren is a disappointment, I don’t believe it detracts too much from the system’s overall rating (I’d say, it lowers it by 0.5 stars). I’ve ‘recommended’ other security cameras, and security camera systems…but, this is the first I’d TRULY recommend. At the time, I felt those other systems were worth recommending, even if just barely…but, compared to the Lorex Home Center Security Camera System, if I were to rate/review those other systems today, I probably wouldn’t ‘recommend’ them…they’d still get the same rating, or one star less, but I wouldn’t recommend them. As for the Lorex, I, MOST DEFINITELY, recommend it. Disclaimer: This product was provided free, or at reduced cost, for the purpose of reviewing the product. Nevertheless, the above review, be it positive, negative, or anywhere in-between, is a 100% honest review, and the price paid played absolutely no part in my review.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Versatile, expandable home security system

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I have installed several other security camera systems at the house and relatives' houses over the last few years. Most of them were wired, some wireless more recently. I still prefer wired NVR PoE systems that are relatively easy to wire with a single CAT5 wire that carries both power and signal, but I digress. The Lorex Home Center with two 1080p Wi-Fi Cameras is a new innovative concept that is not just your typical security camera system, but so much more. First of all it comes with a 7” touch-screen Home Center control hub that will walk you through the initial setup and any future upgrades and additions to the system. This is like a small tablet, probably running a custom Android system, somewhat resembling an Amazon Echoshow. It even has a “selfie-camera” that can be programmed to face-unlock the system, so you don’t have to use a passcode. The menu system is simple and intuitive and setting the system up is a breeze. The included SD-card is a nice touch that allows to store your recordings locally - there are no monthly fees and no worries about your videos being in the cloud somewhere for hackers to get at. For best performance and network stability I would recommend plugging in the home center into your home network using wired ethernet, but if that’s not an option Wi-Fi can also be used. The system came with two 1080p HD Wi-Fi cameras that offer great image quality, despite not being 4K. Video quality is smooth, I would say better than some 4K cameras that only go up to 15 fps. Night vision works well, actually displays some color. The included cameras also come with two-way audio, built-in speaker and microphone, so depending on where you install them you could hear what’s going on. An LED spotlight is also built-in and automatically turns on when the camera detects motion, but it can be disabled as needed. The cameras come with USB power adapters that I would feel more comfortable installing indoors, though the cameras themselves are rated for outdoors use. For this to be truly a wire-free system, the cameras would have to be powered by a battery that could be charged by solar power, much like some of the Ring cameras. When I tested one of the cameras outdoors, it was pretty windy which kept triggering the motion detection and sending me notifications through the Lorex Home smart phone app. I could not find a way to adjust the sensitivity or the area of motion detection, so for the time being I had to disable the alerts. Another nice feature is the built-in voice commands that allow you to “show me the front door camera”, though not always as reliable as the more mature leading industry voice assistants. Overall I think this is a versatile system with tons of additional features and upgradable capabilities with the addition of more cameras, video doorbells, wi-fi floodlight cameras, sensors, range extenders and voice commands, but it's not without its quirks, most of which will hopefully be resolved via software updates.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Easy to SetUp,Potentially Portable,No Monthly Cost

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Lorex Home Center with two Wifi cameras has to be the easiest security system that I have ever setup. The system consists of two 1080p wifi cameras and a base station with a touch screen that displays the video from the cameras. All you have to do is download the app, plug in the base station, and plug in the cameras. The app is then used to setup the cameras wirelessly. Because the cameras and base station are plugged in and not hard wired, the base station can be moved from room to room or the system can potentially be used at another location. The wifi cameras are designed for outdoor use; however, I setup one outdoors on my back porch and the other inside looking out through my front window. Video from the back porch camera was very clear and video through the front window was as clear as possible considering that there will be reflection from the window. The base station also includes voice control so that if you wanted to see what is happening in your backyard you would say something like "Lorex, show me backyard." In summary, if you are looking for an easy to setup security system that can potentially be used at several locations and with no monthly cost, I would recommend considering the Lorex Home Center.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great Intro for New Users

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    While there are many different companies manufacturing home security systems I was not familiar with Lorex until reviewing the Lorex Home Center with two 1080p Outdoor Wi-Fi Cameras that I received for free as part of the invitation-only BestBuy Tech Insider program. Below please find my honest, unbiased review. I currently have security cameras of a different brand that require a paid subscription in order to view stored video. The subscription increases in price as additional devices are added to the system for monitoring. There is a downloadable app for monitoring/control but no in home device that allows for the same. The cameras I have can also be accessed online via my desktop computer/IPad. They are my basis for comparison with this system. Included with your purchase are the Lorex Home Center and two 1080p Outdoor Wi-Fi cameras. These cameras are white but I wish they were available in black, gray, or tan, which would blend in better with the trim on my home. The entire system is attractive with white casings and a black front. The cameras have full HD resolution, Smart Deterrence (a remote-triggered siren and a motion-activated LED warning light), Person and Vehicle Detection that is able to distinguish between the two and reduces unnecessary notifications, 2-way Talk via the app or Home Center, and Color Night Vision Technology which reverts to Infrared night vision if there is not enough ambient light. The cameras require a Dual band router connection tuned to 5GHz. The Lorex Home system is expandable and includes an offering of additional indoor and outdoor cameras (both wired and wireless), recorders, sensors (both motion and window/door with up to 32 sensors that can be added to the Home Center), floodlights, a video doorbell and a variety of accessories, many of which are interchangeable with other brands of security systems. There is also a range extender that is in the works. This system can be wall, ceiling or tabletop mounted. Each camera will require its own power outlet and in addition to the 9.5 feet of power cable that is attached to the power adapter, each camera comes with an additional 10ft power extension cable allowing for a total distance of 19.5 feet from the back of the camera to the plug. Initial setup was quick and easy, requiring about 20 minutes. I downloaded the Lorex Home Mobile App and created an account, plugged the cameras into the wall and waited a few minutes while they prepared themselves to connect to the Wi-Fi, scanned the QR code on the camera, entered my Wi-Fi password and I was up and running. The installation was straightforward and the hardware required to mount the cameras was included. There was a set of stickers provided to ensure correct placement of the drilling holes as well as a diagram of the clearance needed for both wall and ceiling mount installation. I did not personally mount them but the hubby did while I assisted. Only a drill and screwdriver were needed. Finding a suitable location for the cameras with an available nearby outlet and adjusting the camera’s field of view required much more time than the actual installation. The included Quick Setup Guide provides lots of tips regarding ideal placement of the equipment. I know that these cameras are rated for outdoor use but honestly do not know why they could not also be used indoors, especially if the motion-activated LED warning light was disabled. I am utilizing the Lorex Home Mobile App on a Galaxy S9 and both the video and audio are very clear. The Quick Setup Guide has a detailed diagram of the apps available options and controls and came in very handy while I was acquainting myself with it. I love that no additional fees/subscriptions are required in order to view/record/screenshot recorded video. The recordings are stored on a Western Digital Purple microSD card that is included and storage is expandable up to 256GB. The videos are not uploaded or stored anywhere else. The Lorex Home Center is gray, white, and black and would complement almost any decor. It would blend in just as easily in a bedroom or kitchen as it would in your living room or study. It has a 7-inch touchscreen with the Lorex Voice Assistant built in. It can be used with a wired or wireless Internet connection and advertises that it can be used without connecting to the Internet at all. It plugs into the wall using the included adapter. Its ideal placement depends on the originating location and strength of your Wi-Fi signal. You can access the Home Center using a password or face scan to prevent unwanted access to the system. Privacy mode can stop camera recording on most models and the microphone on the Home Center can be turned off as well as the front facing camera lens can be covered. The Home Center can stream music, check the weather, allows you to monitor and control your system with hands-free voice activation, and you have the option to download a photo as the background for your lock screen. Set up was quick and self-explanatory. I am still in the process of exploring all of the different settings and capabilities offered but I am impressed with what I have seen so far. Overall I see this system as an initial investment with the option to expand its use by adding components like sensors and the video doorbell. The ease of use and installation was impressive and the functionality of the app and Home Center are fairly self-explanatory. I would definitely recommend the Lorex Home Center for first time security system users as well as experienced users looking to upgrade their system.

    I would recommend this to a friend
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