Blink Add-On Sync Module 2
[{'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Longtime Blink user (even before AMZ bought them). Love the technology; always have and always will. The AMZ acquisition? Not so much. Too many promises unkept. I have 40+ cameras across 3 properties in 2 different accounts. It\'s not perfect, but it works. This Sync2 module is my 2nd disappointment coming from the Blink (the 1st is/was the Mini). All said, the Sync2 does exactly what Blink says it does, even if they\'ve (someone) changed the marketing language as a result. My point is, way, way back in the "new announcement" stage, before you could even pre-buy Sync2, it was noted Sync2 would be able to offload and store video from ANY camera assigned and then, POOF, they now say it only works with the "new" generation of camera(s). A total garbage move if I may say so...especially for the pre-existing customers, like myself, with 35 IND "gen1", XT and XT2 cameras. This may not be a big deal to some, but this rubs me the wrong way, especially after Blink changed their online storage allocation tune just prior to this. Again, just another small, well-intentioned business with a highly successful technology gobbled up by a larger corporation and just another cog in the money grind/grab. I\'m done with Blink...with any luck, maybe the original owners will buy it back from Jeffy B and bring it back to the reputable company it once was. Who am I kidding, those guys got gobs of AMZ stock in return for this patented battery technology (and that\'s all Jeffy B wanted/needed).'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-2 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I really thought I could stop using the Cloud and just use my thumb drive not so much.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': "There's nowhere in the description to tell how to enable the local storage only mode. And you won't find a direct answer to that question in the Q&A section either. Because there's no such functionality.\n\nHere's how this device actually works: first you always need a blink account, so that all videos can be uploaded to the cloud. There's no way to turn it off. Then if you buy this device, you can periodically download from the cloud to have a local copy of the videos.\n\nThink about Google selling you a standalone wifi device to back up your gmails. That's how ridiculous it is."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Nov 2020 - Label on box the camera camera came in said local storage was coming with ability to use blink app to view clips from anywhere. It also said NO MONTHLY FEE REQUIRED !!!!!\n\nThis is not true - I have paid for the sync mod 2 in Jan 2021 and it does not allow any access to usb files via blink APP. Out right lies/ false advertising. The Blink marketing manager that allowed this to happen should be fired.\nFalse advertising in Nov 2020 - NO ACCESS TO LOCAL STORAGE VIA BLINK APP. Was promised this. They never intended to deliver. They were just suckering buyers with false promise of feature to come.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-3 review-rating', 'review_body': "This device has 2 issues that each removed a star. First and foremost, it is Wi-Fi only, and 2.4GHz on top of that. 2.4 is a trash frequency. It is noisy, and I hate using it. Also, this is not a mobile device. I am getting really tired of manufacturers making stationary devices wireless. It is sitting next to a switch. Ethernet would have been preferable to wireless. Second issue is it has a micro USB connector. This is a new device. There is no reason not to put a USB C connector on it. That is just lazy. For that matter, if it had a POE Ethernet port, both of my issues would have been resolved.\n\nThere is a third issue, but I didn't take a star off for it. It uses a USB Flash drive as storage. An SD card would have been much better, allowed for more storage, and taken up less space.\n\nThe device does what it is supposed to do. It was easy to set up. So, 3 stars for an adequate product."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-3 review-rating', 'review_body': "I ordered the Sync Module 2 so I wouldn't have to pay the online storage fee, and it arrived on Feb 1 as promised. It was easy to set-up, add to my wifi network, and add in a USB thumb drive. It also updated the firmware somewhat slowly, but seamlessly integrated into the existing Blink camera system.\n\nThe significant problem I have with this storage device is that approximately every hour it tells me the USB was removed, and 5 seconds later another notification is sent saying it was inserted (see photo). Unless invisible elves are up to some tricks, this is not cool, Blink, not cool at all.\n\nUPDATES: I replaced the first USB thumb drive and this problem kept happening; however, in the past two days it has stopped sending me these alerts *as often.* I ordered the Blink's USB thumb drive and will use that when it arrives. Blink Customer Service has reached out and offered to replace the Module 2, which is greatly appreciated. I will first see if their branded USB drive fixes the problem.\n\nThe review page asked me to review motion detection and night vision for the storage device, which does not make sense. I rated those characteristics as 2/5 stars for the Blink cameras, which are okay with nighttime vision, but have a very loud click when switching to that *and* a red LED that comes on despite me setting it to not have the LED come on when recording. Straightforward aspects of tech and gadgets that should work well - but do not - really irritate."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Wouldbnot connect to system with older cameras as promised.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': "I am exceptionally disappointed with the Blink Sync Module 2.\n1. No instructions were included in the box, nor on the Blink website.\n2. I don’t see any way to program just when it will copy a camera recording event to the memory stick.\n3. Apparently there aren't any improved performance features vs the original Sync Module.\n4. Finally, just what is so special about this new module? If the only improvement is that there is now a use for the USP port it looks like a waste of $$."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I bought the Blink Add-On SynccModule 2, a storage unit for recorded clips.\nI already had 4 mini-cameras, which I use to monitor my brother with dementia (and his caregiver) when I am out of town. The mini-cameras are able to record any motion seen by the cameras. I can access the video clips when I check on my brother.\nI used to have a free trial subscription to Cloud service, until the trial expired.\nThe Module 2 is an option to avoid storing clips in the Cloud, and yet still provide access to live or recorded clips from the mini-cameras.\nThe Module 2 is very helpful! Be sure to have a flashdrive installed in the Module. With the flashdrive, clips are immediately accessible via the Blink App on my Android phone. When I am far away, yet want to check on my brother, the Module 2 makes it easy.\nI love not having to pay for the Cloud subscription service! I also love knowing my videos are not stored in the Cloud...it feels more private to me.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "After my initial one star review I was notified by Blink that starting 2/18 the cameras would start backing up immediately to the sync module and not once a day! As long as that happens I don't see any issues with it. Thanks Blink team for reaching out."}]