Blink’s newest hub takes its security cameras beyond Wi-Fi

Amazon’s budget smart security camera company Blink has announced the availability of its new Sync Module XR. The third generation of its system hub, the XR can extend the range of its battery-powered Blink Outdoor 4 cameras up to 400 feet, thanks to a new proprietary long-range radio embedded in its custom-built silicon. But the increase in range does come with a tradeoff in video quality.

The Sync Module XR costs $59.99 and, at launch, is being sold in a bundle with a free Outdoor 4 camera (regularly $99). A Wi-Fi bridge for Blink cameras, the module can extend coverage for new and existing Outdoor 4 cameras up to 250 feet in XR mode and 400 feet in XR Plus mode. That’s four times the range of Blink’s current Sync Module 2, Blink’s head of product, Jonathan Cohn, told The Verge. “XR is a proprietary protocol custom built on the 900MHz frequency to support our video transmission needs at ultra-low power,” he said.

Based on Blink’s tests, the XR protocol can penetrate one exterior wall to cover up to 400 feet, but video quality suffers the further you go. “At 250 feet, XR delivers up to 720p and 360p at 400 feet,” says Cohn. This is down from the standard 1080p you get with a strong Wi-Fi connection.

The reduction in video quality seems likely to make the cameras less useful for security and more helpful for things like wildlife watching. Making out faces or license plates at 360p in the dark seems unlikely, but we plan to test them and find out.

Blink’s compact, no-frills cameras are known for their long battery life and low prices. There are few bells and whistles, but the Blink Outdoor 4 can last up to two years on two AA batteries (up to four with the extension pack). This, combined with the new long-range capability, makes them handy for placement at the extreme corners of your property to monitor a shed, driveway, chicken coop, or any place Wi-Fi doesn't reach.

Few camera companies have solved the problem of extending connectivity beyond your home’s walls. Security cameras mounted just outside your home should be able to connect to Wi-Fi, but anything further out may struggle to stream footage unless you buy an outdoor Wi-Fi extender or invest in LTE-powered cameras, which require a monthly subscription for connectivity.

Blink cameras don’t require a subscription for connectivity or recorded footage (although one is available for $3 a month); instead, the Sync Module XR can record footage locally, storing up to 256GB on a microSD card (not included). That’s up from the 128GB of storage available on the previous version of the hub, the Sync Module 2 ($49.99), which uses a USB stick, not a microSD card.

The Sync Module XR can only extend the range of the Blink Outdoor 4 camera over the XR protocol, and currently only two at a time. However, the module supports up to 10 Blink cameras running on Wi-Fi while also providing local storage for recorded video. This includes the wired Blink Mini 2, the Blink Video Doorbell, the wired Blink Floodlight Camera, and previous generations of Blink cameras.

The Blink Sync Module XR is available now at Amazon for $59.99. An introductory offer includes a free Blink Outdoor 4 when you buy a Sync Module XR. Beginning in January, the price for a bundle of a Sync Module XR with the camera will be $139.99. With Black Friday coming up, the current Sync Module 2 ($49.99), which is often sold in a bundle with Blink cameras, will likely see some steep discounts. But you’ll need the new XR module if you want the new capabilities.