Filip Brož I have replaced and actively use several cameras and security devices in my household. He watches over our daughter permanently nanny iBaby. In the past I have had a set from on the windows and doors iSmartAlarm and I also tried devices from Piper and many other cameras. However, for the first time ever, I got the chance to test a camera with HomeKit support.
D-Link recently introduced its Omna 180 Cam HD camera, which is also sold in Apple Stores, among others. This miniature and well-designed camera settled in my living room for more than a month and watched everything that happened around.
Top design
I was already interested in the camera when unpacking the box. I thought I finally had a camera in my hand that somehow stood out from the rest. At first glance, it is not entirely obvious that it is a security device. I pay a big tribute to the designers from D-Link, because the Omna fits in my palm and the combination of aluminum and plastic looks really perfect. You won't find any useless and pointless buttons on the device. You only need to choose a suitable place and connect the power cable, which you will find in the package.
You can then configure Omna on your home network in two ways. You can either use the Apple Home application directly or the free OMNA application, which you can download from the App Store. In both cases, just scan the code from the camera with your iPhone and you're done.
I made the first settings through Home and after downloading the OMNA application I could already see the camera active. At the same time, both applications are very important, each serves a different purpose, which I will come back to later. Either way, adding a new HomeKit device using Home is completely trivial and easy to use, like most installations in the Apple ecosystem.
Already during the first day of use, I registered that the Omna was pretty warm. I don't know what caused it, but when I looked at foreign reviews, everyone writes about it. Fortunately, there are vents on the underside. At the very bottom is the reset button and microSD card slot. D-Link Omna does not support and does not use any cloud services for storing video recordings. Everything happens locally, so you have to insert a memory card directly into the body of the device.
Maximum security
At first I thought it was nonsense, since most security cameras are connected to their own cloud. Then I realized that although the camera is manufactured by D-Link, its configuration and use corresponds to Apple. Omna supports advanced security functions with end-to-end encryption and authentication between the camera and the iPhone or iPad. In short, Apple pays attention to high-quality security, so your video recordings do not travel anywhere on the Internet or on servers. It has its advantages, but of course also disadvantages. Fortunately, there is at least support for the mentioned memory cards.
The number 180 in the camera name indicates the optical scanning angle that Omna is capable of recording. With the appropriate choice of location, you can have an overview of the entire room. Just put the camera in a corner. Omna captures video in HD resolution and the lens is complemented by two LED sensors that take care of night vision. You are therefore guaranteed a perfect image not only during the day, but certainly also at night, when you can easily distinguish objects and figures. Conversely, the disadvantage of the camera is the fact that you cannot zoom in on the image.
It didn't bother me that much during testing, as zooming is compensated by a great motion sensor. In the OMNA application, I can turn on motion detection and choose only a certain angle in which the detection will be active. As a result, it may look like you set up motion detection on windows or doors. In the application, you only need to select the ones you want to watch on the sixteen squares. You can easily eliminate and prevent the camera from detecting, for example, pets. On the contrary, it catches thieves perfectly.
For this, you can set the degree of sensitivity and, of course, different time delays. As soon as the camera records something, you will receive a notification immediately and the recording will be saved to the memory card. In combination with the Home application, you can immediately watch the live broadcast directly on the locked screen. Of course, you can also see it in the OMNA application, but it is much more effective to use HomeKit and Home.
HomeKit support
The power of the Household is once again in the entire ecosystem. Once you have paired the camera with your iOS device, you can watch live video from your iPad or other device. You don't need to set anything again anywhere. Subsequently, I also sent an invitation to a woman who suddenly has the same approach to the camera as I do. Home from Apple is downright addictive, the app is flawless. I like that the video starts immediately, which has sometimes been a problem with other cameras and apps. In Home, I can immediately use two-way audio transmission and rotate the video to the width of the display.
I also see that I have active motion detection and I can further configure the sensor and add it to my favorites, for example. It's just a shame that I didn't have any other HomeKit-enabled accessories and devices at home during testing. Once you have more of them there, for example smart lights, locks, thermostats or other sensors, you can set them together in automations and scenes. As a result, it may appear that once Omna detects motion, a light will turn on or an alarm will sound. You can thus create different scenarios. Unfortunately, you can't use Omna itself for any deeper levels of customization.
I have also connected to the camera remotely on several occasions and I have to say that the connection was always instant without the slightest hesitation. As soon as something rustled at home, I immediately received an alert. You see this directly on the lock screen of your iOS device, including the current photo. You can also use Apple Watch and watch the image directly from the watch display.
After a month of testing, I can only recommend the D-Link Omna 180 Cam HD. The functions that the camera offers work without the slightest hesitation. Working with the Home application is literally a joy. On the other hand, you need to consider whether you want to add other HomeKit devices to the camera, which will take your smart home to an even higher level. With Omna, you can really only watch video and use motion detection. Don't expect anything more advanced.
Anyway, I'm very glad that D-Link has made HomeKit certification. I think that other manufacturers could follow his steps. Security cameras with HomeKit are like saffron. You can buy the D-Link Omna 180 Cam HD directly in the Apple Online Store for 5 crowns.
But a 180-degree viewing angle doesn't mean placing it in the corner of the room, right? A viewing angle of 90 degrees would be enough.
It's a bit of a shame that if the thief's movement is recorded and he takes the camera to be sure, I don't have a picture or a video anywhere, just nothing. Everything disappears with that camera.
That was the first thing that came to my mind - that makes her just another babysitter.
Yes, security and encryption is very nice, but if someone burglarizes my apartment, I'm sure they'll take a design-looking camera and I won't have any record of the robbery because they'll take it with them.
The photo that comes after the first motion detection captures as much as possible the breaking of the window and the climbing thief, hardly his face.
We read the article with the hope that they somehow made it up.. but nothing..
It is assumed that the user places the camera, for example, on a cabinet, on a shelf, between books, etc. and does not pull the power cable all the way up to the corner of the room
I feel that homekit devices are just children's toys, which is a complete waste of potential. I can't imagine building on it a security alternative from Jablotron, e.g.
Also, the elements for "smart home" are of such a style, a little from each, and overall nothing advisory, robust.
Have you tried Amaryllo Atom? If so, can you compare with Omna's D link? Thanks.
The Mac can also record videos and photos and even save them on iCloud, so if someone takes it, you will have the evidence on the shared drive :-).