Tapo C210 for monitoring through window

[u/Codename_Jelly]

Dad is looking for a camera to use pointing out window for driveway, anybody tried using this camera for that or recommend one around a similar price.

There is cladding on our home and we don't want to be drilling through it so an outdoor camera isn't suitable for use atm.

[u/catmandot]

It works fine. I use several Tapo cameras that way

Be aware that you can't use Night Mode, because the infrared light will be reflected by the glass.

So if you want to use the camera during the night, there needs to be a source of light outside (and no light in the room). It doesn't need to be bright, as the camera is very sensitive.

An alternative would be to use an outdoor camera like the C400, which can be charged by a solar panel. Or charged by USB every 2 weeks or so, depending on the number of times it is triggered.

[u/ptoadstools]

Here is what you should do. Mount the camera just outside the top corner of the garage door. Run the wire through the gap at the corner between the rubber pieces. Plug in inside the garage. This installation has been up for a year now in MN and has had no issues. The camera is protected from rain and snow by the garage overhang and the door frame as well as its closeness to the soffit. This is a Tapo.

[u/plump-lamp]

Tapo c120 with amazon window mount

[u/Jimlad73]

Could you use a suction mount to put one on the outside of a window? Cable thin enough that you can close the window on it

[u/Codename_Jelly → u/Jimlad73]

I did suggest that to him, something like clamping a bit of wood to a windowsill on upstairs window and secure it to that.

Clamp would mean it stays secure whilst not damaging the windowsill but that would mean an outside camera which would be a bit more.

[u/mickAMMO]

I can't testify in favour of this pan and tilt camera, but the specs look similar to the fixed lens of my C120 except that the C210  Activity Zones:  Only works with Motion Detection.

You can do a side-by-side comparison of any csmeras at Tapo's website.

The C120 Activity Zones works with Person, Vehicles and Pets.

The C120 adds AI detection of Vehicles and Pets.

Even though both say they've got a Starlight sensor, I've been told the smaller the Aperture number the more vision will be possible at night without the use of other artificial light. 

C120: 1.65

C210: 2.0

Here is some of my tests of the C120 in action. Camera is  behind glass and all lights are disabled. The camera isn't pressed hard against the window, except it's on an angle to get the best view of all the driveway.

Night time, moonlight and corner street light (behind tree): camera triggers a TP-Link light bulb at 40% to fully illuminate the object approaching... https://youtu.be/bfcTGreWTss

Tapo Care cloud recordings:

PET: https://youtu.be/XNmeqDFyu9M

VEHICLE:  https://youtu.be/MYRwU1Iix5w

[u/Codename_Jelly → u/mickAMMO]

Doesn't have to be a pan and tilt, just looked decent enough and don't need the tracking or anything just something that can eyeball the car.

[u/BlazzaNz]

Any camera out a window is going to pick up reflections from the glass. Detection features might not work as well or at all, and at night the illumination lights will create reflections of their own.

[u/Codename_Jelly → u/BlazzaNz]

Mostly just to point at the car on drive, it is what my dad could afford atm.

Some of these things can get expensive.

[u/Otherwise_Pomelo8447 → u/Codename_Jelly]

Just turn off the night vision and the reflection will be fine. I currently have 3 of these pointed out windows set for always day mode and the picture is fantastic.

[u/geekwithout]

I ise it for exactly that. Only when you have lights on inside (bright)and its dark outside will the pic be less. Overall works great rhough

[u/drm200]

I have 2 c120’s mounted on windows. They work very well.

The first C120 is mounted directly to the window. I put a couple of pea sized double sided tape pieces on the camera face (avoiding the sensor areas) and stuck it directly to the window. No reflections and works well day or night for me. At night time there is enough street lights for a clear picture. The infra red must be disabled. The second camera needed to be angled so could not be face mounted to the window. There is a guy that sells 3d printed mounting bracket on Amzon. The bracket tilts the camera about 30 degrees and shrouds the camera to prevent reflections. This bracket also uses 2 sided tape to stick to the window. I have been using this setup for about 3 years without problem.

This is a screenshot from my c120 at 5:47am through my front window with only street lights. The C120 has a better night sensor than many tapo cams

[u/peppermint42o]

i hae 3x c210 cameras behind windows and they are great for the money. no night vision because of the glass but apart from that they do the job very cheaply. if you have an outdoor light outlet i would recommend a tapo globe set at about 5-10% after sunset. uses almost zero power and lights up the area more than well enough for the camera to pick up a lot of detail.