Pyronix Indoor WiFi Cube Camera, 2MP, 2.8mm Fixed Lens CUBE-CAM/28

What this camera is for

Pyronix sells this as an internal option for monitoring a residential or small business property. It belongs alongside other smart CCTV cameras viewed from a phone.

The 2.8mm lens has a smaller focal length, which widens the image. That makes it the choice for large rooms and spaces rather than one narrow doorway.

How it works

• Wi-Fi or Ethernet: it can connect wirelessly to the property's existing Wi-Fi connection, or run one Ethernet cable for both power and communication.
• Day and night: an IR cut filter switches automatically. In the dark, invisible Infrared (IR) LED light illuminates the area.
• PIR: a passive infrared sensor reacts to moving body heat. It is built into the camera, separate from the picture.
• WDR and 3D DNR: WDR balances bright and dark parts of a scene, and digital noise reduction cleans up low-light footage.
• Dual streams: two independent video streams, so a lower resolution stream can serve live viewing when internet bandwidth is limited.

Where to use it

It is an indoor camera with operating conditions of -10ºC to +40ºC, so keep it inside and out of the weather.

As a rule, avoid pointing a camera directly through a window at night, because IR light reflects off the glass. Tell people in the room that a camera with a microphone is recording.

What the figures mean in practice

• Up to 128GB: the largest card the slot takes. Hours of footage depend on bitrate and settings.
• Up to 10 meters: the most the IR light reaches. Objects further away will appear dim at night.
• Max. 5W: the most the camera draws. It helps when choosing a DC12V supply or checking a PoE port.
• 2.4GHz: this band only, so the router must have a 2.4GHz network the camera can join.

Installing it

• Power first: wireless cameras still need power, so in most installations a supply near the camera or a PoE port on the network is planned first.
• Alarm wiring: 1 Alarm input and 1 Alarm output are there for other devices, if the job needs them.
• Setup: image settings are adjustable by client software or web browser, and viewing is through the ProControl+ app.
• Security: Password Protection, Privacy Mask and IP Address Filtering are built in. As a rule, change default passwords during setup.

Planning your system

A job usually also needs a memory card for local recording and a power supply or network switch. Compare CCTV memory cards and PoE switches against what the camera takes, and the guide to powering wireless security cameras explains the options.

The same app can also control the Pyronix security system. Other parts of that range sit under Pyronix products.