Philips launches into video surveillance with Avidsen. Thanks to a license agreement signed in 2017, the French specialist can launch products under the Dutch brand. It is moreover to him that we owe the WelcomeEye Link door entry system, which was awarded a 4-star rating at the end of its visit to our lab, and it is in the same range that the first Philips surveillance camera: the WelcomeEye View.
Since the doorphone can also act as a surveillance camera with its motion detection function, one would have expected Avidsen to start by offering a dedicated solution for the interior. The WelcomeEye View is however intended for outdoor use. It thus benefits from a waterproof design, IP66 certification in support, and even incorporates a 230v terminal block to connect a wall lamp and avoid having to draw an additional power supply. This will allow the passage to control the light remotely, but also to program it to turn on when the camera detects movement.
Some would say it would have been easier to integrate a projector directly into the camera, but Avidsen says it surveyed its business partners and found that these 2-in-1 systems were ultimately unpopular with consumers. . It will be recalled all the same that he himself has already integrated a lamp into the Rheita 100 launched under the Thomson brand, which he also operates under license.
Anyway, no light source is necessary for the operation of the WelcomeEye View, which uses a PIR sensor for motion detection and offers infrared vision for filming at night. Note that the detection of human shapes is also planned. On the video side, the camera can produce 2K recordings (2560 x 1440 pixels) and offers a 130° field of view, which can be adjusted remotely using a motor.
This motorization also allows the Philips camera to automatically follow movements, but unlike most motorized cameras on the market, this one does not offer 360° vision. Its rectangular design limits the total field of vision to 240°, while the motorization only works on the horizontal axis. Moreover, the WelcomeEye View does not allow any adjustment on the vertical axis, even manual. It will therefore be necessary to choose the height of installation on the wall carefully – with an optimal view between 1.80 and 2.40 m.
The first Philips camera includes a microphone and a loudspeaker to communicate with anyone in front, but also a 105 dB (A) siren to scare off intruders. Thanks to a backup battery, it should maintain active surveillance for 4 hours in the event of a power failure. However, the connection may be cut in the absence of a cellular connection, but we note that 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wifi are supported and that a microSD slot allows recording without an internet connection. No cloud offer is available at this time.
The WelcomeEye View should arrive in stores at the recommended retail price of €300, accompanied by a 32 GB memory card.