Question 1

Can I get a clear answer on if I can not have anything going to the cloud.  Can this be set to never upload any video to the cloud?

Accepted Answer

I've had 5 blink cameras since last year.  I do not have a subscription plan.  If you plug a USB drive into the sync 2 module, all your cameras will send their video to the USB drive.  It's a little slower than having a subscription plan as only one camera can upload to the drive at a time, but even if all cameras record a video at the same time, they will send the video to the USB drive within a minute or so.  You can access your videos from anywhere using the blink app.  You don't have to be at home.  The view of recorded videos is different in the app without a subscription.  You don't get a thumbnail and you have to delete each video individually.  It's a pain in the rear.  Or you can eject the thumb drive, connect it to a computer and delete the folder from the thumb drive.  A new folder is created for each month, so you can delete month by month or open the monthly folder and delete each video individually.  They're labeled by date and hour, if I remember correctly.  My 64GB storage card will hold several months worth of video, so I delete on my computer.   You can also view and save your videos on your computer.  One big consideration is that if someone breaks into your home and steals your sync module, you don't have access to the videos for the police.  This is the same for any local storage camera system.  I just ordered the blink doorbell, so I can get rid of my Ring camera subscription.  Then I'm going to buy the monthly unlimited subscription plan.  It's worth it for ease of access and peace of mind that videos will be accessible even if the sync 2 module is stolen.  To answer the main question, you can't shut the cloud off.  It won't automatically save video there without a subscription plan, but the Blink team is going to have access to your videos even if you don't have a subscription plan.  So don't go dancing naked in front of the cameras unless you're really proud of your assets.

Question 2

Why usb storage? it’s obtrusive. why not a simple sd card?

Accepted Answer

Crazy Hick has a point in that the Manufacturer didn't read the question.  They frequently don't when they don't understand the product they are selling.  He is also correct that 2.4 GHz is cheaper than 6 GHz (which most people don't have, especially if they use the WiFi from their internet provider).  But I doubt it is any cheaper than 5 GHz.  He is also wrong about range. While 5 GHz is faster than 2.4 up to a distance from the router (that distance being a function of a lot of environmental factors and WiFi channel picking/antenna phase difference skills),  5 GHz speed drops off quickly after that point and 2.4 GHz is faster at distance.  This is mainly due to 2.4 GHz having a 4.7 inch wavelength while 5 GHz is half that at 2.36 inches.   Generally speaking, the shorter the wavelength the greater the attenuation passing thru things such as walls.  Also, the larger something is relative to the wavelength the greater its impact (think rain fade on DirectTV broadcast at much higher frequencies).

Since the manufacturer didn't answer the question, I can only guess.  I have yet to log into my Blink account on a PC.  So is that even possible?  If not, then WiFi transfers would be to the phone.  But that is NOT where I would want the video files.  I would want them on my PC for backup on a HD drive.  Taking a SD card out (I presume microSD), putting into a USB adapter to transfer to a PC, then reinstalling would be a pain.  Especially the part where you are trying to reinsert the SD card, not touch the contacts, and not have the metal contacts exposed to the tens of thousands of volts of static charge on ones hands.  Also, USB drives can have 10 times the write cycle life.

Question 3

Is any usb flash drive compatible with the blink sync module 2?  if not, what are the requirements?

Accepted Answer

You can use a USB flash drive up to 256GB with the sync module 2, flash drive can be 2.0 or 3.0

Question 4

I have received the sync module 2, Do I have to buy all new cameras?

Accepted Answer

The sync module 2 will still function like a traditional sync module, compatible with all generations of Blink cameras (indoor, XT, XT2, Blink Indoor and Outdoor, and Blink Mini), However, ONLY  Blink Indoor and Outdoor and Blink Mini cameras will be compatible with local storage functionality. All other generations of cameras (indoor, XT and XT2) will be cloud based if/when they are added to the sync module 2.

Blink Add-On Sync Module 2

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