Echo show is a smart home device that can be used for entertainment, but it also has the ability to act as a security camera. Find out if you can use your Echo show as a security camera, including how to set up an echo show as a surveillance camera and review footage.
Can you use your Amazon Echo show as a security camera? The answer is yes! If you don’t already have a security camera for your house but have an Amazon Echo Show, you can use it as one. Echo Show is now enabled as a security camera. This is a great way to have an always-on surveillance system. You can also use it to monitor your home when you are away.
You can turn off the camera on the Echo Show by turning it to black. You can also disable motion detection and sound alerts, or just mute
In order for Echo Show to work as a security camera, you will need to toggle the switch for Home Monitoring. In your app settings under House Monitoring, you will need to toggle the switch for Home Monitoring.
Although a specialized security camera setup is the ideal solution for remote monitoring, the Echo Show or Google Home can suffice in some cases. You can install an app on your phone or tablet, connect the echo show it with Bluetooth, and set up a video monitor.
The Amazon Guard security suite is included with the Echo Show. When you leave the house, you can put the Guard to Away mode.
This enables the Echo Show to activate various security features, including the Smart Alert, which may detect possible threats like glass breaking or smoke alarms and send this information to other security companies such as ADT or Ring.
However, due to the camera angle when lying on a table, it is not the greatest tool for the job. The fact that it isn’t exactly on the bleeding edge of camera technology doesn’t help either.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Echo Show works with a variety of standard security cameras. Once you’ve connected to a camera, you’ll be able to activate any video feeds you’ve set up with voice commands. “Alexa, show me the front door,” will display the same footage that the front door camera is capturing on the Show’s screen.
It’s a really amazing function that’s a lot more convenient than pulling out your phone to check who’s at your front door. Of course, this is not the same as the other technique we discussed. Because you must be at home to use your Echo.
However, if you are not at home, you are most likely utilizing the built-in software that came with the security cameras.
What is this Amazon Echo Show
If you’re unfamiliar, the Show is similar to any other Amazon Echo brand device. The device’s touchscreen and front-facing camera are the standout features here.
These may be utilized for video calls, which, as you might expect, is the main function for using the device as a security camera.
Aside from that, you may use the gadget to browse recipes, calendars, music, and applications like Hulu. It’s sort of like a smart speaker and a smart TV gadget rolled into one.
Which Echo Show Is the Best for Use as a Security Camera?
Looking at all of the generations and models available on Amazon, and considering the requirement for a decent camera, the ideal option would be the Second-generation model, which comes with a 5-megapixel camera and the largest screen, measuring 11 inches.
You may always add specialized cameras later on to boost the security of your home automation system. Still, as a first step, the gadget of the second generation would be the logical choice.
How To Use your Echo show as a Security Camera
These are a few step-by-step workarounds you can try to set it up your echo show to work as a security camera properly.
1. Start by finding a compatible model of the Echo show device.
Amazon offers Home Monitoring, which allows you to use Alexa or another Echo Show to see what goes around in your house.
firstly, check to make sure you’re using a compatible show. In order to use Home Monitoring, you’ll need a newer version of the Alexa device, such as the Alexa Echo Show 5 (2nd generation), Echo Show 8 (2nd generation), or the Alexa Echo Show 10.
Because the display on the Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) can be swiveled, you can get a better view of the area, or even track a person as they move around the room. Not to mention, features like motion alerts and video recording won’t be available. You may be better off with a specialized security camera or system if you’ve suffered significant losses in the past.
We recommend the Amazon Echo show 10 (3rd Gen) over the Echo show 8 (2nd gen) because it has a smooth and quiet panning, effectively doubles as a security camera, and an incredible audio performance.
Remember that you can still use Drop In to look at your smart display at any time with an earlier Echo Show.
Simple: open the Alexa app and click on the Communicate button, then choose Drop In to see all of your Echo devices that are compatible with Drop-In, along with all of the devices that you have allowed to utilize Drop In.
Drop In will also activate the camera on the Echo Show, and it will even send you notifications if someone has been nearby recently — which should be plenty even if you can’t enable the Home Monitoring feature.
The Echo Show may be compatible with existing security cameras, such as the Ring Video Doorbell, which you can attach to your Alexa account and see a live feed of the camera using the Show.
2. Turn on home monitoring
Get your Alexa app up-to-date so that you can make use of key Home Monitoring features. Although Echo Shows tend to auto-update, you may force an update by restarting them if required.)
As opposed to other Alexa skills, Home Monitoring can only be accessed through your Echo Show device and not through the Alexa app on your phone. Here’s how to enable it:
- Simply swipe downwards on your Echo Show and select Settings.
- If you’re using a smartphone, tap Camera
- Slide the toggle switch to the On position to enable home monitoring.
3. Next, connect your Show cam.
Accessing Home Monitoring capabilities through the Alexa app is the best method to do so, and you can do it from anywhere in the world. Start by launching your freshly updated Alexa app and selecting the house-shaped Devices icon on the bottom menu of the app’s screen.
The next choice should be Cameras if your Show has Home Monitoring activated. Select your Echo Show device by name from the Cameras menu.
As long as your Echo Show is connected to your smartphone, you should be able to hear and talk if you want to do so. There is a clear pop-up notification for Home Monitoring on your Echo Show at this point.
Most effective if your Show has a good vision of the entire room. Any details may be magnified by using the zoom feature on the stream.
4. if you like, you may add Alexa Guard/Guard Plus.
Echo users have the option of turning on Alexa Guard, a security function that works similarly to activating a security system. When it hears a sound such as glass breaking or smoke alarms, it will send you an alert to your phone.
To check if there’s a need to contact authorities, you may use this alert on your Show device. It’s especially handy while you’re away from home.
Also available is Alexa Guard Plus ($5 a month), which allows you to hear a broader spectrum of suspicious noises, makes it possible to make hands-free emergency calls and includes settings like siren playing to discourage intruders
How to decide on the best area to place your Echo Show
Here are a few tips on how to pick where to install an Echo Show in your home.
- Keep it away from strong lighting and windows that receive a lot of sunshine. Because of the intense brightness, you may not be able to see anything.
- Be as low as possible. The Echo Show was meant to be used as a video conferencing tool. This is why it’s up and the camera is pointing up! If you set it where you would normally put it, you will only see the ceiling of the room.
- The placement may be double-checked by connecting your phone to the gadget and taking the best possible photo of the room.
- Keep in mind that the Echo Show relies on its large array of microphones, so it’s vital to keep that in mind.
- Using a microphone, Smart Alert can identify any odd audio activity and notify the user while they are away from home.
- To prevent false alerts, you’ll need to set up your system.
Conclusion
Overall, utilizing your Echo Show as a security system is a useful tool. Depending on your scenario, it can absolutely be useful. Furthermore, if you begin to incorporate the ability to listen to audio from an Echo Dot, you might begin to create almost omniscient surveillance of your house!
Aside from that, we don’t see much else for the Drop-In functionality. In fact, granting strangers unrestricted access to your house seems fairly frightening on paper. While it appears to be a massive violation of privacy, there are certain very particular instances in which it might be beneficial.
The option to watch footage from other security cameras using your Echo show is a great bonus, but it is not a selling point for the system. If you already have cameras installed outside the home, connect your Show as well. However, we would not advocate purchasing a Show just for that purpose.
This brief guide should have given you some ideas on how to utilize your Echo Show as an instant home security camera. Outside of this specific application, there is obviously a lot more capability. We anticipate that Amazon will continue to improve its Echo range of gadgets.
