$39.97* | TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 Outdoor FHD Battery Camera w/ Solar Panel Base Kit at Amazon

adalta

Apr 8, 2026 7:10 PM

1.3K Comments

Joined Jan 2008

adaltaApr 8, 2026 7:10 PM

1.3K Comments

Anyone using these for a first time camera? Planning on adding this to my mother's home or should I go with a higher end system? She has an old Nest doorbell only.

edit: is 1080p enough?

Last edited by adalta April 8, 2026 at 12:14 PM.

jdfetterman

Apr 8, 2026 7:40 PM

1K Comments

Joined Jun 2021

jdfettermanApr 8, 2026 7:40 PM

1K Comments

Quote from adalta

:

Anyone using these for a first time camera? Planning on adding this to my mother's home or should I go with a higher end system? She has an old Nest doorbell only.

edit: is 1080p enough?

1080p is lackluster nowadays. 2k or better.

3

phydid

Apr 8, 2026 7:42 PM

105 Comments

Joined Jun 2009

phydidApr 8, 2026 7:42 PM

105 Comments

TP-Link products are not secure. Strongly recommend you avoid this brand

1

3

MaroonHalibut8361

Apr 8, 2026 10:52 PM

52 Comments

Joined Sep 2021

MaroonHalibut8361Apr 8, 2026 10:52 PM

52 Comments

This cameras only record on motion and half the time they don't catch anything.
It would be nice if continuous recording was an option or onvif a least.

greypoint

Apr 9, 2026 2:22 AM

28 Comments

Joined Dec 2011

greypointApr 9, 2026 2:22 AM

28 Comments

Quote from phydid

:

TP-Link products are not secure. Strongly recommend you avoid this brand

You don't rely on camera security. Block camera inbound and outbound traffic. Only allow streaming internal network over rtsp from trusted client. Secure like hell. I love this cheap camera.

4

T1NY

Apr 9, 2026 3:25 AM

6.1K Comments

Joined Mar 2011

T1NYApr 9, 2026 3:25 AM

6.1K Comments

Quote from adalta

:

Anyone using these for a first time camera? Planning on adding this to my mother's home or should I go with a higher end system? She has an old Nest doorbell only.edit: is 1080p enough?

I have this as a secondary front yard camera. I have to notify me of any car or person getting in the field of view. Solar keeps the battery at 100% for almost a year now. 1080p is fine for its purpose.

1

Ajak6

Apr 9, 2026 5:05 AM

168 Comments

Joined Nov 2018

Ajak6Apr 9, 2026 5:05 AM

168 Comments

I replaces ring with this. Ut i was lazy to remove existing rings. Glad i didnt. For external camera their field pf view is very small.
Motion detection is flaky. Does not detect animals or even my kid.
Even if it detects, the recording is just way too off it cuts most of the emotion detected

cheema

Apr 9, 2026 10:35 AM

676 Comments

Joined Dec 2008

cheemaApr 9, 2026 10:35 AM

676 Comments

I am seeing $49.99. I even tried adding it to cart. I guess the deal is dead. Reported it dead.

1

Snowbearz

Apr 9, 2026 12:27 PM

219 Comments

Joined Jan 2018

SnowbearzApr 9, 2026 12:27 PM

219 Comments

This is a decent solar camera at this price point ($40). I got 5 between Dec 6 to Dec 21. It has been priced at $39 for quite some time. Minor downside is you'd need to buy your own microSD card if you do not wish to pay for their cloud storage service. Works great in areas where it's impossible/impractical to run power to the camera (eg; strapping it to a tree trunk in your yard). I have a feeling prices will come back to the $39 level - just wait a little. You can also run your own USB power to it (longer USB extension cable provided in the box) instead of using the solar panel. Extension cable also allows you to mount the panel separate from the camera if necessary. It also has an LED "mini floodlight". Not going to light up your whole driveway, but enough to improve picture quality.

SmoothMonkeyParts

Apr 9, 2026 3:59 PM

222 Comments

Joined Oct 2020

SmoothMonkeyPartsApr 9, 2026 3:59 PM

222 Comments

Quote from phydid

:

TP-Link products are not secure. Strongly recommend you avoid this brand

In my experience, none of them are secure. This far, these Tapo cameras are the only ones that my internet scans haven't picked up on an open password. I had some of the LAView cameras that did well for a while, and then I guess with an update one of them now flags an open password. I don't even bother hooking up our hardwired system to the internet, it's so insecure. I just run it on its own intranet.

SmoothMonkeyParts

Apr 9, 2026 4:06 PM

222 Comments

Joined Oct 2020

SmoothMonkeyPartsApr 9, 2026 4:06 PM

222 Comments

Quote from adalta

:

Anyone using these for a first time camera? Planning on adding this to my mother's home or should I go with a higher end system? She has an old Nest doorbell only.edit: is 1080p enough?

Depends on what your definition of "enough" is. It's enough to be able to recognize a familiar face if they're at her front door by the camera, but likely won't be able to actually see someone's face that is 10+ yds away. It can pick up movement at that distance and get rough details, but nothing concise.

1

$39.97* | TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 Outdoor FHD Battery Camera w/ Solar Panel Base Kit at Amazon

$40

$55

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