iFamCare’s Helmet Home & Pet Video Camera ($150-$170) is an indoor home camera which was initially funded on Indiegogo. The aptly named Helmet allows users to keep an eye on their home from afar, with up to 1080p video, sound, and a microphone. Users can pan the camera 360 degrees, and tilt it up to 70 degrees. Any specific “pet” aspect of the camera comes into play with the included laser — that particular feature is more likely going to appeal to cats than dogs. Other features include night vision, an air quality monitor, push notifications, and support for multiple users. A microSD card can be inserted into the back of Helmet for extra video/photo storage. The camera comes with a mount, so it can be affixed to a wall, ceiling, or another surface. We received the white version of Helmet; oddly, the black version is $20 more expensive.
Helmet looks like a full-faced racing helmet — think of The Stig from Top Gear — held up upon a plastic base. The pet laser is mounted above the camera, and speakers are placed on the sides.
The back of Helmet has a reset button and status light, a micro-USB port to plug in the included AC adapter — Helmet isn’t battery-powered — and a microSD port. (A microSD card does not come with the camera). It’s probably not the most attractive home camera design we’ve seen, but it’s also certainly not offensive in any way. It gets the job done.
Helmet’s setup process is easy and inviting — it only requires a Wi-Fi network and the free iFamCare app. (Note that your home’s router must be set to the 2.4Ghz band, not 5Ghz.) After a quick setup within the app, requiring us to make a password, we had Helmet up and running within minutes. Once Helmet is setup on a Wi-Fi network, it can be watched while on the same network, or while away from home, via LTE or 4G. We found there was a slight lag, but otherwise, we didn’t have trouble connecting or watching video. There were times when the app told us the camera went offline — we’re not sure when or why, but reconnecting was quick and easy.
Once you’re setup, you can click on any linked camera to get a live feed. Video is pretty good, as far as these cameras go.
It claims to be 1080p, but you still shouldn’t expect the same quality you’d get on your TV or anything like that. Night vision quality is also more than acceptable. Two-way sound works, too, but we did have an echo issue at times when using the microphone. The camera can be moved remotely by sliding your finger across the screen while viewing the live feed. Users also have the option to take pictures and record video — those photos and video can be shared with an online community. As to why you’d want to do that, we’re not exactly sure, but the option is there, and some other folks seem to be sharing.
Like most of these home cameras, Helmet can be set up with activity and sound alerts, both of which can be relayed to a user via push notification. During our testing, we got quite a few notifications when nothing really seemed to be going on. You can adjust for sensitivity, however, so if you’re really into the idea of getting alerts, you’re probably going to have to do some trial-and-error to get it just where you want it.
Other notable Helmet features include an air quality sensor — the air in our testing area was apparently top-rate — and the laser. Users can turn the laser on or off, and also make it move around in a couple different patterns, no doubt to entice a kitty that may be lounging around nearby.
