If you're an Alexa user, you've probably already discovered a huge number of features that Amazon's assistant has to offer. Alexa has a ton of features that can help protect your home . Many users program their lights to make it look like someone's home at all times, or even turn on the TV, but one particularly useful feature is using an Echo speaker with a camera as a surveillance system. Want to know how?
Amazon Echo Show as a surveillance camera
Alexa is the best ecosystem for adding surveillance systems, as you can use Amazon's own system, Ring Alarm, or other third-party products. However, what many people don't know is that you can perfectly configure the Amazon Echo Show to see what's happening at home at all times. This is the ' Home Security ' feature, an option that will turn your Show into a security camera that you can remotely monitor. This feature has been available for some time, and in this article, we'll explain everything you need to know to get it working quickly and easily.
Given that the Echo Show 5 , Echo Show 8, Echo Show 10 , and Echo Show 15 all have built-in cameras for video conferencing, it was rather odd that these cameras couldn't be used for other purposes. That's precisely what they've enabled with the new Home Watch feature, which allows you to connect to your Echo Show for a quick look at what's happening around it.
The main difference between this feature and Drop-in is that the Echo Show won't display the image of the person controlling the camera. Unlike Drop-in video calls , the sole purpose here is to remotely monitor the camera, not to communicate with another person. Drop-in requires the user's attention on the other end of the camera to activate it and start the conversation, while Home Security lets you activate the camera immediately, in a matter of seconds.
But there is a key element without which it would not be possible to do everything that we are going to explain to you.
What is that Home Monitoring?
Everything we're about to tell you wouldn't be possible without the help of an add-on that Amazon launched with the aim of further expanding the ways to use its screen-based assistants, such as the Echo Show we're talking about today. This resource has the advantage of adding the following features to the entire ecosystem, features that wouldn't be possible to implement without it:
- Thanks to home monitoring is possible enable the Echo Show camera for surveillance work and control of any instance that we want to have in view.
- You can securely view that camera's stream remotely from the Alexa app or any other connected assistant-enabled device, as long as everyone is there. linked to the same Amazon account.
- With Home Monitoring the third generation Echo Show 10 they can configure routines that are activated when people are detected in front of the device.
Next, we are going to tell you how you should do it to turn an Echo Show into a whole surveillance camera.
Can I communicate with the other side?
When you start the video, the interface will display two icons: a speaker and a microphone , which will remain muted. If you activate them, you can hear what's happening on the other end, and you can also send audio from the microphone of your mobile phone, which you're using to remotely monitor the camera.
Therefore, you will be able to talk to the other person on the other side of the camera in the same way that you would with a camera with two-way communication, although do not forget that this person will not see you unless you start a drop-in video call. In the case of the Echo Show 10, you can also use its pan function to move the orientation of the camera and be able to keep an eye on everything around the smart speaker, something especially useful to control a more complete vision of the room that want to look
What models are compatible?
All Echo with a camera allow remote connection to check the vision of their cameras, however, the latest Echo Show allow more advanced options in the device configuration when it comes to accepting remote connections. From the Alexa application and accessing the Echo details, we can activate the remote camera on the following models:
- Echo Show 5
- Echo Show 8
- Echo Show 10
- Echo Show 15
The Echo Spot, for example, is a speaker with a camera that does not offer the option of remote viewing, but it does offer the Drop In video call option.
Activate Home Surveillance mode
To activate Home Watch mode on your Echo Show, you'll need to have the operating system updated to the latest version . To check, access your Echo's Settings panel by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the settings button on the right. Go to Device Options and tap "Check for Software Updates."
Once you have the Echo Show updated to the latest version, you must follow the following steps to activate the Home Surveillance mode:
- Go back to the panel Configuration from your Echo's system. Be careful, this is done on the Echo itself, and not from the Alexa application on your mobile phone or tablet.
- Access the section Camera.
- You will see the option home surveillance with a button on the right that will remain disabled. Activate it by clicking on it.
- When activating it, you must confirm your access data to your Alexa account for simple security. The screen will ask you your Amazon account password for you to complete the account verification process.
- Once the password is completed and confirmed, click on Ready to confirm the settings and complete the process.
How can I see the camera view of my Echo Show?
One of the great advantages of using these Amazon Echo Shows is that we will be able to see the images from the improvised surveillance camera in many places. Behold.
With Home Security now enabled, simply open the Alexa app on your smartphone and go to the Devices tab. There, in the "Cameras" group , the Echo Show camera you just set up will have been added. Just tap on it to start the live stream and see what's happening on the other side. Here's how it works:
- Open the Alexa app
- In the options on the bottom bar, select Devices
- In the top row of icons, scroll to the right and tap the icon Cameras.
- All the devices with cameras in your smart home ecosystem will appear. And among all of them, the Echo cameras that you have. Select the Echo you want to connect to to look at the camera.
On the other hand, you can also use other Amazon devices to view the video signal. For example, if you have an Amazon Fire TV Stick connected to your television, you can also use it to view the Echo Show's camera feed. Interesting, right? To do this, simply invoke Alexa using the Fire TV remote and say, "Alexa, show me the camera feed of (Echo Show name)." However, you'll only be able to see the image on the dongle , as there's no two-way communication since it doesn't have a microphone. Therefore, you'll only get the full experience if you use another Echo Show, a tablet, or a smartphone.
How to use routines with home surveillance?
Amazon specifies that these monitoring routines can be applied to the 10-inch , third-generation Echo Show model, which is very useful when a specific person is detected, prompting the system to follow a series of pre-configured steps. For example, sending alerts to your mobile phone, etc.
To use these routines you must:
- Open the Alexa app.
- Select the Routines option.
- When configuring one we will have to choose Smart Home and Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) from the list within the menu when this happens.
- Select the action that the device will carry out when the configured circumstances occur.
Is it better than a security camera?
Although the function of remote video and communication through the microphone and speaker works really well, in reality this function is not able to replace the capabilities that a security camera can offer, since it is not capable of configuring detection zones or Send notifications when someone is on camera.
For cases in which you require a higher level of alerts or more precise surveillance, you will have no choice but to purchase a security camera that allows you to have greater control of the room it monitors.
Surveillance cameras have improved a lot in recent years. Some models that do not reach 100 euros are equipped with a multitude of tools to detect intruders. From full turns of the camera to avoid blind spots to various types of light to continue recording correctly in the dark. This, added to extras such as specialized sensors and cloud services, give the cameras in front of the Echo Show the winner. However, this does not mean that the Echo Show cannot be of great help in this area. In fact, many users will be left over with this device.
About camera privacy
But let's not forget that by taking control of a camera remotely we could be violating someone's privacy. If your Echo is in common areas and even if you want to keep an eye on it, you prefer to warn of your intrusion, you can do so by selecting the options that will appear on the Camera configuration screen within the options menu.
There you can add a delay to the video so that, once you try to connect, the video appears blurred for a few seconds to give the other person in front of the camera time to react and decide whether or not to appear in the broadcast.
You can also add a sound alert with the Audio Alert function , which will simply sound an alert when the camera starts transmitting, so that those being monitored can be aware of when the camera has been activated or not.
In any case, something that will be permanently active and that cannot be avoided is the message “A family member is watching your camera”. This is an informative message that will serve to alert that said camera is being remotely controlled, so that if you are in front of it you will know that you are being watched at that precise moment.
If you want to end the surveillance, you just have to click on the Stop button, and a message will inform you that the family member has stopped remotely viewing the camera.
Can it be blocked?
That the activation of the remote monitoring mode is done from the Echo itself is no coincidence. This prevents devices with the option disabled from suffering from real spy games with a possible remote activation. Nor would it make much sense if we take into account that the Echo is linked to the account that is registered in the Alexa Application that is trying to connect, but worse things have been seen.
Be that as it may, all Echos with a camera have a physical blocking of the camera through a visor, so you will always be able to cancel the camera with a physical screen that you must activate or deactivate in person in front of the speaker. This is the most effective way to ensure that no one will be able to spy on you using the device's built-in camera. So if you fear for your privacy, lock up and sleep easy.
What to keep in mind to use an Echo as a surveillance camera
- The Echo in question will display the message "A family member is viewing your camera."
- The Echo must have the camera visor open, otherwise it will not be able to output video when it is completely covered.
- The Echo cameras are not designed for this type of use, so unfavorable light conditions and backlighting will greatly affect the quality of the video.
- All family members can see the camera of any Echo as long as they are part of the family group.
- To avoid remote vision you must close the protection cover of the camera.
- You can use this function from the official Alexa mobile application or from a Fire TV.
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