PHVMAC Peephole Viewer
What's to love: It looks like a traditional front door peephole from the outside, but it does much more than let the homeowner peek at who is at the door.
What does it do: The peephole viewer is a motion-activated surveillance camera with an LCD screen on the inside of the door allowing the homeowner to view images and video of who is at the door and even who came by when the owners weren't home. The viewer is easy to install. Images are stored on a micro SD card and can be played with the touch of a button. It uses four AA batteries that can last up to six months, or about 9,000 triggers. The viewer, made by Brinno, sells for $139.99.
The MAC 200 Portable Security Camera
What's to love: Another way to record activity at the home when you're away.
What does it do: Because it is wireless and comes with a wall mount, rubber strap and tree strap, there are numerous places this device can be installed to monitor a home. It operates on two D-cell batteries that last an average of 14 months. The camera can be set to time-lapse, which has a 320-foot range and captures one frame every second for 24 hours. Another option is motion detection, which has a 20-foot range and captures two to three frames per second for five seconds. Or it can be set to hybrid mode, which combines the previous two. Images are stored on an SD card (not included). List price for this Brinno product is $299.
-- Cary Jenkins
HomeStyle on 11/14/2015