Swann MaxRanger4K Solar Security System review: Atypical cameras

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At a glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

Cons

Our Verdict

The solar-powered Swann MaxRanger4K Solar Security System is a great option for surveillance of large spaces where wired or battery-powered cameras would be difficult to install and manage.

Price When Reviewed

$699.99

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Retailer Price

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The advantages of solar-powered wireless security cameras are pretty clear. They provide continuous operation, even during power outages, ensuring uninterrupted surveillance. Installation is easier and more flexible since there are no power cables to hassle with, allowing placement in remote or hard-to-reach areas. They require less maintenance, with fewer battery replacements and less charging needed, lowering operating costs.

With its MaxRanger4K system, Swann leverages that wire-free power technology–solar panels are integrated right into the cameras themselves–with a wireless data technology that it says offers up to “20x more coverage than typical wireless camera systems.” Swann doesn’t state in the product’s spec sheet what that technology is, but you’ll find a hint on the company’s website, where another part of the sentence quoted above says “MaxRanger4K uses the latest 900MHz Wi-Fi…” That sounds an awful lot like HaLow, aka IEEE 802.11ah, an IEEE standard that the Wi-Fi Alliance began certifying back in late 2021. But Swann doesn’t say its implementation here is Wi-Fi certified–for that matter, they don’t mention 802.11ah either. Or HaLow.

Then again, it could be argued that interoperability is the most important benefit of Wi-Fi Alliance certification, and if you’re not planning to integrate this system with other Wi-Fi products or systems, the absence of certification here won’t matter to you. We report, you decide.

Michael Brown/Foundry

Design

The 900MHz frequency band Swann is using for these cameras not only gives them exceptionally long range, the longer-wavelength, lower-frequency signals are also more capable of penetrating physical obstacles in their paths to the hub. Swann says you can expect to deploy the cameras as far as 2,000 feet (600 meters) away with no obstructions (a still-impressive 650 feet in a typical walled environment). But since today’s consumer routers support only the 2.4-, 5-, and in some cases the 6GHz frequency bands, you can’t connect these cameras directly to your Wi-Fi network. You must first plug Swann’s hub into your router and then establish wireless connections between the cameras and the hub.

The MaxRanger4K system comes in two- and four-camera versions. The two-camera system reviewed here includes the cameras and their antennas; the hub and its rechargeable battery; HDMI, ethernet, and USB-A to USB-C cables; a mouse; mounting screws and anchors; a power adapter; and theft deterrent stickers. MSRP for a 2-camera system is $699.99, but Swann was offering a 20-percent discount at press time that brought the price down to $559.99.

Michael Ansaldo/Foundry

The cameras are compact, matte-finished units that blend easily into various environments. Each one has an integrated solar panel on top facilitating continuous operation without the need for frequent recharging. The cameras are IP66-rated, meaning they’re dustproof and protected from powerful jets of water (you can learn more about IP codes at the preceding link), and have an operating temperature of -22 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees F (-30 to 60 C).

Both cameras have a 105-degree viewing angle and capture video in up to 4K resolution, provided by Sony STARVIS sensors. Integrated spotlights and sirens can be activated by motion, heat, or vehicle detection using Swann’s True Detect+ technology, which combines thermal sensing and motion analysis for more accurate notifications. Two-way audio and color night vision up to 131 feet (40 meters) are supported as well.

The system’s hub measures 8.1 x 4.3 x 4.3 inches (HxWxD) and centralizes the system’s operations; it can support up to eight MaxRange4K cameras (add-on cameras are $199.99 each, with the same 20-percent launch discount bringing them down to $159.99). In addition to its power supply, the hub has a rechargeable battery for up to 5 hours of back-up power. It comes with a pre-installed 64GB microSD card for local storage, but the socket will recognize cards with up to 256GB of capacity. You can also add up to 5TB of local storage with a user-provided USB drive. Swann’s website touts the system’s ability to back up your video recordings to the cloud with no monthly fees, but what they’re talking about here is backing up to your own personal Dropbox account.

Swann does offer four paid tiers of service plans that include cloud storage. The Extra plan costs $2.99 month or $29.99 a year and also enables lock screen alerts with images; pet, package, and vehicle alerts; Google Assistant, Alexa, and IFTTT support; and other perks, including a three-year extended warranty and insurance protection for or a single camera or recorder kit. For $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, the Unlimited plan extends that coverage to all the Swann devices in a home. The Pro plan, $14.99 a month or $149.99 a year, and Pro Video plan, $24.99 a month or $249.99 a year, add professional monitoring, emergency response, and other enhancements. More details are available within the Swann Security app or at the preceding link.

Setup and installation

Setting up the MaxRanger system takes a bit more time and effort than the average Wi-Fi camera, but Swann provides ample step-by-step documentation to get it up and running as quickly as possible.

Michael Ansaldo/Foundry

The first step is to get the hub online. Swann notes that you need a high-definition TV for this process because the MaxRanger is designed to operate similarly to a CCTV system, but I was able to monitor the cameras using just my smartphone and the Swann app. Either way, you first plug the hub in and make sure it’s powered on. Next, you’ll connect the hub to your router using the supplied ethernet cable, then connect the mouse to its USB port. At this point, you can also attach the hub’s antenna and any microSD card or USB drive you plan to add.

If you’re going to use a TV to monitor your cameras, you’ll next connect it to the hub using the HDMI cable. Then using the mouse you’ll initiate the startup wizard, viewable on the TV, and follow the prompts to create a password and get the monitoring software set up.

Setting the system up for remote monitoring via your smartphone is more akin to other smart devices. You’ll download the Swann Security app and register an account. When you initiate the setup process, the app prompts you to scan the QR code on “the device”—in this case, the hub—and then walks you through the steps to connect it to your home network. Once you’re connected, you just have to power on the cameras and they automatically pair with the hub.

The final installation step is to mount the cameras with the provided hardware. It’s pretty straightforward, with the main consideration being that the cameras need access to direct sunlight. The solar panels are large enough that installing the cameras under eaves or other overhangs isn’t out of the question, but your judgment is the best guide here.

Performance

I used the MaxRanger system to monitor the front walkway and back gate of my home. I found the TV monitoring software a bit clunky, not to mention overkill for my modest-sized property, so I primarily used the iOS app. In either case, each camera displays as a system channel you can view individually or side-by-side with the other channels.

Michael Ansaldo/Foundry

Unsurprisingly, image quality is excellent, with sharp detail and vibrant color in both day and night mode. Alerts were prompt and accurate and identified when the detected object was a person or vehicle. Connectivity was robust throughout my week of testing with no buffering or freezes, something I can’t recall experiencing with any most of the other outdoor wireless cameras I’ve tested.

A highlight of the system is the trio of preconfigured arming modes: Home, Night, and Away. These are activated with a tap and enable the appropriate camera parameters without your needing to comb through menus to adjust settings manually. Home mode, for example, sets outdoor cameras to moderate motion sensitivity and disarms indoor cameras. Each mode can be edited to tailor settings to your liking. You can also create schedules that dictate when each arming mode should be active.

The Swann Security app is intuitive to use, with clear icons for activating such camera features as the siren, spotlight, and microphone. Clips are easily accessed through a dedicated Playback tab and can be filtered by camera, time, and event type. The app also provides an activity summary that charts the number of events by day and week.

Should you buy the Swann MaxRanger4K?

The MaxRanger4K costs a chunk of change: currently $559.99 for the two-camera set and $799.99 for the four-camera package directly through the Swann website—so you should be clear about what your needs are before considering it. The system is geared for uninterrupted surveillance of big outdoor spaces where it would be prohibitively difficult to install and manage wired or battery-powered cameras that don’t have solar-panel options. That suggests large homes, rural properties, and big public and commercial spaces as the most likely use cases to benefit.

If you don’t need such vast coverage but would like the solar benefits, the Eufy Security Solar Wall Light Cam S120 includes a built-in solar panel and captures up to 2K video for just $99.99. Its small footprint and straightforward installation is much better suited for most urban and suburban homes.