HomeKit-Enabled D-Link Omna Camera Gains New Features in App Update

Schmidt65, it’s been a few months on from this comment, what is your long term view of the Omna versus the Circle 2?

Im also curious as to which device is easier/better at accessing footage say a few hours old? Say if there has been an incident of damage in the night of my car and I need to retrieve footage. Same with notifications, if my car is being damaged does one appear better/faster at sending movement notifications? Final question, does cloud or local storage matter in daily use?

I’m torn between both devices, Spec wise they seem extremely similar!

They both have their pro's/cons.

For homekit integration, the OMNA wins hands down. The video feeds load instantly, nightvision mode is instant, and the motion sensor zones (and motion-notification delay periods) carry over from the OMNA app straight into the Home app. However the SD card has never worked for me so I can't view older recordings. This is on both cameras.

The Circle 2 cameras however are much better cameras, and the Logitech Circle app is really good. They are waterproof, have free 24 cloud access of all motion alerts, and can be positioned in virtually any angle. However although they do appear in the home app, they are slow to load, nightvision takes 15-20 seconds each time to refocus each time you click to view the feed, and there are no motion zones or wait-period settings that carry over from the Logitech app.

I've set mine up with 2 OMNA's inside for baby/toddler monitors as I can set the exact motion zones I want to be alerted about (not the whole room, just the cots), and nightvision is instant when I click the video (which is essential as I mainly sue them at night!).

I use the 3 circle cameras outside as security cameras as they are waterproof and are positioned exactly as I want them. I just have to set the notifications to only alert me when I am not at home, as otherwise I get bombarded every time anything happens (as I am unable to set a motion sensor-zone or time-delay between each notification that carries over to the Home app), and you have to pay in Logitech app. I also only use the Logitech app at night as the Home-app takes forever to re-focus nightvision, but the circle app is instant. Additionally I get 24 hours of free cloud storage for motion alerts, which is great for outside security cameras.

Both the OMNA and Circle work perfectly with HomeKit automations - I have the circle cameras set to turn on Hue lights in certain rooms if they detect motion at night.
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Schmidt65, it’s been a few months on from this comment, what is your long term view of the Omna versus the Circle 2?

Im also curious as to which device is easier/better at accessing footage say a few hours old? Say if there has been an incident of damage in the night of my car and I need to retrieve footage. Same with notifications, if my car is being damaged does one appear better/faster at sending movement notifications? Final question, does cloud or local storage matter in daily use?

I’m torn between both devices, Spec wise they seem extremely similar!

For your scenario, I would definitely say the Circle 2 wired cameras. I have mine set over the driveway and they are great and providing instant notifications if they sense any motion. They are also waterproof, can be positioned exactly as you want them, and provide free 24 hours of motion footage.

It's just if you want to view the video feed at night, use the Logitech app and not the Home app.

OMNA cameras are really only good inside.

I’ve got 2 of these as indoor baby/toddler cameras, and 3 of the new HomeKit Logitech Circle 2 cameras outside as security cameras.

The Omna’s are much better at night vision and far more granular at motion detection - you can mark zones on them for HomeKit notifications.

The circle 2’s only allow zone marking for notifications within its own app - which aren’t anywhere near as good.

Overall both are pretty good though

Schmidt65, it’s been a few months on from this comment, what is your long term view of the Omna versus the Circle 2?

Im also curious as to which device is easier/better at accessing footage say a few hours old? Say if there has been an incident of damage in the night of my car and I need to retrieve footage. Same with notifications, if my car is being damaged does one appear better/faster at sending movement notifications? Final question, does cloud or local storage matter in daily use?

I’m torn between both devices, Spec wise they seem extremely similar!

They both have their pro's/cons.

For homekit integration, the OMNA wins hands down. The video feeds load instantly, nightvision mode is instant, and the motion sensor zones (and motion-notification delay periods) carry over from the OMNA app straight into the Home app. However the SD card has never worked for me so I can't view older recordings. This is on both cameras.

The Circle 2 cameras however are much better cameras, and the Logitech Circle app is really good. They are waterproof, have free 24 cloud access of all motion alerts, and can be positioned in virtually any angle. However although they do appear in the home app, they are slow to load, nightvision takes 15-20 seconds each time to refocus each time you click to view the feed, and there are no motion zones or wait-period settings that carry over from the Logitech app.

I've set mine up with 2 OMNA's inside for baby/toddler monitors as I can set the exact motion zones I want to be alerted about (not the whole room, just the cots), and nightvision is instant when I click the video (which is essential as I mainly sue them at night!).

I use the 3 circle cameras outside as security cameras as they are waterproof and are positioned exactly as I want them. I just have to set the notifications to only alert me when I am not at home, as otherwise I get bombarded every time anything happens (as I am unable to set a motion sensor-zone or time-delay between each notification that carries over to the Home app), and you have to pay in Logitech app. I also only use the Logitech app at night as the Home-app takes forever to re-focus nightvision, but the circle app is instant. Additionally I get 24 hours of free cloud storage for motion alerts, which is great for outside security cameras.

Both the OMNA and Circle work perfectly with HomeKit automations - I have the circle cameras set to turn on Hue lights in certain rooms if they detect motion at night.
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For your scenario, I would definitely say the Circle 2 wired cameras. I have mine set over the driveway and they are great and providing instant notifications if they sense any motion. They are also waterproof, can be positioned exactly as you want them, and provide free 24 hours of motion footage.

It's just if you want to view the video feed at night, use the Logitech app and not the Home app.

OMNA cameras are really only good inside.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. A lot to consider, the indoor vs outdoor discussion is something for me to consider. I had been thinking the Omna could be placed on the window ledge facing the drive. I think I'll go for the Omna first, use it indoors, then maybe expand to the garden/garage with Circle 2's in the summer. Looking at both systems they actually complement each other really well.

Hi Schmidt,

I am also thinking about the omna as a baby-monitor. What's your setup!? I am planing on using the apple watch for my wife with hearing problems. The Watch will use the taptic engine to allert her during the night. Do you think this will work!?

How about the setting of the camera!? the circle or even the home from Nokia are easier to be placed and adjusted. The Omna looks like "it is as it is" and it can not be tilted or altered...

Thanks and have a great day!
Daniel

Hi,

Yes the motion alerts tap on the watch pretty well with a small image of the motion captures, works really well with our 2 year old.

It is annoying that the omna can’t be tilted, but has a 180 degree angle so captures everything really well, and you can set the zones you want to be alerted to movement on which ties into the home app.

Can anyone with an Omna tell me if you can turn *off* the camera from the Home app?

Not that I am aware of. I am using a iDevice switch to turn it on/off via Geofence. I was hopeful this feature was added to the recent update but no such luck. Disappointing as this is a must have for a HomeKit enabled device!

I’ve got 2 of these as indoor baby/toddler cameras, and 3 of the new HomeKit Logitech Circle 2 cameras outside as security cameras.

The Omna’s are much better at night vision and far more granular at motion detection - you can mark zones on them for HomeKit notifications.

The circle 2’s only allow zone marking for notifications within its own app - which aren’t anywhere near as good.

Overall both are pretty good though