Blink Sync Module 2 - How Local Storage Works 

Without subscription only good for motion alerts, live viewing storage is irrelevant at that point. 3$ a camera or 10$ for as many as ya want it’s better to get the subscription.

Maybe search for a tutorial?

L😊 5:55 5:59№00,,,*⅚Welcome to Gboard clipboard, any text you copy will be saved here.Touch and hold a clip to pin it. Unpinned clips will be deleted after 1 hour.ll

Is that good or bad?

@@yousefalshiekh4074 you need to just make sure you are in range of the Sync module (little box) and the home wifi for everything to work correctly. 😀

doy

Yes, you can monitor the cameras live without a sub. I have several in my home to check on my dogs when i'm gone.

@@BrewCityRider thanks for the response ended up picking these up months ago and they been working like a charm. I just picked up the blink doorbell for prime day so looking forward to that. have a good one

Yes you can review all the videos from your local storage on the app

Either method works. View on your app or computer.

Joe, the camera only connects to the sync module. The sync module is essentially a connection point for up to 10 cameras that only needs one IP address on your network but is the gateway for the cameras to touch your network. You have to have a sync module close enough for the camera to connect. If you have cameras very spread out (like I do as well) you may need to add another sync module for more coverage. I hope that helps!

@@GadgetHero1 This is exactly what I needed! Thank you! I will subscribe to your channel and like your video.

Thanks for the post and the subscription is your best bet. It's fairly inexpensive and allows you to review your clips remotely and save them if you ever have an issue with a break-in. Stop back soon for more content I'll be posting.

Kind of sucks but I think the subscription is the way to go as well. Just bought one but after seeing the options its better to probably just pay the yearly

😆 older guys?

​@anothercampervanchannel why? Let's be real most men at that age dont even bother to explore other techs but phones. Let alone little modules and how it works.

He’s not that old. 😅 but old enough to have way more knowledge and experience than guys half his age. Who do you think trains the younger guys?

You can view your videos through the app itself, no need to plug it to your computer.

The video is incorrect. You don't have to remove the USB to view the stored videos on a computer, you can use you Blink App to see the videos

Glad it was helpful! I'll have a lot more content posting soon so please sub the channel so you don't miss anything.

I’m wondering the same thing

Thanks for the post but unfortunately Blink doesn't provide this feature, which is frustrating. The USB drive video can only be viewed when the drive is plugged into a computer. You can view the Cloud based video from the app but not these local copies stored on the USB stick.

Not only can you NOT watch thru the app... It'll tell you there's storage being utilized(mine is constantly 33%) even AFTER deleting all saved clips😑 =Kinda pointless to me

Seems like this is a shit system

I don’t think the answer to this question is correct, offline stored videos are accessible remotely through the app

@@cshotla1 I hope you're right. Guess I'll find out in about 22 days

I dont think that's a good option then.. I mean come for most of us that plan on being out of town, this system is supposed to provide some type of security but if you have to have a subscription to gain that security security and peace of mind, then it's all just a front and this thing is useless without a subscription because you can't view the footage until you get home??? wth??

I believe without a subscription, it DOES NOT record footage, which makes it pretty useless 🤷‍♀🙄. However, I might be wrong about that. It seems incredibly difficult to find out..!

I use local storage and can view my video clips from anywhere in the country using my mobile phone app. As long as you don't fill up the storage they are accessible anywhere and anytime. Keep in mind that if the Blink Servers are down, then you won't have access. Everything goes through the Blink Servers (this is regardless of whether you have a Cloud subscription or not). You'll also need to have your WiFi router up and running for everything to work. If you are not at home and there is a power outage or the router goes down, then someone may need to physically be at your home to reboot the router or cameras if they go offline and won't come back up. My router is on a UPS.

If you have local storage without a Cloud subscription, the video is still recorded to the Sync Module 2. The only time it won't record is if there is a WiFi connectivity problem or Blink Servers are down or you run out of USB storage. The Sync Module 2 is a hub and talks with the Blink Servers. You don't need a Cloud subscription to record your video clips. I don't have a Cloud subscription and I store all my videos on the Sync Module 2.

A hard disc or SSD would work fine but you'd have to have it powered externally as the USB-A connection on the Sync module can only support a USB drive with very low power requirements. You might be better off using a larger 512GB or 1TB flash drive to store the videos. That would also make it easier to transfer then to your computer. I hope that helps. Rick

Humm 256gb limit on the connected drive

Which video did you watch? This was a waste of 5 minutes.

I had a similar issue. Make sure you're USB is blank and install it to the slot. Make sure the app says that it's formatted and the "local storage" option is visible. Mine still didn't save my clips. It was only after I completely unplugged my Blink module for 10+ minutes and reset my Wi-Fi router that it finally worked.

That’s funny I thought it was perfect. Explains it perfectly. You must not have watched the same video 😂

Mark D., Hey there. Get any answers. I am having a similar problem. After the trial subscription was over I can no longer view my clips on my cell phone which you need to do asap when notified. Not even sure my notifications are working. Thnx,,,,,steve

@@proofdude I ended up calling them and they did something on their end to reset my sync module so now I can see the clips remotely on my attached storage device.

As long as the storage is not full yes. I have mine setup to delete videos 7 days or older automatically. I've been doing it like this for years. Or I got a manually delete videos if it gets full.

Would like to know this as well

Fernando, unfortunately the USB video is only for offline use and can't be viewed through the app. I'm frustrated by that as well and am hopeful that Blink will change that with a firmware update but right now you have to plug the USB drive into a computer to view those clips.

Hero, please re-check this answer, other videos on YT say other

It seems like everyone's got different answers for this so I'll just share how it works for me. I'm off the subscription, currently at work and I can use the blink app to view usb storage from here. Motion triggered clips are still being made and I can still see them remotely via the blink app. To me the only difference between paying a subscription and not, is just where the clips are stored. With no subscription, it records them directly to the usbkey. There are two tabs on the top of the clips section of the app, one says cloud (where the subscription based clips went) and the other is named whatever you named your sync module upon setup; click that and you'll see your usb recorded/subscription-free videos. One small downside without the subscription is the speed at which you can load a clip via the app. Even when I'm home and on the same network it takes longer to load a clip via the USB on the local network than reaching out to the internet and pulling it down from the cloud to view. Logic would suggest it'd be much faster to view a file from down the hall than a blink server on the other side of the country. It's weird, maybe deliberately crippled to encourage subs... who knows, but it's not really a big deal as it only takes about 7 or 8 seconds to load, just thought it's worth mentioning.

Al, thanks for the post and unfortunately the older XT cameras wont record to the USB Drive. The good news is that since the Cloud recording was free when you bought them, you should be "grandfathered" in to continue using it. I hope that helps, it's a good system.

My understanding is video clips do not automatically get deleted once the USB drive is full. You have to choices. You can remove the USB drive from the Sync Module 2 and use your computer to delete them. Or you can leave the USB drive in the Sync Module 2 and delete video clips one at a time using your mobile phone app.

No worries, you can extend the cable if needed. The Sync module draws so little power that extending the cable won't affect it at all. Thanks for the post!

Glad it was helpful! I like the Blink products a lot and am glad this was useful. I have a few more Blink clips uploading soon so be sure to stop back.

Yeah, isn't that some sh*?!? I bought this for my home in another state, got it all set up, incl thumb drive... then once I got home a few days later, realized that if I don't subscribe, they're essentially useless to me. And of course it will be past the return date, so now I'm stuck with them.

@@annmarietrupia6650 I appreciate the post but I'm not sure what your issues are with the camera system. They are super easy to setup, priced in line with other cameras, provide a really easy application for recording and access and works with Alexa. The local storage option is unique as well and works great as an alternative to the cloud storage. I know a lot of folks complain about the monthly Cloud costs but every camera vendor charges for storage since it's not free for them. Let me know your particular issue and I'm sure that I can help sort it out for you.

@@annmarietrupia6650 same story

@William Tell Thanks for the post but you're mistaken on a few of these points. You're right that Blink initially offered a free Cloud Storage plan and then moved to a subscription model like all of the other camera vendors. New customers still have free storage in the cloud for shorter clips but need a subscription for longer storage. The key thing to remember is that if you were an early customer with Blink that had the free storage plan, Blink extended this so any new cameras you add to the system are "grandfathered" into the same plan. This is a big advantage to the system for older customers and a decent thing for them to do. As for the Cloud plan, it's competitive and in line with what other companies charge for Cloud storage. I find the hardware to be really reliable and have some of the original cameras still mounted on my home for a few years now without issue.

You can't as far as I know. You have to go home. Put your thumb drive in your computer. I have had my 10 camera system since July 2021 and have been using them issue free from the app. Today they shut me down and are forcing me to pay for a subscription. I took them all down and ordered a new Eufy System. After having these a year and a half, then they decide its time for me to start paying? Nope! Bye BLINK!

@@IMiss_The90s The Eufy System cost $630 dollars for only 2 cameras and a harddrive which you can't access the video footage live from your phone. I'm also not sure if the video footage is only 30 seconds per clip or how long the video footage can go on because I'm trying to record time the whole time my gardeners are doing the front lawn and backyard lawn to see how long they are doing the job and what they are doing per week.

@@IMiss_The90s Good for you! Bloody outrageous way to treat customers 😡

Sam, thanks for the post and I was looking for a way to finish out the review and since most viewers are nerds (including you) I though that it worked. I hope you'll stop back for more content soon. I'm trying to post a clip each day on a wide range of gear.

I've experienced this, tried reformatting as well and deleting the module as well. I've used new 2 drives with no luck so far. I'll let you know if I find a solution.. Please comment here if you find one. Seems like this is getting common for many people.

@@markyazurin6304 it's weird but I just noticed mine started to work today. After reformatting and setting up the sync module after deleting, I just left it a lone and after a few days it started working. I have no idea what caused it.

@@richardharder6499 thank for the info, if you dont mind me asking, how much GB are you using? I've used the max for the system which is 256GB

@@markyazurin6304 I am using 256 GB PNY flash drive in mine.

I am having this issue as well. After the subscription lapsed nothing is being recorded to local storage. There was a point when I added a second camera but didn’t add a subscription onto it that camera recorded to local storage but now neither are.

Mine is having the same issue I believe it's because the usb isn't formatted to the correct file type

Jeff, you should be able to connect to the cameras well beyond 20 feet so there may be something else going on there. Also, you can easily add a second and third Sync Module to your setup if needed to extend the range. That saves you the hassle of moving the cameras. I hope that helps and thanks for the post.

Yes you can! It shows up in the application and allows you to review the footage.

Once the thumb drive is full it will stop recording videos. Either manually delete videos one at a time from your mobile phone app to make space for more videos or put the thumb drive in your computer and delete them.

Sane

Yes you can view your videos on the phone through the blink app

@@mignonkoma not live so I went back to paying for it 😤

It needs to be armed to trigger recording, but you probably figured this out by now.

Jonathan, yes, you'll need to "arm" it so it responds to movement and records. Sorry for the delay in responding, I've been off for a few days battling the flu.

Thanks for the post and you can use a quick format on a Windows PC to make it easier.

Lol, no that's my normal talking speed. I try to add as much detail as possible and keep the content interesting. I hope you enjoyed the clip and will stop back for more content I'll be posting this week.

It matters how much activity you have it placed at.

Yeah.. Does it over write after usb storage it Is full?

@@guruk probably not. Once full your need to delete or upgrade to a bigger one. Haven't experienced that to say but assuming it would not save anymore

Me neither 🤷‍♀

Thanks for the post and you can use any USB drive up to a capacity of 256GB but I like this one from Sandisk - amzn.to/3Qh81i6. They make a quality product and this one is small enough that it hardly sticks out from the unit. Stay tuned for more content this week. Rick

You don't need to clear it normally, it will continue to record new video over the older clips. If you do want to completely clear it you can pop it into a USB port on your computer and quick format it. I hope that helps.

I used a cheap usb key I bought on amazon, nothing fancy and it works. About your data plan, I think you almost answered your own question but just-in-case I'll state my response anyway as I might be confused. If you're viewing anything over the internet at all and you're not on a wifi network it's going to use data, this is no different. So yeah, if you're watching video over the moblie data line it's going to cut into your 1GB.

no

Yes

Thanks for the post and Amazon is constantly updating the features on these cameras. The last time I tested it (and when I originally did this video) You could not access the videos on the thumb drive through the app. The only way to review them was to plug the drive into your computer to view them. I'll test again today to see if that's changed.

john ambro,,,, Hey there. Get any answers. I am having a similar problem. After the trial subscription was over I can no longer view my clips on my cell phone which you need to do asap when notified. Not even sure my notifications are working. I thought the answer was YES too. I'm trying to contact Blink Tech. Thnx,,,,,steve

Yes, the subscription provides more features (and instant review) of the footage as well as storage in the cloud. If you decide to use the subscription, all of the clips you record are also downloaded to the memory stick every night as well for backup. You can use a smaller capacity USB drive if you like but it will hold less content. It's a decent system for the price and I've used the Blink products for years. I hope that helps and stay tuned for more Blink content soon. I have their new motion camera I'll be reviewing this week.

That part of the video confused me to, he said only the hub gets an ip address, which means the cameras aren’t connected to wifi but the hub instead, doubt that as range would be an issue, I presume all cameras and the hub are connected via wifi which means each will have an ip address

I had a similar issue and using a different USB Thumb Drive solved the problem for me. You might want to try formatting the one you're using in your computer before inserting it into the hub.

Derek, I posted this clip to specifically explain how the local storage works with the Blink system. Formatting the USB drive wasn't part of the discussion but I just do that on my PC before adding it to the module. Even if you don't format it, the video's will just overwrite whatever you have on the thumb drive. I hope that helps.

John, sorry for the delay in responding. It depends on the Blink Cloud plan you have. If you have the basic plan, don;t enable it for this additional camera and it will record to the thumb drive. If you have the "whole house" Plus plan, don't add the camera to your account that has the subscription and it will store the recordings on the thumb drive for that camera. I hope that helps.

Same question can i get door bell only in my paid subcriptions? And 2 other oitdoor caneras to record in the usb drive. Dont really need them to save in cloud but just in case something i can go back to the usb

If your internet or Wi-Fi is down then it will never make it to the module too be recorded

@@justingreenblatt5741 that is not true. Routers can communicate with each other in proximity without internet connection.

​@@BossmanRoyceNeither the camera nor the module will work without wifi.

I don’t think that you can skip the free trial subscription enrolment but you can always cancel it after you set up everything before it expires.