Logitech Alert 750i Review

Logitech is well known for its entries into the webcam market, some of which have established high bars for other products to be measured against, but the company has decided to expand into a new territory: security. On the surface, security is not that different from some of the core technologies that Logitech already has down, such as digital webcams and the software to view those video feeds, but there is a lot more to the Logitech Alert 750i than a bunch of webcams acting like security watchdogs.

Perhaps the most interesting technology employed in the new Logitech Alert 750i is one that makes it both simple to use and hassle-free: power line networking. Simply plug one of the remote camera units into a wall socket like you would a regular lamp or other appliance and it will actually use that wall socket’s electrical connection to transmit data throughout the entire property. No wires, no alphabet soup of WiFi security features, just a solid connection 99% of the time. Sometimes the technology that you don’t know about is the best kind of technology, because it just works.

Unfortunately, power line networking is not always one of those technologies. The bottom line is that almost all quality homes and apartments will work well with modern power line technologies, but not all of them. With that said, the Logitech Alert 750i’s reliance on power line networking will probably prove to be hit or miss. When it does work, the technology is amazing. Users get a full-featured security suite at a budget price. All users have to do is plug in the base stations for each camera and then place the cameras appropriately. The Windows only application handles motion detection tasks and video backup, but each camera also comes with full MicroSD support is nice in the event of a power failure. No batteries are included which does limit the usefulness of this particular feature to a degree, especially since most UPS systems view data transmissions over power lines as static or noise that needs to be corrected.

Remote management is possible with web-based services as well as with Android, Blackberry, and IOS based devices.

Overall the Logitech Alert 750i is an amazingly versatile and simple to install security package that does not disappoint when it comes to features. Unfortunately, there are going to be some residences and/or businesses with shoddy wiring that simply will not work well with power line networking and thus it would have been nice to at least have an option for a basic wireless setup.