Logitech Alert 750n adds wide-angle night vision for improved indoor snooping, we go hands-on

Unable to sleep soundly because of the lingering fear that someone's rummaging around your living room? Logitech's newest surveillance gizmo, the 750n Indoor Master System, should ease your worries, since it adds 130-degree night vision and illuminates whatever's lurking in the darkness at a distance of up to 50 feet. Like Logitech's older products, such as the Alert Master, the 750n records video at 960 x 720p, and it uses the same HomePlug adapter for installation. If you're already feeding your paranoia with a Logitech Alert Master, you can upgrade to the night-vision capabilities with the 700n Indoor Add-On Camera. The products cost $300 and $230, respectively, and will be available before the end of the month, but you can join us after the break for our impressions.

The setup here is much the same as it was before. For $300 you get yourself the kit with a single camera and a pair of HomePlug powerline Ethernet adapters, which enable you to position your camera anywhere that you have power. The camera takes power and sends data through one of the adapters, while the second adapter sends that data to your network router of choice. Internally the camera has a 2GB microSD card to which it records, but by running the included software you can suck that footage down and archive nighttime prowler antics for posterity.

Apple users aren't totally left out, as there are mobile apps for Android and iOS that enable the streaming of live footage from your cameras, and you can stream on the web as well. Pay an extra $79.95 a year to join the Mobile Commander club and you'll gain DVR-like functionality from afar, too. Again, none of this is significantly different than what was available before, it's just the IR night vision that's new, and it is quite effective. We installed a camera in a crawlspace, the darkest spot we could find, and it delivered crystal clear black and white footage of the murky darkness with the IR system enabled, as you can see in the slightly creepy photo above. (Just for kicks, we also captured a photo of what things look like with the IR system disabled.)

If you weren't sold on the Alert system before chances are the minor update here won't push you over the fence. But, the addition of night vision does make these indoor cameras rather more effective than they previously were. Filming your own version of Paranormal Activity just got that much easier.

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NEWARK, Calif. - May 9, 2012 - Today Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ:
LOGI) expanded its Logitech® Alert™ lineup by introducing the
Logitech® Alert™ 750n Indoor Master System, a complete video security
system in a box that enables you to be there – even when you're not.
Easy installation, wide-angle night vision, powerful PC software and a
free remote viewing account let you rest at ease whether at home or
away, with peace of mind that your property and loved ones are safe.

For expanded security coverage, Logitech also introduced the Logitech®
Alert™ 700n Indoor Add-On Camera. This stand-alone night-vision camera
is easy to add to your existing Logitech Alert Master system so you
can see what's going on in other rooms or locations.

Thanks to HomePlug® networking, installation for both the system and
add-on camera is easy, and there's no need to run wires or bother with
tricky network configuration. Simply plug your camera into a wall
power outlet, and HomePlug uses your electrical wiring and outlets to
connect your camera to the network and transmit video securely.

The Logitech Alert 750n Indoor Master System and the Logitech Alert
700n Indoor Add-On Camera both offer high-quality HD video (960 x 720@
15fps), a 130-degree wide-angle and powerful night vision that
delivers up to twice the viewing area compared to standard cameras.
This makes it easier to recognize people and other objects more
clearly, day or night. You can see up to 50 feet in complete darkness
with high-powered illumination, so you'll never again find yourself
afraid of the dark.

"By bringing our night vision capabilities to indoor cameras with the
Logitech Alert 750n Indoor Master System and the Logitech Alert 700n
Indoor Add-On Camera, you get a premiere security system package,"
said James Lopez, general manager of digital video security at
Logitech. "The wide angle lens gives you the ability to see up to
twice as much viewing area, even in complete darkness. And if there
is motion on your property, its automatic alerts let you know about it
in an instant – even if you're out of town."

Additionally, the system and add-on camera have motion-triggered
recording, which automatically triggers video recording and can be set
up to send notifications to your e-mail address and mobile phone,
keeping you informed. You can even specify 16 motion-detection zones
within the frame.

Pricing and Availability

The Logitech Alert 750n Indoor Master System and Logitech Alert 700n
Add-On Camera are expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe
beginning in May 2012, for a suggested retail price of $299.99 and
$229.99, respectively. For more information please visit
www.logitech.com or our blog.