![]() The free plan includes three days/500MB of cloud storage Basic costs $2.99 a month and includes 15 days/3GB of storage Plus is $4.49 a month and includes 30 days/5GB and Pro is $7.99 per month for 60 days/10GB. VicoHome offers free, Basic, Plus, and Pro plans. Birdkiss includes three tiers of paid subscriptions-you'll need to pay for an account for full access to features Next up the app searches for your camera, then prompts you to connect it to your home network. Setup went off without a hitch-the app prompts you to turn on the camera, which beeps and shows a blue light on startup. I loaded the VicoHome app on my iPhone 13 to test the Birdkiss. The mount includes a ball-and-socket joint that rotates to set the panel's angle, so you can adjust it to ensure it will get plenty of sun. I positioned the solar panel base above it, using included screws to secure it to the tree. I chose to use the included Velcro strap to mount the feeder to a tree. I opted to tree-mount the Birdkiss, but pole mounts work too While setup of the feeder itself is tool-free, you'll want to have a power drill handy if you opt to mount it to a wall. Alternately, it can be secured onto a structure using the included anchors and screws. The feeder comes with a mounting base that works with standard bird feeder poles. I picked a good spot with medium-strength coverage for my install point. Thankfully, the 2.4GHz band of my home network extends well into my backyard. Like many smart home products, the Birdkiss doesn't talk to 5GHz networks it's 2.4GHz only. ![]() The app is free to download, but some features (including the touted bird species recognition) require a subscription-we detail plan options further down the page.Īs for mounting, Birdkiss recommends you find a spot in your yard with good Wi-Fi coverage. Make sure to search for VicoHome in the App Store or Google Play Store, as Birdkiss doesn't come up with a result in either. Next up, you'll want to install the VicoHome app. The Birdkiss ships with a solar panel that provides enough juice to keep its battery topped off A USB-C solar panel is included to keep the battery topped off, but its slow trickle charge is just good enough to keep the camera powered all day-make sure you charge the camera fully before handing charging duties over to the solar panel. You can replenish it via the on-camera micro USB port, or via a USB-C port nestled into the side of the feeder's blue plastic top. Once you've got the feeder assembled, you'll want to charge the camera fully. There's not too much to the Birdkiss once you get it out of the box-budget 20 to 30 minutes for assembly We'll call this out as a plus, especially when many tech devices ship with tiny pamphlets that call for a magnifying glass to interpret. She took the time to read the printed manual, which includes clear step-by-step instructions in large print. My partner jumped in for assistance and took care of the project in under a half hour. The roof has a hinge on one side for easier seed refills. But it proved pretty easy to put together, as the three main parts snap together without tools. I was a little intimidated when first opening it up, worried that I had signed up for an Ikea construction project. The Birdkiss ships in a big cardboard box. We've not yet tested competitors to check their picture quality and app features, but aside from aesthetics, seed capacity, and slight variations in design, the competition is similar in concept and in the same ballpark price-wise. Others like the Auxco Bird Feeder and Bird Buddy put the solar panels right on the roof, a more clever approach. ![]() Competitors like the Netvue Birdfy series are similar in concept, with external solar panels leveraged to keep their cameras powered. The Birdkiss isn't the only smart feeder on the market. Best Hosted Endpoint Protection and Security SoftwareĪ Wi-Fi antenna on the rear and a security camera up front are visual indicators that this isn't your ordinary bird feeder.
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