How We Use Reolink Cameras to Monitor Our Construction Site (Without Power or Wi-Fi)

By Hillary & Peter

When you’re building a house, you want to see progress and make sure the property stays secured while you’re not there. The problem? You don’t usually have power or WiFi to make a regular camera work.

Enter our favorite solution: Reolink’s data-powered cameras. These little workhorses run on cell service instead of Wi-Fi, which means you can keep tabs on your build even when you’re totally off-grid. When we first started construction on our current project, we had never heard of these cameras and we did a ton of research to understand them. Needless to say, what we wanted (a guide!) was not out there. So here it is! Everything you ever wanted to know about using these data-powered cameras. 

Here’s how we set ours up (and what we learned along the way).

1. Pick the Right Camera

We went with the Reolink 5MP, but any of their 4G LTE models will work. The key is that it connects using a SIM card — just like a phone.

What to look for:

• 4G LTE connection

• Rechargeable battery

• Optional solar panel (highly recommend)

• 2K or 4K video (if the 4k version is in your budget, highly recommend for clarity!)

2. Get a Data Plan for your Reolink camera

No Wi-Fi = no problem. You’ll just need a SIM card with data. We used pre-paid data cards from EIOT Club. When we first started, we purchased the cards on Amazon and then loaded them directly through EIOT Club when we needed more data. Depending on how long you anticipate using these cameras, decide how you will want to load them (monthly or yearly). We unfortunately have been remodeling for WAY too long and ended up needing them for longer than a year, so it would have saved us money to buy more data on a yearly recurrence, but that’s a lesson we learned! We recommend using the card for a month with the data that's already loaded when you buy from Amazon. That can give you an idea of how much data you used and if you need more or less.

Reload your EIOT Club Card and save 10% when you use code PETERANDHILLARY.

You can also explore getting data-only cards from your wireless carrier. We did this, checking AT&T and T-Mobile, but it wasn’t as affordable or flexible. We also did a trial with Mint Mobile originally and it was good, but a headache to load and make sure we were getting the right amount of data. EIOT Club is really the winner on this one. 

Once you have the card, pop it in to the camera, connect through the Reolink app, and test your live view before mounting.

💡 Tip: If your camera’s struggling to connect, try a different carrier — coverage really depends on your area. It may also not work if the camera is not fully charged, so make sure it's charged before you try it out!

3. Power It Up (Solar is Key)

Because our house didn’t have electricity yet, we used the Reolink Solar Panel. It keeps the camera charged without needing to touch it again, as long as it gets a few hours of sun.

Once the solar panel was mounted, we literally forgot about it. It just worked.

Since we live in the Pacific Northwest, it does get dark very quickly. So we do have to sometimes take the camera home and charge it. We try to do this during the day as night is when we really want the site monitored. 

4. Mount and Adjust the View

We installed ours at the corner of the lot where it could see the full build area. This also allowed us to build an AWESOME time lapse. The app lets you tweak the angle live, so you can make sure you’re capturing what matters — the house, materials, and driveway.

You can also set motion zones and sensitivity, so it’s not pinging you every time a leaf blows by.

We ended up purchasing 3 cameras due to the angles of our house. One in the back, one on the side, and one in front. 

It’s also important that you let people know you’re filming them - we purchased these recording in progress signs, so it wasn’t a surprise to subs or passerbys. 

The Real Pros and Cons

What We Love

• Totally self-powered. No Wi-Fi, no cords, no stress

• Easy to install (it took maybe 15 minutes)

• App works great for live checks and motion alerts

• You can move it as the project changes

• Costs less than setting up temporary internet

• Night vision is great! Crystal clear in 4K.

What’s Not Perfect

• You’ll need to pay for a data plan and this cost can add up depending on your duration of needs

• Cell signal can be spotty in certain areas and sometimes motion videos take a while to load

• Not ideal if you want 24/7 recording as this is better for motion clips

The Bottom Line

If your build site doesn’t have power or Wi-Fi yet, Reolink’s 4G LTE cameras are a lifesaver. You’ll be able to check progress anytime, get alerts if something’s off, and save yourself a lot of anxiety during the construction phase.

We’ve been using ours for years and love them!