Funlux Cameras Review: Worth the Setup Hassle?

Still, an affordable security camera system warrants further inspection. But what sets Funlux apart from Zmodo besides branding? We’ll cover cost, setup and installation, and overall impressions as we unbox the latest affordable home security camera system from Funlux.

We reviewed the 4 Ch 720P Wireless Security System with 500GB HDD, which Funlux currently lists for $199.99. This is an extremely affordable price for a 4-channel system with built-in storage.

Inside the Box

• 1 X 4 Channel Security NVR(NS-S41F)
• 1 X 500GB Hard Drive (it’s pre-installed in NVR)
• 4 X 720P Outdoor wifi Network Camera
• 4X 12V 1.5A Power Supply for Security Cameras
• 1X 1M Network Cable1X 2 Year Warranty
• 1 X Quick User Guide

Key Features

• 720P HD Video
• Motion Alerts
• Remote Viewing
• PC viewing
• Intelligent Recording

This system was fairly easy to set up and install. Funlux advertises a two-minute setup on the box, which, after having gone through the process, we find to be a little overzealous. Just getting all the gear out of the box took me more than two minutes. Once I unboxed everything it really was an easy process. I followed this setup video found on the Funlux website:

The video neglects to inform you that the MeShare app only works with an iPhone 6 or Android 2.3 or newer. However, if you have one of these mobile devices, the setup is really as easy (in theory) as the video shows.

I ran into a really frustrating issue as I tried to set up this system. It was super easy to find and connect the system through the MeShare app. However, once I had connected the kit, it would not register the Wi-Fi cameras.

• Network preference. If you have multiple wireless networks at home, like me, make sure your mobile device is connected to the network you want your system on. I ran into some trouble initially because my phone automatically connects to a separate Wi-Fi than the router I had plugged my system into.
• Plug in, set up and test all your cameras before anchoring them to their desired locations. I decided to screw in one of the security cameras before I had connected it to the system and I wasn’t getting a good signal for setup. I had to take it down and bring it back into the same room as my router in order for it to register the new device.

This was a huge bummer for me. I keep waiting for a company to develop a functional, battery-powered Wi-Fi camera. Though battery-powered cameras have their own pitfalls, it would be nice to have the option. As it stands, each camera needs to be plugged into an outlet, which is pretty standard, but extremely limits where I can place them outside my home. The few AC power outlets outside my house are easily accessible (on the front porch and back porch). A battery option could serve as a backup in a power outage situation or if someone unplugged the camera.

When a camera senses motion or picks up an image, it triggers the system to send an alert to your phone. We were, however, unable to test this feature ourselves because the Wi-Fi cameras failed to connect with the main device, despite considerable effort on our part.

The main source of monitoring is through the MeShare app for your mobile device, available on both the Apple and Android stores. The system requires setup through this app but allows you to access your footage on a monitored display, as shown in the video.

Problems connecting the Wi-Fi cameras meant I got to experience the Funlux customer service firsthand, which was less than impressive. In fact, as of the time of this writing, I’m still waiting to hear back from their tech support. Funlux support needs to improve in several areas before we’d feel comfortable recommending their product.

• Better response time. So far, Funlux customer support communicates strictly through email. A 1–2 business day turnaround does little to ease frustration when encountering technical issues with a product—especially when the main selling point is a “Quick & Easy Setup.”
• More comprehensive FAQ section inside the app. The problem I experienced was not addressed in this section. Instead of tackling a potential camera connection problem, the FAQ only mentions the NVR device, which connected for me just fine.
• In-app customer support. While the app gives you the ability to share devices within the app and monitor video feeds from your phone, it would be nice if the same app provided some sort of customer support beyond a limited FAQ. Even listing the hotline number within the app would go a long way.

"Very easy setup. Clarity is not HD when zoomed in, but great for basic security." —Christine Ponticelli on January 20, 2016

"Completely disappointed in these. Install was easy, app sucks always crashes. Cameras always lose picture. I had two cameras stop working and spent over an hour on the phone with customer service. They were supposed to send me boxes to return the cameras…its been 3 weeks and no box. Complete junk and useless. If I can still return them I’m gonna do it right now. DO NOT BUY." —Ray H on December 26, 2015

"The only positive point is that the cameras are wireless. I had to do the installation a couple of times before I could get all 4 cameras to work. Got that done just before taking a trip. I was able to get the Meshare app to run on my Iphone and Android phone. The motion detection is a joke. Either I missed the ‘motion’ entirely, or got it occasionally. As a point to that, my dog sitter was in every morning to feed the dogs, over the course of 2 weeks, she triggered the motion sensor only 2 days. The day she vacuumed the house, she never triggered it at all. One camera is overly sensitive, it took pictures of the air moving … One camera is useless for motion detection … One camera was so slow to react that it missed the cars, UPS van and FedEx vans entirely… One camera seemed to work pretty well … All in all, I am sorry I purchased this – it is NOT worth $400 … get something else." —Sandra L. Young on December 7, 2015

Many things impressed us about the Funlux 4-Channel. Reasonable pricing, easy setup, and lots of hard drive space make this system very intriguing. The technical issues we experienced with connecting the wireless cameras are completely solvable and could be explained simply as malfunctioning equipment. Ultimately, the technical issue we ran into wasn’t nearly as frustrating as the inability to solve the problem. We cannot recommend the Funlux wireless system until there is better technical support in place.

You can find affordable security cameras all over the web. Although this particular Funlux system left something to be desired, we have compiled a list of our top security camera picks. Whether you’re looking for individual cameras, wireless, or even multi-channel systems, you can find something that will meet both your budget and your surveillance needs.