Lorex Smart Home Security Center - Direct Setup Method vs. App Setup Method
This FAQ will walk you through the difference between using the Direct Setup Method or the App Setup Method for the Lorex Smart Home Security Center (LSHSC [L871T8]).
What is Direct Setup Method?
As the name suggests, the Direct Setup Method allows you to set up your camera directly to the LSHSC.
What is App Setup Method?
Unlike the Direct Setup Method, the App Setup Method allows you to connect your camera to the LSHSC using the Lorex App. There are two steps that you must follow in the App Setup Method:
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Set up your camera on the Lorex App. Refer to the camera's quick start guide if required.
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Set up the app to the Lorex App Center. By doing so the camera that you had previously set up on the Lorex App will also be set up on the LSHSC.
The App Setup Method uses your network as a bridge to set up your camera to the Lorex App Center.
Important
If you are going to add your camera to the LSHSC using this method, it may be noteworthy to remember the following:
Floodlight (V261LCD)
If you are adding the Floodlight to the LSHSC using the App Setup Method, you can only access the basic viewing and recording functions of the Floodlight on the LSHSC. You can access the advanced features and settings of the Floodlight on the Lorex App. Please ensure the Floodlight is using the latest firmware.
If you are adding the Doorbell to the LSHSC using the App Setup Method, you can only access the basic viewing and recording functions of the Doorbell on the LSHSC. You can access the advanced features and settings of the Doorbell on the Lorex App. Please ensure the Doorbell is using the latest firmware.
Cameras (W261AS, W261AQ, and W281AA)
If you are adding any of the above cameras to the LSHSC using the App Setup Method, please ensure the camera is using the latest firmware to ensure full LSHSC compatibility.
What are the Pros and Cons of Direct Setup Method?
Pros
With Direct Setup Method, all compatible devices have all the features and settings supported by the LSHSC itself. For non-fully supported products (using App Setup Method), basic viewing and recording functions are supported. Advanced features and settings are either supported through the LSHSC or the Lorex App. To see if you can setup your device directly to the LSHSC, please see our Compatibility Chart.
Unlike the App Setup Method, the Direct Setup Method is much less complicated.
Cons
If some of your devices are located far away from the LSHSC and you are not using a range extender, connectivity may be afftected. In this case, the App Setup Method would be a better choice.
What are the pros and cons of App Setup Method?
Pros
The main advantage of this method is that your camera uses the network to establish connection to the LSHSC. With this method, it may help if you have devices that are located far away from the LSHSC but near your router (or node if you have a mesh router system).
Before using this method, please ensure that your cameras are running the latest firmware before adding to the LSHSC.
Cons
Since there are multiple steps involved in this method, the installation process is a bit longer. We encourage you to watch our video tutorial.
How to add cameras using App Setup Method?
We created a video tutorial to help you setup your devices using the App Setup Method.