NeoEyes NE101 ESP32-S3 Sensing Camera with Weather Shield & Antenna

Low-power still-image capture for field monitoring and system integration

The NeoEyes NE101 ESP32-S3 Sensing Camera with Weather Shield & Antenna captures still images and sends them wirelessly to your application, providing visual data for remote monitoring and custom sensing systems.

Its low-power design runs on four AA batteries, making it suitable for periodic image collection where mains power is inconvenient. This version adds a weather shield for rain and UV protection, with an adjustable external antenna on LTE Cat.1 and Wi-Fi HaLow models. Standard Wi-Fi uses an onboard antenna.

Weather protection and flexible antenna positioning

Rain and UV protection, with shade for the camera

The weather shield helps protect the housing from rain and UV exposure. Its overhang shades the camera’s front window to help improve capture in sunlight. The camera retains its IP67 rating; the shield does not change the ingress-protection grade. Image results depend on lighting and camera orientation.

Adjustable external antenna on LTE Cat.1 and HaLow models

The external antenna can be tilted independently of the camera, allowing antenna orientation to suit the wireless link while the lens remains aimed at the target. Both antennas are omnidirectional. Connection quality depends on network coverage, obstacles and placement; the antenna specifications are listed in the technical section.

Choose your connectivity and lens

Connectivity

Wi-Fi HaLow requires a HaLow gateway. The camera communicates with the gateway, which bridges the HaLow link to the network hosting your MQTT broker. A standard 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi router alone cannot provide this link. Camera and gateway frequencies must match and be suitable for the deployment region. LTE availability depends on the selected regional version and carrier-band compatibility.

Lens

Both lens options are available with every connectivity choice.

These are fixed lens configurations. FOV describes scene coverage; focus distance describes the lens setup. Recognition accuracy depends on target detail, lighting and the processing application.

🎦Watch NE101 Lens Installation Guide Video

Reference Images Captured at 1 m and 15 cm:

Image data for your monitoring application

NE101 captures JPEG images and reports them with device metadata as Base64-encoded image data in MQTT JSON messages. MQTTS supports encrypted reporting with the required server and certificate configuration. Your receiving application handles image storage, viewing and any OCR, recognition or alert logic.

Capture schedules, intervals, image settings and fill-light behavior are configurable through the local web interface. Alarm-In and the PIR interface support externally triggered capture with compatible sensor hardware and configuration. Custom sensor logic requires firmware integration; GPIO availability depends on the installed modules.

Firmware and interface documentation support custom capture and sensing projects: firmware source and license, hardware interfaces, NE101 quick start and HaLow system reference.

Applications and sensor extensions

Applications using scheduled image capture

• Remote meter reading: Capture meter faces, gauges and instrument displays at scheduled intervals for remote review or automated reading through your OCR or dial-reading software. NE101 supplies the images; the receiving application extracts and records the readings.
• Equipment and facility inspection: Collect recurring images of visible equipment conditions, indicator panels and facility areas. Operators can review these records in their monitoring system to assess changes and decide whether an on-site inspection is needed.
• Agricultural and environmental observation: Record visible changes in crops and outdoor conditions, or add scene images to a weather-station system alongside its sensor measurements.

Event-triggered capture with external sensors

With compatible external sensors and suitable trigger logic, NE101 can capture images in response to an event. Examples include PIR-triggered wildlife observation and image capture when an external equipment alarm is received. Sensors are supplied separately; each integration depends on interface compatibility, sensor placement and the required configuration or firmware development.

What you receive and what to prepare

Included with your configuration

• 1 × NeoEyes NE101 sensing camera with weather shield and the selected communication configuration.
• 1 × OV5640 camera module with the selected lens.
• Antenna matched to the selected version: onboard for Wi-Fi; adjustable external antenna for LTE Cat.1 or Wi-Fi HaLow.

Customer-provided requirements

• All versions: four AA batteries, the selected network connection, and an accessible MQTT broker with an application to receive and use the images.
• LTE Cat.1: a compatible activated SIM and data plan.
• Wi-Fi HaLow: a compatible HaLow gateway matching the camera frequency, plus the gateway’s network connection. The gateway is not included.
• Sensor-triggered projects: compatible sensors and any required firmware integration; external sensors are not included.

Battery life depends on capture frequency, wireless conditions, fill-light use and battery choice. The NE101 battery calculator provides consumption and runtime estimates for the configurations it supports, rather than a guaranteed service life.

Wired Type-C power requires the corresponding power configuration and compatible back cover. Contact CamThink for availability. Back-cover design files are available from the CamThink Download Center.

Recommended accessories — sold separately

• NeoEyes mounting brackets — options for wall, pole, meter-facing, adjustable-angle and flat-surface mounting. Fit depends on the space available around the weather shield and antenna.
• OV5640 camera modules — for evaluating another lens configuration or replacing a module. The camera already includes the lens selected with your order.
• Sensor Expansion Board for NE101 and NE301 — for custom sensor development. Supplied as a board only, with sensors and cables separate. NE101 use requires mainboard compatibility assessment, driver adaptation and firmware/enclosure validation.
• 10W Solar Panel & 7Ah Battery Kit — for off-grid outdoor power via 5V Type-C output. Requires an NE101 USB-C power configuration with a compatible USB-C back cover and cable. Confirm compatibility and select the appropriate kit option before ordering.

OEM/OEM and Project Customization

CamThink offers project customization for power options such as Type-C, lenses, interfaces and sensor-triggered capture. Contact CamThink to discuss your requirements and request a quote.