Cisco PVC2300 Business Internet Security Video Camera w/Audio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Excellent camera, very easy to setup and works great. I have (2) more of the PVC2300, and (1) WVC2300 wireless camera and all work fine with no issues. I have a Linksys/Cisco RV082 Router and configured port forwarding to access from the internet. If you have DHCP with your ISP, you will need to setup dynamic DNS with a provider in order to view the camera over the internet. I use DynDNS and it works fine. The 2-way sound work fine, but the volume is a bit loud when it forst comes on. You will need to tweak it to the volume you prefer.

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Whatever your surveillance needs, mounting, connecting, and accessing workplace video has never been easier. Formerly Linksys Business Series, now Cisco Small Business Video Surveillance Cameras, the PVC2300 box camera supports interchangeable lenses and filters for use in a variety of environments such as low light. Its compact size allows placement in a protective enclosure for outdoor applications.The Power over Ethernet (PoE) function of the PVC2300 allows it to draw power via Ethernet cabling, enabling installations near ceilings, on rooftops, or anywhere where electrical outlets may not be available.

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Panasonic BL-C111A Network Camera Wired Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First, let me compliment Panasonic on its customer support. It may take a few minutes to get through, but they do know what they are doing. I needed them twice during setup and they came through both times.
Pros: This is a decent camera at a great price; decent low light performance; relatively easy setup; free web access hosted by Panasonic; compatible with any cell phone with a web browser (pics only); motion sensor; reliable.
Cons: slow shutter speed (anything moving is blurry) and really does not do 30 FPS as advertised.
Overall - recommended as a reasonable cost home monitoring system.

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Automatic Network Configuration, MPEG4, Universal Plug and Play, Set-up Wizard, Remote Pan/Tilt Control, Built in PIR motion detector

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Linksys Compact Wireless-G Internet Video Camera Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The image quality of this camera isn't great, and as the other reviewer states, it needs lots of light. The resolution of the video is fairly poor, comparable to a very cheap 4-year-old webcam. If you need to see detail in the image (e.g. for certain security-camera purposes), then it will not work.
Another thing to note is that this camera is much bigger than it looks--it is about the size of your hand. I was hoping to squeeze it into a tight space, but the camera's size took me by surprise. It will be difficult to hide this camera if you are hoping to use it for hidden security purposes.
In sum, if you need a cheap camera that can sit out in the open and take low-detail video of a well-lit room, then this is your product. Otherwise, you should look for more professional (or wired) cameras.

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The Linksys Compact Wireless-G Internet Video Camera sends live video through the Internet to a web browser anywhere in the world! This compact, self-contained unit lets you keep track of your home, your kids, your workplace -- whatever's important to you. Unlike standard "web cams" that require an attached PC, the Internet Video Camera contains its own web server, so it can connect directly to a network, either over Wireless-G (802.11g) networking, or over 10/100 Ethernet cable. The advanced MPEG-4 video compression produces a high-quality, high-frame rate, up to 320x240 video stream. The Compact Internet Video Camera's unique form-factor and wireless connectivity allows you to mount it on a wall nearly anywhere, or slip it into its included stand for desktop use. Once it's connected to your home network, you can "see what it sees" from any Windows-based PC in the house, while the video stream is secured from the outside world, hidden behind your Router. If you want the video to be visible from outside your home network, you can open an appropriate port on the Router, and then create password protected accounts to manage access to the camera, or leave it wide open for the world to see. The SoloLink domain service (trial sign-up included) lets you access your camera using an easy-to-remember "name", even if your home Internet connection uses a dynamic IP address.

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Hootoo Brand Wireless WiFi IP Internet Pan Tilt Camera Two-way Audio with hootoo logo Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Camera and software was easy to set up, but even though I have tons of bandwidth and nothing over taxing my CPU, video was still very choppy and jerky. Tried contacting HooToo, but thye offer no support for their camera. I have a feeling it's made for them by some fly by night company. No luck seraching for any support or firmware updates. Wish I would have invested a little more money in a better name brand camera that offered better support.

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With hootoo logoSpecs: Image Compression Format: M-JPEG standard Image Resolution: VGA(640x480) / QVGA(320x240) Sensor: 1/4 inch CMOS, 300,000 Pixels Light frequency: 50Hz, 60Hz or Outdoor Audio compression: ADPCMLens: f: 3.6mm, F:2.4 (IR Lens)Data rate: 802.11b: 11Mbps (Max.), 802.11g: 54Mbps (Max.) Ethernet: One 10/100Mbps RJ-45 Viewing angle: 67?Horizontal Rotating Angle: 0~270?Vertical Rotating Angle: 0~120? Alarm Mode: motion detection alarm and I/O alarm Video Display: Microsoft Media Player Image Transfer Velocity: 30fps@VGA Image Display: single / quad Minimum Illumination: 0LUX Video Format: AVI Network Interface: Wi-Fi/RJ-45 10-100 Base T Network Protocol: TCP/IP, FTP,SMPT, HTTP, ICMP, PPPoE Monitor Mode: FirefoxSoftware Upgrade: Automatic upgrade Security: User management system, password protection Password Setting: administer, monitor, scrutiny Working Condition: -10?C~ 50?C , 20% - 80%PH Power Adapter: DC5V/2A 50/60Hz

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TRENDnet 8-Port 10/100Mbps PoE Switch (4x 10/100, 4x 10/100 PoE) TPE-S44 (Blue) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm using this to power 4 Panasonic BB-HCM531A outdoor networked security cameras from the PoE ports. I also have a laptop connected to it running security recorder software. It's connected to my home network running perfectly, passing the video data streams from the cameras. It's on 24/7 and doesn't run hot. I like the metal case, compact size, status indicator LEDs on the front, and the generous cord length supplied on the external power adapter. The current price is quite good when compared to other PoE capable switches available on the market.

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The TPE-S44 8-Port PoE Fast Ethernet Switch integrates 10/100 Ethernet and Power over Ethernet technology into ascalable solution. Moreover, the TPE-S44 reduces equipment cost by delivering data and power over existing network cable infrastructure.

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Lorex Wireless Easy Connect Pan / Tilt Network IP Remote Surveillance Camera Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My husband and I own both Macs and PCs, and like another reviewer mentions, this works better through PC installation. Otherwise, the process is just too tedious. We love the camera and the fact that it is wireless. The price is rather steep and if this had not been offered through Vine, I would not have purchased it. The features that we both liked were the patrol and alarm settings, the illuminator which is built-in and works beautifully, the fact that we can monitor through our iPhones, and availability of multiple modes of recording. The downside is the software which we did not find particularly user-friendly - I'm not as knowledgeable on these matters as my husband but not a total incompetent either, yet my initial efforts at installing this were frustrating. I then turned to my husband, who after a substantial amount of time, finally managed to install this. Final verdict - too expensive for what is being offered.


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Lorex's new Pan Tilt Wireless Easy Connect Network Camera allows users to remotely monitor their business or home through a secure, password protected connection that requires no networking knowledge. The LNZ4001 features high-resolution viewing, 10X digital zoom and 2-way audio. Enhanced MPEG4 compression provides efficient video streaming. The camera is PC compatible supporting Mac browser, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari browsers. The camera also can be triggered by other Lorex Easy Connect IP Cameras to Pan and Tilt, as well as trigger an alarm via its Alarm port. Network configuration questions or other North American based technical support is available 7 days a week by calling 1-888-42 LOREX.

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Sharx Security VIPcella-IR SCNC2607 Wifi Wireless 802.11 Security Network Camera with Infrared Night Vision Review

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(More customer reviews)
I recently purchased the SCNC2607 IP-Cam to use as a video server that I could access from within my home on my PC's and iPhones, as well as to access the video from anywhere outside my home LAN if I want.
Not requiring any special software to access this camera is the single most important item for me. If you want to be able to log into a camera from anywhere in the world, on any machine that has a connection to the internet and a web browser of some type, this is the one. There is also an included application called "Multi Live" which allows you to view up to 4 cams in one window.
The camera itself was pretty easy to set up, and the image quality is superb! No tricky setup decisions are necessary by the user to decide what type of streams are available to whoever logs into it from whatever platform. If you log into it on an iPhone through Safari, the iPhone negotiates with the camera server software and automatically appends the URL with the "/en/mjpgmain.asp" extension. If logged in from Internet Explorer, the basic URL automatically appends the "en/avmain.asp" extension. All you need to do is type the URL of the camera into your browser and the rest is taken care of automatically.
Safari on the iPhone will not process the audio stream, but this is not a problem with the camera, it is a limitation with Safari. I have read that Safari on a Mac computer will also not process the audio stream. I have tried various iPhone applications to process the audio stream, without success. But the designer of IP Vision by TTrix software has written me that an upcoming version will process audio. I have also tried this camera on a Sony PSP-3000 with the current firmware version (installed on 02-10-09) and current Flash update, but the device chokes up on memory limitations and can only process the jpeg still image. Some tablet PC's and/or WiFi portable media players like the Nokia N810 or Archos 605 might work, but I haven't tried them.
The default image quality settings don't need to be tweaked to lower quality settings unless your upload bandwidth gets maxed out. For one login to the camera (over the internet from work) I was able to use the maximum quality settings and didn't see or hear any problems. My connection at home is cable internet with about 128 Kilobyte upload and 5 Megabit download, so I was worried about upload speed. With 8 users logged on, there could be issues requiring some settings tweaks, but that's more than most people are probably going to be worried about. If you connect within your LAN then you don't need to be concerned with upload bandwidth, because the data isn't passing through your modem.
There is a color setting, moonlight setting, and night vision setting, but I choose to let the camera do what it thinks it needs to do and have left these controls in automatic. The night vision works even in absolute darkness, and the image is crisp and clean. There is a setting for motion detection, with variable parameters to offset alarms or recording from occurrences like ceiling fans or a bird flying past a window.
When viewing the camera on your browser, you have some easy control buttons available to take snapshots in either .bmp or .jpg formats. You can also record to your hard drive, in the .asf format. Recording can be stopped and started with the "Record" button, or started with the button and stopped by a maximum file size input that anyone logged in can specify. These picture and video controls can be run by anyone you authorize in either the admin account or any user accounts you set up.
The user accounts (an account created that is not the admin account) has no access to your settings for the camera, so it's a good one to send to Mom and Dad or your crazy aunt. When they get to the logon screen, if they choose "Enter" they can see what's on your camera and record what they see and/or hear. If they try to enter "Settings" then they are presented with the login username/ password box again. As long as they don't have your admin password, then you are safe from unauthorized changes to the camera settings.
For up to 8 concurrent logons, you don't need to create 8 separate guest user accounts. One will suffice. I have logged onto one guest account through a browser on my PC over the internet, through my iPhone on WiFi over the internet, and also through another browser on the same PC but using the LAN IP address. That's pretty cool to be able to log on over LAN or WAN while connected through the same router the camera is connecting to. Like if somebody chops up your internet cable connection with a ditch digger, you can still see the cam by using the LAN address.
The instruction manual supplied with the camera is very good. I only found one typo and it wasn't important. It was not translated three times from an original language using obscure clucking noises and hieroglyphic symbols. An email to tech support was answered promptly and with great attention to detail. The techies are REAL ENGINEERS, not some morons in monkey suits with a license to confuse and aggravate.
I mentioned before that the camera "itself" was easy to set up. That is true. What might be a bit challenging for some is the router configuration. I suggest while waiting for the camera to be delivered, brush up on your router's help files. Find the range of IP addresses your router is assigning to devices automatically, such as 192.168.1.25 through 192.168.1.125, because the IP address you choose to assign to the cam to make it a permanent host will be somewhere outside of that range. Also check to see if your router has the latest firmware. My Trendnet TEW-452BRP had a glitch with running DDNS updates, even if all the fields were input properly. This would have caused me great frustration had I not checked the website first.
If you want to access the cam from outside your LAN, then read up a little bit on DDNS. I'm using a free account from "no-ip.com" and there is a brief primer on using this service in the camera instruction manual. Check your router to see if it has an automatic function to update your current IP Address to a DDNS server. It doesn't have to, as your PC can do it for you automatically every time it boots with a free program you get after registering, but why not be redundant if you can? If you decide to set up DDNS so as to access the cam through WAN, then find out how to give the cam TCP and UDP privileges on a specified port number, typically using a function called "Virtual Server." Otherwise you would open "DMZ" or perhaps "Special AP" to give the cam connectivity rights.
Be warned that DMZ opens all ports, which might be dangerous. Special AP is for programs which require multiple connections that are blocked by NAT, so again that might be dangerous as well. Using Virtual Server only opens the ports necessary for functionality of this specific device, so it is the best way to punch that hole through the wall into the WWW. And remember, if you are restricting access to the router by use of MAC numbers, shut that off when first installing the cam or else you won't get it to connect. Later you can turn it back on.
None of this is rocket science, but if problems do occur, the Engineers at Sharx are competent and they are committed to not letting you fail. It even says so in the instruction manual!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sharx Security VIPcella-IR SCNC2607 Wifi Wireless 802.11 Security Network Camera with Infrared Night Vision

This Wifi b/g wireless IP camera has its own built in web server. You can view the video from your own home network or you can configure your router to view and control the camera from computers or cellphones on the internet, without dependence on any third party web sites or subscriptions. With the built-in microphone you can listen in. Excellent MPEG4 or MJPEG video quality at a full 640 x 480 resolution with up to 30 frames per second for fluid, natural motion color. For viewing or recording a single camera no software is required besides just your browser. For viewing or recording multiple Sharx IP cameras the included MultiView software for PCs supports up to 4 Sharx IP cameras simultaneously. Truly amazing to see the streaming video on your web enabled cell phone. For frequent use we recommend to upgrade your cellphone service to unlimited data, which costs just $15/mo extra on the ATT network. You can see motion even on non-3G phones like SonyEricsson w580i. If your phone does not support video you can see automatically refreshing JPEG images. At home, you can use this camera with your laptop or iPhone as a baby or pet monitor, and the very high light sensitivity in "moonlight mode" allows you to view out from a window to see what's happening in the street as long as there is some background light available. This camera has infrared night vision which can see in total, absolute darkness. Like any infrared sensitive camera, the daytime colors are subdued and can appear unnatural especially on plants and vegetation. For eye-popping, gorgeous daytime colors please select the less expensive Sharx SCNC2606 camera if you do not need night vision in total darkness. Wireless operation supports WEP, WPA, WPA2 encryption. On routers with UPnP feature the camera can set itself up automatically, and on routers without UPnP (such as Apple's Airport series) the camera can be set up with our step by step instructions.

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Panasonic Wireless Network Camera and Pet Cam (BL-C20A) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Compact, very easy to set up and the image is sharp and clear. Free DDNS service makes this the best buy. I have another camera, Linksys, and I had to pay for this service. I defitely will drop it when it comes up for renewal. No more Linksys camera for me!
After a few days of use..I still love it! I just found out that I can access the camera with my Mac via Firefox browser. This alone beats all other cameras in the market! Set up the motion detector to email pictures is a breeze. You can also set the camera to periodically send a picture, motion or not. The only thing that you could say it is less than the Linksys is it could not send a video. Linksys video only lasts 30 seconds anyway. Highly recommended.
8/21/08: I have 2 of these cameras and the first one (3 yrs old) just failed. It is just not powered up doesn't matter how many times I tried. I guess it is expected. It has been reliably in service for 3 yrs. I will buy it again, when Amazon has a good deal.
The camera's software works flawlessly in Mac OS. I regularly access my camera via Safari web browser. This alone beats most other camera out there. You can get to it from either Windows or Mac. I set it up to email the jpeg to my Blackberry and view the picture there. Could not figure out how to do this on an iPod though.
3/20/09: When the 2nd camera failed, I thought the power supply was the culprit. I bought a $15 power supply from W**T and guess what? It works again. So I now both of my cameras work again! If your camera failed, likely it is the power supply!
Also, I can access my cameras from my iPod touch (live) using the supplied Safari browser when I have a wifi connection. COOL!!

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Wireless Network Camera Automatic Network Configuration, Universal Plug and Play, Set-up Wizard, Remote Pan/Tilt Control, Built in PIR motion detector

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Sharx Security SCNC3606 Cat5 PoE Wired Weatherproof Outdoor MPEG4 IP Network Camera with Infrared Night Vision and built in DVR Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)At first I was a bit skeptical about this camera, a good quality outdoor, POE camera with an IR cut filter at that price seemed too good to be true. I had read some positive reviews on the Y-Cam Bullet, of which the Sharx is a rebranded version, but the Sharx version was priced even lower so I figured I'd chance it. I'm glad I did! Immediately after opening the box I was impressed with the quality. It looks and feels solid and well built. Setup was quick and easy.The image is clear and the colors are very good in day time viewing. The IR works well and I can clearly see the image at night.
While the camera does support POE, the wiring harness that comes out the back of the camera contains several other connectors, for power, audio and alarm. Unfortunately these cannot be removed, so any connections you don't use will need to be secured in a weatherproof location. I suppose it was expected that all of those wires be pushed through a wall to terminate indoors, but in my case that was not possible. An outdoor electrical box was recommended by Sharx in the manual. I picked one up at the local hardware store for a few dollars and hid it as best I could.
I using i-Catcher software and as this camera was not on its list of supported cameras I needed to contact Sharx support to answer a few questions about it. They emailed me back within the hour, were very knowledgeable about the product and quite helpful. Over the next several emails I asked them a lot of questions. They were always quick to respond and with complete and useful answers.Pros:
Supports standard POE
Clear and vivid daytime image
IR lighting and cut filter makes for good night images
Well built, solid, appears to be well sealed
Outstanding email support
Very thorough printed manual
A good amount of adjustments in the menus
Cons:
No user installable firmware, requires Sharx support if you need to upgrade.
No downloadable documentation. Don't lose the manual!
Several hardwired connections on the wiring harness that have to be weatherproofed if not installed through a wall.
Overall I am very satisfied with this purchase. It is an excellent camera when considering the low cost, good quality day and night images and the superb support behind it.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Sharx Security SCNC3606 Cat5 PoE Wired Weatherproof Outdoor MPEG4 IP Network Camera with Infrared Night Vision and built in DVR

This outdoor night vision IP camera works on 10/100 Ethernet with Cat5 wiring. Multiple viewers can see video or snapshots in any of the supported formats including MPEG4, MJPEG, 3GPP and JPEG. Both HTTP and RTSP streaming protocols are supported for use with browsers or media players on Windows or Mac computers as well as iPhone, Droid, Blackberry or other web enabled cell phones. Multiple streams with 3 separate choices of image quality are available simultaneously. Video can be adjusted from near DVD quality with audio and full motion (2048K, 640 x 480, 30 fps) all the way down to a bandwidth saving mobile stream (20K, 176 x 144, 5 fps). With the included MicroSD memory card the camera functions as a standalone DVR for motion detection or continuous video. Recording time ranges from 1 hour/GB to almost 100 hours/GB based on selected video quality. The camera can automatically upload recorded video files to an FTP server or standalone network drive with FTP feature. Except for a waterproof electrical box for power connection, all mounting hardware is included. The mounting bracket can attach to the top or bottom of the camera for maximum positioning flexibility. This camera can be powered over the Cat5 cable using 802.3af PoE Power over Ethernet technology or using the included international standard AC adapter. This camera can see up to 45 ft in absolute darkness with its powerful infrared LEDs. A router with available Cat5 network jack is required for operation. Access from outside the home network (LAN) requires internet service. Automatic setup for remote viewing requires a recent model router with the UPnP feature. Older routers, networks with multiple routers, or Apple Airport require manual configuration. Step by step instructions included for current version of Airport Extreme or Time Capsule. Includes 30 days unlimited free email tech support and up to 30 minutes of free telephone support during the first 30 days after purchase.

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Panasonic Wireless 802.11 b/g Network Camera and Pet Cam (BL-C30A) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Panasonic BL-C30A is a wireless camera with embedded web server. It can be connected to your home network through an ethernet cable or wirelessly (the initial setup has to be performed through the ethernet connection). Once you've properly configured it for wireless mode, you don't need a computer: just plug the power adapter into an outlet and place the camera wherever you want (within the range of your wireless network).
Anyone can connect and view/control the camera remotely. If you have a broadband connection and know how to configure your router to open a port and assign it to the camera's IP address, you can see your webcam from anywhere in the world. Very handy to keep an eye on your office or empty apartment while you're away.
The embedded web server supports access restrictions through passwords of course; and users can pan/tilt the camera lens -- the only drawback is that Internet Explorer is required to use the camera (the display and controls are handled through an ActiveX control, which basically means that only Windows PCs with IE will be able to use access it).
Image quality is pretty good: you have a choice of straming video at 320x240 or 640x480 (at a reduced frame rate) and you can control brightness and video quality from remote. Users can also take 'snapshots' (i.e. save individual images).

I have another wireless webcam (a Linksys WVC11B) and the Panasonic's image quality and features are definitely superior (on the other hand the Linksys is also $100 cheaper).
The camera also offers additional advanced features like heat detection (which can turn the camera on automatically and send an email alert if someone, or something, warm gets within the sensor's range) and scripting. I've never used this, but I suppose it can be useful if you plan to set up the camera as part of a rudimentary security/surveillance system. Some cameras offer motion detection, but it can be triggered by changes in light -- heat detection seems to make more sense.
Main caveat: configuration can be tough, especially if you're a newbie. I consider myself pretty knowledgeable and it still took me a while to get it work with my wireless network until I figured out that I had to set the WEP encryption mode to 'open key' on my wireless access point (shared key mode is not supported, though this fact is buried in the documentation).
Overall, I recommend the BL-C30A but I wish Panasonic provided a way for non-IE users to access the camera (and the configuration software could also be vastly improved).

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Wireless Network Camera 802.11g, Automatic Network Configuration, Universal Plug and Play, Set-up Wizard, Remote Pan/Tilt Control, Built in PIR motion detector

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Axis 207W Wrls Network Camera Wireless 802.11G 30FPS In VGA Res Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had this camera for a few weeks. I'm very happy with just about everything about it. I do not agree with another reviewer that it is cheaply-made, nor do I fear breaking the camera itself. A few caveats; read on.
Big advantages over other network cameras in this class:
1) Excellent image quality compared to other cameras in this class. Even though this camera uses a CMOS sensor--vs. a CCD sensor, which generally offers better video quality--the particular CMOS sensor used in this camera works very well. It has excellent low-light characteristics (supposedly down to 1 lux, which is candlelight-level, but I think that's a stretch). It has auto-brightness control. Turn down the lights and the video dims briefly then brightens right back up. Best video and fastest update is of course under decent lighting conditions, but indoor residential incandescent lighting or indoor lighting with only the light coming through the windows is just fine.
This CMOS sensor is also progressive-scan, which improves the picture quality over that coming from normal (interlaced) sensors. You can read about this on the Axis website (the URL is obvious).
2) Uses true MPEG4 compression. Most inexpensive network cameras in this class offer one type of video compression, known as Motion JPEG (or MJPEG). This offers a very good picture, but is a bandwidth hog. If you intend to stream video over the internet and you have limited bandwidth, you need something better. As an example, I have 2-3Mbps downstream on our cable modem, but only about 350kbps upstream. Upstream is what matters when you send video over the internet. This camera can stream 30 frames per second (fps) at 640x480 resolution. That's a lot of data and if it is not compressed well enough, it takes up too much bandwidth. That makes the video on the other end look jerky, with picture updates as slow as one frame per second.
This is where MPEG4 compression comes in, but you need to be careful. Again, most cameras don't offer the level of MPEG4 support that the Axis 207W offers. Some cameras say "MPEG4" but nothing more. This can be very deceptive. Here's what you need to know:
-- MPEG4, Short Header mode (SH): This is essentially no MPEG4 compression at all. It's like "faked" MPEG4.
-- MPEG4, Simple Profile (SP): This is true MPEG4 compression, but it has limited capability. Linksys has a network camera with this type of compression.
-- MPEG4, Advanced Simple Profile (ASP): This is the best MPEG4 compression offered in network cameras of this type today. The Axis 207W offers this type of compression.
Not only does the Axis 207W stream 640x480 at 30fps with MPEG4 ASP compression, it does so simultaneously with streaming Motion JPEG. So you can easily choose which one you want to see.
There are even higher levels of MPEG4 compression (past ASP) but I don't think any inexpensive network cameras offer it yet.
Other nice things:
a) The camera comes with two types of swivel mounts: one which is like a short pedestal, weighted; and one which is essentially a plastic C-clamp which allows you to mount the camera to the edge of a table or top of a chair, for example. The C-clamp does seem a bit fragile; I would not crank down too much on it.
b) The camera comes with an extra length of power cord (an extender) so if the "wall wart" power supply's cord is not long enough for your application, just add this extension between the camera and the wall wart cord (this is not a 120VAC extension cord.)
c) Ultra-configurable. Just about everything about the camera seems to be configurable from the settings.
d) Wireless works well. I've only tried WEP, but it was a breeze to set up. In fact, the whole setup was easy. You do need a little bit of networking knowledge to set up port forwarding in your router, but most of the camera defaults are right on target. The camera also offers two types of WPA.
e) Axis offers a free Domain Name Service (DNS) which allows you to pick an easy-to-remember web address. For example, you could pick "SantaClaus" and the address of your camera would be SantaClaus---axiscam---net, where the --- is actually a dot (.) [My first review got squashed by Amazon because I forgot and put in a URL.]
Here are the disadvantages I see:
1) Focusing is tedious. It's a 2-person job: one to hold the camera steady and turn the focus ring and another person to view the image on the screen and give instructions to the first person.
2) Audio is not very good. It's set at a very low level and even after turning up the slider control to the maximum, I still had to have my computer volume turned up quite high to hear any camera audio. Of course then other sounds from the computer (warning beeps etc) are very loud. This is one thing which is not configurable. Audio can be set to ON or OFF, but there is no setting for the level. Axis should fix this in their software.
3) It's a bit expensive. For the same price you can get a pan-tilt model from Panasonic or Linksys, but the image quality on those cameras is not as good, and they do not offer MPEG4 ASP compression. You have to give up something to get something, it seems.
4) There's no "privacy screen." This would be easy for Axis to add--just a simple flip-down shield to cover the lens when you don't want the video to be seen. We use a simple box I made out of a sheet of paper. Of course you could also unplug the camera, but that takes a bit longer.
I see these disadvantages to be very minor when weighed against the excellent performance of this camera as a whole.
One last point: I showed the video to a person I work with who owns the Linksys WVC200 camera, and he said he thought the Axis 207W's video was cleaner.

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Compact wireless network camera with MPEG-4 image compression and motion detection for bandwidth efficiency.

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Sharx Security VIPcella SCNC2606 Wifi Wireless 802.11g Security Network Camera Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this camera mainly to use with my Smart Phone. It was easy to setup and can now view live video on my phone or any of my PC's.
I use this camera mainly to view wildlife behind my house. I have motion detector flood lights that light up the area at night, so I normally don't need the Moonlight Mode, although it does work great in low light.
The attached video was taken at night without using the Moonlight Mode. I'll attach another video showing what a video looks like with Moonlight Mode turned on.
This is an amazing camera and has a very sharp picture. I do wish it had an external mic jack like my SCNC2601. The audio is much louder and more sensitive when using an external mic. An external mic jack is on my wish list for the next smart phone supported model. :-)
Comparing this camera to my SCNC2601, I would say the SCNC2606 has a sharper picture but I do like the SCNC2601 for it's Pan and Tilt capabilities and its external mic and speaker jacks. Both are great cameras and work great locally or over the internet.

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This Wifi b/g wireless IP camera has its own built in web server. You can view the video from your own home network or you can configure your router to view and control the camera from computers or cellphones on the internet, without dependence on any third party web sites or subscriptions. With the built-in microphone you can listen in. Excellent MPEG4 or MJPEG video quality at a full 640 x 480 resolution with up to 30 frames per second for fluid, natural motion color. For viewing or recording a single camera no software is required besides just your browser. For viewing or recording multiple Sharx IP cameras the included MultiView software for PCs supports up to 4 Sharx IP cameras simultaneously. Truly amazing to see the streaming video on your web enabled cell phone. For frequent use we recommend to upgrade your cellphone service to unlimited data, which costs just $15/mo extra on the ATT network. You can see motion even on non-3G phones like SonyEricsson w580i. If your phone does not support video you can see automatically refreshing JPEG images. At home, you can use this camera with your laptop or iPhone as a baby or pet monitor, and the very high light sensitivity in "moonlight mode" allows you to view out from a window to see what's happening in the street as long as there is some background light available. For night vision in absolute, total darkness with no visible light, upgrade to SCNC2607 which adds infrared night vision and a higher quality, wide angle lens. Wireless operation supports WEP, WPA, WPA2 encryption. On routers with UPnP feature the camera can set itself up automatically, and on routers without UPnP (such as Apple's Airport series) the camera can be set up with our step by step instructions.

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Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My wife and I wanted to keep an eye on the nanny with our baby from work. After researching the network cameras for several months, it seemed that only Panasonic cameras consistently received positive (usually glowing reviews) whereas cameras from other major brands like Linksys, D-Link, etc received mediocre or poor reviews. So I went with Panasonic. And after about a month, I have to say I am very impressed with it. Some background: I have a classic Linksys WRT54G 802.11g router, with 2 WinXP PCs connected to it via ethernet and 3 more PCs connected wirelessly; plus, I have AT&T/SBC DSL service via a Speedstream 5100 DSL modem. If you're moderately computer literate, you should have no problem following the included instructions to setup (view and control) the camera in wired mode or in wireless WiFi mode.
But if you want to setup the camera to be viewed (and controlled) from the internet, you need to do a bit more work. And this is where Panasonic's excellent, excellent customer support comes in. Panasonic's support line is 8_0_0-2_7_2-7_0_3_3; they are open Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM and Sat/Sun 10AM-7PM Eastern US Time; this tech support is available to you for the LIFE of the product. They will walk you through how to setup the camera, configure your router (for, among other things, port forwarding), and register with Panasonic's FREE Dynamic DNS web service. This last point is important: Panasonic network cameras include FREE Dynamic DNS hosting service for the life of the product; other brands offer the service for an annual fee.
Okay, step-by-step, here's how to config the camera for internet viewing:
First, if you use DSL as I do (as opposed to cable broadband), you have to configure the DSL modem for "bridge mode." (If you don't use DSL, then you can skip this step.) This is because DSL modems act as a router, and port forwarding cannot work behind both the DSL modem's router and (in my case) the Linksys WRT54G router. If you want, you can call your DSL tech support to ask them to walk you through how to "bridge" your DSL modem. But here's what I did.
1. Login to your DSL modem (for me, it's 192.168.0.1) using your DSL account (for me, it's my SBCglobal email address).
2. Select Advanced >> PPP Location
3. Select Bridged Mode (PPPoE is not used), then Change PPP Location
4. When prompted, restart the DSL modem
5. Login to your router (for me, it's 192.168.1.1)
6. Under Setup> Basic Setup >> Internet Connection Type, select PPPoE and enter the DSL login & password info you normally would enter in your DSL modem to authenticate your DSL service.
7. At this point, the "bridging" should have been successful. To check that bridging has been successful, click Status >> Router, and check that you are "connected" with an IP address showing. If successful, you should also see that your DSL modem's "internet" LED light is off while your router's "internet" light is on. What you basically have done is to move the point of authentication for your DSL service from the DSL modem to your router; your DSL modem merely acts as a bridge for the DSL service to your router.
8. Now, we move on to configuring the camera itself. I assume that the camera has already been configured for wired and wireless mode. Login to the network camera (for me it's, 192.168.1.253).
9. Click Setup. Change the Port No. from the default of 80 to 50000 (fifty thousand) and enter the IP address of the camera (for me, it's 192.168.1.253). Click Save, and the camera will restart. When it finishes restarting (taking as long as 1.5 min), it'll bring you back to the "Top" home page of the camera config screen.
10. Log back into your router, and go to Applications & Gaming, where you'll be able to set up port forwarding.
11. In the Port Range, enter 50000 as "Start" and 50000 as "End." Enter the IP Address of the camera (for me, 192.168.1.253). Check Enable. Save Settings.
12. Now, log back into your camera. Go to Setup >> DynamicDNS. Select viewnetcam-dot-com, then Next.
13. Click on "Your Account Link" to bring up the viewnetcam.com registration page, where you then select New Registration. Enter your desired registration info and select your domain name at viewnetcam-dot-com (e.g. yourname-dot-viewnetcam-dot-com). Click Choose.
14. Now, you will be shown a page confirming your registration. Under DDNS status, you will see Active-waiting. You need to wait up to 10min as the domain registration occurs, at which time, the status will change to Active.
15. We're almost done; stay with me! From WinXP Start Menu, click Run and type "cmd" to bring up a DOS window.
16. In the DOS window, type "ipconfig/all", which shows your computer's various network information. Under Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection, copy down the two addresses under DNS Servers.
17. Log back into your camera, select Setup, and enter the 2 DNS Server addresses from ipconfig/all in the 2 DNS boxes.
18. Go back to viewnetcam-dot-com, login to your account, and check that the DDNS status is now Active. If so, then you're all ready to go!
19. Go to yourname-dot-viewnetcam-dot-com:50000 to see your network camera on the internet!

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Wireless Network Camera 802.11g, MPEG4, Automatic Network Configuration, Universal Plug and Play, Set-up Wizard, Remote Pan/Tilt Control, Built in PIR motion detector

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Panasonic BL-C140A Outdoor MPEG-4 Network Camera (Silver) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This review is going to be somewhat technical and I'll mention some other choices. I've installed more than 10 Panasonic network cameras across the product line; so how does this one compare? The whole series is rock solid reliable. As far as the practical use as an outdoor cam, the BL-C140A is a middle of the road compromise. As other reviewers have discovered, the night time image quality is not very good. The BL-C140A has a 1/4" CMOS sensor which produces a little bit better daytime image than the 1/6" CMOS on the popular BL-C111A and BL-C131A models. If you're looking for a cam to mount in an outdoor location that is protected from direct moisture (like hanging under a sheltered roof eave) then I'd recommend the Panasonic BB-HCM511A instead. The BB-HCM511A uses a CCD sensor (vs. CMOS) that produces a richer dynamic range of colors during the day, and has much better low light sensitivity. It can still show the scene under moonlight, whereas the BL-C140A would show a pitch black view. If you truly need an "outdoor" camera because it's going to be exposed to the rain, then the BB-HCM531A is an excellent outdoor model. The only difference between the BB-HCM511A and BB-HCM531A is that the BB-HCM531A comes with an extra plastic cover for the connectors in the back. Panasonic charges more than $200 for this piece of plastic, so it you're crafty you can make your own weatherproof cover for the BB-HCM511A cable connectors and save some money (hint: silicone sealant works). Note that if you don't already have a POE enabled switch, the BB-HCM series doesn't come with a POE injector so you need to order that separately. Coming back to this BL-C140A model, the other thing I didn't like is that the POE (Power Over Ethernet) is proprietary instead of using the industry 802.3af standard. So if you have a POE switch then it won't be able to use all the neat power management features. The BB-HCM series however does support the 802.3af POE standard. If your budget is just enough for this cam, the BL-C140A still a wonderful unit. If you can afford to pay just a little bit more then check out the other models I mentioned and you'll get a superior night time view. Here's another tip, if you want to have the camera view on your desktop all the time in Vista or Windows 7, go to the Microsoft Windows Live Gallery and search for Panasonic to download the CoconutView Sidebar Gadget. Then you won't even need to open the browser windows to get a peek at what the camera is seeing.

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Panasonic Outdoor MPEG-4 Network Camera

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Wansview wireless IP camera network with Pan & Tilt, Night Vision, 2 Way Audio, Black, Built-in Microphone, IPhone, Windows and MAC support Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this on eBay because it was a little cheaper than here. This is the one to get if you need mac compatibility. After reading many reviews I decided to check this one out. I emailed Wansview (in China) and they were super helpful (Not great at English, but very helpful). They let me log into a camera they had there in the office to show me it was mac compatible. Indeed it was. So i went ahead and ordered it. When i got it my Airport Extreme (apple router) could not find the IP with a scan and the software cd was one of those mini CDs so my macbook pro couldn't accept it (you need a CD tray that opens/closes). I took the CD to the office where I have a PC and copied the software to a file. The software to find the camera was an .exe so I had to use a Windows VM to find the camera on my mac. Once I found and changed the IP on my home network it was back to Firefox on OSX for the rest of the setup. You will need a Windows VM or a friend with a PC laptop for five minutes to find and change the IP of the camera with their software on your network. After that you can log into the camera from OSX and set up the rest. Between the manual (that came as a word file on the mini CD and a link I found about setting up a Foscam camera on an Airpot Extreme (link below) I was able to set up remote login easy. This camera also already has a www address preloaded so it eliminates one step also. This may sound like a long/hard process but if you read around you'll find that many of these cameras are harder and/or not mac compatible.
I hope this helps somebody out there. I could have used it in my searchings. Happy Shopping.
[...]

Click Here to see more reviews about: Wansview wireless IP camera network with Pan & Tilt, Night Vision, 2 Way Audio, Black, Built-in Microphone, IPhone, Windows and MAC support

Description?It adopts M-JPEG compression format, support 2 way audio, WifFi, built-in Pan/Tilt and IR lights, mobile phone view, provide alarm in and out interface, support UPNP and PPPOE, motion detection, email, FTP alarm etc.Features:-The video is compressed by M-JPEG. There are VGA/QVGA two video resolutions optional. User can change some parameters according to their demands to satisfy his own visual prefer. -With built-in Microphone, can also connect to external Microphone. It enables user to monitor the sound on the site. User can also connect this equipment to the speaker, and it supports two-way intercom function. -It was equipped with pan/tilt function, horizontally 270°and vertically 90°. Its outlook is smart, easy and convenient to install in many sites. -It adopts the TCP/IP network protocols and has inner web server. Users can browse video through IE and other browsers. Data is transferred through one port; it is easy for user to do the network setting. -Support 802.11b/g protocol, can build up wireless monitoring. -Supports UPNP, port forwarding automatically on the router. -Motion detection and alarm pin can be connected to external sensors to detect environmental situation. -Alarming record can be stored by email, FTP server. External alarm can be open when detecting unusuality. It also sends alarm info to the alarm server. -Infrared LED for night vision covers 5m area, to realize 24 hours monitoring. -Support three level of user authority. -Support upgrading online. -Manufacturer attached a label at the bottom of each IP Camera, it include Device ID, DDNS. When IP Camera is connected to the internet, this URL can be used to visit the device. -Manufacturer provides free software, support Multi-view, Long time recording, video replay etc.

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D-Link Wireless Internet Camera, Home Security, 802.11b, 11Mbps Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just bought this product and it's all what I expected. I just followed the quick installation guide, plugged in ethernet cable and the power, set the ip as recommended 192.168.0.20 on the camera and my wireless Netgear router and it works. I can view the camera immediately. But when I unplug the ethernet and into wireless mode, it didn't work. I ended up calling tech support and got a live support person in less than 5 minutes, he suggested I reboot(power down and up) my camera and router. The wireless mode now working.
I tried to set the camera up behind the router according to the instruction on the manual from the CD provided, it didn't work. After playing around for 3 hours, I finally figured out that the default port 80 and 8481 don't work, you have to open up the second port 81 and 8482. I IPView software provided in the CD does not have motion sensor, you can download the latest version of IPView with motion sensor for the DLINK website, and it works very well. It can detect a slightest movement.
PROS: price, good picture(can adjust brightness), motion sensor software(download latest IPView).
CONS: no audio, can not pan view(must manually pan camera), no email picture option.

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D-Link Wireless Internet Camera, Home Security, 802.11b, 11Mbps

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Cisco-Linksys WVC54GCA Webcam 640x480 802.11G Wireless Internet Home Monitoring Camera Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this camera 2 weeks ago and put it above my front door looking out onto my walkway and street and it works great. It's 802.11 G/B so it scales back if you have only a B access point. It takes good 640/480 up to 30 frames per second video. It's got a couple of low light enhancements you can turn on which work pretty well. DONT be disappointed if it can't see in the dark it's NOT a night vision camera. However... I don't yet know if it can see IR. I guess I need to get out a remote and see what happens.So a few people posting reviews have said it's not easy to setup. Not True!! I guess if you don't know anything about home networking, port forwarding, or WIFI then yeah of course it's going to be hard to setup. But don't come bashing the product just because you lack the skills to set it up correctly. Now I will admit I'm a IT professional and make a living doing so but, anyone with basic networking skills should be able to get this camera working in 10 minutes. Now... That doesn't include the time to tweak all the settings as it will take several days and some time to get everything just how you want it.
I got an iPhone that I use all the time to watch streaming video. In fact I used the iPhone to setup the camera using it as my hand held display so I could see what the camera was seeing.
One thing I will mention that I'm not really fond of is the motion detection system. If you turn it on, it requires you to choose either FTP or Email for the alerts. The problem is that even with the sensitivity really low it still triggers and you get like 10 million emails. Now that's not entirely the blame of the camera cause every time a cloud goes over my house the sidewalk changes because of the lighting and causes the camera to trigger a motion detection event. But if you were using the camera inside your house it would most likely function much better.
The camera comes with a CD that has some recording software that works ok. I've had it crash more than once in the past two weeks but it seems to happen when you have the motion detection enabled to send videos via Email. I switched this feature to JPEG's instead of motion and the application hasn't crashed since.
The camera does do audio but only when watching the playback on the software or using IE 6.0 or greater to watch the live video directly from the camera. I.E. you can't hear the sound with Firefox or Safari. However, you can adjust all the settings and get it going without IE so if you're a Mac person like myself you will need to have access to a PC at some point especially since the recording software, motion detection, and live video viewing with sound portion of the camera uses a Active X control that only works in IE.
All in all this Camera is an Awesome camera for $107. It did everything I wanted and more and it works well. I ended up buying 2 more of them since I was so pleased with the first one.
Just make sure before you buy this that you meet the following requirements.
A. Know what your doing when it comes to networking or you will be disappointed as with any network device it takes a level of skill to set it up.
B. Make sure you have access to a PC to setup all the things that require and Active X control and IE 6.0 or greater
C.Don't expect the device to see in the dark with great precission
D. Remember that you only paid $107 for something that does almost as much some of the other expensive stationary network cameras on the market.


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The Linksys Compact Wireless-G Internet Video Camera sends live video through the Internet to a web browser anywhere in the world This compact, self-contained unit lets you keep track of your home, your kids, your workplace -- whatever is important to you. Unlike standard "web cams" that require an attached PC, the Internet Video Camera contains its own web server, so it can connect directly to a network, either over Wireless-G (802.11g) networking, or over 10/100 Ethernet cable. Choose either MPEG-4 or Motion JPEG video compression for a high-quality, high-framerate, up to 640x480 video stream.

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