Cisco-Linksys WVC54GCA Webcam 640x480 802.11G Wireless Internet Home Monitoring Camera by CISCO SYSTEMS - ENTERPRISE
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Digital camera reviews of Cisco-Linksys WVC54GCA Webcam 640x480 802.11G Wireless Internet Home Monitoring Camera
Digital camera Review: Bang for your Buck! Good wireless cam!
Summary: 4 Stars
I used this camera as a monitor to my home. At less than $100, you can't beat it. As far as setting up goes, it can get intimidating to the novice, but done right, this thing is amazing!
Here are my observations/comments:
1. Make sure you assign it a static IP - this prevents it from constantly changing IP address which causes "off-air" issues. Do the manual wireless configuration via browser - the CD it came with is garbage. Test connection.
2. You dont need a TZO subscription. I used a DDNS and set up port forwarding (default settings). So its free. Test connection.
3. I got this streaming into my BB Curve with great success via RTSP. Make sure you enable streaming in the camera's configuration. Again, test and adjust.
4. I enabled motion detection but in order to prevent clogging my emails, I used JPEG instead of video and schedule is within a timeframe.
I liked it so much that the only reason I didnt give it a 5 star is because I wish it was water proof so I can place it outside.
***UPDATE:
I liked this camera so much that I purchased two more. The first one is a view of my front door (to prevent it from getting wet, I sliped a clear plastic cover with a hole on the bottom to vent - I covered up the ethernet input to prevent it from getting wet). The second on is pointed to my backyard pool so I can watch my kids from the inside of the house, and the 3rd is the view of the living room. Its on everday at specified time and records to my 1TB portable HDD (hidden away).
There are a lot of websites out there that can help you set this up. Please be patient and I question a lot of "IT" guys here who really has no clue and maybe should take that refresher course in network engineering. I work on computers as a hobby not as a job, and I got this working in a day, like I said, RTSP even works that Im able to watch my front door from my Blackerry Curve live. I showed my setup to my parents and now they want me to do this to their own home. You can also assign a unique user ID and password to your family member so they can view it. Just my two cents.
Digital camera Review: Been working great for 6 straight months!
Summary: 4 Stars
I installed two of these cameras in May of 2008. It is now November & the cameras are still working. My brother watched me from Phoenix (I live in Southern Illinois) as I built the woodshed in my backyard[...] Although they work wirelessly I bought some 100ft lengths of Cat 6 cable to hook them up. They have never needed rebooting and have a GREAT picture & the mic pickup is decent.
Now... for the parts that I cannot get to work: cannot get the playback to work (from the motion detection feature). It starts to work then the program crashes. Cannot get the email feature to work through Yahoo webmail. Other than these problems (which same may find a MAJOR problem although I do not) the cameras have worked well.
Digital camera Review: Buy Trendnet Instead.....
Summary: 1 Stars
I suffered with these cameras for a year, before I could take it no longer! They were difficult to set up to work wirelessly, and twice I had to pay Linksys $9.99 for suppport to do it for me. Trying to synchronize a modem, router, computer and cameras to work together is not easy for a junior techie like me; but unfortunately, the Linksys support staff didn't seem to know what to do either. After many chats, phone calls, and remote management from Linksys support, I finally gave up. I decided to purchase Trendnet cameras instead. For a little more money, it seems like I've gotten a much better product. They were easy to set up, and when I did need tech support because of an incorrect router setting, the tech person actually seemed to know what to do about it and I was off the phone within a half hour - the first technician tried unsuccessfully to fix it but then referred me to her supervisor. The Trendnets can also be managed remotely, so if there is any problem with the camera, you don't have to be onsite to fix it. What a relief.
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Digital camera Review: Camera - OK Linksys Support - Bad
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought this camera after we had a break-in. I liked the motion detection email feature and the ability to set a sensitivity area.
Setup was not easy. Im not a wiz when it comes to networking. But Im no goofball either.
I spoke to tech support 3 times before I got the camera working wirelessly.
Motion detection is another issue. I called tech support 4 times (got put on hold and left there twice) also chatted with 2 different online support people. Then I was told that my emails were too secure so the mail from the camera wouldnt get through - mind you I have yahoo, comcast and a work email.
I STILL havent gotten it to work.
The camera itself works OK. The picture at night with outside lighting is minimal at best. But daytime images arent bad. The picture is a bit choppy tho - not a smooth video type of image. Theres also sound, but its not very good - its OK.
Setup with the free TZO service required 2 phone calls to their tech support. They basically tell you where to look in their online tutorials to fix the problem yourself. Not very helpful.
I gave the camera a 3 because its not a great camera but its not a bad one either. I sorta expected a little more, but it'll do.
(If youre looking for a tech support that doesnt send your call "overseas", Linksys is not the one for you.
Who knows if Ill ever get the motion detection working.
Digital camera Review: Camera does not work as advertised
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought 5 of these to provide security for my vacation home. I followed the very straight-forward set-up instructions, even encripting the signal to match my Linksys WRT54GS router. I even added a high-gain directional antenna, to ensure reception throughout the house. Initially, everything worked as advertised. But, after only for a few minutes, I lost the signal from some of the cameras and then all of them. After about 10 hours of working with it, I gave up and called Linksys. I could not get a person on the phone, so I tried the chat-help. The chat-technicians worked with me another 3 - 4 hours, even taking control of my computer, trying to make the cameras work. We reset everything several times, but nothing would solve the problem. The camera would indicate it was logged onto the wireless network, but then would not show up on the software, even though the camera was less than three feet from the router. When the camera location search was refreshed, you would loose one of the cameras and get another. Eventually, the technician gave up. Therefore, I am returning the cameras to Amazon.
Once, when I did manage to get one of the cameras working, I tried to set it up to be viewed over the internet, but this was so confusing that even the technician was not sure how to really make it work.
After the chat-session, and deciding to return the cameras, I called Linksys and tried again to ask for some help, but they were unable to say anything other than return the cameras. They did not even let me speak to anyone other than the person that answered the phone. It is a shame that a good company like Linksys has advertised/sold a camera that performs so poorly, and then has no explanation/suggestion as to how to rectify the problem.
Therefore, please do not buy this camera. I will be looking for an alternative by another manufacturer.