Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11 by Panasonic
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Digital camera reviews of Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11
Digital camera Review: Doesn't work on WiFi
Summary: 1 Stars
Perhaps I just got a bad one, but after six hours of trying, I could never get it working on WiFi. Wired is fine. Not WiFi. Yet I have several other IP Cams (Toshiba, D-Link) plus many other devices (PC, MacBook, Nokia phone, several laptops, Nokia tablet, iPhone, etc) working on the wireless.
Panasonic's support FAQ doesn't even have a single hit for the BL-C131A. But since I do this type of stuff every day, I either got a bad unit or they have some serious compatibility woes. Buyer beware.
Digital camera Review: EXCELLENT PRODUCT
Summary: 5 Stars
I EXAMINED SEVERAL SIMILIAR PRODUCTS AND THIS ITEM WAS THE BEST ALL AROUND SERVALENCE CAMERA BY FAR. THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS EXCELLLENT AND A DEFINATE TIME SAVER.Digital camera Review: EXCELLENT camera for the value
Summary: 5 Stars
I gave this camera to my husband for Christmas - we are SO impressed with it. He is an IT guy by trade and was impressed with the features that this "home" wireless network camera offers. He said that this camera has some of the features that the professional-grade surveillance system he has at work also contains.
We also love that it includes easy-to-use web controls. We ultimately purchased this camera so Grandma and Grandpa (who live in a different state) can watch their grandson via the internet. My husband and I can also monitor the camera images from our cell phones, which is very convenient (we're using it to `spy' on the dog until our son arrives.)
Overall, we are thoroughly impressed with this little camera and all of it's available features for the money!
Digital camera Review: Early BL-C30 was primitive, BL-C131A is just as primitive
Summary: 1 Stars
You would think that, after 3 years, Panasonic would have gained a bit on the setup and operation of their net cameras -- and you would be wrong. I bought a BL-C30 several years ago and, after an excruciating setup process fraught with false starts due to garbled instructions, it actually worked for a while, in wired and wireless modes and even across the Internet. Then the Internet capability quit. Why? I don't know. Then the camera stopped working over my LAN. So, I bought the "new and improved" BL-C131A. Panasonic hasn't gained a single inch on the worrisome and almost impossible setup procedure and their Tech Support is useless -- if anyone ever answers the phone. The CEO should call the camera development team into a room and give them exactly 1 week to formulate an automated setup procedure with absolute minimal user input, and based on router brand and model and DSL/cable modem brand and model. The developers would be forbidden to write in anything other than proper English and whatever was written should be ground-tested for lucidity and accuracy. In other words, the camera should be Plug and Play -- and this time for real. Otherwise this unit will likely be a very expensive doorstop for the vast majority of purchasers.Digital camera Review: Easy setup, tons of features, great customer service
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the first network camera I've purchased. Based on reviews on Amazon from customers, this was my first choice to monitor my property from an upstairs window.
This camera works on both Wifi as well as wired networks. It can viewed and controlled by a web browser or by dedicated software (more on this topic later). It supports automatic UPnP setup of your router, and Panasonic runs a [...] service to support DDNS, giving you the ability to give your camera a URL so you can access your camera anywhere in the world you get internet service.
Setup is really easy. The camera functions as a mini-server and walks you through the setup with no software necessary to load on your PC. Thus, the need for software at this point is minimal (activex control for IE, or Java for other browsers). Panasonic does supply some 3rd party software which has been limited in functionality. This software may be fine, but won't work on a Mac, nor does it work in a 64 bit version of windows (it crashes pretty much right away). In addition, the software can be unlocked to support multiple cameras for several hundred dollars. Yikes. Instead, I would look for low-cost 3rd party software (such as from H264soft) that does pretty much the same thing, but is far more robust.
The camera is extremely flexible allowing you to view in real time or push still pictures via email, HTTP, or FTP based on events such as motion or time. Thus, it can serve as a remote warning to you if the camera detects motion.
Image quality in daylight or artificial light is excellent, and in 640x480 mode, the image is really very nice. This is not a great camera for night time use. It simply doesn't produce much of an image after the sun goes does.
Physically, the camera gets a bit warm, so that is a concern for long-term reliability, but I've left it running continuously for about 5 days with no issues. A very nice touch is that Panasonic provides a cable loop to allow you to fasten the camera so it can't be removed easily and it serves as a guard if it does fall from a ledge it will avoid damage to the camera.
When I got the camera, I had a slight issue with viewnetcam, so I called Panasonic late in the evening. After less than a 30 second wait I got in touch with a technician who not only spoke perfect English, but was extremely helpful and got the problem solved within 5 minutes. Excellent customer service seems to be an exception these days, so Panasonic deserves kudos for this.
This camera is excellent. It's one of those products that seems a little expensive, but in reality actually surprises with how well-designed it is. If the software provided by Panasonic didn't crash under 64 bit windows or worked under OS X, it would be perfect.