This web-controlled wireless camera is an appealing and nicely appointed security cam that comes with a unique design and distinct features. From afar, it looks like a small astronaut with its clear astronaut-helmet bubble that protects the actual camera from dust and damage. On the front panel are the LCD display and Led lights, which display the IP address. The plastic bubble case and the IP address are what sets the Linksys wireless PTZ Internet camera apart from the thousands of Internet cameras in the market.
The camera also has practical features, such as a removable stand and holes on its flat back for easy set up. With the stand, you can place the camera on top of tables and shelves. Want it to hang on your wall instead? Just remove the stand, and the holes make it easy for you to mount it up. With its built-in server, you won't need to connect the camera to a server of PC and up to 10 users can have access to the camera simultaneously.
Setup and Configuration
Setting up the Linksys wireless PTZ Internet camera is not so difficult, since it comes with a setup wizard. The first thing you need to do is to plug the camera into the router through the Ethernet. This is only required during the setup phase.
After doing so, you'll find the camera on your network. Then you'll see the camera setup page where you must assign a fixed IP address before you can choose between Infrastructure mode or Ad-Hoc, and Fixed IP or DHCP. After settling on your choice of settings, the final step is to transfer these setting to the camera. If you get more problems, you can easily contact Linksys Technical Support by opening a "live chat".
Cam Quality
The Linksys wireless PTZ Internet camera uses Mpeg-4 and MJPEG video compression. The 640x480 video quality is good. The images appear smooth with minimum lag. You can also check the video settings where you'll find that the video's 25 frames per second is perfect, with the sound enabled, for over-the-net viewing.
The only downside to the picture quality is the off colors. Though you get smooth, clear pictures, the colors are inaccurate. But if you're strictly using the camera for surveillance, color fidelity shouldn't matter too much, right?
The cam also comes with a built-in microphone which provides clear audio recording. It also has a plug for an external microphone so you can choose to attach one when you want maximum audio quality.
Cam Features
The Linksys wireless PTZ Internet camera comes with good pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities. What's even better about it is that you can create position and which you can cycle at preset intervals or choose such options as "on-image pan tilt" which allows you to click on any point on the video and have the camera focus on that position.
Another cool feature on the Linksys wireless PTZ Internet camera is its motion-detector, which prompts the camera to record a short video clip every time it detects movement within its range, and send the clip to your email for notification.
Because of its limited field of vision, an ordinary webcam is not the right choice for a home security system. Instead, you should use an Internet camera with pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) and motion detection features. The Linksys Wireless PTZ Camera is an example. This article will talk about its design, features, and functionality.
Camera Design
Because of the PTZ motor, the Linksys Wireless PTZ Internet Camera is bigger than ordinary webcams. But at 9 inches, it is relatively small, compared to other network cameras. The camera has a small LCD screen. The lens of the camera and its microphone are encased in plastic. A desktop stand comes with the package, but you can always mount the camera into a wall if you like.
Camera Features
The Linksys Wireless PTZ Internet Camera's microphone has a 9-foot range. It can play video in either MPEG-4 of MJPEG format and can display video resolutions up to 640 x 480. The camera can also capture audio. With motion detection, you can set the camera to start recording when it detects the slightest movements in its field of vision. In addition, you can set the frame rates of your video feeds. This is particularly useful if you want faster video streams
Hardware and Software Installation
The Linksys Wireless PTZ Internet Camera comes with a software application that needs to be installed first before connecting the camera to your computer. The application lets you set your IP or LAN configurations. Then, the camera can now be plugged into a power supply and can then connected to the computer using ethernet cables.
Camera Functionality
The Linksys Wireless PTZ Internet Camera is very user-friendly. It tilts in 8 different directions and returns it to its default position with a single click. The camera has a 2x digital zoom and pans back and forth. You can also program the camera to lock-in on specific fields of vision. The application software of the camera supports multiple camera viewing. Also, You can save video feeds into your computer and put date and time labels. You don't have to use any other media player because the application works great with Windows Media Player.
The camera also comes with various security features that you can customize to your preference. If you want to view it through a browser, a username and password is required. The application software lets you create up to 20 user accounts, but only 10 users can simultaneously log-in. In addition, you can also set accessibility options for each user, whether they can operate the PTZ controls or make changes to the camera's default settings.
The Linksys Wireless PTZ Internet Camera has its share of limitations, as well, just like any other camera. The camera's performance tends to suffer when used in wireless LAN, and the user guide that comes with the package can be overly simplistic at times - a setback that can be overcome with a little research or by consulting a technician. But with a price of $299.99, it is very affordable for your home security system.