Panasonic BL-C111A Network Camera Wired Review

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(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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TRENDnet SecurView Wireless Day/Night Pan/Tilt/Zoom Internet Surveillance Camera TV-IP422W (White) Review

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(More customer reviews)Got this a few days ago. Very easy to configure. Had mine set up on my wireless network in minutes. Much better video quality than I expected for this price.
Definitely meant to be used indoors in low light. When I point it out the window, the image just washes out and goes all white. But indoors, with normal lighting, the image is great. Night time image is very good. The built-in IR LEDs work well to about 20ft or so. Beyond that, things are pretty dark. I tried an experiment and turned on a desk lamp with a very low power fluorescent bulb and the camera had enough light to see everything in the house in full color. Really good low light performance.
The microphone is also very sensitive. Almost too sensitive. It picks up every sound in the house. I can hear the ceiling fan, air conditioner, TV in another room, people talking in other rooms etc. Has 2-way audio but haven't tried it yet. UPDATE- two way audio works great. You need a powered, amplified speaker; I used an old computer speaker.
Super easy to operate. You don't need any special software to remotely view, just Internet Explorer. You can view with Firefox, but you lose some features. When viewing remotely over the Internet, you can click on any point in the image and the camera centers itself on that point.
Tons more options and features but, you can read about them on the manufacturers website.
If this had a true optical zoom, it would be just about perfect but, full Pan Tilt and Zoom cameras cost a lot more than this one.
I am pleasantly surprised with this camera. I've tried several 'affordable' cameras over the past few years and have been quite disappointed with them. The only really good network PTZ I've found is a nine hundred dollar Panasonic. Too expensive for me and it does not have audio.
If you need audio and full range pan ant tilt, but don't need zoom, this is probably your best choice right now for any price. Panasonic makes a nice, small, wireless camera with audio and pan and tilt but it does not have the range of motion that this camera has and this camera has much better low light image quality.
REVIEW UPDATE- I've had mine now for several months and it still works great. I changed the video setting to "outdoor" and now it works perfectly in full sunlight. And it still works just as good in full dark as it did with the other video settings. I was having some problems with the camera losing it's wireless connection to my Linksys router. I would have to power cycle the camera to get it to reconnect. But then I started having other problems with the Linksys router so I replaced my old Linksys router with a newer D-Link router and the problems have gone away. The camera has not lost it's connection since I replaced the router.
Because this camera is UV sensitive and does not have a switchable mechanical UV filter, daylight images sometimes look a little fuzzy, as if the lens is dirty. This is most noticeable when viewing indoors with a lot of sunlight coming in through the windows. I have other UV sensitive cameras and they exhibit the same behavior.
Overall, I am still quite pleased with this camera and just wish Amazon would make it a Gold Box deal so I could get another one!
Amazon recently put the Panasonic BLC131A wireless network camera on sale for about 1/2 price so I got one to try. The Trendnet TV-IP422W is far superior to the Panasonic; it has much better image quality, sound quality and range of motion, and the Trendnet configuration screens seem much more intuitive to me.
If Trendnet would add a zoom lens and a mechanical UV filter, this camera would be perfect.

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The Wireless Day/Night Pan/Tilt Internet Camera Server with Audio (TV-IP422W) provides day and night security over a large area. See, hear and talk to people in your camera's viewing field day or night from any Internet connection.Secure a larger area with wireless pan and tilt Internet cameras-. Pan the camera side-to-side a remarkable 330 and tilt up-and-down 105. The TV-IP422W provides high quality video streams over a secure wireless connection.Advanced intuitive software includes motion detection recording, email alerts ( Does not support SSL, USB port supports up to 500mA power device with FAT16/32 format, the 3G service from a mobile phone provider is required, Windows 32-bit only.Monitoring multiple cameras may require a high performance CPU and graphic card.) and scheduled recordings. This camera's brilliant image quality, pan/tilt functionality, day/night recording capabilities and built-in 2-way audio make it ideal for home, small office and business use.Note: Does not work with TV-H400 dome camera enclosure. SecurView cameras are not compatible with TRENDnet's IPView Pro camera application for ProView cameras.

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Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11 Review

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(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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1PORT Poe Injector Ac Input 802.3AF and Cisco Supported Review

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(More customer reviews)Although Power over Ethernet (PoE) was once only a term used in IT departments of businesses, this technology is being implemented in more and more consumer electronics and is slowly becoming known in homes with a computer network as well. The concept is quite simple; running data and low voltage power across a single cable. While this may not immediately sound very interesting or important, PoE allows the installation of electronic, networked devices, without the need for an AC power source at the installation site. This is especially useful for products like network security cameras, VoIP telephones, and Wi-Fi amplifiers. There are two primary types of PoE power sourcing equipment (PSE). PoE endspans, which are Ethernet switches with built-in transmission circuitry, and PoE midspans, which are Power over Ethernet products that stand between a regular Ethernet switch and the device needing power. This review is for the PD-3001/AC single port PoE Injector, made by PowerDsine (now owned by Microsemi), which is a PoE midspan device.
I recently found the need to add PoE capabilities to my home network when I decided to install some new network security cameras around the house. I wanted ceiling mounted dome cameras, and most of the units I found were PoE cameras. I knew about PoE technology but had never had any direct involvement with it. I quickly decided that I did not wish to purchase an expensive PoE network switch for my home, so I needed to find a low cost alternative. That is when I found the PowerDsine 3001/AC PoE Injector. This device allows me to run a data cable from my Ethernet switch to the PoE injector, the PoE injector plugs into an AC wall outlet, and then another Ethernet cable comes out of the injector and runs to my PoE camera. This way I only have a single cable running to each of my cameras, rather than having to run separate power and data cables.
The important thing to know, when purchasing a PoE product, is to make sure that it complies with the IEEE 802.3af power distribution standard, from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). IEEE802.3af provides for 48 VDC over 2 of the 4 available pairs on Cat 3 and Cat 5 network cables, with a maximum current of 400 mA, for a maximum load power of 15.4W. You shouldn't have to worry much about the actual specifications as long as you make sure that both PoE devices on each end comply with the IEEE 802.3af standard. It is usually noted on the product itself or in the product specifications. And speaking of specifications, here are the technical specs. of the PowerDsine PD-3001/AC PoE Injector:
* No. of Ports = 1
*Data Rates = 10/100 Mbps
*Output Power Voltage = -48
*User Load Power = 15.4W
*AC Input Voltage = 90 to 264 Vac (auto switching)
*AC Input Current = 0.5A@110-220 Vac
*AC Frequency = 47 to 63 Hz
*Dimensions = 2.4" (W) x 1.2" (H) x 5.7" (L)
*Weight = 1.1 lbs.
*Indicators = AC Power (Green), Channel Power (Green)
*Connectors = Shielded RJ-45, EIA 568A and 568B
* Operating Ambient Temperature = 32 ° to 104 °F
*Operating Humidity = Maximum 90% non-condensing
*Compliance = IEEE 802.3af standard or legacy Cisco powered devices
It should also be noted that the PD-3001/AC model is a 10/100 network device, and does NOT offer Gigabit transfer speeds. If you are looking for a Gigabit network PoE injector, you should consider the PowerDsine PD-3001G/AC device. All of the specifications for the two devices are the same, other than the data rates supported.
The PowerDsine PD-3001/AC performs its function well, but I am a little concerned about its electronic durability a bit. I installed a couple of the PD-3001 injectors in my home back in May of 2008, and all was well until a strong thunderstorm blew in a couple of months ago. There was a fairly close lightning strike, which caused some brief Wi-Fi signal issues in my home, but everything else seemed to be working OK. However, within a couple of hours I found that my PowerDsine injectors were no longer working. The LED power lights were not even illuminated. I tried plugging them into different outlets but nothing helped. I'll admit that I just had them plugged into basic power strips (I know, I should have had them plugged into surge protectors), but everything else in my house was still functioning just fine. So I purchased a couple of replacement PD-3001 injectors and a couple of APC surge suppression power strips to plug them into, and I had my cameras back up and running in no time. However, about three weeks ago we had an unexpected power outage, which was not caused by a storm. Power was out in my entire neighborhood and it took about 3 hours before power was restored. When the power came back on I found that one of the two PD-3001 injectors was not working (again no LED power light). Again I tried it in different outlets but could not get it to respond. My local retailer was out of stock so I had to order a replacement online. It arrived a couple of days later, but when I plugged it in I found that the new unit did not work at all. I sent back the defective unit and was eventually able to acquire one locally. This new replacement has been working OK but I am now a bit nervous about how long these are going to last. They're not extremely expensive but they aren't cheap either. I don't have any technical data to backup my suspicions but I am thinking that these PoE injectors are very sensitive to any sort of power fluctuations.
Overall I am very happy with the performance of the PowerDsine PD-3001/AC PoE Injector. They provide the power and data pass-through that I need for my Panasonic PoE network security cameras. However, I now cringe every time a light flickers in my house, afraid that any slight power drop or spike is going to burn out one or both of my PoE injectors. I have now moved one of the PoE injectors to a UPS system, so it should still function on battery backup if the power goes out again. At least then I can unplug the unit myself and hopefully avoid any fluctuations that may burn out the injector. I have found very few reviews online for the PD-3001/AC, so I have no idea if others have run into this same sort of issue. On the other hand, maybe I just had a few defective units, or just suffered from really bad luck. Since the PowerDsine PD-3001/AC PoE Injector performs its function as expected, I can recommend the product as a cost effective way for anyone to add PoE capabilities to their home or small business network. However, I highly recommend that anyone using these injectors should plug them into a high quality surge protector, or into a UPS system that has Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR).

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