The face of home security has been changed drastically since the introduction of the first wireless internet camera. Today, homeowners can place these cameras in different locations inside and outside their homes and view the images captured from anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection.
There are many different brands and models from which to choose. Therefore, we are going to take a look at some of the preferred features in a wireless internet camera.
The first feature that is important in these cameras is the presence of an onboard web server. This feature eliminates the need to connect to a PC. Images are streamed directly to the internet, where they can be viewed remotely by the owner after entering the correct IP address into any web browser.
One camera that possesses this feature is the D-Link DCS-900W. One does not even need to have a computer on site to use this device. It connects to a wireless router using 802.11b protocols and thus to the internet via the existing internet connection. This camera also features the ability to monitor up to 4 separate cameras on a single screen and archive streaming video to a PC hard drive.
One drawback to this camera is the lack of a built in motion detector. However, a software download from the D-Link website gives it the ability to sense motion and snap a still shot of its field of view. This image can then be emailed to the owner along with a message alerting him/her to an intrusion.
This is the second feature that most want in a wireless internet camera. They prefer to have motion sensing ability and email capability so that they will be alerted if anything moves inside their home while they are away. The ability to snap a single frame and send it as a jpeg image acts as an aid in identifying an intruder later.
Another preferred feature is the ability to record sound. The LinkSys WVC54GCA 802.11g camera has all of the features mentioned above and includes a microphone. It has the ability to record live video and audio streams and send them to any PC linked to the network. In addition, it allows for a password protected account to be created so that the images captured can be viewed from other locations.
Many people prefer to have the option of connecting to a network using a 10/100 ethernet connection or the wireless connection. Most of these cameras feature the optional wired connection, though some do not. It is, therefore, necessary to check the specifications of the particular model one is looking at to see if it can be connected to a wired network.
There are many other features that people look for in a wireless internet camera. The one, absolute necessity is the built in web server that obviates the need to connect directly to a PC. Without that, one would simply have a very expensive webcam, not a home security device capable of connecting to the internet and alerting the owner of motion.