Wireless ip pt cameras for security

[newbury]

I know there are several threads discussing security cams - http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/241298-camera-new-barn-4.html is one of the more recent.

However I wanted to start a new thread for wireless ip pan tilt cameras.

I've had a Foscam FI8918W and after getting it set up I like it. However it costs $80 and the newer model costs over $100.

I just started to buy another Foscam and now on Amazon there are 6 more Wireless IP PT cameras in the $50 to $60 price range. Most of them look like and spec like relabeled Foscams. I'm planning on eventually having as many as a dozen cams on several proerties, so I'd like to both save money and standardize.

Has anyone tried other wireless ip pt cameras?

If so what ones and the pro cons please.

A few points about the Foscam F18918W.
Foscam Products

It works well with a b/g router, it WILL NOT WORK WITH N routers. I'm running an N network and have set up an older G router as an access point.
You have to set it up wired to the router. Once set up you can unplug from the router and move it around. It's designed to run off house current thru a wall wart but some peeps have adapted it to run off car batteries. It works with IE, Firefox, and Chrome.

It comes with only very basic software but there are some free packages available that enhance it's usage and some pay software that's really good.

I've got mine set up so anyone I give admin rights to can view, pan and tilt. Or guests can just view.

It can send alarms and has a motion sensor.

 

[k0ua]

We sell a certain commercial brand,( where I work) but could not even come close to the prices you are talking about. I have no experience with any others.

James K0UA

 

[J_J]

Here is one by X10.

Hot Deals from X10

 

[newbury]

Here is one by X10.

Hot Deals from X10

Thanks BUT.
As I've found on several forums, it looks like a Foscam, but for $15 more (Foscam $85, X10 $99) and almost twice the price of the other clones.

From the X10 forum:

Tom

This camera looks just like the Foscam.

Foscam FI8918W Wireless IP Camera

I have one of these and really like it. I use an app for the iphone that works well and you can type the ip in the address bar of the web browser to get a picture also.

 

[Stihlrunner]

I just bought one of the Foscam F18918W off buy.com. Paid about $80 but I can't get the darn thing to work. Keep getting errors between the camera and Windows!

 

[newbury]

I just bought one of the Foscam F18918W off buy.com. Paid about $80 but I can't get the darn thing to work. Keep getting errors between the camera and Windows!

Does it recognize it hardwired?
What's your level of network expertise?
Make sure the first 3 octets are the same, network mask is correct.
If you can ping it hard wired that's the first step.
What type wireless network are you running? Foscam does not do N.

 

[Stihlrunner]

Does it recognize it hardwired?
What's your level of network expertise?
Make sure the first 3 octets are the same, network mask is correct.
If you can ping it hard wired that's the first step.
What type wireless network are you running? Foscam does not do N.

I'm sorry, are you speaking Chinese?:laughing:

It loads the software and the screen comes up that is supposed to show the camera display but instead you just get the little red X box where the picture should be. I've followed the troubleshooting guide as far as ActiveX controls, etc but each time IE/Windows blocks everything as a security risk, even with the security level set way low. We have a Linksys "G" router. Even tried loading it on my wife's computer and got the same results. I went to Foscam and tried to download install pack but windows blocked it because of the websites signature??? I've sent a support request to Foscam but that was several days ago and no response.

 

[horse7]

A lot of the "looks like a Foscam" are knockoffs.

Foscam will give you reasonable support for their products, so what people tend to do is buy a Foscam, learn how to make it work with their hand holding, then buy the cheaper imitations (everything is made in China, I guess the imitators just steal the firmware? Seems to be the Chinese Way).

Also, the expensive PTZs last. Foscams and knockoffs tend to die off in a few years for one reason or another. However, you can buy a lot of cheap PTZs for the price of one really good one-- the main reason I'd buy an expensive one is for optical zoom, sometimes you just have to have real zoom capability not the imitation digital zoom.

 

[MikeFarm]

Hiya

Just thought I'd throw in what I'm Using. I have two Mobotix M24M IP cameras. They are not PZT ones though. No moving parts at all. They are 8 Mega pixels, 2048x1536 px.

If I'm looking at a wide paddock then instead of panning I fit the wider angle lens, if the paddock subtends a narrower angle from where the camera is positioned I'll fit the more tele-photo lens. They have been running outdoors in bad weather for a year now.

The software has an open API and runs on any browser, I use Firefox on Linux. I found quite a few camera suppliers sell their more sophisticated software for extra $ or their software only works with Windows and IE.

Mike

 

[mattbatson]

I've been doing lots of research on this for our land up in western NC. I am putting up a quonset hut building and I wont have power or internet/cable up there for quite a while...but want to store stuff up there.

I'm looking at a remote router/modem that can work off 3g/4g cell phone plan. Such as Cradlepoint... the low price model CTR35. Buy the router, and plug a 3G/4G modem from your desired cell carrier into the router. network the router (may need to enable DNS). Of course, you'll need to pay for a data package from your cell carrier.
won't be able to watch the system live all the time or you'll quickly eat up your data allotment...so thinking of running it with with VideoIQ.

Set the parameters to email clips when intruders are detected.

Then if anyone steals the camera (relatively remote and we are only there about 5 times a year), we will have the clip of the bad guy for the sheriff.



I've heard that you get what you pay for with camera's, so was thinking we were going to spend much more money than what you are talking about...

 

[MikeFarm]

Hi Mattbatson

My cameras work on a car battery and a 65W solar cell. They are out in the paddocks. They then use Ubiquity 5 GHz wireless to send images back to the farm house where they go into a small Gbit switch and into a small PC (fit-PC2i, takes 4 watts!). From there it's processed into a web album of images and up via a satellite dish to my website so i can view images from any web browser anywhere. I can even login remotely and get video if I want to but that eats up my usage allowance. Also connected is a weather station. Went with a sat dish as I don't have any wireless phone signal at the farm, just a land line.

Mike

 

[mattbatson]

Hi Mattbatson

My cameras work on a car battery and a 65W solar cell. They are out in the paddocks. They then use Ubiquity 5 GHz wireless to send images back to the farm house where they go into a small Gbit switch and into a small PC (fit-PC2i, takes 4 watts!). From there it's processed into a web album of images and up via a satellite dish to my website so i can view images from any web browser anywhere. I can even login remotely and get video if I want to but that eats up my usage allowance. Also connected is a weather station. Went with a sat dish as I don't have any wireless phone signal at the farm, just a land line.

Mike

thx for the info :thumbsup:
I have more research to do, and that sounds like a pretty nifty system...
decision time

 

[newbury]

Wireless N is here on Foscam wireless IP Pan Tilt FI8910W.

Foscam Forum • View topic - FOSCAM FI8910W Wireless N

Apparently they just started shipping.

Finally!

 

[J_J]

I called Foscam and they never did answer the phone, I am thinking it is a back door operation.

 

[tractchores]

Wireless N is here on Foscam wireless IP Pan Tilt FI8910W.

Foscam Forum • View topic - FOSCAM FI8910W Wireless N

Apparently they just started shipping.

Finally!

I have 3 of these now, they're about $90 on amazon. its not a real polished product (chinese made I think?). However its easy enough to use, cheap and they work great. I have them all over the property and they send me email alerts with pictures when something moves, which works great. i mostly use them for animal sitings, but its good piece of mind when I'm away and can see everything going on at the house

 

[newbury]

I have 3 of these now, they're about $90 on amazon. its not a real polished product (chinese made I think?). However its easy enough to use, cheap and they work great. I have them all over the property and they send me email alerts with pictures when something moves, which works great. i mostly use them for animal sitings, but its good piece of mind when I'm away and can see everything going on at the house

Do you have the Foscam Wireless-N? Or some other brand?
N just came out.
And since I prefer to run N I'm wondering how well they work.

 

[RadarTech]

I just got one yesterday... We'll see how it goes later today....

 

[tractchores]

Do you have the Foscam Wireless-N? Or some other brand?
N just came out.
And since I prefer to run N I'm wondering how well they work.

Just got the 'N' one in the mail a couple of days ago, set it up last night. I'll mount it somewhere this weekend and try it out. So far it seems similar to the others, though there must be new firmware because the configuration menus had new options.

 

[mattbatson]

Ok, how exactly does this foscam thing work?
I understand it is wireless and is made for ""紐emote internet monitoring from anywhere in the world ""
but what does that mean exactly?
For my property that is out in the woods, what do I need to run this camera?
I assume power, and will be running a solar panel with auto battery for that...

I assume I then need to have internet service run to the property also?
Do I need a modem or router too?

Then I can view images from my home three states away...correct?


Lastly, I've read some stuff about the technical support and customer service leaving something to be desired...is there other cameras on the market that do the same thing as the foscam that are maybe better made/more expensive with better resolution and such?


thx

edit...may have jumped the gun, cause i just read several pages of reviews on amazon and answered most of my questions, lol

 

[mattbatson]

I just got one yesterday... We'll see how it goes later today....

please do and let me know the whole set up to get it up and running :thumbsup: