Wireless IP Camera thread

[Dr_ARCHer]

Your version is for Android because apple's version is 1.6.8 which I bought yesterday?

I have bought versions for my Android's phone, my wife's Android phone, my Galaxy Tab, and my iPad. Yes, the iPad version is 1.6.8. It allows you to set the number of columns in matrix model (up to 4 columns).

 

[Apparatus]

Re

I think the DLINK DCS-942L looks like can leh. Read below...somewhere near the end

Print Page - Video recording to SD Card not working?

Although I've just bought one piece and have it tested a while ago I noticed two things

a) the FOV is still not as wide as my existing older DLINK DCS-2120G model. I need to try with an external wide angle lens to see the effect otherwise I'll need to buy more cameras for the same coverage leow. If I'm satisfied with the wide angle lens then I'll proceed with buying additional 8 pcs. Not all situations require wide angle lens though. Long rectangular corrider or kitchen don't require the wide angle lens. It's only those with squarish design like the hall requires it. The price per piece ranges from $179 to $199 since this model just arrives here.

b) its IR is pretty strong within my house....within 5m range. Use of an external IR light (850nm wavelength) inside the house only creates a bright circular spot smaller than the FOV of the camera while the areas outside the spot remain dark. However, use of the external IR light works great in long rectangular corridor/kitchen. FYI, DLINK said the camera's built-in IR lights' wavelength is 820nm. An external wide angle IR light might be the right choice say for use in the hall.

Sorry, but I won't be testing it's recording (video + audio) to SD card as I have a DLINK DVR

To add on.

Just tested with my existing external wide angle lens and the viewing angle is only slightly better than that of my existing older DLINK DCS-2120G model. The wide angle lens is the VITACON Digital M-Power 0.45x (Made in Japan). Also, the lens is not blocking the IR lights

 

[Apparatus]

RE

I think there's a problem with my DLINK DCS-942L. May be I got a faulty set but I'm not so sure now.

The new set works fine under outdoor condition and turning from color to B/W when evening comes.

The problem is when I use it indoor. With all the lights turned on (8 white bulbs) the picture showed B/W. You can see the IR lights being turned on. Even when I pointed the camera at the TV it still showed B/W. When I lighted a candle and hold it within a foot of the camera then only the picture showed color. Further from that the color changes to B/W.

My DLINK DCS-6620G doesn't have this problem. Even with 2 bulbs turned on it shows color. Placing the 942L in the same position as my 6620G and with 2 bulbs turned on also showed a B/W picture.

That is to say if I deploy the camera inside my house forever I'll only see B/W picture.

Now, can users with fixed IR cameras offer your experience?

Thanks

 

[Apparatus]

RE

I think there's a problem with my DLINK DCS-942L. May be I got a faulty set but I'm not so sure now.

The new set works fine under outdoor condition and turning from color to B/W when evening comes.

The problem is when I use it indoor. With all the lights turned on (8 white bulbs) the picture showed B/W. You can see the IR lights being turned on. Even when I pointed the camera at the TV it still showed B/W. When I lighted a candle and hold it within a foot of the camera then only the picture showed color. Further from that the color changes to B/W.

My DLINK DCS-6620G doesn't have this problem. Even with 2 bulbs turned on it shows color. Placing the 942L in the same position as my 6620G and with 2 bulbs turned on also showed a B/W picture.

That is to say if I deploy the camera inside my house forever I'll only see B/W picture.

Now, can users with fixed IR cameras offer your experience?

Thanks

OK, just found on another forum that this is indeed a problem. Very likely the sensitivity of the IR has been set too high. No way to solve it despite upgrading to the latest firmware. Hope that the next firmware can solve the issue

 

[geckoSG]

OK, just found on another forum that this is indeed a problem. Very likely the sensitivity of the IR has been set too high. No way to solve it despite upgrading to the latest firmware. Hope that the next firmware can solve the issue

Great input! Btw, so sound is recordable to MicroSD Card? Wanna hear from pple who owns it. Is it clear?

 

[Apparatus]

Great input! Btw, so sound is recordable to MicroSD Card? Wanna hear from pple who owns it. Is it clear?

I've replied your question earlier on.

 

[Apparatus]

RE

OK, managed to get an exchange for a new set of DCS-942L and here's my new findings. This set is definitely better than my previous set which I believe was a lemon.

My findings are in comparison with my existing DLINK DCS-6620G (color & B/W) & 2120G (color only). I tested by placing the 942L in the same location as my existing cameras.

Outdoor is no issue. Indoor still have some issues.

The time of testing is between 3.30 to 4pm with some good light shining into my house.

Without switching on any lights my 6620G & 2120G show color in my hall, kitchen and room. The 942L failed to show any color.

When I switched on 2 white light bulbs in my hall I was able to get color. However, it depends on where the 942L is pointing. If the picture has some dark objects like dark colored cabinets then there's no color. If its pointed at light colored objects then it shows color. Also, I noticed that the light source must be infront of the camera then it'll show color. If the light source, like sunlight, coming in through the windows but behind the camera then it'll only show B/W. Strange enough even I switched on all the lights in the kitchen (infront of the camera) but pointing the 942L downwards at the reflective surface of the floor tiles the camera don't produce color.

2nd testing at about 6.50pm where there's poor natural light in my house.

I switched on 2 light bulbs and there's no color from the 942L. Switching 4 light bulbs (about 2.5m from the camera) result in color from the 942L. Swapping by switching another 4 light bulbs (about 4.5m from the camera) result in no color from the 942L.

Here's my conclusion for this camera

The sensitivity of the IR for the 942L has been set too high. It needs to be lowered to produce color. The latest firmware is unable to do it so just have to wait for the next firmware upgrade. The best is with a provision to adjust the sensitivity level.

Some tips here

IP cameras are, generally, installed facing inwards and downwards inside the house and at pretty high level (almost the same level as the the ceiling lights and at the corners of the house to achieve maximum coverage) and away from facing direct sunlight. In such instances the IR sensor would have a tougher time detecting adequate light to change from B/W to color unlike traditional color IP cameras.

So, if you want to buy the present 942L camera, install

a) with strong natural light infront of the camera or the incoming sunlight is very strong behind or from the sides of the camera
b) for indoor light the light source must be within 2.5m from the camera and must be strong for color to be shown up
c) point the camera at some light color non-reflective objects.

The above may defeat your original purpose. FYI, my older 6620G has no such issues

Latest to add. Have feedback this issue to DLINK's technical person and it seems that this seems to be their design to have a high sensitivity level in IR so that users will not miss out details in recording. Anyway he'll pass the feedback to the appropriate person and, hopefully, see a change in the next firmware update.

Thanks

 

[vacuumes5]

Sorry if this question has been asked before. There's a local ebay seller selling an ipcam pan/tilt for S$99. Has anyone tried it? Any comments? Looking for a cheap ipcam. No need night vision or record function. Thanks.

 

[rethaFrey]

Hi, any reviews for DCS-930L? its $30 for the IR version but as on tight budget, can make do without.

 

[Apparatus]

Hi, any reviews for DCS-930L? its $30 for the IR version but as on tight budget, can make do without.

If you search the Internet I believe you should be able to find a review for it

 

[geckoSG]

I've replied your question earlier on.

U mean u tested it? Cos I read that you called CSO. I've called them but ain't trust unless its from the mouth of an actual end-user who owns n used it.

 

[rethaFrey]

If you search the Internet I believe you should be able to find a review for it

yes. but the more the reviews, the better.
thus asking from here, if you able to.

 

[Apparatus]

U mean u tested it? Cos I read that you called CSO. I've called them but ain't trust unless its from the mouth of an actual end-user who owns n used it.

I've told you that I'll not be testing the recording to SD card as I've no such need. Don't ask again

 

[HOHOHO!]

May i know which Ip camera can do direct recording into Dlink DNS-320 NAS?

 

[geckoSG]

So, can anyone who owns the DLINK DCS-942L and have done the recording to their MicroSD Card, please advise if the unit can record sound to the MicroSD card. Also, please give a review on clarity as well...

Thank you.

Other than D-LINK's 10x ZOOM camera, anyone owns similar? Can share the resolution, clarity, compression method and recording feature? I'm looking for one. VStarcam have 1, but MARIX not bringing it in at the moment.

 

[blaster1102]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for 3 IP cams with DVR recording functionality. Best that comes with HDD recording at good quality.

Using for SME.

Any recommendations?

 

[Macrossvin]

Hi Dr_Archer, I happened to find your review on the Aztech IP camera WPC401. I do really hope that you can give me some advices as I have bought 1 unit through at the PC show yesterday.
I was doing the installation earlier, but kind of disappointed. Firstly, the is a very dark spot on the camera itself which doesn't seems to be able to remove. Secondly, the image presented on my monitor is very blur, till the image cannot be seen clearly. Is it suppose to be like this? Lastly, whenever I try to do some changes on the quick set up or mangement, the web browser keep saying that they detected error on the webpage and will just exit by itself. Do you have similar experience? I do really hope that you can give me some head up, as I'm a first time user for this and the reason i bought it, is just to let my wife view our newborn over her Iphone as & when she wants. But the image is just so bad, unless we place our baby about 5cm infront of the camera, she then will be able to have a better image. Please help, I intended to get another brand with a better resolution.... Please help and advice. Furthermore, possible if you can post some image taken by your Aztech WIPC401 for me to compare??? please......

 

[Dr_ARCHer]

Hi Dr_Archer, I happened to find your review on the Aztech IP camera WPC401. I do really hope that you can give me some advices as I have bought 1 unit through at the PC show yesterday.
I was doing the installation earlier, but kind of disappointed. Firstly, the is a very dark spot on the camera itself which doesn't seems to be able to remove. Secondly, the image presented on my monitor is very blur, till the image cannot be seen clearly. Is it suppose to be like this? Lastly, whenever I try to do some changes on the quick set up or mangement, the web browser keep saying that they detected error on the webpage and will just exit by itself. Do you have similar experience? I do really hope that you can give me some head up, as I'm a first time user for this and the reason i bought it, is just to let my wife view our newborn over her Iphone as & when she wants. But the image is just so bad, unless we place our baby about 5cm infront of the camera, she then will be able to have a better image. Please help, I intended to get another brand with a better resolution.... Please help and advice. Furthermore, possible if you can post some image taken by your Aztech WIPC401 for me to compare??? please......

The User Manual does not mention this, but there is a focus ring on the lens that allow you to adjust the focus. If you are familiar with photography, you will know that you need to focus the lens of the camera to get a sharp image. In the old days prior to the use of auto-focus, photographers have to manual turn the focus ring to get a sharp image.

On the WIP401, the focus ring is on the camera. You can turn it clockwise and anti-clockwise until you get a sharp image. The image distance from the lens may vary, so you need to try to get the usual point of view into focus.

Here's an example of my daugher's drawing, with the WIP401 focus ring turned such that it gets an out-of-focus (OOF) image:

Here's the same image, but with the focus adjusted to get a sharp image:

 

[Macrossvin]

Hi Dr. Archer,
thanks for your advice. I have just went to Fuwell to change a new set. Hopefully it will work well. Btw I have a friend whom always like to use his nick as Archer.... By any chance are u from the Singapore Air force?

 

[Dr_ARCHer]

Hi Dr. Archer,
thanks for your advice. I have just went to Fuwell to change a new set. Hopefully it will work well. Btw I have a friend whom always like to use his nick as Archer.... By any chance are u from the Singapore Air force?

Nope. My ARCHer nick is an acronymn.