Technical Details

Let’s take a look at the specs first and foremost. The system overall can operate away from the security cameras at around 135 meters, or about 450 feet! The cameras and receivers can operate effectively in temperatures ranging anywhere from 14 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The camera operates with a CMOS motion sensor and captures video footage in 640 x 480 pixels. The camera unit itselfs dimensions range from 2.8 x 7.4 x 7.7′ including antenna and shader, and weigh exactly 0.9 pounds. Although the receivers resolution comes in at 640 x 480, this will allow viewing at around 10 fps (frames per second), or you can also select the option in the settings of your receiver to view at 320 x 240 pixels to raise the fps level up to around 25 fps.

An Entire Wireless Security Camera System Ready To Go Now!

When you open up the box, you’re going to find the LCD monitor, receiver, and the remote control for these devices. There’s two wireless security cameras complete with stands and all of the hardware needed to mount them in any location that you want, or there are stands that come with them as well if you prefer to simply place a camera on a table or other flat surface. There’s also three power adapters to plug them in, and although you can upgrade to a 16 GB memory card, there’s a 2 GB SD card included. The two included wireless security cameras aren’t all that heavy at just shy of a pound each, but they’re clearly built to withstand some abuse with their metal weatherproof casing and can be placed outside safely in all but the most unreasonable weather conditions as an outdoor security camera.

Highest Video and Recording Among Leading Wireless Security Camera Systems

The picture quality on these is really nice at 640x 480 pixels. Even with a lower FPS rate that fluctuates around 10 – 15 at the highest video settings, the video has nice and accurate color. You can clearly make out facial features and any minor movements made on screen. One of the greatest features of the video on this security camera due to its multi functionality as an indoor or outdoor security camera is its night vision. Not only as I stated above will it allow you to see in total darkness up to around 40 feet or so, but you don’t even need to configure it to change over, because it’s onboard sensor will detect lighting conditions and switch over to night vision on its own. Even when there’s a complete lack of light, the night vision truly makes it look like daytime in black and white, allowing you to see detailed footage no matter what kind of lighting is available.

Besides being able to view the video streaming live, this home security camera will store up to 2 GB worth of footage, which can be expanded to 16 GB with a better SD card.

View Your Home Security Camera System Feed Through Discreet Picture Frame Receiver

By far one of my favorite features of this versus other home security camera systems is the faux picture frame video monitor which allows you to keep an eye on the cameras at all times. This 7 inch wireless LCD monitor comes with a stand so that you can set it on a table or wherever else there’s a flat surface and power outlet, or there’s also a solid wall mount included with all the needed hardware to place it on a wall anywhere in the house. This video monitor acts as the wireless receiver, allowing you to view the video being captured anytime.

Since this package includes two home security cameras, you can choose to view both cameras at once in a split screen, or on “switching mode” which will cycle through the full screen images of both of them. Although the package includes two security cameras, the home security system network these Lorex devices are a part of is expandable up to four cameras, and you can do the same thing as with the split screen between two by turning on “quad mode”, so that you’re able to watch all four at once.

You can set the receiver to to display streaming video from the cameras at all time if you like, or can set it up to act as a nonchalant digital picture viewer on the wall like many people have. The receiver comes preloaded with five different generic pictures that it will cycle through until you opt to check the cameras via the remote, or you can program the picture frame to display the live video stream when triggered from the motion detectors. This is an excellent way to keep up the frame in a common area of your home to keep an eye on it, but not have a live video feed of your front porch and backyard displayed all the time.

Two-way Speaker and Microphone Home Security System Feature

Another one of my favorite features that a home security camera can have is two-way audio exchange. This is a great feature that makes this an ideal setup for someone such as an elderly person who spends most of their time in a chair and can’t make it to the door quickly. You can simply mount the receiver on a nearby wall or place it on its stand on a side table, and with the two-way audio, the homeowner can see live video of who is at the door and even ask what it is that they want. Or if you’re just lazy like me, place it at your front door so you can see if it’s worth walking 30 feet, or can make up what you’re doing condition you’re in with no way of the other person knowing. Telling someone you don’t care to see that you’re really sick and bed ridden while sitting on your couch just fine has never felt sweeter, trust me.

Advanced Motion Detection

The motion detection on the Lorex SD9 is great as well, utilizing CMOS active pixel sensor technology. This is the latest kind of motion detection technology as far as wireless security camera systems are concerned, which operate by making every pixel in the frame into an integrated circuit which each act as tiny motion sensors themselves. The motion detection can be turned on and off easily using the remote through the receiver, so that you can for instance turn motion detecting on at night and leave it off during the day, when you expect a lot of motion to be taking place. Although video can be set to record for specified periods of time or at certain times of day, the motion detection can also be used as a trigger to begin recording.

Simple and User Friendly Home Security Systems Software

The included user interface on the receiver couldn’t be simpler. This is a great advantage to those who aren’t too great with technology, as you get to bypass the process of installing and messing with the settings on your computer if you aren’t very good with technical details. The interface menu is very user friendly, using a simple icon based on screen menu. The icons are large, simple, and self explanatory. One will say “record” with a large camera icon, another with settings and a gear and wrench image, and so forth. Anyone should be perfectly capable of having the entire process figured out after a few minutes of playing around with it and pressing buttons. It’s almost glaringly simple.

Besides all that, as I already stated there’s the ability to expand to a home security system of four cameras under this one receiver. The receiver itself can also be connected to a TV or computer/laptop monitor and viewed through that. Hmm, semi valid excuse to expand to a three monitor setup?

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Features Summary

• Built in PIR Motion Detector with CMOS for precise motion detection
• Sturdy, one pound Cameras protected with a metal waterproof casing
• Crisp 640 x 480 video footage at 10 – 25 FPS
• Built in, two-way microphone and speaker system with capability to relay audio at camera and receiver location
• 7 inch color wireless LCD monitor which can act as a digital picture frame when not streaming video
• 2GB (expandable up to 16GB) micro SD card for video footage recording
• Lighting conditions sensor which triggers auto night vision
• View streaming video feed with quad video mode or single full screen
• Expandable security camera system up to four under one receiver
• Receiver connects to TV or PC/laptop monitors for expandable viewing
• Trigger security cameras to record at specific times, days, or via motion detection

Thankfully, a friend of mine in the business announced to me that D-link was going to be releasing a new line of home security cameras that was a really great bang for the buck and offered up a lot of awesome features. With a somewhat saturated market, do it yourself or DIY home security systems offering nothing new under the sun don’t last long on the shelves.

The D-link DCS 932L Day and Night Wireless Home Security Camera stands out in more ways than one from the competition. Besides its relatively low price, you have a host of features right out of the box, from simple installation that won’t take more than a few minutes to the ability to view live footage of what the camera is currently viewing at any time. These home security cameras make a great and low cost addition to an already functioning home security system, or can be used individually for other specific purposes. Moving them around takes no time either, as the DCS 932L is extremely lightweight and can be positioned on any flat surface at a moments notice.

Installation and Setup

The D-link DCS 932L is a security camera which clearly places emphasis on simplicity as part of its appeal, and the installation/setup is no different in this regard. D-link promises that it should take no more than three easy steps or so before your home security camera is set up and ready to begin using. I can confirm that the setup and installation of software is pretty simple, and even those who typically dread fiddling with technology shouldn’t have any trouble getting their camera functioning properly.

Pulling it out of the box, you’ll see the different components you have at your disposal. Of course there is the camera itself, along with its power adapter. There’s an ethernet cord included as well, which can be plugged into the back of the security camera and connect directly to your home internet. If you have WiFi however, the device can be connected wirelessly through the router. You simply have to follow the instructions laid out very clearly (with pictures too!) from the setup wizard and you’ll have it going in no time. Once you see that the green light on the front of the camera has turned on, you’ll know that it’s established a wireless connection.

Remote Viewing – Check in on Your Home Security Cameras At Any time

Just about every home security system with security cameras offers the ability to view them remotely. D-link is no different in this regard, offering this feature through their access point at mydlink.com.

Once you’ve established an internet connection through your security camera, you can use the setup wizard to select the camera that you want to add to your dlink account. You’ll go through the process of setting up an admin ID and a password to access the security cameras remotely. Generally this won’t take more than 5 – 10 minutes if you’ve had any basic experience with computers before.

Once you’re connected, you should see the live video feed right through your browser instantly.

Web interface and D-link Features

The web interface included with the D-link software is really intuitive and should be pretty easy to navigate for anyone, even if you’ve never had any experience with a security camera systems control interface.

The “D-viewCam” software, according to d-link themselves, is developed for the monitoring of multiple security cameras at one time, whether you’re in a home or business setting. A lot of software designed with security cameras for your home in mind will only allow a smaller amount of security devices to belong to the same network at one time, but the D-viewCam software allows for up to 32 separate security cameras to be operated from a single instance of the software! This is larger than almost any other wireless home security systems allowance, which might be important if you have a large property or intend to set these cameras up at your place of business, where there could be a variety of places for someone to break in or commit an illegal act that you’d want to have recorded.

All that’s required to view your home security cameras through the D-ViewCam software is to load it onto your computer and log in using your user name and password. Unfortunately you do have to load this software on to any computer you want to utilize its features through, although you can still view the live video itself from any browser.

What kind of features does the D-link security monitoring software provide?

Motion Detection – The D-link DCS 932L is a motion detection security camera, meaning that it does have the ability to monitor for motion. Upon picking up on any motion that’s taken place, you can set up the software to provide you with notifications and alerts of what has taken place, including sending you via Email images of what has taken place immediately following the triggering event.

Recorded video – The D-ViewCam software also lets you record video straight to your computer’s hard drive, including the ability to set up your security cameras to record upon the triggering of its motion detection. The recorded video can also be recorded directly to your D-ViewCam account via a Network Attached Storage Device (also known as NAS) which can then be viewed from any computer or device with an internet browser. This makes it possible to see what your security systems have recorded while you weren’t there, should any unwarranted motion take place.

Set Recording Schedules for Flexible Home Security Monitoring – Maybe you don’t want to have to have all of the footage taken for days on end taking up space on your hard drive, which many people understandably don’t. Maybe there’s only certain times of the day that you know your home security monitoring is especially essential, or maybe you just want to make sure the neighbor comes by to feed the dog at the right time while you’re gone on vacation. You can use the user interface to set up video recording at specific times of the day, which can then be downloaded and viewed at a later time.

Night Vision/LED Lights

The D-link DCS 932L doesn’t only allow you to keep an eye on things during the day, however.

The front of the DCS 932L comes equipped with a number of built in infrared LED sensors which will practically illuminate a completely dark room for you without the knowledge of anyone who might be in that room. Night vision security cameras are always a toss up, as you can never be sure how well the camera is actually going to perform under extremely dark conditions.

Thankfully, the night vision on the DSC 932L works just as advertised, and the picture remains fairly clear even in total darkness. Many night vision security cameras who claim to have decent night vision capabilities often turn out giving you grainy, blurry, distorted images which barely provide any visual information.

There is the expectation of some distortion with any night vision technology in complete darkness unless you’re willing to spend top dollar, but I’m happy to report that the image looks much better than I would have expected at the relatively low price point of this particular camera. Even up to a distance of 16 feet, images shrouded in darkness remain visible enough to make out facial features or other important details.

Due to its capabilities of remaining discreet in the dark, you could also use the D-link DCS 932L as a very effective baby monitoring camera.

View Any of Your Security Cameras Through the Mobile Application

Any wireless home security systems available these days who want to stay competitive offer a mobile application which allows you to view any of the security cameras on your home security systems network, and those offered by D-link are no different.

The mobile application offered by D-link is available through both the Iphone app store and the android market too, so you’re covered regardless of what smart phone you may be using. After seeing both in action, there isn’t any advantage to one versus the other, as the interface for both is practically identical.

I’ve had experience with a number of user interfaces provided by the included software for home security monitoring, and some have been a downright mess. Although the D-link interface isn’t the most attractive in the world, it functions well and does exactly what you’d expect, and this goes for the mobile application’s interface too.

As with any other mobile app which allows you to remotely view your home security cameras on the go, the amount of features and capabilities available to you is a lot more limited than when using the full version of the software on your PC, but most basic functions remain intact.

You’re able to do the basics of course, like viewing live streaming video, and can take a snapshot of what’s currently being displayed as well. You can also see a display of statistics under “list” which frame rate, bit rate, and resolution. There’s also the option to view live video in “full screen” mode, if you need to hone in on something just a little more. I can’t imagine anyone would be able to or wish to do much more than offered through the web app.

My only real gripe about it however is that while there’s a button available to capture a single image, there isn’t an available option through the web application to schedule or begin recording video. It seems to me that this would be one of the most basic options, because if you’re viewing the live video feed through your mobile phone and something is taking place immediately that you would want recorded, you’re out of luck. This is a pretty big oversight in my opinion, because clearly if I’m using the mobile application, I don’t currently have access to a PC, or else I would simply be viewing the footage through the browser. Maybe we’ll see this added in a future update to the app, which would “complete” it in my opinion.

Listen to What Your Home Security Systems Hear And See at the Same Time

The D-link DCS 932L doesn’t only provide video footage, however. It also features a small microphone that picks up audio in the security monitoring area as well.

The audio quality does leave a little to be desired, though. For the most part, you’ll hear what’s going on and as long as it’s not in whispers you should be able to make out normal speech and sounds out without too much difficulty. The sound is reminiscent of some of the more old school computer headsets or web cams, which if you’re familiar with should give you an idea of what’s in store as far as the audio quality. It isn’t crystal clear, especially from far away, but it’s far more than many other home security cameras can provide, many of which don’t feature audio features. The ability to monitor sound makes it more of an attractive option for monitoring children too, as you might not always be able to see an emergency (especially in the dark, despite night vision capabilities) as well as you’re able to hear one taking place. The sweet sound of peace and quiet from your child’s crib at night can provide peace of mind exceeding that of outdated baby monitors.

The D-link DCS 932L Day and Night Wireless Home Security Camera makes a pretty great standalone camera or part of an entire home security camera system. Whether you want a hidden security camera or spy camera for home to peak on your kids when you’re at work, check on employees while out of the office, or make sure the house is safe while on vacation, this model makes a fairly priced option which gives you a lot of features in a small package.

Features Summary

• Remote view your live video stream through the web interface at mydlink.com, or through D-links user interface D-ViewCam.
• Simple setup in three quick steps means that you’ll have your new home security camera up and running in minutes.
• Mobile application from D-link allows you to view live streaming video through your Iphone or Android smart phone.
• Connect your home security systems to the internet via ethernet cable or wirelessly through your homes router.
• Night vision capabilities provided by infrared LED lights allow you to see up to 16 feet in total darkness while remaining a completely hidden security camera.
• Capable of motion detection. Specific zones in the cameras view can be set to watch for motion, and sensitivity to motion can be adjusted on a percentage basis, reducing false alarms.
• Microphone affixed to the camera unit picks up audio in the surroundings as well as video.
• Set up Email alerts through your D-link account which will send you an alert if a specific event programmed by you is triggered, such as motion detection recognition.
• Schedule video recordings to take place at times of your choosing, which can be downloaded directly to your hard drive or to a network attached storage device (NAS) which can be accessed from anywhere providing internet access.
• Protect your video recordings and access to remote viewing through administration/user password protection.
• Make the DCS 932L part of an existing home security system, or begin your own with it. D-ViewCam home security monitoring software supports a total of 32 security cameras on a single network at one time!

Design and Physical Features of the Home Security Cameras

One of the first qualities I noticed after pulling the Logitech 750e out of the packaging was its large, sturdy size. In today’s world of small hidden security cameras and spy cameras for home that are tiny enough to fit in just about any little nook or cranny you can imagine, this kind of security camera system can surprise you a little bit, but not in a bad way at all.

Due to the fact that this is an outdoor security camera, the entire camera itself is encased in a rather large waterproof housing unit. This causes the weight of the camera to be around 20 ounces or so, which is just over a pound. Although this does make it seem pretty lightweight, (and compared to many old school security cameras, it certainly is!) compared to its indoor model which weighs in at around 5 ounces it’s a heavier camera for today. This is precisely what we would expect in an outdoor security camera, however.

On the backside of the camera is an ethernet connection, which is located under a metal panel that requires a screwdriver to remove. You’ll quickly notice that all of the housing itself is very solid and designed to keep the camera inside safe in just about any weather conditions. I’m fairly confident that this camera could survive some pretty serious weather conditions, so I don’t believe living in hurricane or tornado country will render your outdoor security cameras useless or at least unusable for fear of destruction.

Along with the camera of course comes some very solid mounting hardware that can be placed just about anywhere. All of the brackets and whatnot that you’ll need to get it hooked up outside are included, and by the feeling of the mounted hardware you shouldn’t have any kind of issues with the mounting brackets being loose or “wobbly” in any way. It’s extremely sturdy which again, depending on your location, can make a big difference if local weather conditions pose a risk to anything outdoors which hasn’t been specifically addressed.

Simple and Innovative Setup

The Logitech Alert 750e Isn’t a wireless security camera, but due to the system Logitech employs this isn’t even an issue as long as you have a free outlet in the vicinity.

As mentioned above, setting the camera up in terms of mounting it to a wall or other outdoor location is pretty quick and painless with the included brackets and mounting hardware. Seeing as this is a home security camera with recording and remote viewing capabilities, you’d assume that you might be in for quite a hassle when it comes to setting up the internet connections and whatnot, right? This might be the case with older models that require a cable connection, but its actually about as easy as setting up wireless security camera systems.

Instead of requiring a direct cable connection to your router, the 750e uses a system of two “powerline adapters”. Essentially, one half of this setup is a wireless adapter that plugs directly into your router. This adapter transmits a wireless signal to the other half which plugs into a wall outlet, turning any of your normal power outlets into an ethernet port. The other end of the cable is plugged directly into your camera outdoors, which is where it draws its power in addition to allowing you to view the camera feed via your mobile smartphone or from any browser.

All of this is explained in the very quick and painless setup process on your PC, which utilizes a simple setup wizard that pretty much holds your hand through the short process and comes complete with picture/graphical aids to show you exactly how things should look and function. In less than 15 minutes you can have the system up and running, including the time taken for the cameras software to update, which it will do automatically once plugged into the wall adapter.

Included Software and Alternatives

The included software (known as “Logitech Alert Commander”) is actually pretty nice, and comes with a number of features. The setup wizard will guide you through this part of the setup as well, so you shouldn’t have any technical issues. The software has the capability to view and control six different cameras at once, all of which don’t even need to be the same model. Any of Logitechs security camera systems and devices in the same line of products as the 750e Outdoor Master are compatible with the software and can all be remotely accessed at the same time, which is a great feature if you plan to expand your outdoor security camera systems or even are unsure about doing so yet, as you can always add on with any of Logitechs other products. I doubt very much that you would have trouble finding just about anything you’d need that was compatible.

One unfortunate aspect of this system however is that while you can view the feed live at anytime from anywhere with your browser or mobile phone, in order to view recorded video or have total control over the camera you’ll have to pay a yearly fee of 80 dollars to access the Logitech Web Alert Viewer. This is additional software that provides you with these added features, but there is a simple way to get around it. Using free software such as LogMeIn or Teamviewer, as long as you leave your home PC running you can access your desktop from another PC or mobile phone where you can log into Logitech Alert Commander just as you would from that home PC. Its a shame you have to actually do it, but its as simple as a workaround as you’re probably going to find, and it doesn’t cost a thing.

Image Quality/Resolution

The image quality is some of the best I’ve seen in modern security cameras, owing to the cameras onboard high definition recording capabilities. The resolution is a very crisp 960 x 720, and at around 15 frames per second, you can make out facial features or even license plate numbers from a pretty large distance away. With a lot of rapid movement, you’ll sometimes see a little bit of a “ghosting” effect following the target, but this is very fast to dissipate and the picture quality becomes instantly flawless once movement is ceased. In addition, the 750e includes a wide angle lens that spans 132 degrees, which is perfect for outdoors where you might have a large amount of ground to monitor. This can really help save costs for you in the end if you decide to set up a security camera system for the entire perimeter of your property, since the large space covered will reduce the need for as many standard security cameras which may have been required otherwise.

The night vision on these models are excellent as well, making use of modern infrared technology seeing as outdoor security cameras don’t have the benefit of good lighting during evening hours. In complete darkness the image quality is still decent enough to make out facial features and any other essential details. Someone could literally be feet from the camera at night without having any idea that it was there staring them in the face.

Sound quality is also excellent, allowing you to hear even the quietest of sounds from a fairly formidable distance. A person creeping around your property at nights whispers would be audible and with good sound quality, even out of range to know that he was in the presence of an outdoor security camera at all.

Innovative Motion Detection Capabilities For Modern Outdoor Security Camera

Many models of modern home security cameras have had the ability to detect motion over a monitoring area, but the truly customizable motion detection system included by Logitech allows you to truly control this aspect of its software. Most other home security camera systems that feature motion detection have the ability to sense and trigger specific events or actions when motion is detected. For instance the Panasonic C230A, which I’ve also reviewed here, can activate and send images of the detected motion to your mobile phone or email inbox, keeping you updated at all times the moment something takes place in your monitoring area. The 750e Outdoor Master has the functionality to do the same, but actually takes it a step further.

Although it’s a great feature to have your home security cameras send you an alert when it detects motion, you might not be concerned about motion at certain locations at certain times, or at certain locations whatsoever. For instance, you may have an outdoor security camera facing out your back door that your children or other people are expected to be in and out of throughout the day, but would not expect someone to be moving around in its range in the middle of the night. Thanks to Logitechs ability to customize your motion detection, you an actually specify times of day that a camera will be triggered for any number of actions, such as triggering an alert to you and to begin recording when it detects that motion in the middle of the night. You can even take your customization further by setting up specific locations in the cameras range of view that are motion detection monitored by simply drawing a square or rectangle directly on the user interface of the video feed.

This capability also extends to any other security cameras compatible with the Logitech software, allowing you to completely automate the motion detection settings on all of your home security cameras. This is one of the biggest issues involved in motion detection for many other models – No one wants to have to adjust the settings on each camera every single day, so a lot of people will forgo this hassle and simply avoid this feature of their own cameras. With the 750e, you can really utilize the available technology to its fullest potential which is an important factor for myself.

At its price point, the Logitech Alert 750e Outdoor Master ranks highly among options for outdoor security cameras. Set at a very reasonable price range for the amount of advanced user friendly features included, this device is solid option to add to an existing or start your own outdoor security camera system.

Features Summary

-Quick, hassle free setup
-Highly customizable and automated motion detection
-Crisp, clear images that remain high quality whether in daylight or complete darkness
-Adjustable email and mobile alerts
-Can record with your PC turned off with its onboard 2GB hard drive
-Simple solution to wiring hassles
-Remote view from any location with your browser or mobile phone, even without the yearly fee
-Excellent inbound sound quality
-Expandable software with capability to view and control up to six home security cameras remotely

For whatever purpose you may have for them, spy cameras for home or elsewhere (or simply hidden security cameras if you’re not exactly using them as “hidden spy cameras“) can be useful for keeping an eye on our things and loved ones. Of course, this is generally the primary reason one buys their own security cameras for home. Whether they be spy cameras for home or your business, you want to take that extra measure for peace of mind.

Well, whether you’re spying on your kids or their babysitter or perhaps just want some nice security cameras for business to keep an on eye on a questionable employee, the Panasonic BL-C230A is an awesome model to rely on for both! It’s small, discreet, takes excellent video and photo, can be viewed remotely, etc. I could go on and on.. and don’t worry, I will!

A Discreet and Easily Hidden Security Camera

One of the first aspects of this camera that was very apparent to me was the size and potential stealthiness of it. It’s almost cute. You could put it in on a bookshelf, to the side of a doodad on the table, over the mantelpiece above the fireplace, etc. without it being noticed without some pretty keen eyes. Even if they were to see it, many people probably wouldn’t think twice about what it was anyway. Its actual dimensions are around 3″ x 3″ x 3 1/4″ or so (give or take) to give you an idea of just how small it really is. It has a glossy white finish to it and for comparison really reminds me of something Apple could have made based on the look and feel if you’re familiar with their products.

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Another great feature that I didn’t even notice right away was the “privacy button” located on top. This is a nifty change from previous models which allows you to tap this button which will then stop the camera from sending images. It looks sort of like a snooze button on an alarm clock. Once you tap the button once to command the BL-C230A to cease capturing video or images the green light on top will turn red, and then back to green again to indicate it has begun capturing images once again.

Simple to Set Up Wireless Security Camera Systems

Easily one of the best security camera systems, and for being one of the best “spy cameras for home“, it was surprisingly simple to get started with and watching the live feed right there on my browser. Security camera systems can be tricky to setup for those who have never done it, especially if it has cables that have to be hooked up. Thankfully, the BL-C230A is a model of wireless security cameras. Wireless security camera systems are far easier to connect than normal security camera systems, as they generally only need a minute or two to “search” for a connection to your network. Once its been found you can connect automatically or following the entry of the password to your WiFi. The BL-C230A certainly makes a point of mentioning its plug and play capability, and this has certainly held true for myself in my experience with it.

Another awesome feature I had come to find out about later as well is that this cameras feed can be hooked up to your television monitor as well! Unfortunately, I couldn’t watch my own feed in this way as my television didn’t have the capability because to do so requires a Panasonic Viera model television. Kind of a bummer if like myself you don’t have one, but if you already happen to own a Viera this feature could bring you to the point where you might just about be convinced.

Hidden Security Cameras Which Feature Excellent Picture Quality Under Various Conditions

“You get what you pay for”: a lesson we’ve all probably had to learn ourselves one time or another to truly understand, and the supreme picture quality that the BL-C230A brings with it reinforces that ageless maxim. Compared with most small wireless security cameras, the BL-C230A truly delivers remarkable color and picture quality that’s hard to believe for such a small, unobtrusive little device. How is this possible? The BL-C230A uses a compression method, which is a term for the way in which a file (in this case captured video or images) is stored, known as H.264. This format allows for far more storage space, as the previous (yet still available and supported with this model) compression type known as MPEG-4 took up around 30% or so more space than the lean and mean H.264 format. You can set the camera to stop taking images and record video once its full or to delete the oldest data in order to make space for the new, but this won’t be nearly as much of a concern with this model.

While you can definitely view your all of your wireless security cameras remotely without the included software, I would suggest installing it anyway. There are some interface and remote viewing controls which will only be able to be used under the included software, although the browser based view includes most of the basics. Zooming in and out, the ability to view multiple home security cameras at once across your entire security camera system, and so on are available only through the software. This need not be looked down upon as a negative though, as the software is very simple to get up and running and arguably more so than trying to work through your browser.

While this isn’t flawless in terms of home security cameras which have excellent night vision, I certainly cannot complain about its abilities. Night vision capabilities boast a “color night view mode”, which will automatically adjust camera brightness settings to accommodate the lighting conditions where it’s recording. If you’re in a dimly lit area, the light will saturate subjects far more than a brightly lit room in the middle of the day. In near complete darkness the BL-C230A tends to become a little grainier and hard to see, so I wouldn’t count on keeping it somewhere you need sharp video footage with all the lights out.

Despite any shortcomings in regard to darkness, in comparison with many wireless security camera systems this one in particular performs extremely well and even has features to automatically face these issues if they should arise in it’s viewing area. In the settings you can toggle the cameras function to do this on and off if you have reason to do so.

Utilize Hidden Spy Cameras Remote Control Through Web Interface

Much like just about any and all wireless security cameras worth buying these days, the BL-C230A allows for remote viewing of your cameras live feed from anywhere in the world that you can locate an Internet connection. You simply log in to your web browser and you begin begin viewing the streaming video anywhere, including your smart phone! Through the web interface there are a number of functions you have control over, including of course the ability to not only pan around and tilt up and down, but this hidden security camera also has the ability to zoom in and out, and focusing on a new subject or location is as effortless as clicking there on the screen. You can place the camera to pan back and forth as well, setting up a decent sized perimeter. Despite the small stature of the device, it has a shockingly large wide screen view which together with its ability to pan gives its vision a long reach.

Speaking of the web interface, not only can it support wireless security camera systems of up to 16 different kinds of home security cameras, but it’s somewhat unique in that you can choose to view each cameras streaming video at many different sizes or resolutions, all the way up to the point of being full screen with a single camera which is a feature that isn’t very commonplace. Whilst choosing which video feed you’re going to be viewing, you can toggle on and off the streaming/recording of audio as well. On the bottom left hand side of the face, the BL-C230A has a small microphone which can relay audio to you as well as alerting an audio trigger or alarm.

Three-way Sensing Technology Ensures Your Wireless Spy Camera Won’t Miss Anything

In my opinion, one of the greatest functions home security cameras and home security camera systems in general can provide is the ability to alert you about changes in the environment when they occur and provide information to you about what those changes are. Some of the more cheap mini spy cameras out there probably won’t have any sort of ability like this, while higher priced security cameras for your home more than likely have some sort of trigger that will command the hidden security cameras to begin recording video, audio, picture stills, etc.

Unlike most however, the BL-C230A takes it even a step further than most reasonably priced home security cameras with three different variables that it can track and alert you should they be triggered. Using some sophisticated motion detection technology, this camera can be alerted by motion, sound, and even body heat. The infrared body heat detection system works excellent, picking up any new body heat detected in the home security monitoring zone that you establish. This also applies to any motion or sound detected as well. If you’re concerned about only one of these factors for whatever reason, the alert can be programmed to only be set for specified kinds of stimuli. It can even be preprogrammed to activate specific sensors at specific times of day. This can come in very handy if you’re not going to be home to change preferences, but expect certain types of (or lack of) activity at certain times of day but do not at others. Instead of foregoing setting up the alerts at all or simply dealing with the large amount of “false alarms” you might get, you can have your hidden security cameras preferences tailored directly to your needs any hour of the day without even having to be there.

Once a certain noise threshold has been crossed or body heat/motion detected, you can set your security camera system to inform you via email, your phone, PC, etc. which will include an image captured of what was happening in the moment changes in the environment were detected. You’ll receive a series of still shots which have the option of being downloaded in batches of 10 or 100. You can also set the camera to email a single still image to you at specific times of day, which can be useful if you have a vacation home or other far away residence that you can’t physically keep an eye on at all times.

Whether it be mini spy cameras for home or hidden security cameras intended to catch someone red handed, the BL-C230A is hard to beat on number of features alone in such a small and discreet package.

Features summary:

*Easy to setup and manage wireless connection
*Three separate sensors with the ability to detect motion, sound, and body heat
*Automatically adjusts brightness settings based on light conditions
*Simple plug and play installation
*Blends seamlessly with most home or business furniture or doodads
*View and operate remotely from any Internet connection
*H.264 compression format, resulting in higher quality videos which take up less space
*On board memory along with ability to forward images and video

Changes From the Previous Wireless Security Camera Systems Unit

I’ve owned the previous model in the past (the Foscam FI8908W), so I have reference for comparison in this overview. That being said, I must say that I enjoy the look and feel of this model more than the older one. Not a ton has changed; you can tell that the newer models base is definitely a bit larger and sturdier feeling, making the camera a bit more solid and “bulkier” feeling which is actually nice. The microphone hole (which used to be on the sphere containing the camera in the old model) has been moved onto the base. My favorite change to the design however goes to switching the blinking LED light to the BACK of the camera instead of on the face! Hard to believe nobody considered the difficulty of keeping a blinking camera hidden. Such a simple engineering task that makes such a big difference in customer satisfaction.. I’m certainly not the first consumer to gripe about this issue in the old model.

Simple Wireless Setup

These are a cinch to get started up and running for just about anyone, even if you’ve never owned a video camera of any kind. If you’re experienced at all with these sorts of things you could probably get by without even using the included quick installation guide. If electronics are a hurdle for you, the guide even includes screenshots and pictures of how to set everything up, This includes adding the camera to an existing home or business network as well as using the free DNS services that let you view the cameras from any computer or smartphone.

If you’re concerned about setting the camera up wirelessly, this is simple as well. All I had to do was scan for a wireless network and put in my network security code and it was all set. Viewing on the cameras web interface is pretty nice as well, and I didn’t even have to install the included software in order to do so through my browser. If you’re tech savvy you can set up the software to view up to 9 different security cameras at one time, which leads to of course mentioning that the cameras network is expandable up to a total of nine cameras if you’re looking to have an impenetrable fortress of defense. These nine (or less) cameras can each individually be viewed and controlled using the remote viewing feature on any computer or smart phone.

Speaking of that blinking LED earlier.. the web interface now also includes an option to turn it on and off! Another simple feature that doesn’t change everything, but gives you a smile to find. Now only is it not on the face of the camera any longer, but it doesn’t need to be there at all anymore if you’d prefer.

Great Quality in Both Light and Darkness

You won’t be able to make out someones eye color with the quality of this camera, but for the price you really cannot beat it. Streaming video comes in at an excellent 30 FPS (Frames per second). Picture quality isn’t bad at all either. Faces and other details can be made out easily, and although colors are a little saturated and washed out (think pre Iphone/Droid quality cell phone picture) if you really need much better color accuracy for some reason you should expect to pay a bit more. The color doesn’t detract from the functionality of the camera altogether at all, however.

The FI8918W includes 11 infrared LED lights on its face surrounding the camera lens which allow viewing in total darkness up to 8 meters with the picture remaining pretty clear. With decent lighting the picture quality is excellent though. When panning around with the camera lens you’ll notice the FPS drop down to 10 – 15 or so but will quickly return to normal. Images look great especially in normal lighting though, and especially when the camera lens is stationary.

You can take your picture quality even a step further though with the shutter speed settings feature. If you’re streaming/recording video in low low/darkness, there’s a 60hz setting to accommodate this. Medium/decent lighting has a 50hz setting, and if you’re using the camera outdoors during the day around 40hz or lower is your best bet. Even with these options, you can leave it around medium and let the automatic light sensor make changes to optimize for lighting. Unfortunately, shutter speed is not one that can be auto corrected for light.

Video and Image Remote Control And Wireless Security Monitoring

As stated earlier, you can view and remotely control up to nine of these at once. This is great if you have a large area to view or simply want every nook and cranny covered of your home or business.

If you’re a smart phone user like myself using either an Iphone or Android device, there are applications available that support remote viewing of your wireless security cameras directly from your phone. This means you could be on the other side of the country checking up on your home in real time directly from your phone. Directly through any browser as well on any computer with an internet connection you have the ability to view and control any of your nine home security cameras. The browser and smart phone application both have a number of options to remotely control the camera view. You can pan up and down to the point of going from the ceiling to the floor, and can adjust the speed at which the camera will pan as well. The faster you’re moving the lens the lower your FPS will appear of course, although it never is reduced to the point of becoming a slide show.

The smart phone application doesn’t come with all of the features of the browser unfortunately, but for viewing remotely on the fly anywhere you find yourself with your phone is pretty amazing in itself. The “swipe-to-pan” method used to pan with your phone is admittedly a ton of fun. The browser comes standard with a lot of features, including the ability to toggle the audio in/out off and on, toggle the infrared LED’s on and off, as well as whether to begin or stop recording video. If set up for the task,  recorded video can then be emailed to you or saved on a server of your choosing.

You can even set up the motion detector feature to activate emailing a series of emails to yourself and four other recipients featuring images of what was taking place in the moments following motion detection. You’ll receive an email containing a number of images of the recorded movement, and can even have the light set to turn on prompted by detected movement.

Final Comments

Anything else worth mentioning? I could probably go on about this particular cameras features, but I’ll spare you.

Whether you’re new to remotely viewable and wireless home security cameras or seem to have a never complete collection of them to play with, this model can satisfy just about anyone in any price range. In one camera you’ve got the ability to remotely view from anywhere with an internet connection, monitor with decent image quality in any lighting conditions, record video and audio simultaneously, and that’s not even everything. This is a very affordable but formidable piece of equipment for anyone to consider for their expanding home security camera systems.

Technical Details

* Will work fine on all standard browsers, Wi-Fi simple to connect
* Remotely view from anywhere, record from anywhere anytime, automatic alert when movement detected via email or image uploaded to an FTP server
* Remote control pan and tilt functions from any browser or smart phone, Easily toggle the Infrared LED on/off
* Automatic Infrared LED illumination for use in total darkness and outdoors (up to 8 meters)
* Easy to configure, excellent image and video quality, reciprocating-direction audio monitoring

Security cameras for your home have advanced in ways these days that people from back in the day are astonished. Many of us take it for granted since technological advances have been increasing at such a fast pace all around us for the majority of our lives, but the ability to keep our families and loved ones safe at all times is something that can now be purchased, at least to some extent.

Advanced Home Security Cameras And Security Equipment Made Affordable For All!

Besides the fact that it’s available, it has to be affordable as well. For decades, the idea of having your own home security cameras to monitor your own home was just silly. Only large business chains and extremely wealthy people who actually had legitimate reasons to be concerned for their safety could ever have hoped to own a security camera system of their own at that time in history.

That’s all changed now, thankfully! Home security cameras are extremely affordable for even consumers with a modest income. An entire home security system that monitored the entire property wouldn’t cost much more than a small automobile payment or so for the average person. For such a low cost, you can sleep soundly at night knowing that your loved ones are going to be that much more safe from harm due to the precautions that you have taken.

Changing Perspectives Of Home Security

I know that having your own family can definitely change your perspective on a number of issues, and home security was certainly one of them for me. As a young guy with nobody to worry about but myself, I rarely even locked the front door when I went to sleep at night. Now that I have my own family to worry about though, I’ve invested quite a bit into my own advanced wireless security camera systems, and every penny of it was well spent!

I’ve seen too many horror movies and heard too many tales of home invasions that have taken a horrible turn to not take the precautions that I choose to. Take my word for it and do what you must to keep your family safe, and you’ll see the intangible benefits that you as the guardian of the home receive!

Motion Sensor Lights – Prevent Crime The Cheapest And Easiest Way!

Well that’s where having led flood lights or at the very least some motion sensor lights comes in handy. This is one of the more popular and cheapest ways that you can deter criminals, as they tend to work at night. Believe it or not, for less than $20 you can have outdoor flood lights that will illuminate a huge area, which not only will scare the hell out of anyone trying to creep around your property at night, but will hopefully alert them that you have security camera systems in place as well.

The Dorcy LED Wireless Motion Sensor Flood Lights are what I’ve determined to be the best choice in terms of security lighting to add to your home security camera systems already in place. Yes, you did read correctly when I said it’ll cost you only about $20 dollars, and it actually has a lot more features than you might think for that price.

Wireless Motion Sensor Lights Require Little To No Setup

Like the name implies, Dorcy LED Wireless Motion Sensor Flood Lights are completely wireless, which makes them simple to setup anywhere you want, including outdoors. This motion sensor light is basically weather proof, and can stand up to most typical weather conditions for years without any issues. They’re built a little heavy, and when you feel one in your hands, you can tell that it’s solid.

These outdoor security lights also come with all of the mounting brackets and additional equipment, so you don’t need to be concerned with purchasing anything other than the flood lights themselves to get started. This allows you to hang them basically anywhere you want outdoors, whether it be above your front door or inside a barn.

They also require 3 D batteries to run, which are also included. Although you might imagine running your motion sensor lights on batteries could end up costing you a lot of money over time, you actually won’t end up replacing them more than once a year. 3 D batteries will last even longer than a year in one of these usually, surprising even me.

Auto Timer Keeps Motion Sensor Lights Active Only When Desired

Part of the reason that only three batteries in these LED flood lights will last you for over a year in most cases is that they feature an auto timer which will turn the motion detection functions off for the duration of the daytime. Because of this you won’t have to be concerned with your motion sensor lighting above the front door going off and illuminating nothing all day as people go in and out of the house, resulting in drained batteries after no more than a few months.

LED Flood Lights Illuminate Large Areas

These led flood lights are able to illuminate very large areas whether it be right out the side door of your house or an entire shed or barn. The flood lights by themselves will span a range of around 180 degrees, and will cover an entire area of around 350 feet or so. Placing one of these at the front door will likely light up your entire front yard and driveway, putting anyone coming up on the property at night in a spotlight the entire neighborhood can see, not to mention your home security cameras if the intruder happens to be a little too covered by the night to be identified based on the video footage without the outdoor flood lights present.

Determine How Long Motion Sensor Lights Stay Activated

Besides the fact that the motion sensors will not set off the security lighting throughout the daytime to save you battery life, you also have the option to determine how long the lights are going to stay on when motion is detected. You can change the settings to change the light duration from 30 seconds to 2 minutes based on your needs.

For instance, you might decide to place the outdoor flood lights on your front porch, side door, or other entrances to your home. These you might decide to set for 30 seconds, as you’ll likely pass by them more often than in other places at night and you probably won’t need the light for more time than that. However, you also might want one for your shed, barn, or garage as well so that you don’t need a flash light to see every time you go to one of these at night. These you might determine that you want to stay on for a total of two minutes, as you’re probably going to need more than 30 seconds of light for whatever you may be doing. Ultimately the choice is yours, and you can make arrangements for what fits your needs the greatest.

Brightness Control For Precise Security Lighting

If you haven’t been convinced at this point that these motion sensor lights are optimized to save energy, you should be pushed over the edge by now! If it wasn’t enough that the duration of the flood lights could be controlled and that the auto timer will keep the lights from going off at times of the day that are unnecessary, you can also control just how bright the lights are with a couple of available settings.

This could be useful for you again with the above scenario of the porch lights vs. barn or shed lights. In the case of your entire front yard or driveway, you’ll probably prefer to have them blast as bright and far as possible in order to cover as much of that large area as can be done. In a small shed or a barn though, there’s a finite amount of space to be covered and the brightest setting might just be too much, in which case the lower setting will suit you more for this particular situation.

Making sure that your outdoor home security lighting is set up correctly is essential.

Exterior Security Lighting: As we’ve discussed in the past when it comes to outdoor security cameras and exterior lighting, this kind of technology can act as major crime deterrents. Motion sensor lights which won’t shine their lights until motion is detected are great for this purpose, because whether or not they believe the homeowner is at homeowner is currently within or not, the initial shock of the spot lights announcing to the entire neighborhood that the criminal is present will likely have him heading the other direction.

Interior Security Lighting: Along with having your outdoor security lighting set up for your being away, make sure you have interior lighting programmed to deter criminals as well. What do I mean by this? You can purchase timers for your lights which will set them to turn on and off periodically, whether that be at certain times or every so many hours. This serves an important job of making it appear as if there are people at home going about their daily routines as they normally would. You can do this for televisions, bedrooms, the kitchen, porch lights, etc.

Phones and answering machines: A phone ringing for long periods of time throughout the day with no answer is a sure sign that no one is at home, so either disconnect the thing completely, or set it up to only ring a few times before the answering machine picks up the call.

Home Security Systems: If you currently have an active home security system in place, make sure that it’s armed and will trigger upon any unwanted entry into the house. If you use a professional home security monitoring service, contact them as well to let them know you’ll be out of town for the time being and any emergency numbers that they can reach you at, should any problem arise in your absence.

Contact Neighbors and ask for Assistance: One of the best things you can do for your own home security which won’t cost you a dime is to be close with your neighbors. Even if you aren’t exactly “close” with them, it’s important to establish a trusting relationship that you both know you can trust each other with. In the case that you’ll be leaving town on vacation, you can use this relationship to your advantage by humbly requesting that your neighbor keep an eye on things and look out for any suspicious behavior from people around your property. Agree to always do the same for him and any other neighbors around you, and you can have a solid base of home security surrounding the immediate location in which you live.

Spare Keys and Locks: If you’re the type that keeps spare keys under a doormat or in a nearby location just in case, either take them with you or place them inside during the period that you’re gone. A potential intruder, especially one which believes that the homeowner is currently away, will feel a lot more comfortable snooping around your property looking for these things.

A vehicle in the driveway which comes and goes gives the appearance of someone being home.

Vehicles in the Driveway: An even further advantage to being on good terms with your neighbor is that you can request that he occasionally park his car (or anyone else in the neighbors family) in your driveway to give an appearance of there being people at least coming and going. The neighbor may even welcome the additional parking space for family and friends if a lot of drivers live at the residence.

Cancel any Deliveries or Have the Neighbor Intercept: If you have newspapers, mail, etc. being delivered on a daily or nearly daily basis to your home in a visible location, despite your best efforts to conceal that you’re away, a visible piling up of these kinds of items are a sure sign that no one is home. It’s not difficult to simply cruise down side streets and see a home with five newspapers piling up on the porch! You can either contact your provider and ask that they don’t deliver during the period that you’ll be away, or if you’ve got your groundwork in place with neighbors, request that one of them pick these items up for you and keep them out of view.

Going on vacation should be a time to relieve yourself of stress, not take on even more! Make sure you take the above precautions and that your home security systems are in place, the home security cameras are ready to record, and you’ll be just fine.

Although it used to be the case that only those with a large sum of money at their disposal would have any chance of ever being able to afford their own security cameras for your home, the tide has changed and the average consumer now has these sort of advanced tools at his disposal.

Since in past times the idea had been planted into the average persons mind that security cameras for your home were a luxury item which only the rich could ever afford, people tend to think that they’ll either be too difficult to set up on their own or simply too expensive. Both of these possibilities is going to scare the average person, especially when we’re already learning to make it with the current state of the economy as it already is!

Can One Afford Wireless Home Security Cameras For Your Home On A Low Income?

Of course! Home security cameras aren’t nearly as expensive as they once were. Even though we have the ability to view a live stream of our video camera footage as it’s being recorded directly from the browser on a smart phone, many security cameras for your home aren’t priced too much higher than one hundred dollars or so. Since home security cameras can do so much for your peace of mind, there is no reason to keep stalling!

For those who already live in a neighborhood with a crime rate, you’re going to have to give this even some more serious consideration than those who live in locations that aren’t heavily victimized. The amount of your belongings that you could potentially lose over the course of a single home invasion could potentially ruin you!

Take it from someone who has seen it too many times: don’t be cheap when it comes to the safety of you, your family, and all of your belongings. Get out there right now and see what you can do to get some home security cameras!

Front Door – 34%

Even I was surprised at my first time finding this out, and for good reason! The front door is generally going to be facing a street, and is the most public location that someone could pick to try and break in at. Nevertheless, 34% of break ins start right at the front door, where it is usually kicked or forced open somehow. Keep a security camera facing straight out the front door for the best chance to deter or at least identify the intruder at a later time.

Ground Level Windows – 23%

First floor windows are number two behind the front door, which isn’t all that surprising. What is surprising however, is that the intruders generally gain access through unlocked windows! Having a window alarm is always helpful for such things, but actually locking the window is a good first step!

Back Door – 22%

After finding that the front is 34%, a 22% chance for the back door makes sense. Since the intruder isn’t usually in public when entering through the back door, he has more time to think of a more sophisticated method of entry. This results in less kicked in or forced open back doors, which tend to have their locks picked.

Garage – 9%

Whether you have an attached or unattached garage, make sure you keep it secure as well! An unlocked, unattached garage is an invitation for sloppy burglars to come through and have a field day with any expensive tools and equipment. They might even turn that equipment right back around on you to break into your own home with! At least keep a lock on the door if it isn’t going to be monitored.

Basements – 4%

Since these statistics are nationwide, the numbers for basements will of course be lower, considering some states don’t typically have basements in their homes. Alabama being one, for example. Burglars do look at basements as a fairly easy target however, because the homeowner will most likely be upstairs sleeping, far away from where he’ll be making noise breaking into the basement. Make sure your basement windows are kept just as secure as your ground level ones.