D-Link DCS-G900 - Review
Another Wireless web camera you may come across while searching for a wireless web camera
under $100 price is the D-Link DCS-G900 .
This camera gets extreme mixed reviews, but if you're truly
looking for a low priced web cam with that works well and has decent
pictue quality, this camera may be worth considering.
Applications
This is a decent home security camera. Bad reviews aside. Keep in mind, cameras In this price range are more focused on functionality than crystal clear imaging. if your main concern is to "check in"and get a decent "eyball" on what's going on in your living room while you are at work or starbucks, this camera is a good choice.
Other applications include entertainment; chatting and sending video online.
Specfications
First the specs are pretty typical for a camera in this price range
Compatible systems - The camera works with Windows or MAC
Network standards - The DCS-G900 use the common connection standard, 802.11g enabling you to your connect existing wireless network. Or you can hard wire your camera connection using regular ethernet.
Image sensor - The D-Link DCS-G900 urilizes CMOS with a 1/4" diameter for image sensing. Expect a decent to average image quality. Keep this in mind as your probably not presenting video for the Caan's film festival...think "You Tube" quality with this camera.
CMOS technology has been improving over the last couple years and it's widely accepted that CMOS sensors are perfectly adequate for most camera surveillance applications.
Resolution - It also provides 3 different screen resolutions(VGA): 640x480,320x240 or 160x120
Frame rate- The FPS is is 30 ( frames per second). The human eye stops detecting a change at 24 FPS, so this is perfectly adequate
Format - Video capture format is MJPEG
Lux - Minimum LUX rating is 2.5
Features
Plug and play - This camera is designed to install with the simple "plug and Play" concept in mind.
Once you install the software, the DCS-G900 will recognize your camera as a new piece of hardware and set it up automaticlly in the "network neighborhood" as a new device.
Multi-cameras - The software also allows you to install 4 more cameras to your network enabling you to monitor several areas of your home or business, simultaneously
Viewing - How do you see what the camera see's if your remote? D-Link has a Free Dynamic DNS service avaialble. This allows you to access your camera via an easy to remember name you assign, basically substituting the login name in place of your IP address. So dropping in on "what's happening at home" while at the local WI FI hot spot is a breeze.
Motion detection - This camera can be set to "motion detection mode", which lets the camera record in video mode only if there is motionin the room.
A nice feature for viewing pets moving about for example. Otherwise you can set the camera to record at a desired interval 10, 20 or 120 seconds.
Ease of set up
Mixed reviews - Fantastic to Dismal - One thing we noticed was a crazy variance in customer satisfaction regarding ease of camera set up
If you're the patient, moderately technical type that understands some basic wireless technology, you shouldn't have a problem.
The horrible reviews we noticed were from people who had little patience and minimal knowledge of wireless networking.
Tech challenged folk mainly had a tough time getting the camera to even work, because they couldn't configure the softare and router properly. For example, there is an issue with Norton security that will cause a conflict and prevent the camera from working properly.
D Link offers phone support Support Phone Number: 1-800-326-1688
You may want to get some help or hire someone for an hour ie. geek squad to come out and get you set up if you're like the majority of wireless users out there.
Price
$88.00 - $126.00
Overall
The DCS-G900 is a good, reliable wireless home security camera.
Decent sometimes grainy image, poor performance in low light. No audio.
We found many users giving th eproduct high marks regarding ease of set up and overall performance.
Conversely, the camera gets a bad rap from those claiming its tough to impossible to set up.
If your not a slick computer savvy type, you may need a bit of tech support to get this one going. However, after you set it up it will work like a charm.