Bytemart

We had the following enquiry from a customer about a solution for monitoring his driveway whilst he was away on business:

“I would like to purchase a home security camera. Ideally the camera would have night vision, be wireless and have motion activated recording.

Can you please recommend me a system which is easy to install and reasonably affordable?”

“One thing I would say is that if you are looking for something to point outside at night, then the glass will pretty much render the infra-red useless as it reflects back on the lens and flares out.

If you are looking for something to monitor the outdoors, then I would go for the weatherproof camera (http://www.bytemart.co.uk/acatalog/weatherproof-network-cameras.html). Although this is wired, it can feed a video signal (TV) and also a network (so you can record onto PC). If your pc isn’t nearby, then a cheap wireless access point can be put by the window or area where the camera cable comes in, and then it turns it into a wireless unit. This is preferable as it means the signal isn’t interfered by outside atmospherics.

The range on the infra red with these is far superior (around 25-30 metres), and the construction is robust and weatherproof (metal housing), and of course it would be visible to any intruders.

Once you’ve setup the PC to record the images, you can also ask it to email any movements to a designated email account as a snapshot image, which would be peace of mind for you when you’re away too I’m sure, as well as record the movements as an AVI on the PC for viewing later. A sign on the gate saying you are recording round the clock will help too!

Hope that helps - let me know if you’d like any other information.”

We have found these steps are helpful for customers looking to setup their cameras in both wired and wireless mode. Any comments or suggestions please let us know!

1. Connect the camera using supplied RJ45 lead to the ethernet port of the PC.
2. When connected, ensure that the local area network lights up, and
there is no “limited connection message”.
3. Run IPCamSetup.
4. Click “Find IP Cam”
5. When the camera appears in the list highlight it and then in the
section below enter the IP address 192.168.2.101 (first check your IP
settings in windows by running ipconfig from the command prompt - make
sure the IP range matches your LAN adapter, NOT the wireless adapter.
As long as the first 3 sets of numbers match those in your LAN adapter
and the last number is between 100-200, you should be OK.)
6. Click “Setting”
7. Click “Find IP Cam” again
8. Highlight the camera in the list, and check that the new IP address
has been displayed.
9. Click “Show IP Cam” and the browser should launch and the login page appear.
10. Enter the default username and password.
11. You can configure the wireless configuration by entering your
network SSID and network key by clicking “Scan access point”
12. Highlight your wireless network from the list
13. Enter your network SSID (network name)
14. Choose the encryption type you are using (if any)
15. Enter the network key in “Key”
16. Click “submit”
17. Then click the radio button “Wireless” and click “setting” again.
18. Change the switch on the camera to WLAN and press the “reset” button
19. When the camera has powered up choose your wireless network
adapter from the drop down list and then Click “Find IP Cam”
20. The camera should appear in the list.
21. Disconnect the RJ 45 cable.
21. Click “Show IP Cam” and it should launch in wireless mode.

We have two exciting products on their way - an all-weather IP Network camera that works during day and night, and a stand-alone, portable DVR that records everything onto an SD card!

The new products will be available from the end of July.

We are compiling an ongoing installation notes document for supplying with the network cameras, as our customers give us their feedback. If you have any suggestions for inclusion in the document, please email us.

When powering up your camera, the green “operation” light on the front can take around a minute to light up, as the camera first goes through it’s own diagnostics. So don’t think the camera is broken!

On BBC news this morning, the editor of FQ Magazine (http://www.fqmagazine.co.uk/), took part in a feature on “Nanny Cams”. This focussed on the use of covert surveillance cameras for monitoring childcare staff whilst you are out and about.

We don’t advocate the use of surveillance in every situation - as fathers ourselves we recognise the importance of getting the right person who will be responsible for your child from the start, rather than monitoring them covertly to check they are doing things the way you would like.

However, a network camera in just one room of the house, that the nanny knows about, is a good way for you to check in now and again - and to just get a quick fix of that precious bundle whilst at work!

Unpack the S-I-PL Grandtec IP Camera Plus

Setup the connections to the camera

1. Screw together the stand and screw the camera into the stand and sit the camera on the desk
2. Plug in the network cable from the router (be aware that the RJ45 cable supplied is a crossover cable and is only used to connect directly to a computer)
3. Connect the power supply
4. Check that the green light illuminates on the front of the camera

Insert the supplied CD - IP / WIFI Camera Plus - V6.4 - Model 2  Follow the instructions in this post:- Install IP Auto Detect Tool

Launch the IPCam Setup application and configure the network settings of the camera

1. Choose from the Network Adapter dropdown the adapter connected to the same network as the camera
2. Click Find IP Cam and hopefully a MAC address and other information should appear in the IP Cam List
3. Setting the camera with the following settings (these settings will differ depending on your network configuration)
   Ethernet
   Manual
   IP Address: 192.168.0.100
   Net Mask: 255.255.255.0
   Gateway: 192.168.0.1
4. Click Setting
5. Click OK
6. Click Show IP Cam

If all went well, Internet Explorer will launch and you will be presented with a login box, the default username and password is:

1. Username: root
2. Password: admin
3. Click your chosen language
4. You will now see a streaming video picture

Congratulations, your camera is now ready for permanent installation.