Wireless Webcam Review

A wireless webcam is basically a camera that uses radio signals to broadcast photos or video to a computer or a network. Often these cameras come bundled with software that allows you to transfer the photos or video to an Internet site.

The price of a wireless webcam can vary from very cheap (and cheaply built) to very expensive. A cheap wireless webcam will have plastic lenses, low frame rates, low resolution, and short broadcast range. The more expensive wireless webcam will have glass lenses, high frame rates, high resolution, and longer broadcast range.

A high quality wireless webcam will have features like pan and tilt controls, remote administration via a password protected website, brightness controls, low light capabilities, and automatic alerts via text messaging, email, and pre-recorded telephone calls to multiple numbers.

History of Webcams

The first webcam dates from 1991 and was pointed at a coffee pot in at the University of Cambridge computer lab. It was operational from November 1991 (connected to the Internet in 1993) to August 2001.

The longest functioning webcam is the Fogcam located at San Francisco State University. It has been in continuous operation since 1994. Neither of these were a wireless webcam though since the technology hadn’t been perfected at that time.

People have used webcams to broadcast weddings, funerals, graduations, and any number of other life events. Sadly, there have even been suicides that were broadcast on webcams.

Today’s Use of the Wireless Webcam

Thousands of webcams on the Internet are listed by aggregator sites. Many state transportation departments operate webcams that allow viewers to see the traffic on various heavily traveled highways and interstates in real time.

Most people use a wireless webcam for video telephony, video conferencing, and security. Services like Skype have accelerated their use. For video telephony and conferencing, a wireless webcam has the advantage of a broader field of vision. That way you are able to get several people (or maybe a whiteboard) into the picture. For security purposes, a wireless webcam can be used for surveillance of outlying areas that are difficult to run wires to and so would be impossible to surveil otherwise.

Wireless webcams are among the latest in innovations for surveillance, security and personal communication. Originally developed for military applications, a wireless webcam is able to communicate by way of radio signals or through a wireless network and thus eliminate the need for wires connecting the device to your computer.

The range of a wireless webcam can be from 10-30 feet for Bluetooth and up to 300 feet for 802.11 applications. Most have repeater capability that can double or triple the range. Infrared cannot penetrate walls and is line of sight only. Cell technology is not limited by distance.

Wireless webcams have the same convenience and ease of installation of wireless routers. No more wires to pull through messy attics or dirty crawl spaces, plus wireless technology makes moving your webcams a snap.

Your options when choosing a wireless webcam are as numerous as the imagination. Features can include live feed (the ability to see what the camera is pointed at in real time) from a computer, PDA or cell phone, the ability to remotely pan/tilt, night vision, motion activation and built-in microphones.

Some wireless webcams have the ability to send a text message or email notifying you that motion has been detected along with a picture of the area in which motion has been detected.

Another option is to live stream your camera to the internet where you can view, record, share and share your content. Can you say nanny-cam?

Your wireless webcam will need a power source. Battery power tends to be the norm and are generally recharged by connecting them to your computer with a cable. For more remote applications you will want to have a models that can be powered by a constant power source run to the camera. There are even solar powered webcams for outdoor applications.

Another consideration when choosing your wireless webcam is the frame rate. For most webcam applications 16 frames per second is fine. For smoother movements you will want 24 frames per second and if you need to view fast moving action you should look for 30 frames per second.

To be live-viewable your wireless webcam will use your IP address. This is great unless you have a dynamic IP address. If that is the case you may have to use a service that charges a monthly or yearly fee. The ability to send motion detected notification messages is not affected by having a dynamic IP address.

Wireless webcams are not magic, they just seem to be. No more pulling wires through hot, itchy, insulation-filled attics or through musty, dirty crawl spaces. The same technologies that have made wireless Internet the norm, is changing the face of webcam applications.

Most wireless webcams use WiFi, usually 802.11 wireless technology, although there are infrared, cell and Bluetooth models. WiFi wireless has more range than any of the others except for cell which is only limited by cell tower proximity. Repeaters can extend the range of wireless webcams if distance is a consideration.

Wireless webcams can be used for surveillance and security applications such as retail stores or in low traffic areas to address safety concerns as well as home applications such as motion activated notification systems. The portability and ease of installation make them perfect for security and surveillance. Plus, since the cost of installing or moving the security systems is reduced due to not having to run wires, the overall feasibility is heightened for small business owners.

A wireless webcam is also a great addition to your home computer system. Wireless technology allows you to use your webcam at different angles and further away from your computer or router than wired or built-in cameras. Wireless webcams can be higher resolution and have faster frame rates than built-in webcams, as well.

Video conferencing is supported by Gmail, Yahoo Messenger, Skype and AOL Instant Messenger as well as most Internet chat services. Wireless webcams are making multi-camera and mobile camera conferences easier, faster to set up and far more interesting visually.

Chances are your wireless webcam will be battery powered and recharging will be necessary by plugging it into your computer or router. There are plug-in models for more permanent installations or extended use applications.

Some of the more popular features available with a wireless webcam include remote pan/tilt, night or low-light vision, built-in microphones and motion sensing activation.

Wireless webcams range in price from under $100. up to $700. plus. Depending on what your needs are the more expensive model may be the most economical. Economy is getting what you need at a good value, not necessarily getting the least expensive item available. The good news is that as wireless webcams become more popular, they are also becoming more affordable, easier to install and far more dependable.

A wireless webcam is  a video camera that is designed to broadcast still images or video through your wireless network to your computer and then, if you so desire, onto the Web. These images can then be accessed by you or your friends and family via the Internet. Wireless webcams can be simple or have lots of advanced features. Many wireless webcams can automatically notify you via email when motion is sensed by the camera. Some allow you to remotely zoom in or pan and tilt. Many models have low-light and even night vision.

Wireless webcams are great nanny-cams, baby monitors, surveillance cameras to protect your property or keep an eye on your car in the driveway and the security cameras in your store. Installation can be quick and easy and the peace of mind will be invaluable.

Probably the key considerations when buying your wireless webcam are resolution and frames-per-second. High resolution may be a consideration if you need to read the tag number of the car that pulled into the drive, but the resolution standard for images on the web is very low and high resolution images are slow to load and won’t be any better quality on the web.

Most built-in webcams run less than the television standard of 25 frames per second explaining the jerkiness of movement. Remember, the higher the resolution and the more frames per second, the more memory, processing power and bandwidth you will need.

Generally speaking the steps to follow while installing a wireless webcam include:

1. Connect your webcam to the Ethernet port of your wireless router using a CAT5 cable.
2. Use the setup CD that is supplied by the webcam manufacturer to configure the wireless webcam.
3. Disconnect the wireless webcam from the power source and from the Ethernet cable connecting it to your router.
4. Mount your wireless webcam in the desired location.
5. Reconnect your power source.

These instructions may sound simplistic – and they are. But installing computer peripherals have come a long way and most often are not the nightmare scenarios that used to plague the average user. If you carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions you should have a problem free installation.