Linksys Wireless Internet Camera with Audio | 
| Brand: Linksys
List Price: $295.99
Buy New: $234.99
You Save: $61.00 (21%)
New (31) Used (1) from $289.91
Rating:  50 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Native Resolution: 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 160 x 120
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4
Dimensions (in): 11.3 x 9.5 x 4.3
Warranty: Mfr warranty: 1 year
MPN: WVC200
Model: WVC200
UPC: 745883569045
EAN: 0745883569045
ASIN: B000I2JBC8
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | high quality | | • | Special outlet purchase. | | • | Great for your game. |
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Product Description
The Linksys Wireless-G Pan/Tilt/Zoom Video Camera sends live video through the Internet to a web browser anywhere in the world!The advanced MPEG-4 video compression produces a high-quality, high-framerate, up to 640x480 video stream. MPEG-4 encoding facilitates good video quality in varying bandwidth environments. WVC200 also supports MJPEG compression for video, providing good video quality at high bandwidth rates.The comprehensive video features include an IR filter cut which allow you to see the images in low or no light environments when an IR lamp is used. Snapshots (in JPEG format) of the image can be taken and saved. Snapshots can also be scheduled and sent to an FTP server.If you want the video to be visible from a remote location or from the Internet, you can open an appropriate port on the Router, and then create password protected accounts to manage access to the camera, or leave it wide open for the world to see. Support for Dynamic DNS lets you access your camera using an easy-to-remember "name", even while using a dynamic IP address. The Pan/Tilt and digital zoom function allows you to remotely control the camera movement and focus, giving you maximum flexibility remotely. Up to 10 simultaneous users can have access to the camera at any point in time. Software is included for multiple camera monitoring and recording to your hard drive with advanced search by time and date. Recording can be set up to record by motion trigger, manual or schedule recording and playback on Windows Media Player without the need for a proprietary player.You can also turn on Security Mode, which tells the camera to send a message with a short video attached to up to three email addresses whenever it detects motion in its field of view. You can then log onto the live video stream if the situation warrants. Wireless security features include WEP and WPA.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 45 more reviews...
 Finally, a fairly priced good wireless camera May 15, 2006
Raymond Biegun (Alexandria, VA USA)
90 out of 93 found this review helpful
I purchased two of these cameras. They are new to the Linksys product line. They are not inexpensive. However, compared to all the other wireless-g cameras available, these are good and reasonably priced. (Note, I had tried another brand of wireless-g camera, and had written a review on it. I returned those cameras.)
The cameras support WEP or WPA security (I am using WEP), are good in low light conditions, are sensitive to infrared illumination, can be accessed from anywhere I have access to the internet, and have remotely controlled Pan and Tilt. I have had them for 1 month, and I like them. Kudos to Linksys.
A word of CAUTION, I have not seen any wireless network camera that is "plug and play." And if you have a wireless router, firewall, wireless security, cable modem, etc., it gets more complicated. That is just the way it is right now. For this price range, no manufacturer can afford to give you tech support, other than for the basics. And for networking, there are very little "basics."
The manual is decent (79 pages.), but could use more information. However, you still will need some knowledge about setting up network adapters, especially if you are using a different brand router (which I am.) With some knowledge, it's going to take at least an hour per camera (probably several hours for the first camera, if this is your first time setting up an internet camera.) With little or no knowledge, you may not want to bother. I can be very frustrating.
Pros:
-- Can access the camera wirelessly (within your network) and through the Internet (within or outside of your network.) I am using DynDNS for access from outside my network. Your browser must support ActiveX (currently, works best with Internet Explorer.) Linksys also provides monitoring software for access outside of your browser (but it doesn't work.)
-- Moving the camera to other locations (within your wireless network) is easy. Just unplug, move, and replug into AC outlet.
-- Has nice features regarding IP assignment, email alerts, motion detection, etc. I have tried all these features and they work well. Motion detection requires some tweaking so that it isn't constantly picking up motion. When away, I get an email with a 5 second video clip whenever motion is detected. (This can be as little as 2 seconds, or no video clip at all, just an email alert.)
-- Good image quality. Quality depends upon compression settings (the camera is transmitting images digitally, adjustment may be necessary to minimize the volume of data being transmitted [bandwidth].) Webcams don't have the same bandwidth constraints, since they plug right into your computer, so there quality tends to be better. The camera has adjustable framerate and quality settings.
-- Fair color quality. I don't believe this is a serious issue for security. Black and white is still predominantly used for security. Part of the lack of color quality (or accuracy of color) is the camera's infrared sensitivity, which is a plus. However, if security is a serious issue, there might be better choices for surveillance.
-- Decent low light sensitivity. The camera's infrared sensitivity makes the camera more sensitive in lower light incandescently lit areas. If you can read under the existing light, you will get a very good picture. (For viewing under dark conditions, you would need to supply your own infrared lights.)
-- Motion detection with email alerts. Works well when set up properly.
-- Good fixed focus. Camera focus can not be changed, however, the images appear clear under most conditions. (The ability to manually focus on a remote camera is not a feature that is easy to do. There is no viewfinder on the camera! Remotely focusing cameras are expensive.)
-- Multiple indicator lights and LCD address display on the camera, in case you forget what IP address your camera is assigned to. These lights and display can be turned off remotely.
-- Remote pan and tilt. Works well. The motor is a little noisy. But for the price...
-- Can use a Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service other than SoloLink. I am using DynDNS and I have DDNS and a cable modem and a non-Linksys wireless router. Again, you need to know a little about networking.
Cons:
-- Setup is complex. This is probably an issue with any wireless camera. Setting up access, in particular from outside your network, is a complex process. Going from wired to wireless is particularly complex. The initial setup does not include all the options available when you access the camera remotely. So, you can't do a complete job during the initial wired setup (particularly with setting fixed IP addresses and port assignments.)
-- Camera is not small (like webcams.) With the motors and dome, I understand this is the best functionality you probably will get for the size and price. Smaller cameras require smaller motors, etc. and that would cost more.
-- The stand the camera sits on is flimsy; the camera just sits on it. I am surprised there is no snap/lock (or whatever) to hold the camera to the stand. It would not have cost any more. However, there are mounting holes and a tripod socket on the camera.
-- Monitoring software, for access without using your browser, has problems. I was only able to get it to work on one of three computers I installed it on. Linksys has not been helpful. This software is required for viewing multiple images at once and provides a recording capability. One can view multiple images with your browser, but you need to open up more than one window on your browser and then try to arrange them.
-- Accessing the camera wirelessly through the Internet can be a problem if you don't have enough bandwidth (internet speed.) Also, some corporate firewalls won't let you through.
-- Camera antenna is very directional. Requires careful adjustment in some locations in order to access it. The worst position is upright (vertical) as shown in all the pictures!
-- No useful online help or forums. My guess is that camera is still too new.
Other:
-- I have had both my cameras plugged in (AC power) for days with no need to reset. When I first installed my cameras, I unplugged them more frequently to reset. (There is a reset hole on the bottom of the camera; but unplugging is easier.) I don't have a conclusion.
 Very Disappointed May 7, 2006
Julie Martinelli (Katy, Texas)
74 out of 78 found this review helpful
I bought this camera to monitor my house over my wireless network when I'm away. Here are my impressions after one week:
PROS:
1. Kinda cool looking. The large lens cover camouflages the camera.
2. Images are decent (not great) in low light.
3. Multiple people can view the camera remotely through an IE browser (no other browser will work, however).
4. 30 frames per second gives smooth motion (however, faster frame rates and higher resolutions are only practical over local network, not over the Internet).
5. Remote pan/tilt feature works well (though noisy ... no stealth panning with this one).
6. Audio works fine.
7. Motion detection/email notification works well (after a non-intuitive set-up).
8. Linksys' "SoloLink" remote DDNS service works well, and you'll need it if your service provider and your network uses dynamic IP addresses (e.g., cable modems). There are alternatives, but you'll save yourself a lot of aggravation if you stick with SoloLink.
CONS:
1. VERY difficult set up ... much more difficult than my Linksys' WRT54G router, print server and two desktop adaptors. The camera works much better plugged into the router via Ethernet port. Going wireless adds a significant level of complexity to everything.
2. At first I believed that the antenna position was just plain finicky. The wireless connection didn't work until I set the antenna at right angle from the unit. Now the camera doesn't work wireless at all. I thought that perhaps the antenna was defective; however, other reviewers confirmed that this is a common problem.
3. Picture quality is below average. Not as crisp and detailed as my $80 Logitech webcam. Black shirts and green foliage appear purple. Tweaking the setup makes no difference. Not for serious surveillance.
4. The monitoring/recording utility software doesn't work; the software can't find this camera on my network, wireless or cabled. I've given up on using this utility and, instead, rely on the (inferior) browser with its buggy ActiveX viewer.
5. Finicky browser viewing. At first I thought the camera was dead until I discovered that I needed to kick-start the viewer with a browser refresh. The ActiveX plug-in also locks up my browser occasionally, even when I'm not using the camera. Connection speed is MUCH slower over the Internet. Using a higher resolution setting (640x480) prevents the image from loading over the Internet. Inside a corporate firewall? Forget it....
6. You'll need to use Linksys' EXPENSIVE SoloLink subscription to view the camera over the web if you have a dynamic IP address and DDNS (e.g., cable modem).
7. It took me all week to figure out how to get the motion detector email notification feature to work. The documentation doesn't tell you that you need to go into an obscure image "sensitivity" submenu and enable at least one of four "zones." Why isn't one of these "zones" enabled by default?
8. Camera "server" fails regularly and requires a reboot (unplug, then re-plug in the camera). I reboot each morning as a precaution. If I'm gone for several days, I'll need to find a way to reboot from a distance (on/off timer?).
9. Linksys online support/Q&As/user forums for any of its cameras is frustratingly non-existent.
10. PDF manual is woefully inadequate ... it appears as though the writers got lazy after a bullet point or two to highlight various features (but some aren't mentioned at all). The manual offers very little troubleshooting and no set up examples. This manual is a chief culprit why this camera is so difficult to set up and use.
BOTTOM LINE: How much set-up aggravation are you willing to put up with? And look elsewhere if you want "wireless."
Nice idea ... technology is too new ... wait on this purchase January 30, 2007
LS (NJ)
12 out of 15 found this review helpful
The concept is nice ... 802.11g camera. However there are some fundamental flaws with the design.
The streaming of the video is too heavy-weight for the 802.11g. A simple ping shows hops in excess of 800ms. As soon as I stop streaming, it is about 16ms ... which means the cams processor is overloaded.
The stream is very choppy.
As for pan / tilt ... only works 25% of the time. The video always streams (which means there is connectivity), but when I issue pan/tilt commands, only 25% of the time does it respond to my commands.
I bought this as a toy ... to put in the front window to see who is there, while I am working in my home office. I don't see how someone would / could use this for practical monitoring. The picture is very choppy, not very clear, and doesn't respond to commands.
Considering Linksys is owned by Cisco ... this hit the market without any real quality assurance. This is hardly useable.
2 thumbs down. Come'on Cisco ... get your act together. You are leaving room for someone to come in and do it better. I will be returning this, and may buy the panasonic.
 Very Disappointed - Cannot recomend this camera. June 20, 2006
FooledAgain
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
This is a relatively inexpensive IP camera that works relatively well in the wired mode that is relatively new to the market. However, even with extensive help from Linksys/Cisco's technical service I have been unable to get it to function in the wireless mode. As others have noted the color is poor. Read more...
Pros
- This is an affordable IP camera that allows one to view from other computers if you use Linksys' web-forwarding service or other services.
- Pan/Tilt mechanism works though, as another reviewer points out, a little noisy. This may be good if you want to know if someone is using the camera.
- There is a 2X zoom that may help is some cases but it is not much of a magnification
- The color of the image suggests that it relies heavily on IR wavelengths so it may work in low light but I have not tried this yet.
- There is an LCD panel on the front that allows one to check the unit's IP address and whether it is static or dynamic.
- The software permits an email alert if the image changes which functions as motion detector.
- The software can ftp an still image to another site at regular intervals so that you can build a movie or update a viewing web page.
- Setting up the camera in wired mode was straightforward.
Cons
- As others have noted the color is poor. Trees and grass register a reddish hue that suggests that the camera is heavily weighted toward the IR wavelengths. A replacement unit also had this problem so it is probably the default situation.
- The image resolution is not crisp.
- As another reviewer has noted the stand is flimsy and does not hold the camera securely, especially if the cable is stiff.
- The major problem is that I have not been able to establish a wireless connection using my D-Link DI-642 wireless router. This has been noted by other reviewers. After with several interactions with Linksys/Cisco's technical service the first unit was deemed defective and replaced (shipping at my expense). The replacement unit also could not function wirelessly suggesting that the problems are inherent in the design. I will not list the steps that we tried to establish WiFi but they were extensive with both the initial unit and the replacement unit. Linksys/Cisco has again asked me to send the replacement unit in for another replacement. I am fairly proficient with wireless configurations so I should be able to configure this camera to work with my network.
In summary, this camera has good potential but is plagued by problems that make it a disappointing product. I believe that this camera has a narrow window of compatibility and is not ready for the general consumer market. I'm betting that these problems result from software issues that were not addressed before rollout. I can not recommend this camera.
Please note that it is Linksys/Cisco's policy that no refunds are given on returned equipment. This means that if you are not satisfied with its performance you have no recourse.
Troublesome but there are work arounds December 29, 2006
JJKAY (New York)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I tried these cameras right out of the box and experienced the same troubles others are having. But I came up with a work around.
The first thing you need to do is straighten the antenna completely. Do not use the 45 and 90 degree catches.
On my router/ap... I installed ddwrt on my linksys wrt54gl and increased the transmit power on the router from 28 to 50 and set the router to reboot itself every morning at 4:00am.
On each camera I bought a $5 appliance timer at the hardware store. (the one's people use to have their lights turn on and off when they aren't home) and plugged the cameras in to the timers. Then set the timer to shut the camera off at 4:00am and turn itself back on a few minutes later.
A nice low tech fix. Everything is 100% rock solid now. Of course I had to jump through a couple of hoops to get everything working but hey, these things are cheap for what you are buying. I have not had a single problem with the cameras in months after the timers and router reboot were in place.
Yes they are troublesome but are perfectly reliable with a little ingenuity. I would have given it 5 stars if it could push the images to an FTP server at a faster rate than 2 an hour.
Also, I wish it was able to stream the video so I could embed it in a page using media player or quicktime. ohh well.
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