After weeks of anticipation, the AV304 1.3 Mega Pixel IP Camera from AVTECH 1.3 Mega IP Cam Giveaway Review Program finally arrived on 26-Feb-2011.To my surprise, the box is much smaller than what I had expected of an IP Camera, the camera itself is small, light and come with 2 LED indicators for Power and Internet connection. I particularly like the white casing which looks high class and well built; not those cheap plastic casing that is soft and break easily.
I had tried other IP Cameras many years ago. Back then IP Camera are not only BIG, UGLY and difficult to configure; those cameras frequently hang or loss connection to the Internet. What's the use of an IP Camera when you can't view it from the Internet when you need to.
Technical Specifications
- Remote Surveillance using your favourite Web Browser - Microsoft IE, Mozilla Firefox, Mac Safari, Google Chrome, Opera
- Remote Surveillance using Handphone - iPhone, BlackBerry, Nokia, Windows Mobile & Android
- Remote Surveillance using EagleEyes - iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, Windows Mobile
- Multiple Device Control/Monitoring using Video Viewer - provided FREE
- 1.3 Megapixel live MOS sensor
- HD 720p quality
- Multiple video streams selectable: H.264 / MPEG4 / MJPEG
- Motion detection and event notification functions
- Digital Pan / Tilt / Zoom
- White LED illumination
- Face tracking function for human face detection and tracking
- Built-in microphone
- DynDNS DDNS support
Package Content
- AVN304 IP Camera
- Camera Bracket
- Installation Guide
- Adapter
- CD-ROM disc
Setup was a breeze, connect the power and network cable and the camera is accessible at http://192.168.1.10/. Default username/password is 'admin'.
How simple can that get?
How simple can that get?
What I like
Well made, quality white finishing just like Apple computer.
Easy to mount and adjust bracket mount come with a soft sponge washer to easily tighten camera. Bracket can be mounted in virtually any direction (up on the ceiling, down on a table, sideway on a wall) and camera can be adjusted to point at any direction.
What's missing?
Where is the antenna? Can it be the AVN304 come with built-in antenna?
Sad to see that this wonderful IP Camera does not come with WiFi support. WiFi support will definitely ease the pain of having to drill holes throughout the house to accomodate for the network cable. Not only is it expensive to do so, it's also ugly to have cables running around the house.
UPnP (Port Mapping) - News from AVTECH said that future products will include UPnP to ease setup, but that does means that you will need a compatible router which also support UPnP. So far I had yet to see UPnP in action; not that difficult for me to setup Port Forwarding. Especially when AVTECH product only requires 1 port unlike other products that requires up to 3 or more ports to work. Worst still I had seen products that don't even document which port needs to be forwarded.
Stay tuned for more coming up...
1 comment:
Singapore based Gotocamera.com has a user friendly and FREE surveillance/video monitoring app for the iPhone. One can use the service to watch over pets, children, elders, etc., when you're
compelled to leave them alone at home or with a nanny. This service can also be used to monitor small businesses.
The process of getting started is very simple. All you need to do is set up a GotoCamera Account (also free) to use this app - if you do not have a GotoCamera account, you can create one at
www.gotocamera.com. Just follow the simple instructions on the sign-up page and you're good to get started.
The idea behind this app is to assist to make communities safer, and give home owners peace of mind when they’re capable of remotely monitoring their home and loved ones. Considering the fact that
they're being used by people in over 180 countries, looks like GotoCamera is definitely doing something right. :)
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