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The Truth About Wireless Webcams

Just about everybody has used some form of wireless technology when it comes to your PC, namely wireless networking.

You’re also aware of other things that are wireless such as printers, digital picture frames and so on.

But the one thing that’s not in wide use nor is widely available is the wireless webcam, or wireless cameras that specifically connect to PCs, period.

There are a few obvious reasons why you don’t see many of these.

First is the fact that most webcams are used directly at the computer. They’re usually attached with a clip or claw on top of your monitor. Being that the computer is only a few feet away from the monitor, wireless doesn’t serve a useful purpose in that respect.

Second is the fact that many laptops come bundled with pinhole webcams right in the monitor lid. Even my Dell Inspiron mini 10v netbook has one built-in, so it’s an available option even on the cheapest of laptops.

Third is the question of purpose. Most people simply don’t need a wireless camera for any real use.

Generally speaking, the only useful purpose of wireless cameras is for surveillance.

Let’s say for the moment you’re of the opinion, “Yes! I would love to have a wireless surveillance camera I could access from my PC, because it sure beats that ridiculous peephole in my front door that I can’t see anything through.”

Here are some of your current options with wireless cameras that have general availability.

Before continuing, yes they’re all expensive.

D-Link DCS-1000W
(Amazon Link)

image

Sends 640×480 resolution images. Does not have a microphone but one can be hooked up if you need it.

Linksys WVC54GGCA
(Amazon Link)

image 

Compared to the D-Link above, this one weighs a pound less. While that may not sound like much, in matters when it comes to mounting it. Has its own networking built right in. Works with wireless or standard RJ-45 10/100. So if you want to snake a network cable to it and plug direct into your router, go right ahead. It will work without a problem.

In addition, the design allows for super-easy flush wall mounting.

Panasonic BL-C131A
(Amazon Link)

image

One of the best-of-breed and tops the scales at over $200 to purchase. Does have microphone for audio. Easily controlled right from your web browser – or even a cell phone or PDA. Has eight shooting presets. It even has a heat sensor to know when somebody enters the room.

This cam also has some of the highest customer reviews in the positive direction.

In this instance, oh yes, you do get what you pay for.

Can these be used outdoors?

Probably not.

Cams like these are not designed for outdoor use. It is unknown how they’d handle moisture, extreme heat or extreme cold – but it’s a safe assumption they probably wouldn’t deal with it very well. The lens would periodically fog up from time to time, the networking components could cut out easily from moisture and who knows what else.

Using traditional outdoor surveillance cameras for comparison, such as this one:

image

..you immediately notice these things are huge. What you’re paying for with these more than anything else is the guarantee that yes, they’ll work outside no matter what Mother Nature throws at them. In addition they’re also specifically designed to be mounted in outdoor applications. You don’t get this with wireless webcams.

Oh, and in addition the above example does have night vision – another huge plus.

But the tradeoff is that they can’t be fed to a PC. Not easily, anyway.

With a wireless webcam for surveillance use, if you want to see things outside, it’s best to use and indoor-to-outdoor application. This means to mount it inside the house pointing outside a window.

“Isn’t it just a tad paranoid to be even considering a webcam for surveillance use?”

Not really. If everybody was just and honest we wouldn’t need peepholes in doors to begin with. This is just a modern version of the peephole – and it works a whole lot better.

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8 thoughts on “The Truth About Wireless Webcams”

Peter Gresswelll says:
A wireless webcam would in fact be useful in teaching where you are talking to some students in the classroom and others at home (possibly self-isolating) connected via Teams or Zoom. When teaching the classroom you do not want to be looking at your desktop or laptop, so having a wireless webcam placed in the room amongst the in-person students would be really useful. You cannot really have wires trailing all over the place to do that.
pamela pullman says:
we want a wireless webcam to use when doing painting demonstration on zoom – would anyone know which one – if there is one – is the best for this. when we use our logitech – which is great- it limits because of the length of the cord. we need to have some space.
Zubair Mehar says:
Especially for home users also Ofice users a surveillance camera, wired is usually the way to go. Most of the time you do not have power available where you would place the camera anyway, so if you are going to run wire for power, you might as well run cat5 and a coax and not have to worry about security,
Regards,
Zubair mehar,
Qaiair Mehmood says:
For home use and offie use as a surveillance camera, wired is usually the way to go. Most of the time you do not have power available where you would place the camera anyway, so if you are going to run wire for power, you might as well run cat5 and a coax and not have to worry about security, it’s really very nice…
Zubair mehar says:
For home use as a surveillance camera, wired is usually the way to go. Most of the time you do not have power available where you would place the camera anyway, so if you are going to run wire for power, you might as well run cat5 and a coax and not have to worry about security, etc
Regards,
Zubair mehar
Brian says:
For home use as a surveillance camera, wired is usually the way to go. Most of the time you do not have power available where you would place the camera anyway, so if you are going to run wire for power, you might as well run cat5 and a coax and not have to worry about security, etc.
David M says:
Unless something is battery powered, it is not wireless, unless one considers the power wire not to be wire at all.
Rich Menga says:
In this context, wireless means “no requirement to be tethered to PC”. The term is applicable to cameras even if it requires a power adapter to operate.

It would be more accurate to label as a “wi-fi” webcam rather than “wireless”, but wireless is the term the manufacturers choose to use.

SageCrispin says:
Actually, wireless web cams have been in wide spread use for years in the agriculture industry. I have had a Hawking (which comes complete with web server) for a long time. They are the easiest way to set up remote surveillance of animals and heavy traffic areas. We always made employees aware of them so there was nothing clandestine about it, and so they were well accepted.

Also, don’t forget baby monitors-probably the most common use for these. And again, those with web servers can be seen from anywhere-even from a vacation spot.

Sage

Rich Menga says:
Well, I guess I should have clarified a bit. Wireless webcams are usually not in stores that sell general merchandise (it’s unlikely you’d find one at Target or Wal-Mart). This is the reason they’re not in wide consumer use.

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Adam

Dec 21, 2009

643 Articles Published

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