Reviews

we purchased security cameras but the didnt come with any signs so we had to buy them seperately. These were a great value and the sign is really nice, sturdy material.

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These are a good alternative to replacing the big name decals from you service provider. The original ones can be costly to replace and usually fade after a few years and if people (thieves) can't read them, the deterrent aspect of your security system is drastically reduced. You want those predators to go elsewhere as opposed to being surprised AFTER they break something trying to get in.

Big poster is thin and it is made out of cheap material. small signs are very small..Need to come up with a real product similar to that of ADT supplies.

If it weren't for the fact that I have a use for the sign indoors and not mounted anywhere, I would have returned this to the amazon vendor. The sign is flimsy and appears to have one giant sticker stuck to it rather than actually being printed directly on the sign. The free "decals" are actually stickers, and poor ones at that. The adhesive is on the rear side so for a criminal to be able to read the words, you would have to affix it to the OUTSIDE of a window. I have no idea if they truly will not fade, as I just bought them. But I intend to not find out and I will buy more of the blue colored Intermatic decals instead (which still have adhesive but at least it is on the correct side of the sticker) that Amazon just recently restocked. (Hopefully you won't beat me to them and buy them all out.) I already bought one pack of the blue Intermatic decals and (especially considering the low price) have been satisfied with those. I do not know if they will fade (as I just put those up), and they are really thin (so much so that if you rub the back of them too hard to smooth out bubbles, you'll actually wipe off the ink). The positives to the affordable Intermatic decals, however, is that the adhesive is on the correct side, and with a small logo on the bottom, it looks to me more legitimate than these red, generic, and poorly designed stickers.

I no longer have the "Big Black Dog". I live in a rural area which has experienced a rash of break-ins. I purchased these and placed them on the front and back door. I used one on a garage window. I did not use the Large sign. But, I installed a motion camera on the second story. Is it working all the time? I won't tell..... a red light appears when it detects motion. My hope is intruders will just move on.........................

Reviews

i bought 4 of these 2 stopped working other 2 will probly stop soon im not happy althogh they look nice

I needed this system just to make people think they are observed.... a neighbor daughter that use to fool around at the main entrance with her boyfriend... yeap. I don't wanted to be their little secret dark place. The camera works perfect... it has to be a little low because the sensor is not so sensible to movement. The other alarms are for the corners and work great too. Since that system installed, the two little lovers just looked for another place for their encounters.

I first saw this product in the Spy Store, next to the Spy Museum in Washington DC - pity I hadn't bought one then and saved all the postage and packing to UK! But worth the cost. For a few pound/dollars you get a pretty authentic looking device, which whirrs and flashes its little red light as it scans from side to side after its motion detector has kicked in. Battery powered, so cost effective. Clearly only a minor deterrent to committed intruders, but a very useful one at that. I like it, because it has all the appearances of the real thing, at a fraction of the cost - and probably just as effective, although I cannot confirm that. But we have not been burgled yet.

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The idea is wonderful...the product is not. The base of the bar slides out and allows the door to open. I trusted Amazon to link themselves with reputable products. A great waste of time for me. I guess I could use the bar to hit a burglar over the head and for this purpose I rate it a 1 on a scale of 10 not 5.

I ordered this item (Alarm Security Bar with Audio Alert, Model# 82-5054) as a gift for my daughter and when she installed the "electronic alarm with the gimmick barking dog, it does not work". I contacted the vendor and got a RA number, BUT I have to pay for the return shipping cost! When it is a supplier's problem the supplier should pay and not the customer. Amazon should not deal with suppliers that practice this kind of business. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT.

The item works as advertised and it gives you extra security. The audio alert for the siren is great and loud enough for everyone to hear easily but the dog barking is not worth anything. You can hardly hear the dog barking. I think this is one of the most important features because most people don't want to deal with dog. Thats the reason I rated at 4 starts. Alarm Security Bar with Audio Alert, Model# 82-5054

I ORDERED THIS PRODUCT AND COULD NOT GET THE ALARM TO GO OFF AT ALL.WHILE TRYING TO TEST IT THE BAR BENT AND THE ALARM STILL DIDN'T GO OFF NOT A GOOD PRODUCT.I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT NO SECURITY AT ALL.

it's a good tool because it will alarm you when someone wants to get in your property

Reviews

Has been playing with this network camera for 3 days and here's my opinions: 1. Setup is easy. As long as your router support DHCP, it's just a matter of popping the setup CD and click on 'Camera discovery'. 2. Good built-in software. I have another Panasonic BL-C111A network camera and both of them can show up in the same page. 3. Need two ethernet cables separately: One goes to your switch and one goes to the camera. They both connect to a proprietary PoE injector. 4. Tons of features: Motion trigger, Time trigger, Upload images to ftp, send images by email, remote access, etc. Let's talk about the image quality, as it's probably the thing most people are interested in learning. In short, if you need a camera for mission critical monitoring (business location, identify a thief, etc), this is probably not your camera. The sensor of this camera is only 1/4" CMOS, which means it will be performing badly in low light situations. If you are looking for a camera for your business, then get a camera that have sensor size of at least 1/3", those cameras cost at least $400 or more. However, for basic monitoring, or use it as a gadget, then I think it should be fine. Comparing my older BL-C111A and this camera, I came to the conclusion they perform almost identical, i.e. suck in lowlight, decent in bright light conditions. For the BL-C210A though, the overall image is sharper but it also gives a lot of 'mosquitoes' noise. My older BL-C111A has a softer image, but with a lot less noise. So it really depends on your preference, I find the 'mosquitoes' noise annoying, even though the image is sharper. Another thing is, they advertise this camera as 640x480 30fps capable. This is another one of those advertising gimmicks. The camera image looks the best when they are 320x240. In 640x480 mode, they just extrapolate or enlarge it from 320x240, hence, the noise is even more pronounced in 640x480 mode. You will not see any more details in 640x480 mode than you will in 320x240. But again, this is a $130 (or $180) camera, so this is to be expected. If you need more detail in your images, then consider a 1/3" sensor camera. In conclusion, I think (just my IMHO) the image quality of this camera is no better or worse than generic Chinese made IP camera you can get on ebay (they all use 1/4" CMOS sensor). However, Panasonic wins out in terms of support and the software features/quality. I would give this camera a 3.5 star for the image quality, and a 4 star for the value.

Bought this camera through one of Amazon's Gold Box Deals for $130. For the price, it's a great camera. This is my second Panasonic network camera. A few years ago I bought their BL-C1A model Panasonic Network Camera and Pet Cam (BLC1A). The BL-C210A is a much nicer camera. The picture image is several times better, especially when motion is involved. You have the option of pan and tilt to look around. You can disable the indicator lights on the camera that lets you know the camera is on. You can also disable or override the privacy mode button on top of the camera. You can configure the camera to email you a picture when it detects motion in your house. Now how's that for peace of mind while you're away? And my favorite is that the camera is powered through the network cable which eliminates the need for a power outlet near the camera. The camera has a threaded mounting hole in the back that can be used to mount the camera to a standard tripod or an optional wall mount. The cube design is nice because it allows you to just set the camera on a shelf or table. The camera is light, so a tug on the network cable can bring it crashing down if it's not secured. There are limitations with the camera. If you want to view an entire room, you'll need to mount the camera high in a corner. It can only pan 41 degrees to the left or right, 10 degrees up and 32 degrees down. The camera is powered through the network cable, but it doesn't support the industry standard PoE. Luckily it comes with its own power injector. You'll need to purchase two network cables to use this camera. One cable connects the camera to the power injector and the other connects the power injector to your router/switch. The cable between the camera and power injector must be shorter than 98 feet. The box says you can only view still images from a cell phone. The website says you can't listen to audio with a cell phone. I haven't tried either. The software works pretty good, although I have found a few minor bugs in it. You have the option of viewing multiple cameras on one screen, but the max resolution for multiple cameras is only 320x240 and not the 640x480 max camera resolution. You don't need a computer onsite to use the camera, but you'll need one to do the initial setup. Panasonic has nicer cameras than this model, but the prices also get outrageous. $185 (current Amazon price) is not bad for one camera. But after you buy one, you'll want more so you can monitor the rest of the house. That's when $185 per camera starts adding up. If the price drops again, I'll definitely buy another. Note: The zoom function is not obvious. There are buttons on the screen to do everything but zoom. I discovered you can right-click on the top half of the video to zoom in and right-click on the lower half to zoom out. You can also use the wheel on your mouse to zoom in and out. Update (March 9, 2010): I did a little research on the camera model (BL-C111A) that the BL-C210A replaced. This camera has a larger CMOS sensor but the same resolution. The old model can pan 50 degrees to the left or right while this model can only pan 41 degrees. The old model can tilt down 40 degrees while this model can only tilt down 32 degrees. The old model had a 10x digital zoom while this model only has a 3x digital zoom. The digital zoom is not very good. If you have a need to zoom in on objects, you'll want a camera with an optical zoom. Some new features added are SSL data encryption for secure viewing over the Internet, power through the network cable, H.264 video compression, and the ability to operate the camera with some models of Panasonic flat screen TV's. I bought another camera from Amazon to monitor the back door and kitchen area. It comes with mounting holes on the back of the camera so you can slide it down on a couple of screw heads. It frustrates me that you can't mount it flat on a wall and pan 90 degrees to the left and right. I ended up purchasing mounting brackets VideoSecu Ceiling Mount Bracket for CCTV CCD Box Body Pro Camera 2-6 inch Adjustable MCB1w 1A2 so I can mount the cameras in a corner. Again, I really like the ability to power this camera through the network cable. I have the cameras and my network equipment all plugged into the same UPS. This way I can still monitor my house in the event of a power failure. If you're looking for a camera to monitor the baby's room, this is not it. You can't see much with only a night light on in the room. You're better off with a dedicated baby camera. We've had good luck with a baby camera made by Astak Astak 2.4 GHz Pan & Tilt Baby Camera with 2.5" LCD Color Handheld Monitor with Night Vision. It can pan and tilt to see the whole room, can see very well in the dark even with no lights on, and comes with a handheld color monitor. The monitor eats batteries so we just turn it on when we hear something or want to check up on the kids. It also comes with an AC adaptor for continuous monitoring. Another reason why a baby camera works better for monitoring babies than this camera is that you don't have to fire up your computer in the middle of the night to see if your child is awake. A word of warning, many baby camera's operate on the same frequencies as your wireless network. You might need to play around with the channels on both the baby camera and your wireless network until they don't interfere with each other.

I'm a tech guy and was prepared to forward ports, give it a static ip, etc on my Linksys router. But I didn't have to do any of that because of the well crafted cam installation software. The software is what made the installation so easy and it connected to my router with ease and configured all settings that I would otherwise had to do manually. The free URL for Internet access to the camera is also great. The web interface to the camera is well thought out and has many options and features. Even when the "privacy" mode is turned on, you can reactivate it remotely. The image quality is great considering that the camera is so small and it uses low bandwidth for both audio and video. Ease of use is what puts this camera above the rest. This was defiantly a great buy.

The Panasonic BL-C210A is a great little feature rich network camera that was very easy to setup and use for it's basic functions. This is a wired camera that will require a free Ethernet port on your router. This is my second Panasonic network camera (we also have a Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11, which is very good), so I had an idea what to expect. Here are the details: Features - + Color Video and Sensitive Audio + Pan & Tilt Control + Event Alarms can cause images to be saved and notification sent via email (or FTP) + Alarms can including Motion, Sound, Timer, and external Alarms (includes inputs for two physical triggers) + Free access to Panasonic's external "viewnetcam" site that allows remote access to your camera (either from a PC or Mobile Device) Pros - + Easy to Install and Configure + Easy to Remotely View and Control + Good Image Quality (in room lighting or brighter) + Excellent Customer Support* Cons - - Requires two LAN cables (not included) - Poor low light image quality, but selecting "Color Night View" helps (see "Customer Images" for examples with and without) - Digital Zooming only works on IE Browser using the mouse scroll wheel (Firefox does not allow it) Whats Included - + Camera + Mounting Hardware (optional) + Power Supply + Power Transfer Unit + Safety Wire + Installation CD + Installation Guide + Setup Guide What's Not Included - - 2 LAN (Ethernet) Cables - yes, this needs two cables (see "Setup", below) Setup (follow the "Installation Guide") - 1) Connect a LAN cable to the "Power Transfer Unit" and your Router 2) Connect the Power Supply to "Power Transfer Unit" 3) Connect another LAN cable to the "Power Transfer Unit" and the camera (power is now being sent over this LAN cable) 4) Run the install CD 5) Follow the "Setup Guide" to configure access from the Internet (if needed) * I needed to contact Panasonic Customer Support via the Toll Free number on the website and was pleasantly surprised to reach a polite and, more importantly, skilled tech who walked me through setting up my second camera for viewing through the "viewnetcam" web page (I needed to change the default port, very easy to do). Overall I am very pleased with this camera, the features, the ease of setup and use, and the great support from Panasonic! Highly Recommended! CFH

I would change the rating to 2 and would not recommend purchasing if you need LOW Light like a nursery. I absolutely do not recommend this or the 230a for a nursery! Review updated on 2-27-2010. I will start by saying this was a very difficult to set-up camera on a Mac using Snow Leopard with VM Fusion and Parallels. I was not able to get it to work on VM Fusion and Windows 7 and eventually switched to Parallels with Windows XP I finally got it to work. I also have Trendnet TV-IP422W which was simple to configure. Pro's 1. Comparing the picture in bright light using Parallels, IE and H.264 the picture is AMAZING. I will use the word 'Shocking' to describe how clear the picture is. Compared to Trendnet it is laughable how clearer the Panasonic picture is. 2. Web interface is great and is not limited for Mac users like Trendnet 3. The P/T is Very quick and much quieter compared to Trendnet 4. Unit size is very nice and the POE is well thought out. Con 1. Night 'vision' is completely worthless. In the nursery with only a nightlight the TV-IP422W switches to a b&w view and we can see basic outlines, blanket vs child is a bit of a challenge. However, turn on the night vision IR's and you can. No switch to the panasonic setting next to the Trendnet, NOTHING. When I say nothing I mean, you can't see anything just a black room. No joke! 2. The range of the P/T is very limited and I haven't figured out how to zoom. 3. It appears H.264 compression improvements only work on IE and Windows. You do not see a benefit with H.264 on FireFox or Mac browsers. 4. I found it very difficult to setup on a Mac and feel free to leave comments if you are having trouble and I will see if I can help walk you through what I did I received a 4 pack of Synology surveillance License and it works great. You can P/T and detection appears to work. I'm using the latest beta firmware on a Synology DS 409. Final Bright and I mean bright light the picture is amazing. Dusk the picture is not as good as the Trendnet and in very low light there is NO picture! If you have the need for Low Light pass on this camera! I also bought a 230a wireless and I used the same approach and was easy to set up and will put details in comment response. I'm returning the 230a as it doesn't work in low light of a nursery.

Reviews

Last year I purchased the BL-C131A camera that has similar attributes to this model. When I went to buy a second camera, it had been discontinued and replaced with this new model. For anyone like me who's considering purchasing a second camera, don't hesitate to pick this one up. It sets up almost exactly like the previous model, comes with the same DDNS service so you can easily monitor and control it from afar, and if anything the picture quality has improved greatly, something I didn't think would have been possible given the excellent quality of the BL-C131A. A couple of physical differences to be aware of, and also something that is left off the documentation: if you're using a tripod or tripod screw on your present camera, you know there are holes for that in the back and on the bottom. On this model, the tripod threads are only on the back, so if you are planning on putting it on some kind of tripod threaded device, keep that in mind. This camera comes with a clear plastic cover over the front of it that looks like it was put there for shipping and might be designed to be removed in use. No, it's a permanent part of the front of the camera and keeps dust and other hazards in your house from messing up the front of the camera. Don't try to pry it off, it's meant to stay put and it doesn't impact the image quality one bit. The wireless setup is the same as in the BL-C131A but they forgot to mention one thing in the documentation that was required of the BL-C131A and left me wondering if it was needed here-- if you use MAC address filtering on the wireless of your router to limit access to your network that way, you need to not only list the MAC address of the camera so that it can gain access to your network, you also need to add a second MAC address to the "admit" list that is one digit higher than that of the camera. So if your camera's MAC ends in "CC", you need to also admit the same MAC again but with "CD" at the end of the second address. It's a minor fluke in this camera that they did mention for the previous model, but neglected to say anything about with this model. I set it up without the second MAC, and it didn't work. Added the second MAC, and everything started working perfectly. And don't forget like I did on this one-- you'll need to specify a different port to forward on your router than you set up for the first camera. I did set up the different port number on the camera itself, then forgot to tell my router to forward that port from the outside. Once I did that, I had instant access to it from outside the house via the Panasonic DDNS service (you need to register a new unique URL for this camera just like you did for the first). I'm currently also using a Total Control software app on my Blackberry to see both of my cameras while on the go, and that works great. The other feature that may be of interest to some do-it-yourselfers is that the camera has switch closure output terminals on it that can be triggered from the web control panel (as well as a remotely controlled buzzer in the camera that I haven't figured out a use for yet). So if you're handy and can wire those switch contacts to an external relay or device, you could turn things in your house on and off remotely. I have an electrically operated pet door that leads out to my (fenced) back yard which I'm considering interfacing to the camera, so I can decide if I want to let my pets in and out when I'm not home. All I need to do is install the camera with a good view through the pet door (it's clear plexiglas), wire the camera's trigger up to the door's switch, and I'm good to go. You can also use the trigger to unlock an electrically operated door latch in the entryway to a secure office, for example. There are also additional external sensor input terminals on the back for things like door switches and motion sensors that you might want to place in a location not covered by the camera's own internal sensors and use the camera's email feature to alert you when something happens. Finally, even if you think you won't use the included camera recording software on the CD provided, install it anyway. Its monitoring feature, allowing you to see all cameras in your network on one screen, and to click to select one of them to be viewed as large as you like, is much much better than opening up multiple browser windows on your desktop to accomplish the same task, or using the "Multiple" tab on the browser app. It's an evaluation copy for the full version that lists for $399, so its recording features are pretty limited (no export allowed to standard JPEG or MPEG formats, for example). But install it anyway to have a one-stop place to see all of your cameras by opening one application. I also installed it on a PC that is off my network, and after inputting your standard DDNS URL's in its setup and storing your usual login information, it provides the same monitoring function on a remote machine, same as you'd get inside your network, and the login process is now automatic.

I wanted a "nanny cam" to monitor a new nanny, but felt a little uncomfortable about having one of the hidden ones. I felt that having a visible camera known to the nanny was a more respectful approach, although I would need several of them to monitor multiple areas since the locations would be known (and could potentially be avoided). The Panasonic BL-C230A seemed like a great choice as it is from a major international brand and the reviews of its other wired and wireless cameras indicated that they were well received. PROS 1. It's cute - It could star as a character in a Japanese cartoon. The nanny cam is a cube about 3" x 3" x 3 1/4" (approximately) and actually looks cute with its single eye and single antenna that looks like an ear. It has a high quality look to it with its high gloss white finish and reminds me of a smaller version of an old Sony Dream Machine alarm clock. It actually looks like it belongs on a nightstand in the bedroom or in a kitchen. It does not look out of place in a home and does not have a "tech" feel to it. I think this is a major plus as I really don't want the nanny to feel like I'm trying to determine if she is a terrorist. 2. Uses Wi-Fi 802.11 b only, g only, b/g both 3. Free lifetime use of Panasonic's "dynamic DNS server" - (more on this later) 4. Easy setup (maybe) - Easy to use paper instructions limited to 3 sheets of paper (of which only 2 are necessary). Sheet 1 shows step-by-step instruction on how to plug the camera into your router with a cable (not supplied and necessary even for wireless in the setup phase) and to connect the power cable. Sheet 2 is the sheet on how to configure the camera using your computer. This is the part that has the potential to be alarming or at least uncomfortable if you're not lucky enough to have UPnP (universal plug and play) on your router. (More on this later.) 5. Great interface with web browsers - Once your device is set up for internet access (more on this later) it has a fairly intuitive interface using Internet Explorer with an Active X control (and also on my Apple Safari although I used my PC with Vista for the camera setup with my Apple Mac for the router changes). There is a viewing screen that allows for 3 resolutions (192x144, 320x240, 640x480). There is a graphical control on the left of the viewing screen with arrows up/down and left/right for tilt and pans. What's nice is there is an auto tilt and auto pan button that will cause the camera to sweep back and forth quickly to give a quick overview of the room. Clicking on a part of the viewing screen will redirect the camera to focus on that spot. Different camera focus positions can also be programmed and saved. There is also multi-camera support for what appears to be up to 16 separate cameras. 6. Fantastic image quality! (It is definitely grainy in low-light, but that's to be expected.) 7. Infrared body heat detection system - but I have not yet tried that feature yet. 8. Sound detection - Camera can be set to record not just with body movement triggers but sound triggers. 9. Zoom ability? - but for some reason, accessing that feature isn't too obvious to me. 10. Audio - Works (but I have not been able to get audio on the iPhone) 11. Mountable - Comes with mounting screws and a safety wire in case it falls from your wall 12. Seems to be Apple compatible (except the initial setup and for video recording which appears to require installation of software different from using just a web browser, although I have not yet tested the video recording feature yet) - Works on my Apple Safari web browser as well as Internet Explorer (with Active X). The system requirements written on the outside of the Panasonic box seem to indicate only Windows XP SP2 and Vista with Internet Explorer 6, 7, 8 are compatible, but this may be true only for the additional software to set up video recording. The browsers seem adequate so far for just watching streaming video and taking still photos as well as maneuvering the camera. CONS 1. Setting the camera up for internet access outside of your home can either be very easy or can be scary for technophobes. Your router must support something called UPnP, Universal Plug and Play for this to work smoothly (I imagine). When I say smoothly, I mean, being able to follow the step-by-step instruction on sheet #2. If you do NOT have a router that supports UPnP then the step-by-step instructions basically tell you to go to the manual on the CD which gives a great introduction on private IP addresses, WAN addresses, static IP addresses, and the usefulness of something called a "dynamic DNS server". If you are now thinking that you will be over your head by all of this jargon, realize that most routers support UPnP and thus you can follow the step-by-step instructions which use an "automatic" mode in the configuration steps using your web browser. I am using an Apple Airport Base Extreme which does NOT support UPnP. My experience was that it required about 10 extra minutes for me to figure out that I needed to set up something like "port mapping" for my Apple router. 2. Although this is a "wireless" network camera, the description is slightly deceptive. It is wireless only in the networking sense. I should have thought about this more carefully, because what I really expected was a "cordless" camera. This camera has a powercord attached to it, although is "wireless". 3. It seems that there may be 2 versions of video recording software that is an optional install. Oddly, the one for single camera support versus multiple camera support are compatible with different Windows versions. Also I have not yet tried to install the recording software of either type on an Apple with VMware or Bootcamp. I'll post more about this when I get a chance. TIPS For those of you who also use an Apple Airport Base Extreme (which does not support UPnP), here's what I had to do: A. Launch "Airport Utility" software from my Mac then select "Manual Setup" B. Select "Advanced" from the top tab C. Select "Port Mapping" from a sub-tab D. Click on the "+" to add a device to this mapping so that an outside computer can access my device and is thus "mapped" E. In the drop-down menu select "Personal Web Sharing" F. Make sure the "public" and "private TCP" ports have the same number such as "80" in the text fields (which they do by default if you selected "Personal Web Sharing" G. Save and update the modem (requires restart) H. Go to the installation CD for the Camera and using Internet Explorer to configure the camera, choose "Setup" from the top in the web page I. Select "Static" and NOT "Automatic Setup" and type in a number such as "80" into the "Port No." field, and save J. Go to the "Internet" tab of the web page K. Select "Disable" from the "Auto Port Forwarding (IPv4) option. This is DIFFERENT from the step-by-step instructions given which only work for those who have UPnP. L. Select "Register with ...........com" M. Select "Save" N. You will then be directed to the "..............com" website which is Panasonic's "Dynamic DNS server" which basically will allow your router if it does not support UPnP to work. This website is also how you will be able to view your camera using a web browser outside of your home and local network. CONCLUSION I am impressed enough to have ordered two additional "wireless" cameras. Its ease of use with the iPhone's standard web browser is simply awesome. My colleagues at work were so impressed by it that they have also placed orders for the device within hours of them seeing for themselves the streaming video on my iPhone and on my desktop at work. I also suspect that my nanny will not feel like I'm some crazy overly zealous parent either, but that I just want a logical way to check up on the kids. It is a non-intimidating appearing piece of houseware that just seems fun and entertaining while being a legitimate surveillance camera. I hope this review was of some help!

Reviews

I have a Mac network, with an Airport, so I was a little worried about setting up the camera. Turns out it was a 3 minute job. The instructions provided by Robert Hoare (earlier review) are mostly correct, except for one important detail: if the camera gets it's initial IP address from your router (via DHCP), it could get any available IP address. Robert said it would default to xxx.xxx.xxx.253. Mine was issued 192.168.0.91. So in my case, the URL for setup was as follows: [...] Just type that into your browser and you are up and running. But the trick is finding the correct IP address. On a different network, the camera will probably get a different IP address. With the Airport, you can go to the setup and get the list of connected devices -- I think most routers have a similar feature. Worst case, it would just take a few minutes to run through every possibility, 2-255. Once you connect to the web server that's built into the camera, and set the username/password, you can set a static IP address and whatever else you want to set up. It has a whole bunch of other features. No worries. Another important detail: I was setting up the BL-C210A, but I suspect they are all similar in this respect.

Pretty dang good quality for $85.00. You can afford to buy multiple cameras later down the road at this price. Unfortunately, the DVR software that comes with the camera will not export a compressed MPEG video unless you purchase it for $350.00. All recordings will remain locally on your hard drive.

Was able to set up the camera locally in no time at all. Turns out AT&T Uverse is a pain in the backside. I finally had to call into Panasonic support and they were great. Took about 15 minutes for them to walk me through a new setup. I had already spent 2 nights trying to configure the firewall on my own but they pointed out I had to change the setup in the camera as well. To make this work you need to go to setup tab choose static connection mode change port number to 5000 for mine IP Address 192.168.1.253 subnet mask 255.255.255.0 default gateway 192.168.1.254 DNS server 1 192.168.1.254 DNS server 2 4.2.2.1 You will then need to go to the firewall of your router and setup an egress rule for the device using port 5000. This worked for me and I can now access the camera from anywhere. I further setup up limited user access. For this you need to go to "administer" and choose "Do not permit access from guest users" Then you go to "general user" tab and create the user account that you want to allow to access the camera. I set mine up to only allow "guests" to access the camera M-F 8a-6p. That was pretty easy to figure out as well. Finally, if you want to buffer the images you can set that up on the "trigger" tab. I chose to just have it store the images in the camera at 1 per minute and get just over 4 hours that I can replay. I am playing with trying to get it to email tonight. If you have AT&T then I hope these settings work for you. If not (or if you have any other problems) I highly advise you call Panasonic support before you give up. They are great and did not take too much time. Update - 1-27-10 I struggled with the email settings for a while running multiple tests. Only after some time on the internet did I find an article detailing how to set up webcams to email. I found an excellent link[...] However, if you are using [...], Yahoo you are probably out of luck b/c the camera does not support SSL login. My ISP is ATT and that defaults over to [...] so I am out of luck on both my accounts. Will poke around to see if I can find another way.

I have 2 of these cameras, and the installation of just one camera is fairly straightforward if moderately complex. Adding a second camera was more challenging, but this is just about as easy as it can possibly be. The best part so far is the technical support available via the 800-number at 800-211-7262. I have used the phone support 3 times and spoke with 3 different representatives. Each one was professional, patient, courteous, and very familiar with the product. If you're wondering whether you can set up this camera, you can do it. (and if you can't, the support representatives will get you the help you need.) Picture quality is better than i expected, and the video isn't as choppy as i thought it might be. Ability to view your pet via cell phone is this product's best feature, in my opinion. Highly recommend!

The camera is a good camera for the money, and I own three of these, and a couple Axis cameras ( see Axis 0199024 206 Surveillance Cameras Bundle) which are way better, but three times the price. The Panasonic is good bang for the buck, especially if the lighting is decent. However, of the 3 cameras I own, two of the first ones I bought have already had their PQLV206 power supplies die. :-( Although to be fair: I've had power supply failures with the Axis cameras too; although Axis had great support and replaced them all with an upgraded version for free even after the cameras were out of warranty.

Reviews

Pros: Easy setup, cool "toy" Cons: Miserable indoor video, would leave dock on its own, headlight is a joke. Sent it back and can't reccomend it.

I bought a pair of rovios from amazon in Nov-Dec 2009. I read the reviews here and at other sites, so I was aware of the battery charger problems. My Rovio #1 would not charge properly .. it kept turning itself off while on the dock and had a limited wifi range and only a few minutes of operating time. Wowwee customer service was responsive and sent out a replacement AC adapter which didn't solve the problem. So back it went to amazon and I was promptly refunded. Rovio #2 had charging problems resulting in limited operation off the dock, but at least it didn't power off while charging and had much better wifi range (around the house and even out to the street), but tended to veer a bit to the left when driving forward. I finally bought a radio shack 9v AC adapter as recommended by other users and the charging problem disappeared -I now get several hours operation between charges. We use Rovio to check on the house when out of town and are now happy with our new robotic pet.

I bought the Rovio hoping to use it to keep an eye on my cat when I'm away. If it worked as promised 100% of the time, it would be ideal, but it falls short. The first problem is a known issue with some of the charging stations: they don't have enough voltage to properly charge the battery. WowWee will apparently replace the power supply if you contact them and can wait several weeks, but in the short term this means that a 12-hour charge gives it enough juice for maybe a 5-minute jaunt. Enough to find the cat and get back to base, but that's all. Also, after about 1.5 days, my Rovio crashed and couldn't be accessed remotely from inside or outside my firewall, so it was pretty much useless until I could get home and reboot it. A remote camera that can't be relied upon to be remotely accessible for any length of time is an expensive doorstop. The Rovio is a great TOY, if you're willing to pay this much, and you're only looking for something to play with, not something to serve a specific function. It isn't a reliable WiFi webcam. It's a shame I have to send it back, since the cat seemed to like it.

I purchased this as a X-mas gift so my wife who travels alot could have something interactive to communicate with our daughter but while she can control it while here at home the microphone doesn't work well so you can't communicate well through it. My wife hasn't been able to get it to work while she's out of town so it has been a waste of money so far. I'm still hoping that we can get it working well but it's not looking promising.

My wife (E.Houston) bought the Rovio for me for Christmas. After a little tinkering, I wrote a glorious review on my blog. That said, if you don't want to dig through the robo community forums for beta code to try and third party control applications... or if you aren't ready to write your own control applications, you might be disappointed in Rovio. Some of the other reviews are right to say some of the options are pretty poor. But others are also correct in saying that beta code fixes a lot of problems and that the community is providing a lot of added value in that many problems are discussed amongst other users and being corrected. The head positions are pretty stupid. But there is a community developed application that will allow you to "bump" the head up and down so you can point it at a lot of different angles. Newer beta code pulls video via VLC which allows you to adjust brightness and contrast, greatly improving your ability to see in lower light conditions. I've wanted to see if infra-red would get picked up by Rovio's camera which would create a great potential for night vision, but haven't tried it. My opinion is that this is a hackers robot. Don't expect to get a super intelligent robot that can navigate by itself around every obstacle. it's more like a web control car with a video camera mounted on it. I'd love better to move Rovio's electronics to a remote control truck and make THAT web controllable. :) One thing I am worried about is that it seems to be pretty delicate. I have a servo that is bad on mine. WowWee owes me a new one but I have yet to get a straight answer out of them. I trust that Amazon would take the Rovio back, but now they say the product is under review and not available directly from them. A lot of folks are buzzing about issues with batteries and power supplies and all that seems fine with mine. I am going to fight hard with WowWee to get a new servo because I really do like this thing. It is awesome in my opinion. This is not something I'd get for a 10 year old unless they really have a good handle on how things really work and don't expect "magic" like R2-D2 is going to spring forth from the packaging. Since it uses web technology to control it though, it has potential to help a person learn how web technology works. I personally have big plans for mine over the long haul. Sorry for an ambiguous review, but it is a great idea and a potentially great product. I just have a low expectation that the mechanical parts will work for a long time.

Reviews

The Motion Activated Fake Security Camera is a great product at a very low price. It instantly responds when someone walks in the room.

Reviews

I purchased this backpack from Amazon.com about 60 days ago and have used it on 5 trips. It is really great for getting through airport security hassle free but the stitching on one of the shoulder straps has started to separate. Called Case Logic customer service to file a warranty claim and get a replacement backpack. Learned that all of their stuff is made in China so regardless of their brand name and professional customer service, I feel like I am stuck with a piece or crap that I will continue to have problems with. When will these companies learn that poor quality is not acceptable?

The backpack is very roomy, kind of plain but functional. I would have liked to seen more small to mid sized pockets for items such as travel documents & a small zipped pocket for a cell phone, thumb drives, etc. I hope it lasts up to its "limited lifetime warrenty". I looked at a lot of computer backpacks & what sold me on this one was the padded laptop area. I would purchase it again.

I took a trip in January after the attempted Christmas bombing of that flight to Detroit and despite increased airport security this bag scanned through as advertised with no problems. Looks nice, convenient compartments, as professional looking as a backpack can be and fits well under the seat in front of you.

Substandard materials and construction at a premium price. I immediately returned this. This backpack wasn't designed to last one day. I wouldn't have wanted it if it was free.

I bought a 16" HP laptop and needed a good bag to store it in. This backpack is well worth the money.

Reviews

this case is nearly perfect for me. I love it but wish it had specific places for the chords. It's wonderful as is, though.

There were not many reviews of this bag, but I'm so glad that I purchased it anyway. If you like function and want a clean looking bag to hold all your stuff and fly through airport security, then you will love this bag. After traveling with it and using it to hold magazines and papers in addition to my laptop, I'm sure that the smaller bag (ZNCS-116) would have been way too small and I would have been frustrated with it. Anyway, this bag has a very nice "fish mouth" compartment with a divider to hold magazines and reading material. The bag has a very clean look and is made of ballistic nylon, which seems very sturdy, including the handle and diagonal shoulder strap. My Hewlett Packard 16" DV6-1253CL laptop (which is actually 14.9" x 10.2" x 1.6") fits in snugly with ease. The TSA security feature works as advertised. I sent the bag through the screener easily after unzipping the case in half. There is also a strap which holds it nicely onto my rollaway when I don't want to carry it on my shoulder. All in all, a great bag at a bargain price for how functional it really is.

Lightweight, well built, and economical carry case for my Dell 1640 XPS. I love the fact that it has lots of practical compartments and is supposedly approved by the TSA (security) for screening, without removal of the computer. I say supposedly because I haven't tried to pass through airport security yet but I am looking forward to the experience.

Reviews

I hesitantly bought this after reading some negative reviews about it sliding off the shoulder, and the stitching releasing. I am happy to say that I am happy with the purchase. I have a canon 50D with the 17-55 F2.8 which is a fairly heavy setup. This lens is SIGNIFICANTLY heavier than the kit lens. The OEM canon strap was fraying where it goes through the metal loops on the camera body. To combat this, I solved one of the issues with this strap at the same time. I looped the keyring that comes with this item through the metal loop on the camera. (actually I bought a second keyring of the same size for each side.) Now I dont even use the non stainless steel attachment strap that came with this. That was the part that people were complaining came apart anyway. Now I snap the leash snaps directly over the keyrings, and slide the neoprene tube over the whole shebang. Doesnt rattle, VERY secure. Now I am unconcerned with slicing through the little bit of unsecure webbing as well. I like the neck strap. It is long enough for the more secure "cross the shoulder and chest" carrying style that is recomended for cut-n-grab areas. The rubber padding slides easily on the strap, and generally stays in place on your shoulder when you bring the camera up to the eye. Generally I like the way it "quick draws". The strap is long enough to not be binding in any way, and I am 6' 220#. Overall I am stoked about this strap.

Despite the glowing reviews, this is the worst camera strap I've ever owned. It's poorly designed. I've used the strap now for 2 1/2 years. I wasn't impressed with it when I got it and realized some problems right off. 1) The shoulder pad does not use rubber! It keeps sliding off my shoulder. It uses vented nylon instead of rubber. They designed the strap to be worn "tourist style" around your neck, instead of "shooter" style which is over one shoulder. It keeps sliding off my shoulder even when I'm walking around. I have to hang on to the camera and keep pulling the strap down against my shoulder to keep it from falling off. It's one more thing I have to worry about instead of concentrating on getting great shots. 2) The strap is too short. I'm 6'1" and the strap specs say it's max length is 56.4". But the way it has to be fastened to the camera it's only 52". It's too short for me, when using slung over one shoulder. If you want to use it cross chest for security it's going to be way too short. 3) The strap is too narrow. The strap keeps twisting due to the wires in it. And since it's so narrow, I can't tell if it's twisted or not. I have to keep holding the camera out and pull on the shoulder padding end to straighten it out. The problem with it twisting is that, when I put it on my shoulder and it's twisted, the camera ends up in a strange position and not oriented correctly. I need the camera to hang from my shoulder the same way every time for consistency. 4) The wires in the strap have memory. They end up twisted and you can't straighten them out. You can pull on the strap to straighten the wires, but the wires will still be twisted. The wires have memory and end up twisted through regular use, so there's nothing you can do about it. 5) The part that attaches to your camera is not slash proof. It's regular nylon webbing. The strap with the wire in it then attaches to this webbing. 6) The part that attaches to the camera keeps slipping. It uses a standard slider that doesn't hold the strap. After every shoot, I have to readjust it. Because a few times, the ends were very close to slipping off through the slider, and then the camera would fall. 7) There's are metal clips which attach the strap to the part that attaches to the camera. Because the part that attaches to the camera is not slash proof, the put a sliding nylon cover over it. The problem is that the metal clips can open without your knowing it, and the camera come off. The bottom line: This is a poorly designed product that wasn't tested by real photographers. It's not a strap that you can put on your camera and forget about it. The shoulder padding keeps slipping off, which is a constant pain. The part that attaches to the camera keeps slipping and twisting. The strap will become twisted due to the metal wires and it will be a constant battle to keep it straightened out. The clips that attach to the part that attaches to the camera can open without your knowing about it. The bottom line is that this is camera strap that you have to keep fiddling with constantly. It's not the kind where you can attach to your camera and forget about it. After 2 1/2 years of constant fiddling with the strap on shoots, I finally went back to the Canon strap that came with the camera. Using this strap was total aggravation.

I'm going to Europe soon and need a more secure camera strap than the one that came with my camera. Stories abound about thieves slashing camera straps and making off with cameras. I'm not sure how prevalent that kind of thievery is, but it made me think that I needed something a bit more secure. I found the Carrysafe 100 and have been very pleased with it. The construction is first rate and you can't tell there are twin cables sewn into the fabric along the strap. The quick release hooks are handy when I need to disconnect the strap and the hooks can also be covered so that any friction of the hook possibly rubbing against the camera body is negated. Well thought out, comfortable and secure. Thumbs up!

I've suffered through an uncomfortable (hot) camera strap: OP/TECH 37012 Pro Loop Strap and the D300 "steal me" strap (better than Op/Tech) but found this strap. It's padded but not over-padded. The quick-release attachments (which are normally locked) allow the camera to rotate lens-down, which is much more comfortable than the other straps which held the lens out from the camera. Another viewer warned of the stitching unraveling. I checked the strap and it appears that even if the stitching anywhere near the quick-release attachments were cut that the strap would hold firm. It's a great strap!

I was looking for a camera strap that was 1. More comfortable than the one that came with my camera, and 2. Was long enough to wear at my hip. This strap delievers on both. I am not a petite lady but this one is long enough that I can wear is over my neck and have it hand at my waist, a big plus for me. It is also comfortable to wear even when I have my tele on. Good Product

Reviews

The first monitor stopped working after one day, contacted company and without hesitation, sent a new one. It seems to be working fine.

After a lot of research and reading customer reviews I chose this one. It arrived ahead of estimated time and would of been a snap to install but I have a Cadillac CTS with a full liner in the trunk lid and a double walled lid to drill the half inch through and as per the instructions I was careful to make sure I avoided wiring but not careful enough. After repairing the damaged wiring (my fault) the rest was simple. The unit is very complete and works great! cts

I've been using this camera for a couple weeks or more now. This system consist of three main parts. The LCD screen, The wireless transmitter, and the camera (with extra long cable built-in) Everything needed to set it up is included. The camera's resolution seems good as well as the resolution of the lcd screen. The LCD screen is handy since it has a mono speaker built in to be used with another video source. The screen is a little hard to see in bright sun / heavy glare but not too bad. The wire for the camera is a very good length and connects to the transmitter with a 3 pin connector (not RCA). The transmitter has a another 2 pin connector to attach to the power wire which has to be spliced into the reverse light. The LCD screen has two inputs, the first being the wireless transmission, and the second being the video + audio input via an included wire. The LCD screen automatically detects the transmitter when the transmitter begins transmitting. The LCD screen can automatically switch to the transmitter's backup camera and will automatically go into a power saver mode when no signals are detected ( GREAT features! ) The biggest problem I've seen is that this wireless transmitter actually interferes with other devices that handle wireless. The first couple of days of using it, my wireless network "coincidentally" started failing, it turns out it was the transmitter from this camera system. I suspect any 2.4GHz wireless device (including bluetooth?) will be interfered with when the transmitter is activated. The wireless transmitter was about 30 feet away and behind many walls but it still caused interference. The system is good, but imagine if everyone had wireless devices that randomly interfere with the 2.4 GHz, no wifi (and bluetooth?) would be reliable. As a side note, I was able to convert the transmitter to include a RCA input so that I could use the LCD screen (with an attached 12v battery pack that I put together and is not included) wirelessly with any video source (no wireless audio though), However, the interference becomes a bigger issue since you may want to use it frequently.

Solves the problem of hooking to trailer- works like a charm. Not difficult to install on my 05 Tundra. Transmitter needs to be in trunk- I have a fiberglass cover on the bed, so this works fine, otherwise, wires would have to be cut and legenthened to install the transmitter in the cab.

I installed thr backup camera on a 2001 Ford Ranger super cab for hitching a bass boat trailer on. I put the transmitter inside of the bed, behind the tail light housing in a protected area, and tie wrapped it on the bed brace. The install was staight forward with no surprises.I mounted the monitor on the center of the floor and permanatley wired the harness to the fuse panel. Am very satisfied with the performance, especially the cost. Have purchased items from Amazon previously and give them an A+ and UPS has delivered items before the scheduled arrival date. One bad factor, the monitor tries to light up on accasion. Talked to Ken at tech support. The receiver frequency is very close to security devices. Ken states that by pulling into a bank, the monitor get a picture. Would I buy again, yes, has a very good picture. Just have to turn it off when not in use.

Reviews

I ordered this camera for my 04 F150 along with a Wisecomm CA030Y 30-Feet Power and Video RCA Cable video cable to run the rca and power up into the cab of the truck. This camera works perfectly with my Pioneer head unit. $45 for camera and cable I could not have done any better. Its works perfectly and has very good night visablity. With this setup I did need a male to male coupler for the camera to cable connection if anyone else is planing to do this. Only complaint I have is that the power pable that came with the camera is very thin 26 Gauge wire that I had to souldering to make sure the connection was sercure. I plan on ordering this same setup for my brother-in-law.

The camera works great, a nice wide angle lense that works great in the dark. I installed this on an '06 Ford pick-up and had a hard time finding a spot for such a large camera. It required drilling a large hole in the bumper to mount. I just wish it has an easier more efficient way to install without having to modify your vehicle.

A Nightmare Installation, Do not bay, In the Package is not any instruction, Just another CHINA TRASH

the vision is excellent day and night way better than cameras costing 5 times as much the only thing is that you got to make a bracket to install it i used a bracket i bought at advance auto parts that is used for wring in the engine and stuck them on the back of the cars and trucks with Velcro

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CAMERA WAS A NIGHTMARE. I READ 3 PREVIOUS REVIEWS ON THIS CAMERA AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE WORTH THE MONEY, NOT THE CASE. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO INSTALL INTO MY CADILLAC, AND NOT TO MENTION THE PACKAGING DOES NOT COME WITH ANY INSTRUCTIONS. I ENDED UP GETTING IT PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE VERY COSTLY. AFTER THE CAMERA WAS INSTALLED THE PICTURE ON MY SCREEN WAS SHAKY AND DISTORTED. NOT TO MENTION THE CAMERA DESCRIPTION LISTED IT AS WEATHERPROOF, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE EITHER AS I FOUND OUT. THE MORNING DEW LEFT THE CAMERA LENSE REALLY FOGGY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE MORNING OR IN BAD WEATHER. MY RECCOMENDATION IS CERTAINLY NOT THIS CAMERA. I WASN'T GOING TO WRITE A REVIEW BUT THIS ITEM LEFT ME VERY DISAPPOINTED.

Reviews

This looks just like the real thing. The sensor that triggers the red light is very good & picks things up from quite a distance. I made it look even more real, by taking the wires out of an old broken (battery operated) toy that my Son had and glueing them under the batteries in the dummy camera where there was a little hole going into the device. I used rubber cement (like E6000 that you can find in any sewing department). I then made a little notch in the battery door and strung the wires out of the camera through there. I drilled my pilot holes for the screws that the bracket attaches to. I then drilled another small hole in the ceiling next to the pilot holes and under where the bracket for the camera would go. I put glue on the end of the wires and threaded them into that hole. I then installed the camera and bracket over that hole I drilled. This way if someone ever pulls the camera out of the ceiling to see if it's real, they will be pretty sure their photo was taken when they realize they just ripped a bunch of wires out of the ceiling - that were attached to the camera.

I got this dummy camera to fool my workers so I can keep them under control. This camera is not motion sensor unless you put your hand a foot from it. It is only light sensetive so it should blink at night. for what I pay for and for my purpose it works. I do not know how long the battery will last thou. If you are buying this for more than $5-$8 you are wasting your money. It should be sold at dollar store.

The product itself was a worthless piece of junk. The Company was amazing with customer service. I have never had any company be so customer service oriented before. I ordered two dome camera's and one arrived broken - not from the shipping, just poor product. The company immediately sent out a new one with out even having me send the broken one back. When the new dome camera arrived, it too was broken. The company reimbursed me for my entire order. No questions asked. They are an amazing company and I would just them over and over again! THANK YOU!!!!!

I bought 4 of these, they install easily, and look realistic enough. The exception is that the motion sensor has a range of 1-2 feet. Not one of the four I bought had a range of more than that. Which means, it's almost impossible to mount so that people walking by will trip the sensor and cause the led to blink. I mounted one over a door, and I'm 5'10" tall. Even when I stand right in front of it and wave my hands, the sensor won't catch it. It's hard to complain for the price, and coupled with fully functioning video cameras and security system, it serves its purpose. But I think it may be better to take the batteries out and leave it completely passive.

Easy to install, noticable at night ( when activated by motion), motion sensor works well. Would and have recommended to many.