Is 4xEM IPCAMWLPTZ (wireless cam with 10x zoom) reliable?

[aussie]

Thanks for the info

If we were to purchase a network camera we would go with a higher end software. Majority of network camera software that is included is usually low end.

[etalk]

After weeks of testing and running in production environment on the IPCAMWLPTZ, here are my final thoughts. Overall, I am quite satisfied with it and rate it 8 out of 10. There is still much room for improvements.

Pro's:
- Tech support is super and very responsive. I called and sent emails several times, I got all responses back.
- Quite easy to have the camera installed, configured, and operational for the 1st time.
- It is quite a solid camera, with some advanced features (motion detection, ftp).
- Ftp, email, zooming, clarity, low-light performance work great. In daylight, its focus and clarity are super. I tested ftp at 3 sec per snapshot, still work great. I received, I would say over 99% of the time, exactly 1 snapshot at every 3 seconds, at the remote ftp server.
- Its recording/playback software that comes with the package works pretty well.
- The recording software saves video in a proprietary format, which can be converted into .avi format. This proprietary format is much small-sized than the .avi format.

Con's/improvements needed:
- Doesn't work with Firefox.
- Motion detection feature can be further improved.
- Playback software can be improved to make the conversion job to .avi easier and more intutiative.
- Should be less than $600. However, comparing it to other network cameras with the same price range, like the Dlink 6620G, the IPCAMWLPTZ is price competitive.
- No https. It is important so username/password can not be compromised, especially when one tries to access home network camera from remote location over the internet, using IE or recording software. I believe this is the most important feature of all, if 4xEM was to compete with others. Axis starts to have https for its new line of network cameras. Third-party software such as Visual Hindsight now has https support for video recording, for Axis cameras. It would not be surprising to see Dlink soon come out with new network cameras with https feature.
- No remote reset/reboot capability of the camera. The work-around today is to save the network settings, which forces camera to reset. It would be nice to be able to reboot the camera remotely, as if the reset button on the camera was pushed. Even better, this remote reset feature can be scheduled at certain times, ie, once a week/month, etc. Once in a while, the camera needs to be reset when its performance is slow or remote access to it is not possible (screen says "Connecting to 12.3.5.3 ..", but it never gets connected.).
- Lack the ability to direct camera to preset locations, at certain times, daily. For example, preset location 1 from 8am-5pm. Then camera automatically moves to present location 2 from 5pm-8am the next day. This is very useful feature for a business office.
- Lack the ability to automate the Auto Pan/Patrol feature. It would be nice to tell camera to auto pan/patrol at certain times within a day, or at every few minutes/hours.
- Sometimes, it takes a while to log in the camera, using IE from remote location. I still can't figure out why. As result, I have to refresh the IE several times.
- Better documentation, especially with the recording/playback software that comes with the package. Help system needs to be included with the IE camera control software.
- No support for PDA, like Windows Pocket PC. I have the Dell Axim X51v PDA. It would be very nice to be able to view it on my PDA. Some of Sony network cameras do have PDA support. Or it would be nice to instantly notify my PDA, via text messaging/short messaging when motion is detected at night, so then I can view my camera on my PDA right after.

Peter

[Administrator]

Hi Peter,

Thank you for all the pro's and con's of the WLPTZ! I can see you put a lot of time into creating this guide for us so Thank You!

With your permission, I would like to create a review with all the information you gave us in these posts and add it to our official reviews section of the 4XEM IPCAMWLPTZ.

Let me know if this is possible!

Cheers!
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[etalk]

Go right ahead Wes! I have no issue with you using my notes.

On the https, the issue with username/password being compromised is real. Last week, someone, somehow, got my Paypal username and password and was able to use my Paypal account to make unauthorized purchases. Nowadays, since so much is hapenning through the internet, there will be bad guys out there trying their best to steal people's properties. Https is the least we could do to protect people from stealing username/password.

I really hope to see 4xEM to have https feature in the near future.

Peter

[Administrator]

Thanks Peter! I will let you know when I have it on the site.

I'm sorry to hear about your Paypal account being hijacked. It is very true about how there is a lot of identity theft happening on the Internet.
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[Guest]

[etalk]

[ebone]

I have followed this thread in it's entirety and I'm still very much undecided.

I am also deciding between the 6620G and the WLPTZ.

It's seems that Wes is biased towards the 4Xem. (possibly rightfully so?)

I know that they are very similar cameras but it seems that nobody has the 6620 to post about it.

I have viewed both demos and I may be more impressed with the 6620G demo over the wlptz. However, I would probably rate the wptz (wired) about as impressive as the 6620G. It's irritating that the WLPTZ demo is so limited so that you can't get a true feel of how it will be. It also seems very sluggish like Peter stated originally.

I understand that they are nearly the same camera but I guess I'm wondering what are the exact differences? It's very confusing when you look at the specs on different sites and when you pull up a comparison on this site it doesn't have half the specs listed.

* I thought the WLPTZ was 1.0 lux and not .5 lux like the 6620G until my last sites visited. Are they both true .5 lux and the same in darkness?

* Does the 6620G also have the white balance thing?

* Does anyone know if the 6620G has reboot and freeze problems like Dlink's crap lower line?

* Is the WLPTZ really reliable like it's been reported? (it seems that most reports come from Wes's wired 4xem)

*What is the difference in software?

* does the http issue discussed above apply to both cameras or only the 4xem?

* Are there any other differences.

* Peter, is the WLPTZ as sluggish as the demo?

It seems that windows not recognizing the 4xem can be a pain. I've already had problems.

I think I found a website that (nerdsomething) that will refund the cameras without restocking fee so I'm tempted to order both and return the one I don't like as much. But I really don't want to have to go through that trouble. And I've never ordered from that site and don't want to risk them denying my expensive return.

The price difference at this site is only around 80 dollars between the two. I know they are comparable cameras but do you guys believe that the 4xem is better or better for the money because it's cheaper?

I know I'm asking many of the questions that have been discussed but I'm kind of in the same boat as Peter (?) was originally.

Any help that you guys give is greatly appreciated.

[ebone]

Also,

* How bad is the motion detection on the WLPTZ? Is it better on the 6620?

* Can you remotely reset the 6620G (whereas you can't on the WLPTZ)?

* Peter mentioned that you can't set the WLPTZ to go to preset locations at certain times of the day. Can you on the 6620?

At this point, I am leaning slightly toward the 6620 but am still very close to the middle.

Thanks again.

[moz]

ebone has asked some very good questions.. I'm also comparing between these two cameras and have wondered some of the same things. In fact, I joined the forum for this thread alone!

Hopefully someone can answer some of ebone's questions. I have two more.

1. Since both cameras have dual codecs, what's stopping PDA's like etalk's Axim from viewing an mjpeg 'stream' from the 4XEM? Can the 4XEM utilize mjpeg at a high frame rate (ie. greater than 2fps)? If so, it'd just require some simple javascript and the ability to view jpeg's.

2. Can either of these cameras use an infrared add-on device for true night vision like some cameras come equipped with? The type that looks like a ring of infrared LED's around the lens.

etalk: if your cellphone doesn't support email-to-sms, I believe there are sites on the web that'll convert (motion detection) emails to sms then forward to your phone.

moz

[Administrator]

The DCS-6620 is very similar to the WPTZ.

They both have the same specs (including white balancing). The WPTZ demo that 4XEM displays is limited but it is for good reasons. Considering it is on a parking lot they dont want you to be able to move the camera around and focus in on license plates - which is very possible with this camera. That is why they also show the demo I have available which is connected to my lizard tank. This demo allows you to move the camera around and zoom in/out. It also displays the white balancing because there is a very bright heat lamp shining down which the camera will compensate for.

Regarding the reboots and freezing....D-Links lower line is bad for this. (namely the DCS-905 series) I haven't heard of anyone having issues with the DCS-6620 series cameras doing this, or the WPTZ series.

The software is basically the same. They both allow you to monitor and record up to 16 cameras with archiving capabilities.

Like you mentioned the price is a big difference. $80 bucks is a lot in my opinion but if you can get both and return one, then try it out. Just make sure you can return it without a restocking fee as well.

Neither cameras have the ability to reset it remotely if the camera hangs. If you can access the camera and you just want to reset it, go into the network settings and just click save. This will reset the camera. (it is a little work around I found )

Neither camera has the ability to go to preset locations at specific times. I made a script for Peter that accomplishes this so you can ask either him or me and we can send it to you.
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[Administrator]

Now on to the questions from moz....

The 4XEM can view up to 30fps in MJPEG (352x240 res, and 15fps at 704x480 res)

You might be able to fix a javascript to view the jpegs, but I haven't tested this before.

Neither camera can use IR attachments. The lens does not support IR and the lens is not removable so you won't be able to add on IR. Both go down to 0.5 lux and can switch to black and white if its very dark.

I have a crappy cell phone and I was able to pull up a snapshot from the camera. I just got the camera to FTP snapshots to a directory and then on my cell I pulled up the image that the camera FTP'd.

I wouldnt mind hearing about these sites that will convert emails to sms however

Let me know if you have any questions!
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[moz]

Thanks for the info, Wes. What cellular carrier are you with? Some provide email addys, ie. 4165555555@mycarrier.com

Rogers in Canada used to but took it away. Here's a link to a PHP script that does SMS relay for Rogers. Just run as a cronjob if you have access to a Linux server: http://www.brickhost.com/RogersE2T.zip

Virgin Mobility has a cheap pay-as-you-go (I'm with them) that comes with an email address (yournumber@vmobile.ca), and has free incoming SMS. Let me know if you're going to sign up..I should be able to get you $10 in call time to start.

I don't recall any specific email-to-SMS gateways, try googling "email to SMS gateways".. I'm sure you'll find some for your area.

I'll try to dig up the MJPEG stream script if anyone's interested.

[Administrator]

I'm with Bell Mobility actually - Don't get me going about them. I have constantly thought about starting a "I Hate Bell" website.

I do have access with a crontab (this website runs on a linux server). I will checkout your PHP script as soon as I get a chance.
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[Mogo]