Mini Wireless Color Camera with Microphone
by Generic
|
Our Price: $24.95 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $20.49 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Mini Wireless Color Camera with Microphone
Customer Review: Wireless monitoring device works well
Summary: 4 Stars
Technically it works very well (much better than I expected), but video quality is poor.
I needed a inconspicuous video camera with the ability to record, that is easy to setup, inexpensive, and little or no maintenance. I don't need the ability for real-time monitoring. I don't need to watch anything over the Internet. All I need is the ability to go back and see what happened at a certain time.
How I have setup this product:
1. I have placed the camera in a place and position to capture the maximum activity. Camera clamp can be rotated in two axes, but the third axis is rigid. I think they should redesign the clamp/fixture such that there is complete freedom to adjust the camera.
2. I have placed the receiver about 10' away such that both antennae are in line.
3. Connected the receiver via Dazzle video converter to a computer.
4. Computer is kept always on constantly recording the video.
Issues with the above setup: (1) I have to change the video file about once a day and delete old files periodically (2) only I know how to manage the whole setup - too much technology for the family (3) captured digital video size (width and height) is small and quality is poor.
Alternative setup: Instead of connecting the receiver to a computer, I tried connecting it to an old VCR. Much simple to operate. I have used 6-hour VHS tapes. With this setup, picture size is as big as the TV, picture quality is abysmal. Low tech and family can manage the setup. More maintenance in that the tape should be changed every 6 hours.
I am currently satisfied with the setup. Happy with the product - it does what I need and I didn't have to pay a lot. However, I am still looking for a product similar to this, but has better camera.
Customer Review: Good camera for inexpensive price
Summary: 3 Stars
I shopped and researched the market before deciding on this mini camera. If your shopping around, there are other brands in the marketplace that look suspiciously like this one for $99.95 and $89.95. They are all made in China.
I purchased this light-weight, portable, mini, wireless camera to mount on an N scale model railroad flatcar. Portable power supply is furnished by a 9 volt NiMh 250 mAh (rechargable) battery I purchased on Amazon. The battery and inexpensive charger brand name is "Tenergy". It also comes with an AC cord to connect with house power.
The flatcar is pushed by a locomotive and the picture is transmitted through an inexpensive ($99.95) LCD TV. The viewer is transported through the model railroad layout as if they were riding on the actual train. This feature added another realistic dimension to the hobby. Small N scale becomes large life-like on the screen. The picture quality is ever-so-slightly blurred but clear enough to enjoy the realism. When riding on a full-size train and looking out the window, the scenery and buildings are also similarly blurred; therefore, scale realism is assured.
This camera uses lots of power and will deplete a 9 volt alkaline battery in thirty minutes. A fully charged 9 volt NiMh 250 mAh battery lasts for one hour and eight minutes. It obviously pays to use a rechargable battery. I discovered that the depleted alkaline battery had enough life remaining to run a flashing LED light which is installed as an airport rotating beacon (A seasoned hobbyist never throws anything away) on my layout. This camera does not produce a vivid picture, but for the amazingly low price and for my application, it's very appropriate.
It's also great for bird watching while aimed at bird feeders.
Customer Review: Avoid buying if you live around wifi!
Summary: 3 Stars
Like everyone else, I refuse to turn my wifi off, Everything in the house is connected to it.
I knew when I bought it that the camera was in the same frequency range, but I saw the tuning knob on the receiver and thought I could dial it in clear on the back of the camera as well..
The problem is that their are two switches on the rear that allow for a total of four frequencies. My wifi is set to channel 11 to avoid interference from the neighbors who is on the standard channel 6.
I tried all the channels the camera had, and they all seemed to be the same, interference, stuttering, and a maximum of ten(10) feet range. Channel 1 had the broadest fine tuning range of all the channels, but being the perfectionist I am, I still would settle for a little static as long as the image quit jumping.
All of a sudden on channel 4 my reception came in nice and clear and moving the camera around had no problems whatsoever even from across the house through 2 walls.
Satisfied, I sat down to write a review on the camera, and boom.. no wifi detected. Turn wifi back on and camera went out, but I've found a happy median while sacrificing video quality and range, Camera channel 1, wifi channel 11, fifteen feet away looking out a window onto the porch and driveway.
I placed a bit of aluminum foil onto the receiver antenna and laid it down onto the metal casing and got a little better signal.
If you are using this camera to record while you are away and not using wifi it is great, but if you are monitoring it from a computer or while sitting around surfing I would suggest you find a camera in the 900Mhz - 5.8Ghz range.
Customer Review: Great little cheap mini-cam unit
Summary: 4 Stars
I picked this unit after much research, for a home-made robot (class project). Here's the scoop:
For the price, it's fantastic!
Performance: Our best results, with a fresh battery, camera unit transmitted ~200' of open parking lot AND ~75' of industrial building w/ lots of flouro/wifi etc. with minimal interference. However, signal strength fell off with batt pwr. Unfortunately, we used a variety of 9Vs at various stages of use or I'd have a lifespan for you. Best guesstimate is minimum 30 minutes full strength from fresh batt.
We also played around with it indoors, with the AC adapters on both units.
Either way, you'll occasionally have to tweak the RX tuner for best reception if the camera is mobile, or the environment changes (body blocking the antenna of the Tx etc.) See that little knob by the Rx unit's antenna? That's the tuning knob.
How does it work?
Camera unit powered by AC adapter, or 9V battery (short life as expected) sends audio & video to receiver unit.
Receiver unit->RCA cables->TV/VCR/whatever (I used an old portable TV/VCR combo from a junk sale). No "Wifi" here.
If this thing had night-vision AND digital tuning it'd have 6 out of 5 stars. Speaking of IR, this camera will detect IR like most digi-cameras. The only test I managed to do before it's demise* was to point a TV remote at it in a sealed darkroom, and it did register the IR LED.
*The TX unit was smoke-checked by an idiot miswiring an improvised AC adapter after we lost the first one, but I'm definitely getting another.
Customer Review: Great /Portable Camera!!
Summary: 4 Stars
This camera i bought recently is Great! Has many uses to use it for. A few projects i use it on are RC(Radio Control vehicle ) from different views in my yard. And it also works on the same frequency as the Peak back up car camera does, so if i wanted to and needed it at a certain place all i have to do is power up my "Peak" 2.5 inch video monitor on a household car adapter or 9-volt temporary one and power up the camera the same way and it will send the image straight to it. Very cool in case i need it to go or at a certain place quickly. But works fine with the supplied receiver and power cords /9-volt adapters. Its range is limited ,meaning through one wall is ok but through several walls is still ok but can get fuzzy images and distorted sound. A single obstacle wall and very close range it will get a very clear image and sound for security . Worth the money and fun to experiment with on different projects. Outdoor permanent use ? -have to be carefull ,is not water proof, you'll have to build a protective box for it to avoid all rain or mount where no rain can get to it. And definatly protect the power cord or where no water can get on them(Conduit/metal) . A porch with a over hang awning is great for this item ,otherwise it works well through a window . Excellent color images also. I am currently trying it out in a small sealed wooden bird house(waterproof-enamel paint -glue) ,Works Excellent.