Description:
Enclosed QuickStart description is very helpful. For lay people, I recommend the 20MB large description of the Foscam homepage. Instructions are in English but should at the present time no longer be a problem because it has English as early as the primary school, or you can use the many translations of www.
Installation:
Installation is quite easy by hand. Cam Connect the power (DC 12V / 2.0A) and the network (wired RJ45) and even should these relate an IP address from the DHCP pool (where you have to wait a little because the cam only has to start). Now, the IP address which has received the Cam (Can be used with the supplied IP Camera Tool or directly via the router client list identified) with Port 88 (default port) select and off you go.
Configuration:
Here is an Addin in the browser must be loaded (here depending on the firmware can be found on the page Foscam very good instructions. I recommend for beginners to IE since it automatically installs the add. In Firefox, for example. Does the addin to be installed manually, depending on the firmware Caution This applies only if the FW is below the level of 16.05.2014 as this FW an .exe for execution is where it will save you in Firefox manually install.)
The initial configuration starts with the award of a new username and password.
Here I recommend before any further configuration performed a firmware update will first be carried out which can be easily found on the homepage under Foscam Support & Help and Downloads. The reason is the one through which the new firmware nice features for beginners to get, among other things, a wizard option (meaning the FW with state of 05.16.2014). If this has already been installed or even a more recent it is also good.
WLAN:
External antenna is attached then the establishment of the WLAN is pretty simple. The unit is all visible networks after a scan and you can dial by clicking on it. There are even hidden SSID's support should be net as I have hidden. It will also support WPA2 which corresponds to today's standard. (I recommend nevertheless to operate the Cam with the cable only cable is true)
DDNS:
The DDNS can be easily set up and only needs to be activated. There are a manufacturer and Third Party DDNS among the settings. My recommendation is to let the DDNS disabled since both are active DDNS set with activation. It is best to access externally want to configure the DDNS via the modem / router and set a port forwarder / trigger (if the modem / router supports it)
PORTS:
The cam can be accessed both via HTTP and HTTPS, and with both functions (only when HTTPS is there now and then a short time-out). Even an interface on Media Port (ONVIF) exists but which I could not test with my Synologie because I lack the time (but will soon be rescheduled). In addition, the cam supports UPnP but which is disabled by default. So if a UPnP enabled router / modem has not much to do with Port Forwarding / trigger has can get around this with UPnP. (I recommend, however, to leave it disabled and to define the ports themselves for the purpose of security)
VIDEO:
Now for the video settings. There are 4 channels which can be individually adapted to the configuration of a bandwidth, the FPS and the resolution. Everything independently. For a stream of externally but one should bear in mind its upload to the provider. One should not expect if you're like me 2Mbit upload the one a liquid HD picture with a bandwidth of 4Mbit gets over (That says the common sense) Thus, you should adjust a stream that it is covered with the upload. In addition, I read many cams that people complain that there is no HD image. The cam has not Full HD. They stem exactly 960p corresponding to 1280x960 and 1920x1080 not. So it is not anticipated Full HD Cam.
The stream via VLC as in the description of the RTSP protocol also works without problems (but I have only tested jokingly and I do not use).
ALARM / MOTION DETECTION:
works beautifully. I get both the Alert (tested with GMX, Gmail and Yahoo) with 3 snapshots and recording on my FTP. The alerts can be set individually recording of 1 minute continuous (works only with the FW version of 16.05.2014) and triggering alarm. (There is the first point of bothers me, and although the sensitivity but which can not be set at different levels will be explained. Thus, I have not found a setting where my cat the alarm does not trip but other people have now compared to the size). The snapshots are that come by mail and on the FTP in good quality, as always 3 Snapshots are made for each alarm, and at least one of the 3 images is clearly visible. The 2 minute recording which is saved on the FTP is of top quality. Only to criticize here is is about 2-3 false alarms by sensitivity at 10 alarms
NOTIFICATION / STORAGE:
The mail as the FTP configuration is simple but
ATTENTION: This Cam has not as in the description given above an SD memory card
Night vision:
Now for a non-intoxicating theme the IR LEDs. These have a very selective illumination and the specified 20 meters are dream images. I may as well still see at about 8 feet but what happens next is all gone very dimly. But on the whole, not bad for the price, you can not compare with three times as expensive equipment and just for me is not important. (In addition could still mount IR illuminator) Really do notice the IR LEDs at night not if you do not look directly afterwards.
The Bright Red keeps well within limits.
PTZ control / ZOOM
The controller responds quite well and quickly can be adjusted individually and the 3x zoom works perfectly with engraved image.
APP control with android:
Now it is funny. I do not know why but the in-house Foscam app is not compatible with me with the PTZ control. I have several apps like TinyCam Monitor Foscam Viewer, etc. tried but to no avail. It always works the image and the zoom function but not the PTZ control. Sat in Konatkt with Foscam support but that also brought no success. (Here I would like to keep the good response from the support'm in 2 days was carried out with decent proposals). Well recently I found the app IP Cam Viewer with access then so fully worked Zoom, Motion Detection and PTZ.
ASSEMBLY:
Here I have to complain about just the camera angle that this must be it mounted pretty high to get a good overview and a useful zoom.
IN ADDITION:
Is there also small nice features such as IP filtering, 3levels Accounts (Admin for configuration, operator control and guest only for access to the view), a private zone where eg. Can be covered in photographs places like windows. In addition, there is also an upside of Foscam available software that I have not tested because it is not needed by me.
On the whole, this is what also preying on the optics much an ingenious device made in China. Specifically, one should not look as you but every now and then a point is where you have to verfrässt. However, the technique seems to be mature and I just hope that the Cam now survives longer than 1 week long and its service business as usual.
Conclusion is on a scale from 1 to 5 Top Flop:
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Optics 5
Configuration / Installation 5
Mail / FTP settings 5
Video Configuration 5
WiFi functionality 5
PTZ control / Zoom 5
Access from an external location (DDNS) 5
Security features 5
Alarm function 4
Quality of recording 4
Foscam support 4
Installation 3
APP compatibility 2
Night Vision IR LED 2
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Update of 09/06/2014:
I am this weekend regarding noticed a new problem. The latest firmware update from 16.05.2014 which I continue
have already mentioned above. And I noticed that after the update no longer mails go to GMX.
So who is on a GMX account currently has no luck. At first I is not noticed because I
have experimented with the sensitivity but I have not received any more alarm messages even though the pictures and videos on my
FTP has been saved. I then switched to GMAIL as a transmitter but could not find GMX as a receiver.
Then GMAIL, I received the information that the mail due to the GMX 501 Syntax error - line too long was denied. Seems as if Foscam would have played with the character length for the new firmware update.
So if you like I said on GMX there should not buy this cam. Since I have a GMAIL account I switch easily and
Thus, the problem has no real effect on my rating should be the people because it is very confusing because the test email web interface without any problem by going over GMX also when the new FW forewarned.
With the old FW there is not the problem and GMX works perfectly but it lacks halt the special features.
Mail to Foscam to the problem I have now escalated ;-)
