Unfortunately, the AXIS 206W has now given up the ghost, and it needed a replacement. The AXIS M1011-W was the logical successor to me.
Installation:
I admit that the settings for a layman can be quite a challenge. However, the help function in the camera interface are quite detailed. But for very special settings (HTTPS, SNMP, etc.) you have to have networking experience.
It is important that the camera is once connected by cable to the router or switch to adjust the basic configurations. Only then a WLAN usage is possible. AXIS also offers auxiliary tools for IP address means, but which are to be used only on Windows. Apple users must access it via the web interface on the camera (went smoothly for me).
If you want to access the camera via the Internet then, this can provide a password only a specific group of users, or make it publicly accessible without password. Caution: Be sure to check whether you may also operate the webcam at the desired location without personal rights of third parties to hurt!
AXIS offers to use in the camera to either a DYN-DNS address or a DynDNS service of AXIS. This ensures that you can always find his camera on the Internet, even if after at least 24 hrs. By forcing a new public IP is assigned by your ISP. I have the webcam its own port, for example: 8080 allocated and this enabled on the firewall in my router for the AXIS. At the firewall unfortunately often fails to connect to the Internet.
Image Quality:
In terms of image quality I am very satisfied with the M1011. As MJPG and Stream H.264 image quality is very good. The lens has Aperture f = 1: 2, and still delivers up to 1 lux images. However, in low light, the image is only displayed in black and white. In contrast to my old camera which is a step forward, because in low light they had very quickly become very strong color noise and the image was virtually unusable. The lens is well focused with my camera and should provide from near to far by the small sensor and the focal length of 4.5mm a good relative depth. If the images become blurred, I would have it checked by customer service.
In the camera, you can still do a lot of image settings: eg resolution, turn (when the cam is installed overhead), mirror, image compression, color, 50Hz / 60Hz Flickerunterdrückung, sharpness, contrast, exposure with individual zone measurement, etc. It can even be private Ausschwärzen areas which should not be visible on the image.
So you can customize the image to your liking.
What is missing for the operator of a public webcam?
Unfortunately, some very meaningful for me functions have been removed from the 7th year younger model. So earlier it was possible simply within its own individual menus JPG banner as links to the home page installed in the camera side. I find that particularly interesting for companies or service providers that want to advertise on the webcam itself. Also the inclusion of a visitor counter is no longer possible simply from the menu. It is possible to give its own HTML to load site in the camera, but I had to take professional help. Too bad that was formerly so simple ...
In addition, the server functionality has been severely limited in terms of bandwidth usage. Previously you could select the same in the basic settings such as number of users (1-20) Maximum can access the camera simultaneously. This feature is now in the "Advanced" "Plain Config" "Image" folder hidden. No longer be limited, however, how long a user can follow the live stream. I have previously limited eg 1 minute. Then the user had in the browser "reload" button to get back at 1 minute to see the live video. Now you can no longer limit and the user could until the next forced IP separation (max. 24 hrs.) Consciously or unconsciously use the stream / block. By existing Browsertabs today that may well happen unintentionally in the background. Too bad, because just prevalent in, but unfortunately bandwidth unfavorable MJPG format is also maxed out at VGA resolution and 1 frame per second (minimum selectable updating unit) even at 3 users the bandwidth if you have only 1 Mbit upstream. And then the line is busy for their own Surfing the web, or file upload. This allows the upload bandwidth consumption control only by severe restriction of image quality and number of concurrent users. But the problem that someone is up to 24 hrs. The stream by an active browser window, you can not control so unfortunately.
While it is possible to allow only certain IP addresses or block, but the charm of the AXIS thing is that they are installed once and then no longer have to worry about it. I do not want to constantly check whether someone is parked on the stream (by mistake). And even if you then disables this IP, it would be out of date at the latest after the next forced separation of the (parked) user.
Conclusion:
I suspect that AXIS has chosen to mainly offer security / surveillance cameras for a closed user group. The formerly so popular public Webcams for everyone to play well only a subordinate role. Therefore, many of the features of a closed user group are meaningful. But why in a submenu is not the existing and programmed options from 7 years ago with serving in the new, better cameras, is beyond me.
It should be noted that the M1011 also has alarm functions via contrast detection (trigger events). For use as an alarm / surveillance camera, I think the M1031-W or M1054 but more appropriate, since they also have a PIR infrared sensor, a microphone and an LED lamp.
I give the AXIS M1011-W from my perspective 4 stars because it is technically a very good and solid camera with excellent picture quality (for this price range). One star I have to pull for me as missing features which I find very useful and which already existed in previous models of the same product class.