I was delivered the surveillance camera in a sturdy cardboard box. The package includes the camera itself, a LAN cable, an antenna, a wall bracket, screws, dowels, an English quick start guide and installation software on a CD.
In the English Quick Start Guide, available as the Foscam is connected to the on-site router. The camera also has a WPS button. After installing the software, the camera is configured via the PC. I am glad that the program for the control and for the settings is also available in German. On the website of Foscam You can watch a lot of useful German videos that go through all the installation steps, step by step and show interesting settings.
The first steps are to change the password, set the time and date format correctly. In live view you can collect first impressions, take pictures or shoot short videos. Conveniently, the camera can be aligned or rotated on the computer. The night view is black / white. Otherwise, the shots, despite the 1.3MP nice and sharp, intense color and everything it is easily recognizable. The camera responds very quickly. You can listen in via a built-in microphone. The voices are easy to understand, as long as is not spoken softly.
A few useful information and functions of the camera:
- Alarm function with motion detection: Can be activated if required. Here you can specify for example, the range of motion. One can by means of many small grid restrict exactly where something is moving in the image, so that the alarm goes off. Likewise, the exact time and even the date.
- Alarm via e-mail: If you want to see photos can be send when an alarm situation by e-mail. For this purpose must be entered before the SMTP server port, the email address and password. I find this feature with the pictures just super. You will not miss anything and can control what is happening at night sometimes. Here, incidentally, up to 3 receivers can be notified at the same time.
- Control via smartphone or tablet: There is a free app. Thus, the camera can also be easily controlled by the road.
- Among the settings: In general, everything can be on their own Bedüfnisse adapt: video and image format, size, quality, length of the video, color and contrast, type of alarm, local photographs, locations, schedules for recording, sound on or off, Admins, others can use your own passwords can be added uvw.
- Micro SD card Can be plugged into the card slot of the camera if necessary. Alarm images can be stored on it. Again, format and image size can be determined individually.
- Several Foscam camera can be connected and controlled together. So if you want to network and monitor his house in order, can do this.
Processing Foscam could be better for the current selling price. Everything is made of plastic. I have attached the wall mount bracket and have their own plugs used because the supplied were poorly processed.
What I like on the wall bracket, is the easy installation. The Foscam is rotated like a tripod, on a screw. Numerous tilt angles possible, making it possible to move the camera in every possible position. The supplied antenna could be mounted well. To the lens are the 13 IR LEDs. The night vision activates automatically when it gets dark.
I think the security camera quite small. The Foscam is very quiet, which was very important to me. So if it turns, zooms or otherwise does what, you can hear the very low voice. For the baby monitor in the nursery that's for sure a big advantage.
It should be noted that this is a pure interior camera. You can not get past the cold and is not splashproof. I have tried them inside in front of a window. At night, the recordings through a window of course anything but recyclable. Also one must not underestimate that one needs for the first installation and the equipment the time. As quickly go once on it a couple of hours. But once you have intensively concerned with you quickly get a feel for the machine.
Conclusion: The color and brightness of the images and video recordings have fully convinced me. I think the control is relatively easy if you hang the camera once in place and has made an overview of the programs. In particular, the control of any location, making the camera highly recommended. Even on holiday, on business trips or comfortable traveling from from smartphone who wants always sees what is going on at home. The quality (all plastic) I had imagined something of high quality. But when the camera hangs times, they performed their duties satisfactorily. For me, the alarm functions are the most important thing. Whenever something happens, I immediately get an e-mail. I recommend the Foscam you.
