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Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11
Binding: Electronics
Format: CD
Platform: Windows
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Features:
Average Rating: 4.0
Total Customer Reviews: 215
List Price: $299.00
Our Price: $249.99
Sales Rank: 360
Product Description
Wireless Network Camera 802.11g, MPEG4, Automatic Network Configuration, Universal Plug and Play, Set-up Wizard, Remote Pan/Tilt Control, Built in PIR motion detector
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Users Product Reviews: |
Product Review Summary: Good when it worked I used this web camera for 25 days (as a baby and pet cam) before sending it back to Amazon. It seemed like a nice camera with good features but I just wasn't happy with it's reliability. I have a Mac and found the other Mac reviews here very helpful as far as setup. It was pretty easy to get set up. I was able to get the camera on my wireless network (apple airport extreme), configured the DDNS (Panasonic's viewnetcam.com service), add users and configure settings. I was able to pull up the video on my iPod Touch. Other users could log in and view the video stream and use the pan/tilt/zoom tools, but overall it just wasn't stable.
The major issues which caused me to return it were:
1. It would be working one minute and then 2 or 3 mins later stop working (light would turn from green to yellow). I'd unplug the camera and then plug it back in and and it would get back on the network. Sometimes it would stay up longer and work OK, other times it would be completely unresponsive from the onset. I just never felt like I could rely on it being up and working, no matter the platform (Mac, Windows, iPod, mobile phone...i tried them all)
2. Audio only works on IE (I guess it uses Active-X controls?). I have a mac and i use Firefox and Safari, so this was annoying. I never tried to get the sound to work on a windows PC.
3. I never got the camera to work properly with my mobile phone (LG Decoy) or my wife's (Blackberry 8300?).
I will note that Panasonic's instructions don't mention anything about setting up with a Mac. The instructions in the Amazon reviews were all I needed though. I never did reach out to customer service (I usually don't for anything unless there are no other options). I'm going to try another web camera--maybe even another Panasonic. I consider myself pretty tech savvy, but this one just wasn't a good fit for me.
Product Review Summary: Great camera, easy to set up (mostly) We got this camera and immediately got to work on setting it up. The setup software is easy to use and network setup is easy. (Just remember to wait until the light on the front is solid green before searching for the camera on the network.
What was easy:
-Finding the camera wired on the network was quick. I connected it, turned it on, and popped in the CD. Two clicks later, the guided setup was humming along.
-Getting the router set up. It configured universal plug and play on its own, although I wish it could have forwarded port 80 to the one it chose automatically so that I don't have to add the port to the URL it provides to access it from the web.
-Video and audio work in a computer browser perfectly.
-iPhone browser even shows video in the default format from the camera nicely.
-Multiple user accounts were a snap to add.
Snags in setup:
I'm not a typical user, so I had some difficulties...
-If you're a Verizon FIOS user, the router they provide will NOT automatically configure universal plug and play. You must turn it on yourself.
-If you have a router plugged into a router, like you might with Verizon because their router is quite possibly the worst one I have ever used in my entire life, the Verizon router will block the incoming request to use the camera from the internet. You'll just get the Verizon router login instead of the camera.
-If you have a Verizon FIOS router, don't even try to use it wirelessly unless you have no encryption, or WEP only. WPA or WPA2 don't work, but you may know this about Verizon routers from your laptop or really ANY other wireless device you've tried to connect to it.
-Connecting to the internet required 2 steps, setting up the "Internet" section, and then setting up the "DNS" in Setup. If these were combined, it would be a bit easier to configure, but it still wasn't hard and you only have to do it once. (in theory)
The free access to it from the web for life is a great feature and was the tipping point for me to buy this product. You don't even have to do anything with the website. Just set up the camera, and it will be done along the way.
Product Review Summary: Not Ready for Primetime The Panasonic BL-C131A performs as advertised but the setup requires a good understanding of IP networking. It does not allow login via Safari browser on a Mac for me but works well with IE and Chrome in Windows environment. Overall I am pleased with the device.
Product Review Summary: It's the best network camera... once you can configurate it As many people have said, It is much difficult to make this camera to be seen from Internet when you don't know about the configuration of your Wireless router.
If you're a normal person who know some about networks and computers, be sure that you will have to read the html manual which comes in the CD, and then, when your are working on setting up, to call to Panasonic support. Be patience, because finally you will reach the goal.
When camera will be working you will realize that all efforts worth. I think this camera is the best network camera in the market (less than $300,00). I watch it from work, I can say that it have a very good image, a very few lags, a good pan and tilt, an outstanding microphone, and you have the chance to choose a free host other than Panasonic's. I've monitored with my camera from other computers (and networks), always I been able to make it work without any problem.
If you have not even a moderate computing knowledge, then be sure to find someone who can help you on setting up internet conection.
Product Review Summary: Best buy for a mac and for the money I have 3 of these cameras since my home was broken into a few weeks back.I use evocam software which allows me to set up recording when triggered by sensor ect. basically to do what the camera can not. My only problems being for one i purchased a new unit and found out it was used because it had a view net cam password connected to it which takes 2 to 3 business days to correct and amazon did the right thing as for refunding the difference.
It sucks that theirs no sound for mac users say someone has a masks on and breaks in it can make all the difference. The night view isnt night view but overall this is a great camera for the money and with the use of motion lights can effectively record and photo intruders.
I did buy one that was sent back because the wireless module was not working.
As for viewing threw internet all i did was went to port forwarding created a rule to use port 5000 and then clicked the ip4 button and changed that port to 5000 also now i can view with iphone and mac.
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