Linksys by Cisco Wireless G Compact Video Camera 320x240 MPEG-4

• Reviewed by: tdang71

  Strengths: Price, zoom, can be accessed over the internet.

  Weaknesses: Decent resolution in lighted room. Poor in low light. Not compatible with WPA encryption

  Overall: This camera has decent resolution but needs to have a very well lit room. In low light, it is really worthless. Easy to set up initially, but know it is not WPA compatible. Works with WEP. For the price it is decent, but would recommend the next model up, the WVC54GCA. It has twice the resolution for a little bit more. Worth upgrading.

• Reviewed by: djcorso73

  Strengths: Looks good, smaller, more flexible mounting hardware. Still the best value for the money IMHO.

  Weaknesses: Seemingly poorer reception, web-viewer interface, mounting hardware ultimately inadequate, and...the Viewer and Recorder Utility still isn't too great.Most importantly...NO SOUND.

  Overall: I purchased my first Linksys camera ~3 years ago, my second 2 years ago, and my third just today. I'm probably a lifer for linksys as I can integrate viewing all 3 cameras using the Viewer and Recorder Utility (however, that's even in question now as it doesn't work with Vista). This model looks better than it's predecessors (i.e. WVC11B and WVC54G). It seems a bit more compact, but when I place it next to the others...it's really not too different. The mounting hardware seems better at first, but I'm unsure now...see below. I seem to get poorer reception (likely due to the lack of an external antenna like the WVC54G and WVC11B have). The mounting hardware design has moved the entire camera onto the pivot point. I didn't like this and I'll likely abandon the Linksys pivot mount and replace it with a Gorrilapod tripod (which fits nicely and lets me attach it to the curtain railings in the nursery). I was very disappointed when i learned this model does NOT have sound. It was a nice feature that I could turn on/off on the WVC54G. Overall, I should've waited for the WVC200 price to drop a bit...but I'll still keep this unit. Actually, now that I think about it more as I write this review...I'm really doubting myself...but I can't see paying 3x as much just yet. Good luck with your decision.

• Reviewed by: Adam99

  Strengths: small size, wifi & wired lan; image quality so-so

  Weaknesses: can't get to work with other dns providers, uses linksys' pay system for now (90 day demo), focus difficult

  Overall: i like it, but video quality is so-so compared to a wired lan cam I havehave not been able to get it to work outside of my firewall/with other dns providers, but I have to spend more time tryinghas some good features, but nothing for low-light--the camera needs good lighting to work

• Reviewed by:

  Strengths: Small, lightweight, wired/wireless capability, doesn't need dedicated PC

  Weaknesses: Software incompatible with Vista, marginal Linksys support

  Overall: Wireless basically unusable -- had to power cycle the camera every day to re-enable wireless, then wireless connectivity stopped working altogether. No resolution from Linksys after 2 months.

• Reviewed by: MSteiner

  Strengths: Wireless or direct wired, view video from either browser or included software utility. No PC required after it is configured.

  Weaknesses: Not great image quality, a little large for hidden placement. No sound.

  Overall: All in all a very flexible camera system. Viewing video is directly available from any browser (once you flash the firmware on in) or from the included software utility. Setting up more than one camera is a little tricky, but can be done. Linksys infers that to access your camera(s) from the web outside your internal network that you need to buy their DDNS service, but you can use any of the free DDNS services(NO-IP.COM, DYNDNS.com, etc) as well if you dig into the manual. Each camera needs it' own port number, and static internal IP address. Then you must open each assigned port on your router to each of the IP address. Then use http://Your_DDNS_hostname.com:portnumber/ from your browser, and bang your there. I wish it had sound.