DISCLAIMER: This review is entirely my feedback and not influenced by AVTECH.
The AVN304 is ideal for consumer usage, for situations monitoring babies, home security etc. All it needs is an available network connection. If you want to access it from outside the home, it will require Internet connectivity as well.
It would also be ideal for monitoring pets while at work, or even checking on kids after school.
It can also be used by business, for hotels, restaraunts, daycares, even property monitoring where an owner would just want a little bit more security.
The device has a VERY wide range of support, with two major Operating Systems, 5 major web browsers, and 7 major mobile device operating systems. You can stream the video in H.264, MPEG4, and MJPEG.
Specifications:
Lets start with an overview of the camera's specs.
1.3 Megapixel IP Camera
Multi-Platform Remote Surveillance
720P 16:9
Supports Mac / Windows /iPhone / iPad / Android / Blackberry + More
Easy Setup Wizard
360 Degree Mounting
Extremely Bright LED
Recording (Windows Only, Via Included Software)
Digital PTZ
Email, FTP or SMS Notification
Multi-Language
Panasonic Uniphier DSP
Panasonic Live MOS Sensor
Digital PTZ
Digital Smart Zoom
White LED
Face Detection & Tracking
Video Viewer Software (Windows)
This camera doesn't use your standard CMOS for the image, it uses a Live MOS sensor. This sensor gives the low power of the CMOS , but puts the image quality in the CCD range.
The camera arrived in pretty standard packaging as can be seen in the pictures. The outside of the box is pretty descriptive of what is inside, and the items inside are very secure yet easy to remove.
As I removed the product from the box, it had the items you would expect to see: AC Power Adapter, IPCAM, Manual (which is very well translated and easy to read), CD-ROM, and the mounting bracket with screws in the white box. The CD-ROM includes different translations of the manual, as well as the recording software VideoViewer for your Windows PC.
The product manual is very excellently written, and includes information for setting up your PC to access the default IP address (192.168.1.10) of the IPCAM for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 with screen shots. The screen shots and instructions make it easy for even a computer novice to setup this IPCAM.
Here are some shots of the product assembled, before I connected it to my LAN.
The IPCAM itself isn't very large on the outside, but the features it packs are VERY large. Here is a side by side comparison beside my Blackberry 8320 smartphone.
I connected it to my LAN, and immediately logged into it to configure it. I was greeted by a first-time Wizard, which was going to walk me through the configuration. The interface works very well with Firefox and MS IE (including IE9!). When you want to log in, it not only asks for a user name and password (default are admin/admin), it also generates a random character string similar to a CAPTCHA.
You should select the option for "do not show wizard at login" before continuing, or else you will get the wizard screen show up on every log on.
It supports ActiveX and Quicktime format, however I found better performance using the ActiveX stream. It was more near time, with only around a 1 - 4 second lag in the video and audio.
For some fun, I connected it right beside my Linksys WVC54G IPCAM, and took nearly identical pictures of my backyard through a window screen. As you can see, the AVN304 has a much higher quality image, and makes the lines of the window screen all but invisible.
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| AVN304 |
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| Linksys WVC54G |
If you are not sure how something like this would connect at your house, here is a diagram that shows roughly how you would use it, and what can be accomplished using each platform (PC, MAC, Cellphone, etc)
As you can see by the diagram, you can Check + Control the IPCAM if using one of the Apple touch devices (iPhone, iPod, and iPad), or an Android based device. The Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and Symbian OS are only capable of Check (monitor or streaming).
I downloaded and installed the EagleEyes Lite software on my iPhone 3GS from the iTunes store for free, and it is pretty impressive. You can control the digital PTZ using your fingers. It also allows you to hear the audio, so I have a nearly fully functional IPCAM surveillance system in the palm of my hand.
The IPCAM has a White LED on it for darker/night surveillance, however unlike infra-red, the White LED is very bright and visible to the human eye. It does however allow full color images, versus an infra-red LED which make things look monochrome. It is extremely bright, and works very well with the device's low light sensitivity sensor.
Here are some sample images provided by AVTECH as a comparison to another camera, which match the performance I have seen.
My final verdict:
I have worked with AXIS, Linksys, D-Link and Netbotz IP / Surveillance systems over the years, and this AVTECH IPCAM is one that has me very excited. The 720p imaging makes crystal clear viewing of nearly any situation possible.
A few of these IPCAM with the included monitoring software will permit nearly anyone to have an ideal video monitoring solution wherever they want.
You could even have these IPCAM at the cottage with an active Internet connection, your house, and anywhere else you want to monitor, since the included software permits you to monitor up to 16 devices.
Just a few brief years ago, a solution like this would have cost thousands of dollars including decent software.
My recommendation is that if you are looking for a Video surveillance system, you should consider the AVN304 from AVTECH. You will get crisp, clear video feeds that will more than satisfy you.
The Price of the AVN304 will be around US$199~220 if purchased via an online store.
For more information, please see their website: http://www.eagleeyescctv.com/
