Customer Reviews:
 Does just what I need December 9, 2009
R. Blacher (Lake Worth, FL)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Setup of the camera was easy -- hook up to router and run revised setup program downloaded from Cisco to get it connected. Also, you should download upgraded firmware 1.01.
Getting it to work wireless would have been a cinch if they documented how to do it! Comes only with a quick start guide that never mentions wireless operation. Found the full manual on Cisco/Linksys site and got the wireless up and running fine.
High quality 640x480 streaming video over the Internet. I am especially impressed by how well it handles night vision -- I am watching my ill mother now sleeping with almost no light at all on in her room and I can see her better than if I were 3 ft away. Sound quality (snoring at the moment) is fine.
I am quite impressed and grateful for the tech assist in caring for my mom.
 A pretty good wireless security camera August 21, 2010
Bruce B. Webb (Charlotte, NC)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Cisco WVC2300 video camera has some pretty impressive features. Not sure, but this may have been made for Cisco by Pelco who builds some very high quality cameras. I wanted a network security camera so I could learn more about the technology in video surveillance. So having options like interchangeable lenses, I/O ports that can facilitate alarm system triggers, turn lights on and off from the camera web interface, two way voice, controls for mounting on a Pelco pan/tilt base to control movement remotely, and PC-less event recording directly to Network Attached Storage via integrated Samba client makes this camera a winner for my needs. If you're moderately computer literate, you should have no problem following the included instructions to setup (view and control) the camera in wired mode, but for the wireless setup and advance controls you should download the manual from Cisco's website.
The Cisco WVC2300 video camera Wifi g wireless IP camera has its own built in web server. So it does not need a pc to work. Authentication process requires a user name and password set by the camera's administrator. You can view the video from your own home network or you can configure your router to view and control the camera from computers or cellphones on the internet, without dependence on any third party web sites or subscriptions.
It performs better than average for a wireless camera in it's price range likely because of the MIMO technology. I have not seen any other wireless security camera offer this feature. Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) technology is a wireless technology that uses multiple transmitters and receivers to transfer more data at the same time. MIMO technology leverages multipath behavior by using multiple, "smart" transmitters and receivers with an added "spatial" dimension to dramatically increase performance and range. MIMO allows multiple antennas to send and receive multiple spatial streams at the same time. This allows antennas to transmit and receive simultaneously. I've not had connection drops or slower video on this system and it's more than 75ft away from the wireless router on a different floor. If you decide to go with a network cable install it also supports POE Power over ethernet which is very cool. I love the freedom of wireless personally and you can put the camera almost anywhere. It does not have to be permanently in one location because of cables.
It is very well built and feels pretty heavy and solid. It is longer than I thought around 8 inches long and 3 to 4 inches wide. In order to protect the camera from electrical surge(s) and or unexpected lost of power I put the unit on a small ups. I can't tell you how many devices fail or die to soon because they are not properly protected (Best Buy had a CyberPower - 425VA SL-Series Battery Backup System for 29.99). Also if you unplug the camera or experience a power outage the camera may get confused and go back to ethernet mode and not wireless. This may cause some to believe the camera no longer works. To fix this issue if it happens simply reconnect to a wired connection and set it back to DHCP if you previously had a static address and power off then on without the cable to force back to wireless. You may have to find the new address on the router or wireless access point for the new wireless connection. Another reviewer stated some good practical advice (for any computer hardware) regarding downloading the newest update(s)"Firmware Version: 1.1.2.6" was the latest release for download when I purchased this camera. Also downloaded the monitoring console software and other items too like the video surveillance software that allows you to setup a recording schedule and storing the video on a pc. I was surprised that it already had a microphone built-in, but the speakers needed to be purchased separately, and they need to be powered speakers. Two way audio works, but a good deal of background noise (fairly soft), but very noticeable was experienced as well. I had a better experience using the half-duplex and not full-duplex option setting for the 2-way audio, so you can't talk and listen at the same time, but it cuts the amount of noise and interference. It is easy enough to toggle between talking and listening. In general you get basic picture size options going up to 640*480 and the typical Brightness, Sharpness, Contrast, control settings to adjust the picture. This is an adjustable cs mount lens. You can adjust the focus camera by slowly rotating clockwise or counterclockwise the very tip of the barrel of the lens base that is closest to you. I had to manually focus the camera to adjust for a clear and really sharp image. After the focus was corrected it's got a really good picture quality. For a optional lens, you can use any c/cs mount and Cisco offers some custom ones for $$$. The night feature works in extremely lower light, but not in total darkness. Motion Sensor was not as important to me, as it will be on 24x7. In this price range most software packages that come with the wireless security camera have a pretty useless motion sensor features. You may want to give a look at the Triple Sensor Technology (Body Heat Sensor, Motion Sensor, and Sound Sensor)on the Panasonic BL-C230A Wireless Internet Security Camera if motion detection is a primary concern. My Cisco WV2300 is on a tripod in the baby's room and the picture looks great on the ipod touch and the new iphone 4, but audio controls are only available on the MS Internet Explorer browser.
If they improve the following this would be a 5 star wireless camera.
Include a Pelco pan/tilt motorized unit
Include a interchangeable camera Lens i.e. Computar Wide Angle 2.3mm Fixed Manual Iris Or get rid of digital zoom for a optical 4x or more
Enable the audio controls in other browsers not just MS Internet Explorer
802.11n wireless network capable and go ahead and add a 3rd Antenna
Other good wireless camera choices worth a look in this price range...
Sharx Security VIPcella SCNC2606 Wifi Wireless 802.11g Security Network Camera
Vivotek IP7132 - Network camera - color - 1/4" - CS-mount - audio - 802.11b, 802.11g
If you can go above this price range
Cisco Video Surveillance IP Camera (CIVS-IPC-2500W) D1 NTSC resolution (720 x 480)
and don't care about wireless...
Cisco Surveillance 4500 IP Camera Network Camera (Full HD)
 Quit after two months August 27, 2009
Just Me (Chicago, IL USA)
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
It seemed like a reasonably good camera but it stopped working after two months of use.
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