We are first time parents and added a Summer Infant video baby monitor on our baby registry. We had to return it because of interference problems I detected with our wireless Internet. My wife and I work from home several days a week and unfortunately for me, the majority of my work calls are VOIP (voice over IP), which needs reliable Internet access and speeds.This Foscam 8918W IP-based wireless camera was the only video solution I could find that was zero-interference, but also happened to still be the cheapest!
LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY:
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Every wireless video baby monitor I've researched runs at 2.4ghz. They may not put that in the description, but when I track down the manufacturer specs, it states 2.4ghz. Your wireless Internet/WIFI also transmit at 2.4ghz. Even the newest 802.11g and 802.11n transmit at 2.4ghz and 5.0ghz. My smartphone's WIFI as well as my wife's Netbook only works at 2.4ghz, not 5.0ghz. My Internet router also works at 2.4ghz and is not dual band.
WHY IS THAT A PROBLEM?
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After the baby, when I returned to work, I noticed strange lockup issues on my phone and horrible call quality for VOIP. I thought the Internet seemed slower and pages would sometimes lockup. After a lot of searching, I stumbled upon someone mentioning interference from their baby monitor, ding, ding, ding! Sure enough, I unplugged the video baby monitor and ran an Internet speed test, and I was getting 95-100% of my throughput rate. I plugged in the video monitor and the throughput rate plunged to 10-40%! I unscrewed the antenna on the baby monitor and throughput improved to about 40-60%. I unplugged again, and wah-lah, back to 95-100% again! It was quite clear that the 2.4ghz that these video baby monitors transmit on, also affect other 2.4ghz devices, such as my wireless Internet.
WELL, WHY ISN'T THE WIRELESS FOSCAM AN ISSUE??
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If the majority of all wireless Internet devices like your phone, laptop, tablet, router transmit at 2.4ghz, why isn't the wireless FOSCAM an issue??
Answer:
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The wireless FOSCAM *IS* an IP-based device that communicates through the IP standard to other wireless Internet devices like your phone, laptop, tablet and router. Basically, it plays well with alike 2.4ghz devices. The wireless video baby monitors that you buy at baby stores are standalone devices. They *transmit* over the 2.4ghz frequency any which way they can, they are not standards based on a common protocol, like IP is for Internet devices.
OTHER RESEARCH FINDINGS:
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We have a Philips Avent AUDIO-only monitor that runs on DECT wireless. DECT wireless transmits at 1.9ghz, which means there's zero interference with any 2.4ghz device. Repeating the same speed tests, there's no reduction in throughput with DECT.
Unfortunately, in all of my research, I could not find a DECT *video* baby monitor, only audio.
MY CHOICES:
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Option 1
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We could keep our 2.4ghz video baby monitor and switch all of our wireless devices to 5.0ghz. Well, that means I would have to buy a 5.0ghz router AND a 5.0ghz wireless network adapter for my wife's netbook and our phones could not use 5.0ghz WIFI in the house and we'd use our cellular data plans. In fact most of the consumer tablets and phones out there, likely do not use 5.0ghz wireless. That was definitely not an option.
Option 2
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Use a USB web cam; this was not feasible, because to use a USB web cam you need a computer and the baby's room does not have a computer, nor do we have any spares laying around.
Option 3
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Duhh, what about a wireless IP web cam?? Why didn't I think of that earlier? After a lot of research, I came upon the Foscam brand and while reviews were mixed, I filtered out the ones where technical-knowledge may have played a factor and decided to go with this. I'm a tech-geek and setting this up was not difficult. I did use uPnP for the first time on the Verizon FIOS router, after trying static port mapping and other methods to no avail. (You need this ONLY if you want to view your wireless IP web cam over the Internet, versus while you are only at home)
USAGE AS A VIDEO BABY MONITOR
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Awesome, simply awesome. Once you have this properly setup (and the supplied instructions were actually pretty decent), you can log into any web browser, specify the IP address of your wireless FOSCAM and control the camera (pan, tilt) and set 10-preset views. Even better, if your smartphone (Android, iPhone, Windows Phone) makes use of your WIFI and has an IP-camera app (all of the mentioned have several), you can use your phone to monitor and control the camera. If you make use of uPnP and allow the FOSCAM port through your home router, then you can watch (and control) your FOSCAM from anywhere you have Internet access. Yes that's right, at work, at Starbucks, etc. You will set-up various login account types and passwords for access.
For our baby's room, there's a preset view for the crib, the rocking chair, the changing table and the door to see if we closed it or not. I can press 1, 2, 3, 4, etc and switch views. Or I can manually move the camera to the right/left and up/down with my phone app or laptop's web browser. One time we weren't sure where we put the empty baby bottle and didn't want to disturb the baby. We used my phone to pan the camera and found where I had placed the baby bottle on the dresser! Sometimes if I am finishing up dinner and the wife has gone to soothe the baby, she can motion her arms for "more milk" without having to open the door to the bright open floor plan or yell anything to disturb a half-asleep baby.
My only slight gripe is that the night-time infrared lights do not seem to have a dawn/dusk option, meaning they are always on. For the past 5 months or so, they have been on 24/7 and still seem to work great in complete darkness, it's almost eery. Even in the daytime, the camera is smart enough to show color when there is enough light and in completely darkness, the picture is greyscale, but still very useful.
Some minor Caveats:
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1. The infrared lights glow red in complete darkness, but are not obtrusive and do not wake up the baby. We have noticed her staring at them a couple of times, but it hasn't affected her going to sleep at the same time. When I go and stare at them, they are not bright at all.
2. If you read the reviews, you can essentially dismiss using the audio portion of this camera. You may hear static on the audio if you do not move the antenna to touch the power cord yea I know that sounds crazy. You can remove the antenna completely and the static noise will go away too and likely you can still view the webcam. Besides all of that, I didn't deduct any stars because none of our phone apps support the audio portion anyways, they only transmit (and control) video. So we haven't lost anything we couldn't use to begin with.... Using a laptop web browser like IE, yes, you can hear the audio, but we use our phones as a monitor 99% of the time.
OVERALL:
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Best Price:
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Go into any baby store and the wireless video baby monitors (with pan/tilt and nightvision, etc) are $180-$300!! The total price of this 2-pack is about $154 as of this writing. This means each camera is only $77 ! I bought 2 for other uses, but you could buy a single FOSCAM wireless camera for $80-$85 total.
Convenience:
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Any device that can get to the Internet (phones, spare phones even without sim cards, tablets, etc) can be used to view your FOSCAM wireless camera (with the right account and password). (External internet viewing can be blocked easily, so that you can securely view it only within your personal WIFI network at your house)
Zero Interference:
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Becaused this is an IP-based wireless device, there is no interference with your Internet speeds that store-bought video baby monitors *will* affect.
Buy Foscam FI8918W Wireless IP Camera, White (2-Pack) Now
These little cameras do everything you need and you will be amazed how well they work in total darkness. It comes with two sets of antennas but they didn't bother telling you why. I used the small ones and they work just fine.Read Best Reviews of Foscam FI8918W Wireless IP Camera, White (2-Pack) Here
I've reviewed the outdoor Foscam FI8904W. My experience with that was great. These FI8918W indoor ones are awesome. They are indeed the 3.6mm wide angle view. The picture quality is pretty good, especially in natural daylight. They do produce a washed out image in low light once the IR LEDs come on or when you just have the house lights on. The ethernet connection works as it should and so does the wifi connection. The IR LED's come on automatically when they detect low light conditions. The panning and tilting is very quiet and not distracting at all. The browser software works as it should, but I use a 3rd party software to control multiple cameras. These pick up audio and can send audio, so 2-way communication is pretty good for what it is. The presets for the views is the best feature; I believe you can set up to 10. I like that the power indicator led is not on the unit, but rather on the AC adapter itself. The mounting hardware is ok, just use your own screws. The included screws strip easily and are of no use. The included 9dbi antennas work well when outside, providing a stronger signal overall. But I decided to use these inside the home, so the factory ones are sufficient. The 9dbi antennas are really big, so it can be unsightly if you mount the camera out in the open with these aftermarket antennas.The only thing I don't like is the network LEDs. At night it flashes and draws attention to the cameras. I'd rather these camera be as discreet as possible. There is an option in the camera on the web browser to turn the network lamp off. I've checked that box for each camera I have, yet the network LEDs still flash away, so that is why this product gets 4 stars instead of 5. I've made sure to make all these changes via IE as these Foscams and other economical cameras were designed to be used with this particular browser.
As in my other review of the outdoor Foscam, I am using a Windows environment, so I have no issues thus far. Setup was very easy and all the functions worked. As soon as you plug in the camera to the outlet and connect the ethernet cable you are ready to begin. Install the camera finder software from the included CD-ROM. Run the program and it will show you the IP addresses of the Foscam cameras. Copy and paste that IP address into your web browser and you are will gain entry into the camera. Default user is "admin" and there is no password. Now you should be able to view the camera in your network and make whatever adjustments you need to make. You can go wireless if you want to, set motion detection, set alerts, etc.
This review reflects the quality of the product and the integrated browser software. If you are having problems setting it up for viewing outside your network, that is an issue outside of the manufacturer's hands. Anyone with a good amount of networking knowledge can get this done in due time. If you think you are decent in networking, hire someone, because chances are you have no idea what you are talking about. Don't overestimate and overinflate you abilities and understandings because you will only confuse the professionals you are speaking with. Just pay someone and save yourself the aggravation and don't mislead the general populous with your negative reviews when you are the problem. Or actually make/buy dinner and get a 6-pack for that one guy everyone goes to for computer problems. He's willing to help only when you get your head out of your butt and stop blaming everyone for why you can't get it done. When you ask for professional help, check your ego at the door. I don't go in telling a mechanic I know all this and that about cars when I go in for an oil change; that's just crazy talk people. Oh. And I also fix cars... Please stop calling me unless you're willing to pay for my time. My wife wants me home eventually... :(
Want Foscam FI8918W Wireless IP Camera, White (2-Pack) Discount?
I do like these cameras and have purchased 4 over the years. One has died on me and it was a lost cause trying to get it replaced. But while they work they work great. I use them with a Synology Disk Station and they work seamlessly with their software. My only complaint is that the night vision is very short. You basically have to walk within 10 feet of the camera for the motion sensor to pick you up.
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