IP Cameras for Home Use

Just about every laptop features a small webcam located at the top-center of the display bezel, and it’s also quite common to purchase add-on cameras for desktop machines. Built-in cameras have internal wiring to the motherboard, while external or add-on cameras generally connect via a USB port. In either case they are primarily used for video chatting or capturing an image of your immediate surroundings. There is another type of camera that connects to your network, the IP camera, which has different benefits than the USB models do.

Just about every laptop features a small webcam located at the top-center of the display bezel, and it’s also quite common to purchase add-on cameras for desktop machines. Built-in cameras have internal wiring to the motherboard, while external or add-on cameras generally connect via a USB port. In either case they are primarily used for video chatting or capturing an image of your immediate surroundings. There is another type of camera that connects to your network, the IP camera, which has different benefits than the USB models do.

(short for Internet Protocol) cameras use either a computer or more commonly a router to connect them to a network. They have been traditionally employed for surveillance in a business setting, but many are now available for personal use. They are easy for the home user to setup and operate, and of course they are still quite handy for keeping an electronic eye on your property, but their use is not limited to security. IP cameras can be useful to monitor anything in your home, so if you care for an elderly person and want to check their welfare or if you simply want to see what your pets are doing when you are away, an IP camera is ideal for these purposes.

IP cameras can be either wired or wireless, and the ones designed for home use are basically a plug-and-play installation; simply follow the instructions included with the camera. Generally they need to be connected to a computer for their initial setup, which involves defining the network parameters that will allow the camera to connect to your network. Be sure and change the initial password for the camera as you don’t want anyone to be able to change the settings simply by knowing the default parameters for that model of camera.

A camera that only displays on your computer won’t do much good when you are away from it, so many models include a web interface that allows for remote viewing of the camera from any Internet connected computer, even a smartphone. The images are not broadcast to the Internet for just anyone to see; logging onto a webpage with a username and password is required to view the camera remotely.

Cameras are available from basic units that are stationary, to PTZ (Pan, Tilt, and Zoom) models, that allow for movement vertically and horizontally, as well as a zoom function. The software included with the camera usually has motion sensing capabilities so images can be recorded when a user-defined area is entered; those recorded images can be saved to a hard drive for later viewing. The software also manages the movement capabilities of PTZ cameras remotely.

These cameras don’t work all that well for video chatting, so if that is your primary purpose, there are much less expensive USB alternatives available. But if checking in on your home while you’re away is important, an IP camera may be the perfect tool for the job.



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