With the Cisco PVC300, you will find a high-tech solution to your home and small business security needs. This IP camera integrates numerous security-based features into a truly comprehensive camera, which solidify its claim for our TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award. You’ll be able to quickly install this camera to monitor a small business, keep an eye on the pets or kids at home or watch inside or outside your property. The Cisco PVC300 is a high-quality camera, and when wired to your network, it will allow you to access the footage from any internet browser or even your smartphone. However, this camera is not compatible with an SD card or DVR recording device storing video.
The video resolution for this network camera is right in line with the industry standard of 640 x 480 pixels. With a field of view of about 73 degrees, it is one of the best we found (as most other IP cameras only have a field of view around 50-60 degrees). Having a high field of view means you’ll have a more visible area, fewer blind spots and a more effective camera. This is one of the key factors to consider when looking for security cameras. The video resolution offered by this camera, while standard, may not be as clear as you may expect in this day of HD cameras. However, the picture quality is still relatively high and the video management capabilities are extensive. You can log into the camera with a smartphone or computer with internet access and view and control the camera. You can use this ability to scan, tilt, zoom and even adjust the video settings. You can even connect multiple cameras and view each IP camera all from the same browser. You’ll be able to control each one individually cameras well. You’ll just need your user name and password that you use when you install the IP camera.
The recording and viewing options offered by the Cisco IP camera are diverse and will suit most small business and home-recording needs. The recording feeds are available through remote monitoring. You can use the browser or your smart phone for live viewing or for recorded viewing. The video surveillance camera supports the use of a dynamic IP address via DNS. All you’ll need is the DNS hostname, which will be given to you when you purchase the camera. This allows you to access the feeds from anywhere, and your video surveillance from your IP camera won’t eat up a whole computer.
You can program recording schedules so the IP camera doesn’t start recording until after the business closes. You can also set the camera to operate solely on a motion detection option. When it detects any sort of movement, it will begin rolling. Under this setting with the IP camera, you’ll get an email notification that there’s been movement in your building and that recording has begun. The alert will also have an attached image taken from the moment movement was first detected. This will let you know whether your immediate attention is needed or if you can ignore the alert. The alerts will have time stamps so you know exactly when something happened.
You can store the recorded video from this spy camera in either a local computer hard drive or it can be uploaded to a website storage location via an FTP or email. You can select the different settings easily with this IP camera. It might be wise to use both options together, so you can ensure that if one of the options crashes, you’ll still be covered.
The mobile viewing with this IP camera requires a smartphone. Using iPhones, Blackberrys, Androids and other smartphones, you can log right into the browser and begin viewing video very quickly. Be aware, however, that if the connection is slow, you'll get terrible video quality.
The Cisco IP PVC300 is a true plug-and-play device. You can simply connect it to your network router and get going. You won’t even need to worry about third-party software. Aside from the first connection and initial installation, you can access and control everything about this camera from a web browser.
The only issue behind wired surveillance cameras is the need to hide and connect wires. If you’re unfamiliar with the electrical layout of your building, you may need a professional electrician to help with installation. The video feeds will travel via a secured Ethernet line to your internet router where they will be transferred to a storage device or uploaded to another secure location for storage.
Whether you’re looking for help in the installation of your device or need help after it is up and running, the customer support team has a variety of options. The telephone and email options with this IP camera are both useful. However, when we emailed the customer support team it took several days to receive a response. When we called the customer support line, we were connected almost instantly.
The standard warranty for an IP camera is one year. However, the Cisco IP camera has a three-year warranty plan. The extra security of knowing the device is covered by the manufacturer is extremely helpful.
The Cisco PVC300 IP camera is a truly remarkable unit. The recording options are diverse, and you can view the feeds from anywhere with internet access. You won’t have to sit by a single computer all day watching the video feeds with this unit. One of the more interesting features is the option to turn on the motion detection features that will alert you when the camera detects any movement.
