Looking In On the Home Front!
by Gary Woods

Security cameras have been around for a while but with the move to wireless networks it's become really easy to add a camera to your system. The first thing I found was that there's no widespread agreement on what a security camera should come with or even what it should do.

For instance, Smarthome's starter kit offers home automation and Motorola's system lets you add things like door and window sensors and temperature detectors. D-Link and Panasonic both deliver excellent cameras but don't create full-scale home-monitoring packages. Every system I looked at except Panasonic's can be set to give you e-mail alerts when they detect motion.

All of the systems I looked at require an always-on broadband connection for Web viewing and the ones I thought were most interesting can be controlled via an online connection plus have motion-sensitive recording software and can be expandable letting you add more cameras or other types of monitoring modules.

The system I found most interesting is the D-Link DCS-5300G Securicam. The camera has a high-quality image, smooth pan and tilt movements, and an 802.11g connection for video streaming at up to 30 frames per second. The package includes one camera, a mounting stand, an infrared remote, and the necessary software. There's also an AV cable, so that you can connect the camera to a TV and record to a VCR all for $549.99. So start keeping an eye on your stuff!

If you have any suggestions or questions for me please drop me a note at garyandlaury@santabarbaraproperties.com or see my column on the Internet at http://www.santabarbaraproperties.com or call me at (805) 729-0910