Wireless Internet Video Camera

Allows video (and sometimes audio) data to be captured and transmitted across a WiFi computer network. Wireless Internet video cameras are available in both 802.11b and 802.11g varieties. The Linksys WVC54G (compare prices) 802.11g wireless camera is shown above.

Wireless Internet video cameras work by serving up data streams to any computer that connects to them. Cameras like the one above contain a built in Web server. Computers connect to the camera using either a standard Web browser or through a special client user interface provided on CD-ROM with the product. With proper security information, video streams from these cameras can also be viewed across the Internet from authorized computers.

Wi-Fi Internet video cameras can be connected to a wireless router using either an Ethernet cable or wirelessly. These products include setup software on a CD-ROM that must be installed on one computer to complete initial Wi-Fi configuration of the device.

Features that distinguish different wireless Internet video cameras from each other include:

• resolution of the captured video images (for example, 320×240 pixel, 640×480 pixel, and other image sizes)
• motion sensors, and the ability to send email alerts when new activity is detected and captured
• ability to timestamp images
• built-in microphones and/or jacks for external microphones, for audio support
• types of WiFi security supported, such as WEP or WAP.

wireless internet camera