Wilife DVS800I LukWerks Indoor Starter Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)Wilife DVS800I LukWerks Indoor Starter Kit
I've been shopping for a new home security camera system for some time, and was lucky enough to get my hands on one of these sets. Overall I like the product, although I do have some reservations. This product is extremely targeted. So you have to know your needs very well in order to know if this is right for you.
This unit includes the Wilife management software, one indoor camera, suction cup mount, bar mount, table stand and power and USB connectors.
Installation
Physically installing the device is straightforward. The receiver and the camera must be attached through power outlet via receiver plugs and connected to your computer's USB port.
The software installation is not equally easy for all users. Any system running Windows Vista, Antivirus software and a software firewall running will need them to be temporarily disabled to get the Wilife software to install. In addition, Windows Vista's extra protection means you will have to click yes several times and go through a few reboots.
This setup made the installation take a little over an hour and required an extra reboot due to some initial hanging. Still, well worth it to have this system installed on a secure OS.
Installing on XP may be slightly easier, but you will still have to deal with disabling your Antivirus or desktop firewall if you are running those. If you're buying a home security system, you will probably want the computer that's storing those files to be secure. With that in mind, taking the extra time to have AV and a firewall installed is probably worth the extra effort.
The design of the indoor cameras is very unique. I can only guess that they are designed to cram a lot of electronics into a very small body. The outdoor cameras are more traditionally shaped. In any event, they all seem to work well once set up.
Adjustment and Expansion
Once you've got the software running, the amount of options for managing this unit are impressive. While most novices need not change settings. You may want to adjust the setting for motion sensitivity after running this for a while. I found that turning down the sensitivity ideal for my use. This will vary based upon which areas this device is being used to monitor.
You can do some cool things with this system, including setting up phone or email notifications of recordings that exceed limits you can set.
This wasn't my first security system, but it was my first introduction to Wilife. I can say without reservation that experienced users will love the adjustable features, except for a few functions disabled unless you upgrade to the premium package.
There are three starter sets: this one with an indoor camera, another with an outdoor camera Wilife DVS800E LukWerks Outdoor Starter Kit, and one with a "hidden" camera Wilife DVS800C LukWerks Spy Camera Starter-Kit. If you want multiple cameras or a combination of them, you will have to buy those additional units as add-ons. It would have been nice if they would have simply produced a starter set with one of each or some other configurations. Once again, 90% of users will be happy with these starter sets, I personally just know I will have to either buy more add-ons or upgrade to the Pro set.
There is a bridge you can buy for about $80 to integrate this with the pro set Wilife Homeplug Bridge. Those that want to avoid using power-line communications will most likely have to consider a more expensive pro version Wilife Pro 4CAM Master Syst Pro Ip Video Security Syst 4CAMS or a different system all together.
The available add-ons and accessories include:
1. Night-Vision 50 Illuminator kit illuminates up to 30 ft and includes an 80° IR lens
2. 54 degree camera lens allows the camera to better view distant objects
3. Standard 80 degree camera lens to replace damaged indoor lenses
4. 120 degree Wide Angle camera lens covers twice the area for better close-ups
5. Set of 5 Adhesive-Backed Mini-Clips to attach your camera cables
6. Set of 2 Small Suction Cups to route camera cables around windows
7. Wall mount bracket for ceiling or wall mounting your camera
8. Deluxe mount with extensions for mounting cameras from a drop ceiling or solid surface
9. Desktop Stand to place your camera on any flat surface
10. Mounting Suction Cup to attach the camera to a window
11. Replacement cables in Standard (10 ft), Extended (20 ft) and Long (30) lengths
12. CAT 5, RJ-45 cable extender for up to 80 feet of CAT 5e cable
Considerations
1. Your camera must be close enough to an outlet to connect it via the included 10 foot cable. You will need an extender if your power outlets are further away.
2. You have to manually adjust the camera focus, so adjust it before mounting.
3. You will need to have a computer that meets the minimum requirements
4. Your computer needs to be on all the time for the recording of video.
5. You will need a broadband connection to access this video remotely.
6. This power-line connection will work better with newer wiring.
7. You will want enough hard drive space to allocate at least 2 GB or more for storage.
8. It will take a little time running the system to set your optimal motion sensitivity
9. The computer receiving the video signal and recording does need to be a PC. If you have a Mac running Parallels or other virtual PC running Windows XP or Vista, you could theoretically install the monitoring software on that. Few users will want to or be able to set that up.
10. For panning or remote adjusting, you need to purchase an "upgrade" for $79 per year to activate the advanced features. So most of us will live without those features.
11. If you have Windows Vista, antivirus software and / or an internet firewall application, installation requires several extra steps.
Pros
+ Nice power over Ethernet design - no batteries needed!
+ Nice price for a fully functioning starter system
+ Very easy to add cameras to the system - up to 6 cameras supported
+ Nice group of available accessories to customize your installation
+ Great management software with many customizable settings for those experienced with security systems
+ Default settings will meet the needs of novice users and not require changes or adjustment
+ System is motion activated, saving storage space
+ Video recordings are stored in a directory and easily backed, copied, or erased
+ You can easily access your camera via live feed over the internet
Cons
- Not particularly fond of them including the "digital pan and zoom" feature as part of the premium ($79 per year) package, but I will live without those features
- Also need the premium package to access recorded videos over the internet.
- More demanding users will need a system that includes audio
- Manual focus adjustment for camera; why not offer a higher priced one with auto-focus?
- Some latency on website video access
Conclusion
This set is definitely worth looking into. For most basic needs, this set fits the bill at a very good price.
Enjoy!


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The LukWerks Indoor Camera Starter-Kit video security system protects homes and small businesses. Install the software and plug-in the cameras in minutes no wires needed! Your PC instantly becomes a command center for live monitoring, motion-based recording, internet remote viewing and security alerts.Add up to 5 LukWerks Add-on Cameras.

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Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security--Hidden Add-On Camera Review

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(More customer reviews)We purchased this camera as an add-on to our system. Thirteen months after purchase the camera quit working and all troubleshooting has failed. Wilife will only repair the device if it is under warranty.

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WiLife Digital Video Security Camera Hidden Add-On Camera

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WiLife Indoor Camera Master System DVS-800i Review

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(More customer reviews)5 stars because in this price range, it provides more than your money's worth. But it's not a super-deluxe system with lots of additional of features and capabilities. For that you must pay much more.
I've been running a two-camera system (DVS-800i) for several years now and I must say, for me it has been much better than I expected. First, I had doubts about any product that was serious about communicating through AC power lines but I've only had to reset a camera a few times a year and, really, being cynical, I expected more problems. The reset worked for me in each case.
If you really shop and think about a video surveillance system you quickly find there are some major decisions you must make. One big issue is installation time and cost. If you look at the competitor's fully dedicated wiring systems available (costing more) you realize that you must drill holes and run coaxial cabling for the camera to communicate, AND provide cabling for power to the camera - two wiring jobs. Once you've installed a wired system, you can't move it around very easily.
Even if you choose a competitor's wireless system, you still need to provide power to the camera via wires. There are solar-powered outdoor cameras from other companies, but they are still early in their development. Additionally, you have to confirm that a clear and reliable wireless signal will always reach your receiver and if you are paranoid, you have to consider that wireless signals can be jammed by intruders.
You will pay twice for a more feature-rich system from a competitor. First the purchase price of a more deluxe system itself will cost many times the cost of a WiLife system. Then you will pay again for the cabling installation. And when you want to add a camera or move an existing camera, you are facing cable installation costs again. If you can get a wireless system to meet all your needs, you may avoid the cabling, but when I made my comparisons, those systems still cost more for less features.
With the WiLife system, you still have to power the camera but that very power line is also your transmission line so half the wiring problem is solved. It's relatively easy to move cameras and install new ones, provided that an AC outlet is within reach. I haven't needed AC extension cords, but I imagine they will work OK, they warn to avoid using power strips.
So for the cost, the WiLife system offers a quick, easy solution and if it works for you, you have saved a lot of time and money. I won't go into comparing every feature, plenty of other reviewers have done that for similar WiLife products on Amazon.com, but I would like to say to some of the disappointed reviewers that they must be expecting the features of a much, much more expensive system. They should have checked their needs before they made the purchase. This is probably the best entry-level system with more capabilities than you'd expect for the price. It has been very stable and reliable for me but I would agree that in some locations, AC power data transmission may not work as well as expected. But try the WiLife system and see if it works for you.

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The WiLife Indoor Camera Starter-Kit video security system protects homes and small businesses. Install the software and plug-in the cameras in minutes no wires needed! Your PC instantly becomes a command center for live monitoring motion-based recording internet remote viewing and security alerts.Add up to 5 WiLife Add-on Cameras.

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Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security Indoor Add On Camera Review

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(More customer reviews)I currently ordered this indoor camera from Directdeals and when I first got it it worked fine for the first 5 hours.Then for some reason it died and I had to return it.I talked to the guy from Directdeals and they where nice.So they sent me another one for exchange.I was happy to hear I was getting my camera replaced.When I got my replacement it didnt work so I called wilife and we trouble shooted everything turns out the camera is bad.So that made me think why is the second camera bad too?So I dont think I will get my money back and im going to have to waste my time and call them again and ask for another exchange.In my opinion when you buy something online as a customer you expect to have everything there and working.So im giving this a thumb down.

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Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security--Hidden Master System Camera Review

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(More customer reviews)There are three sets that are nearly identical, and differ only in the type of camera: this one (hidden camera), the outdoor starter kit, and the indoor starter kid. for more comprehensive reviews, look at those other kits as well.
As for my opinion, this set does what it says it does in a pretty seamless fashion: you install the software, plug the camera into the wall, plug a USB adapter into the wall and your computer, make some minor configuration changes and you are all set. I have no doubt we could have gotten a better system cheaper but not one as seamlessly integrated.
We looked at many different systems and bought this one instead because:
- most spy cams broadcast for TV...you then need a TV/VCR to record, or a separately purchased adapter to make it work with your computer, and we weren't technically confident enough to want to buy different pieces and figure out how to get them working together
- some spy cams are self-recording (they contain memory internally) but these tend to be pricey AND they limit how much you can record; they will fill up if you don't clear them out regularly, and for our purposes that wasn't practical
- most "wireless" spy cams work on a WiFi wireless network, which is great if you have one, but we wanted this for use in a place we didn't have wifi; this one works by transmitting over your home or office electrical system.
- the cost of the system includes a website you can set up to view your camera remotely (although if you have a firewall you'll only be able to watch 3 minute pieces; if the system can connect directly, which might require configuring your router which some people will find daunting, you can watch constantly). So, that said, here are some cons:
- only works on PCs, not macs
- 95% of the configuration is a piece of cake, but some aspects are confusing, like how to schedule alerts, and setting up for emailing alerts
- the program has many features that are in the program but you can't click on them -- they are there as advertisements for a "platinum" version of the software that costs $80 a year. It's annoying to have a screen full of buttons you aren't able to click, and to have advertising be such a prevalent portion of the interface
- this one is kind of petty, but it would be nice of the clock that hides the camera had an alarm, since we had to remove a "real" clock in place of this one
- the camera is fine for security, but the image is kind of strange - it appears to be infrared? Which means the colors are bizarre. Reds turn yellow, greens and blues turn white. Which is probably fine for security purposes, but don't be expecting to get a high quality video out of it

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WiLife Digital Video Security Camera Hidden Master System

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Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security--Indoor Add-On Camera Review

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(More customer reviews)These cameras work very well as security devices and are reliable and easy to set up. I have two in place. I ordered this as an additional camera and the design has been changed. There is now a fan on the power unit of the camera which makes a noticible noise. This may not be a problem if the camera is placed out of the way somewhere but would be heard if it is in a public/ open area.

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WiLife Digital Video Security Camera Indoor Add-On Camera

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Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security--Indoor Master System Camera Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had the Wilife camera system for two months, and I've found it meets my needs to provide a view of what's happening at certain places around the house (inside or out). I found the system delivers the goods by providing the homeowner a fairly clear image, stores the image in an easily managed retrieval program, and you can view "what is happening" when you are away from home over the Internet via your laptop or a smart phone. Also, you can individually set the cameras up to have the system E-mail or text you if there is motion detected or the system goes "off-line."
The skinny review:
Pluses: for the most part easy set-up, trouble shooting is extensively detailed (Logitech obviously wants you to be able to solve connection problems), Internet accessibility actions are recorded (and easily accessed), adaptability, the quality of the images can be varied, images can be saved, and movies can be saved of what is picked-up by the camera(s) in a WMA file.
Negatives: starts to get pricey by the time you get your 4th camera, some places in the house not easily receptive to signals and not all cameras are suited to all areas (I write about this below).
Full Review:
This "Starter" system with the indoor camera is a great way to see what the system can do for you. I say this because, for me, the indoor camera was a little harder to set-up, but it also was flexible enough that I was able to easily change its location and could tell where I wanted to place my other cameras before purchasing them. In setting these locations, I sometimes used a laptop connected to the Internet to give me instant feedback on my placement of cameras and what the image would look like.
Regarding problems, most had to do with receiving the signal from various points in my house, and my house, approaching 40 years old, has its share of additions that I am thinking a newer home with continuous wiring won't have this problem. But, I am getting ahead of myself.
I do not know why a "surveillance" system has always intrigued me, but over the years I have tried several different wireless products (X-10's system, another wireless system with the cameras used with USB 2.0 water-proof Wireless Web Ready DVR Security System w/ 4 Pack Highigh Resolution Indoor/Outdoor Night Vision Surveillance Cameras with only "poor" to "fair" results. WiLife's system provided me with an affordable "starter" system, a good image, and it kept track of the activity that the cameras recorded.
Here are my observations regarding the system with all of the various components and their installation:
First of all, it is easy to hook-up. With the starter kit for the inside, I installed the software on a media computer I had integrated into my audio/visual system, plugged-in the receiver to an outlet that wasn't "protected" by a surge protector and placed the camera in another part of the house, plugging that camera's LAN-like connector into another outlet. The first time I hooked it up, it searched for the camera(s) after I told it I had "one." As I added cameras, I merely clicked on the "add additional cameras" button, changed the number of cameras, and it found them. With regards to firewall issues, I use OneCare Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users) for my computer's security, and it handled this for me by asking if I wanted to allow WiLife. I did and that issue was solved.
With regards to set-up issues and the inside camera, I live in a rather sprawling house that has multiple floors and an addition (which is why my "radio signal" X-10 and other cameras had problems). I took the camera and placed it in different areas to see how it worked. In all but two places, it worked well and was easily picked-up by the WiLife program. With the camera at one location, after several times of not being able to discover it, the program actually had me assign an address, like an IP address, for the camera. After doing that, it worked fine, but I ended-up using an outside camera at that location, which picked-up the signal right away. NOTE: while I did not use the manual to work-out my problems, the manual is very detailed and a very good manual, especially in working through connection and firewall problems (if you have them). The manual is available on the CD and from their websight [...], and if you have any doubts about whether to get the system, you should download the manual and glance through it. In hindsight, I should have consulted it in addition to the instructions given by the program's help section in dealing with my minor problems.
As for the various set-ups, on one camera I use the infrared light, and it is very inobtrusive. On the other cameras, I have an inside camera that is affixed to a window by the suction cup with the wide angle lens and another inside camera that is just in a room. This inside camera with the suction cup has stayed attached since I attached it six-weeks ago. One note about the infrared camera, it should not be used around a pool or spa for it sometimes "shows," depending on the color of the swimsuit, the swimmer's figure under the swimsuit.
Which camera work best? The outdoor camera works best. I have a good picture from dawn to dusk (and even in twilight), and I have not had any problems with them sending the picture to the WiLife Computer Center. I have one of them pointed at my front door and one in the backyard that can view my hot tub or the backyard (more on that in a minute). I wish there was a way I could post a video, but if you look-up my name on youtube, I have posted one that shows the neighborhood children coming to the front door and getting candy from my wife. In that video, you'd see the picture of the entrance with just the light coming through the fixed-lights in the door, then, the fluorescent floodlights come-on (those usually take a few seconds to "warm" up), and finally the lights on the side of the doors come on. During the day, the picture is very good (I have posted a picture of the front door during the day).
With the backyard outdoor camera, I attached-it to something my X-10 camera used that could rotate the camera to fixed points that one established. It was called a "ninja" unit, and I have found it to be helpful in allowing my backyard camera to view several spots in rotation, or however I want to do it.
The clock, or "spy," camera is another camera that is easy to use. I hooked it up, and it was worked fine from the get-go. It picks-up an image in slightly lower light better than the inside camera. If there is one thing I wish the system had, it's that the clock camera had a battery back-up. While the electricity doesn't go off but once or twice a year where I live, it is still something I wish it had. On the plus side, the clock is one of the easiest I have found to reset.
The system has done what I wanted it to do: I had some concerns that some of the neighbor children were trying to get into the spa, and the cameras showed me this wasn't true (my small dog was actually slipping-in through a 4-in opening); It shows me who is at, and who has come to, the front and other doors; and it has shown me what, if anything, my daughter does in my audio/visual room when I am not at home.
If I had young children, I would probably have one of the cameras in their room and in their playroom, and pointed outside to the yards where they play. With my dog, I have been able to find-out if he is damaging anything while being left alone (sometimes he is guilty). Because the cameras turn-on and record activity, and show the recording on a time-line, one can easily go back and view what has happen during those recordings.
This is not a security system, but I have found it supplements the centralized alarm system on my house quite well. Which brings-up an instance, and a feature I have not mentioned, the ability to view what is happening over your computer or your smart phone. We were out of town for the day, and I received a call about the alarm going off. The police were on their way to the house and the alarm dispatcher was checking to see if we had done anything to trigger the alarm. I told them no, and to let me know if they found anything. I immediately logged-in on the WiLife web site with my smart phone and clicked on the outside cameras. Because this was at night, I first saw the policeperson's flashlight at one of the entrances to the backyard (the alarm came from the back door being opened). Then, the outside security lights came on, and finally the police checking the doors. With the WiLife system, you can actually have notices sent to you if there is activity from any of the cameras by text and even an image of what triggered the camera if you want that information. Some of these features require a subscription fee, and this might be something you would want to consider. I have the subscription and like it. Regarding this instance, it turned-out that I forgot to close one door all the way and dog pushed it open.
Overall, I have found the WiLife System has met my needs. I did get the extended warranties on equipment through NEW as offered on Amazon, and have been pleased with their service. The two times I have had a warranty issue with other equipment (a computer and a printer), NEW has taken care of the matter quickly or has had very good technical support to help me resolve the problem Even though I am not anticipating any problems with the WiLife System, sometimes it doesn't hurt to have the extra protection. I especially thought an extended warranty would be good since one cannot hook-it-up through an UPS or surge protector. I have uploaded several pictures to give you an idea of how the images sent by the cameras look.

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WiLife Digital Video Security Camera Indoor Master System

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Logitech Alert 750i Indoor Master - HD-quality Security System(961-000329) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been trying to set up a remote monitoring system for a while now, and have experimented with a few different solutions including webcams and other stand-alone cameras. The same problems problems occur over and over:
- When the router gets rebooted, invariably you can't connect to the camera without going back and fixing some part of the configuration.
- Remote viewing through dynamic IP addresses is flaky, and many DDNS solutions don't work very well. And do you really want a static IP address just for this?
- You need a computer switched on near the camera, or a web-server that the camera can stream to. That's somewhat awkward.
- The image quality is so-so, and tends to be good enough to see a person entering a room, but hard to identify who it is.
I'm pleased to say that the Logitech Alert system beats any of the others I've tried hands-down, and it's clearly designed with absolute simplicity in mind, together with the need to connect with the camera system remotely without a degree in network engineering.
Everything is provided in the box, including various mounts, network cables and software. It took more time to individually unwrap each component than connect it together - the whole system was live in under 5 minutes. The software updates itself in seconds, and even setting up user accounts on their website took no time at all. In terms of positioning the camera, it's possible to place it on a stand, screwed to a wall, or attached to a window using the suction cup provided.
This package does several things (very) well:
- The software is extremely simple to use, yet offers some bells and whistles such as motion alerts by email, live recording and playback, and basic controls such as zoom. It's also written in English, and you'd be surprised how many other systems are not.
- It handles Internet disconnection gracefully with an on-board SD card, and doesn't need any user action to help it 'remember' any IP settings.
- Talking of IP settings, these are all under the hood so you can be blissfully unaware of how it works - which is such a major benefit that I'd buy this package for this alone.
- Viewing remotely through a desktop browser in another location is as simple as visiting the website and logging in.
- Viewing from a smartphone is even better. I used their free Android app, and the speed and quality surpassed my expectations.
- The audio broadcast is very clear.
- Adding additional cameras is straightforward, although you have to make sure your Internet bandwidth is capable of supporting the number of cameras you need.
- You can switch off the LED lights that might give away the location of the unit - what a nice touch.
But this package is NOT:
- A completely wireless solution: the camera connects to an outlet unit and communicates to your router with another outlet unit. Although wiring is really minimal, there is always the one cable needed on the camera side.
- A replacement for a multi-camera professional system - though it comes close, and for a fraction of the price might suffice for some commercial users.
- A way to spy on your neighbor's license plates across the road - why would you anyway?
Still, even with those caveats it's a remarkably good solution if you want to view a location remotely with a minimum of hassle.

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Logitech alert 750i indoor master system is the complete video security system you can set up yourself and count on when you need it.

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