D-Link's latest IP camera has cool features, but it can't stay connected.

Internet cameras let you keep a watchful eye on your abode from afar, but you need to connect one to your computer to do it. This limits where you can put the camera. D-Link's next iteration of the Internet Camera, the SecuriCam DCS-5300W, eliminates the need for a computer. And it's wireless (except for the power cable), so you can put it almost anywhere as long as you have a stable wireless Internet connection.

The DCS-5300W gave me a few problems in wireless mode, but overall it's great for monitoring whatever you want to monitor. We won't ask any questions! Watch "Fresh Gear" this week to see how you can eye almost any room in your house from any Web browser.

Look and listen

The DCS-5300W utilizes a new CCD sensor (other models used CMOS) for better low-light imaging. The improved sensor led me to believe I'd get higher resolution, but it's still limited to only 320x240. Yet distinguishing objects and faces shot with the DCS-5300W was easy, even with low resolution. Using MPEG-4 compression, the DCS-5300W manages video streams of up to 30 frames per second (fps) depending on your connection speed.

The DCS-5300W's biggest enhancement is the ability to pan 270 degrees and tilt 90 degrees. Now you can use a single camera to cover a larger area and you have the flexibility to place it in a discrete location without sacrificing viewing area.

Like previous versions, the DCS-5300W includes an integrated Web server for monitoring from any browser and for setting the camera up. You'll be able to pan and tilt the camera from any Web terminal. How neat is that?

The DCS-5300W also includes an integrated omni-directional microphone, so you can listen as well as watch. If you prefer, you can add an external microphone instead.

Knowing when someone's there

The DCS-5300W has an integrated motion sensor used for sending notifications or triggering external devices like alarms through the I/O connector (Input: maximum 12VDC 50mA; output: maximum 24VDC 1A, 125VAC 0.5A). It's easy to specify areas to monitor for motion.

The DCS-5300W Web server includes support for FTP and email, so you can have a snapshot posted to a website or sent to your email. Email works with standard SMTP, but doesn't provide an option for entering a user name and password. My POP account provided by my ISP requires a login to send email, so the DCS-5300W wouldn't work.

Record culprits

The DCS-5300W has outputs for audio and video, so you can connect it to any VCR to record throughout the day. But we're all about digital. D-Link provides an IP surveillance application for Windows computers for monitoring up to 16 cameras.

IP Surveillance Version 2.11 Build 11, a download from D-Link's site, comes with two separate applications, one for monitoring and the other for playback. I would prefer a single application to handle both tasks instead of having to switch between the two. Overall, the applications do the job but need usability enhancements, especially in playback mode.

Set it up

The DCS-5300W doesn't support PPPoE (point to point protocol over Ethernet), so home users with ISPs that use that technology won't be able to connect to the camera over the Internet without a router. If you go wireless, you'll need a router anyway. But keep in mind there are ports you'll need to open to "see" the camera behind the router. Basically, it takes some tech savvy to get everything to work.

For remote access in a dynamic IP situation, the camera supports DDNS (dynamic domain name system) for updating changes in IP addresses. A list of free sites for DDNS are preconfigured in the camera. I used DynDNS.org.

Wireless woes

I had lots and lots of problems in wireless mode. With the router in a neighboring room, the log reported more than 40 drops in a six-hour period. While the DCS-5300W generally reconnected within a few seconds of the drop, minutes passed before it reconnected several times. That leaves monitoring gaps throughout the day.

It's difficult to pinpoint the cause of my wireless problems. Is it building construction? Interference from a neighbor? Router problems? I moved my router into the same room as the DCS-5300W to stabilize the difficulty, which showed some improvement, but didn't solve the problem. The cameras log still showed 18 wireless disconnects within 9.5 hours. I ended up using an Ethernet-to-wireless bridge to maintain a stable connection.

Bottom line

I like so many things about the DCS-5300W. Its pan and tilt capability, remote access, motion sensor, and included monitoring software make keeping an eye on the baby-sitter easy.

But I'd pass on the DCS-5300W until wireless instability issues get worked out. Hopefully an upgrade to the firmware (currently version 1.01) will make it more stable. While you could use Ethernet or get the non-wireless version, that adds another cable into the equation.

Pros: Pan and tilt capability; free DDNS support; included recording software; integrated motion sensor

Cons: Unstable in wireless mode; no SMTP authentication support

Company: D-Link
Price: $449 with wireless; $329 without wireless
Available: Now