Cisco WVC210 Wireless-G PTZ Internet Security Video Camera with 2 Way Audio

by Cisco

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.5 x 4.1 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001L8XENA
• Item model number: WVC210
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #3 in Electronics > Security & Surveillance > Surveillance Video Equipment
  • #35 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Webcams
  • #38 in Camera & Photo > Surveillance Cameras
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 2, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Cisco Small Business Video Surveillance products provide customizable ways for small business owners to monitor and protect their companies. These high-quality solutions can be optimized for many different applications and sites. The Cisco WVC210 Wireless-G PTZ Internet Video Camera sends live video through the Internet to a web browser anywhere in the world. The camera supports dual codecs (MPEG-4 and MJPEG), which can be used simultaneously. MPEG-4 gives efficient bandwidth consumption with good-quality compression and is optimal for real-time viewing of video. MJPEG gives optimal video quality, making it ideal for large-volume storage to a network attached storage (NAS) device.

Cisco WVC210 Wireless-G PTZ Internet Video Camera with 2-way Audio

Two-way audio alongside an embedded microphone, external speaker, and microphone ports

Multiple Common Protocols in a Single Solution
The Cisco WVC210's audio capabilities include two-way audio, an embedded microphone, external speaker and microphone ports, and voice compression. With extensive support for features such as IP multicast, Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), Real Time Protocol (RTP), and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), it enables video to be viewed from multiple endpoints and client applications, such as 3G phones and QuickTime clients on computers or Wi-Fi phones. Network protocols such as 802.1p priority, 802.1Q VLANs, and Dynamic DNS (DDNS) are also supported. The WVC210 can also be managed securely using HTTPS.

Included Video Monitoring Software
The pan/tilt and digital zoom functions allow you to remotely control the camera movement and focus, giving you maximum remote flexibility. Up to 16 simultaneous unicast users can access the camera at any time. Software is included for monitoring multiple cameras and recording to your hard drive, with advanced search by time and date. Recording can be set up to start by motion trigger or by manual or scheduled recording. Playback is available on Windows Media Player, with no need for a proprietary player.

You can also enable security mode, which tells the camera to send a message with a short attached video to up to three email addresses whenever it detects motion in its field of view. You can then log in to the live video stream if the situation warrants. Wireless security features include Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), and WPA2.

A Networked Eye in the Sky

• High-quality remote-controlled wireless video camera
• Captures images even in low-light environments (1 lux at f2.0)
• Simultaneous dual codecs provide optimal combination of viewing and storage of video
• Supports two-way audio, IP multicast, 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), and more advanced features

What’s in the Box

• Cisco WVC210 Wireless-G PTZ Internet Video Camera
• Wireless-G antenna
• Ethernet cable
• DC power adapter
• Desktop stand
• CD-ROM with setup wizard
• User documentation

Product Description

Cisco WVC210 Wireless-G PTZ Internet Security Video Camera -w/2-Way Audio

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

The manufacturer commented on the review belowSee comments

125 of 130 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WVC210, April 5, 2009

By 

Andrew J. Hogan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cisco WVC210 Wireless-G PTZ Internet Security Video Camera with 2 Way Audio (Electronics)

Highlights: reasonable value for the money - good hardware, better than WVC200, lousy software - having used it for a few months, I would buy another, but there's still lots of room for improvement. PTZ: only digital Zoom (not optical - so really, there's no Zoom, just Pan, Tilt).

Details: I purchased the camera in December, 2008. Prior to using the WVC210, I've used two WVC200s. The 210 is an improvement over the 200 - better color, better image in low light, two-way audio, and I haven't had to reboot the 210 (the 200s are prone to lockups, occasionally). I use the "Kiwi Syslog Daemon" with all the cameras. And, the 210 audit trail is much improved over the 200. One key logging feature that the 210 has, is the ability to audit who logged in/out (and when) - the 200 does not do this. If you think about infrastructure security, this is a plus for the 210 and a HUGE mark against the 200. Like the 200, the 210 does not do motion detection - they both look at overall light level changes in a defined region. Labeling the function as "motion detection" is false advertising. Two outdoor examples: (1) if you setup a screen region and turn up the sensitivity, changes in sunlight (caused by clouds coming and going) will trigger a false motion-detection event (2) after turning down the gain to eliminate false sunlight triggers, objects (person, dog, car) that appears small at a distance can pass through the region without detection. Both cameras use an ActiveX control to view/listen to video/audio. The problem is, most public internet computers block the install of ActiveX controls, so if you want to check on your camera(s) while on vacation (off site), you better have your laptop along. Additionally, neither the 200 nor 210 accommodate this known shortcoming - for example, both could easily have a firmware upgrade to allow the user to see a snapshot JPG of the current image (when the ActiveX interface is not available) - neither camera has this feature. As for the monitoring software bundled with the 210 and 200 products, here Cisco has done an awful job as it takes over the ownership of these products from Linksys. The "Video Monitoring System v1.0.0.0" bundled with the 210 is not at all backward compatible with the 200. Adding insult, the interface is user-hostile, not allowing you to size it or move it - it has to be in the upper left corner of the screen and it wastes a lot of screen real-estate. The "Monitor v1.0.0.18" bundled with the 200 has a smaller footprint and it allows you to size and move the interface. It is forward compatible to the 210, but video only (not audio). It also gives you much more configuration control at your fingertips including volume control and on-the-fly record / stop / playback. In a nutshell, the interface of the old software is much better than the new stuff. If you will have a mix of WVC200 and WVC210 cameras, and if you want to use the monitoring software to record surveillance video, you will have to use the software that comes with the WVC200. You can search for e-pinions by me for reviews of the WVC200 for more details about pros/cons of this family of ip cameras.

 

The manufacturer commented on this review(What's this?)

Posted on Jul 27, 2011 4:22:40 PM PDT

"Cisco Small Business Team" says:

(MANUFACTURER)

Hi Andrew

Thanks for the in-depth feedback! We are glad you are overall satisfied with the Cisco WVC210! If you feel you need further support feel free to visit the Small Business Support Community (http://www.cisco.com/go/smallbizsupport)

Thank You,

Diana
Cisco Small Business Team

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The manufacturer commented on the review belowSee comments

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid but not flashy, April 21, 2010

By 

Alfred (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cisco WVC210 Wireless-G PTZ Internet Security Video Camera with 2 Way Audio (Electronics)

I purchased this PTZ wireless internet camera so I could easily watch my home while away (see how our dog is doing in the kennel). It is satisfactory in this capacity. The "Zoom" is not what I expected. There is no optical zoom, only a 2x digital zoom. This only works inside of the browser plug-in that comes with the device. Doing a 2x zoom produces a very grainy image. In my opinion, this is not desirable. The pan/tilt functions work fine as do the 8 preset positions (note that zoom is not presetable). The unit has a fairly sensitive microphone but the squelch level is not adjustable so medium to soft sounds are full of audio dropouts. Color balance, in automatic mode, has a decidedly greenish tint. After several days of operation, the unit will stop streaming video. Fortunately, a "reset" function can be performed remotely which restores normal operation. Normally I use Internet Explorer to access the camera from the Internet (a special plug-in must be installed within IE). The application software (actually hosted by a computer inside the PTZ) is functional though a bit confusing at times. Presets are defined, modes selected, IP addresses configured, even overlaying date/time on the video feed are all settable. When away from a desktop, I use a program called "IP Cam Viewer" on a Google Nexus smartphone to view streaming images from this camera. No audio is supported on the IP Cam Viewer however I can flip among the pre-established presets. (When the camera pans and tilts, it is fairly noisy. This sound is easily heard by anyone in the room.) My setup consists of the CISCO PTZ camera with a wireless connection to a Linksys wireless router located about 40' away. The router is connected to a cable modem. I opened a port in the router to allow access to the PTZ from the general internet. This all works. One final comment, the "stand" that comes with the unit is non-adjustable and was a real pain. It is designed to hold the PTZ on a desktop so it is angled upwards. I wanted the camera to sit on top of a bookcase and look down into the room. The stand would not allow this position. So I finally had to build my own stand that holds the camera more vertical so I could achieve the downward angle wanted to image the room. Would I buy this again? Probably, but I would take a close look at the marketplace to see what else is there. The misleading claim of zoom capability, the color balance, and inability to preset-with-zoom are drawbacks in my opinion.

 

The manufacturer commented on this review(What's this?)

Posted on Sep 28, 2011 2:29:07 PM PDT

"Cisco Small Business Team" says:

(MANUFACTURER)

Hi Alfred,

Thank you for your comments! You're correct that the WVC210 provides 2x digital zoom-not optical zoom. This capability is highlighted in the product data sheet (http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/vpndevc/ps6918/ps9692/ps9944/ps9948/data_sheet_c78-504108.html) but unfortunately not on the Amazon product page. We're sorry for any confusion about the zoom.

If you network loses connection and doesn't resume within a certain period of time, the real-time video streaming will get interrupted. Using the reset function, as you did, will restore normal operation.

Again, thanks for your feedback!

Diana
Cisco Small Business Team

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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works well for technical users, July 1, 2009

By 

Dennis F. Colligan "Dennis C" (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cisco WVC210 Wireless-G PTZ Internet Security Video Camera with 2 Way Audio (Electronics)

Camera works well in low light and color is good. Does not play nice with Windows Vista,,( needs a patch). For the novice user the setup can be difficult. Video can stream to my Smartphone quite well. (Storm). User install and user guide info is incomplete but again if you are above average technically it's OK. Overall I would say it does what they advertise but you may need help making everything work to it's capabilities.