Customer Reviews

D-Link D-Life Internet Surveillance Camera Starter Kit (DHA-390)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I can't fathom why anybody would actually buy this product. Across the board, everything about it is just plain wrong.

Powerline networking is a relatively good idea, but it looks like the marketing department at D-Link got together one day to see what kind of products they could cram it in to. With this surveillance camera, the implementation is sloppy and unnecessary.

Keep in mind too, that Powerline networking isn't always as straightforward as plugging in a "wall wort" and connecting ethernet to it. If you're using any multi-outlet adapters, or if your home's wiring isn't nearly pristine, the experience can be almost as painful as just running CAT5 cable through your house.

The camera itself is massive compared to any web cam made in the past decade, and assembling it to the base is needlessly complicated for what it is. On the plus side, the base is quite heavy, so it isn't going to be knocked down easily. On the other hand, you absolutely must use wall anchors if you plan to mount the camera on a wall. And given the size of this camera, it's so large and obvious that your baby and pets are the only ones who aren't going to notice it.

Perhaps the most mind boggling issue I have with this kit, is that you can't host it yourself. To see what's on the camera, you have to go to D-Link's site (which is simply not possible if you aren't using Windows and Internet Explorer) and create an account. Once you've done that, you can only see the camera through D-Link's site.

I'm not typically a paranoid person, but that really raised an "Are you serious?" from me. Why the heck would you have a camera in your home broadcasting to D-Link's site? What stops D-Link from peeking in? And perhaps more importantly, what happens if D-Link goes under, or decides that they're just not interested in offering the service anymore? More likely than not, you'll be left with expensive, useless junk.

Don't get me wrong, I can see the value in offering a camera that "just works", but not having the option to host it yourself, and being locked in to Internet Explorer are ridiculous barriers.

REQUIREMENTS:

Broadband internet service
Router with available Ethernet port
PC running Windows 2000/XP/Vista AND Internet Explorer + Active X Support

Sorry Mac OS X users, including myself, it won't work on your Mac. Well, I take that back. IF you have Windows installed on your Mac OS system and you have Internet Explorer, you can probably run this system.

In addition, the software does not support any other browser, like the more versatile Firefox or Safari. Design flaw numero uno ('Number One' for the non-Spanish, or in my case, Spanglish, speakers).

WHAT COMES IN THE BOX:

Camera
Camera Base
Mounting Kit
Router Powerline Adapter
Camera Powerline Adapter
Black Ethernet Cable
White Camera Cable
Camera Connection Adapter
Quick Install Guide
Note: User manual is downloaded from the manufacturer's website on D-Life.

SETUP

I have a Windows laptop, in addition to my Macbook Pro. I set this up on the Windows laptop. Assembly took 15 minutes. Troubleshooting took 30 minutes.

Assembly of the product is very simple in concept. Installation of the camera, in theory is also simple. Connect the broadband modem to the Powerline Adapter and plug in the adapter. Connect the camera cable to the camera and plug the cable into the camera adapter, then plug it into the wall. That is when simplicity stops:

I had only the Powerline LED light up (not the Network LED). I had to connect the Ethernet cable into the Camera Adapter (Strike 2) - What good is monitoring the office, if I cannot go wireless. I proceed to check the product support on the D-Life Website and the solutions are listed below:

"Because Powerline Adapters use your home's electrical wiring to communicate with each other, try the following to troubleshoot your Powerline Adapters:

Try plugging your Camera Powerline Adapter into a power outlet that is closer to your Router Powerline Adapter.

If your Powerline Adapters are plugged into a power strip, try plugging them directly into a wall outlet.

Make sure that the outlets that your Powerline Adapters are plugged into use the same electrical wiring circuit in your home. Some homes use different electrical circuits for different floors; in this case, your Powerline Adapters may not be able to communicate with each other when plugged into the different circuits of your home.

Power-cycle the units by unplugging both units, then plugging them back in.

If you still cannot get your Powerline Adapters to connect to each other, you can connect your adapter by directly connecting it to your Internet router."

Ok, so I hook an Ethernet Cable directly to the Camera. It has taken me, now 30 minutes, troubleshooting why the camera is offline.

OPERATION OF THE CAMERA

To operate the camera, you need to initialize an account on the D-Life website. From there you verify your email address to active the account. You have a Serial number and PIN code that is on your instruction sheet. Rather than logging into the website each time, I chose to use the D-Life Widget which launches the device from a separate program (you can enter your email address and password to be saved by the widget), which in turn, launches Internet Explorer.

There is a status icon showing your D-Life device(s) whether it is online, busy or offline. Tabbed menus show Live Video, Snapshots, Sharing, Notifications. Only 100 snapshots can be stored - email notification occurs if you reach your limit. You can program your camera to be activated with motion through the website (not through hardware settings). An email alert, which can be sent to 3 of your designated email accounts (with notification frequency and when your queue is full). You can also send your snapshots to 15 email designees.

Of note, you can purchase an accesory monitor to view this camera without using the internet.

CAMERA QUALITY

Image quality is decent (grainy appearance) but does not operate as well in low light. Settings can be toggled for low light, brightness and motion detection. Refresh rate of motion is low. Sound can also be detected but not recorded or archived.

PROS

Internet driven camera for remote access.
Simple set up for WINDOWS users using INTERNET EXPLORER.
D-Life Widget for quicker access.
User friendly and intuitive website.

CONS

No support for other operating systems.
If connecting on 'different circuits' the wireless capability is non-functional.
If wireless capability is non-functional, your camera needs near the router for Ethernet connection.
Camera Color and Adapter are different colors from the Router Adapter.
Manual is only accessible as a PDF from the D-Life website.
Solid internet support with video tutorial on installation.
No motion picture capability.
Requires Active X controls which may be limited for users on "secure networks" trying to view from work (i.e. Federal or Government Networks).
Only 120 second intervals for a live feed.

SUMMARY

This camera is only useful if you are operating on the same electrical circuit. Otherwise, your camera needs to be next to the router. The concept of this device is good but unfortunately, with specific requirements of operating systems/browser, this is going to have limited use. Wireless range is rated at 300 meters (it wouldn't even work in the hallway 5 feet from the router).

In my own household, the only use I have for it is the unauthorized use of my FAX machine/color printer since I cannot monitor something very far away (like the Lanai for golfers lurking in my backyard or watching my dog).

If you are willing to deal with the limitations, then try it. Otherwise, try other alternatives. This gets one star for the website and one star for the concept. This lost one star for OS limits, lost one star for browser limits, and lost one star for limited wireless range.

VERDICT

Not recommended

Make sure that you have everything required before you buy and set it up:
An XP or Vista PC with Internet explorer 6 or 7.
When you set it up you have to install several ActiveX controls, so be prepared for that.
An available Ethernet jack on your home network router and a fairly close proximity between the router and an electrical outlet that is not on a power strip.
A broadband internet connection.
An uncomplicated home electrical system and an available outlet near to where you want to place the camera.

To mount it on something, you will need a drill or it has screws and anchors for sheetrock. So, you will need a hammer and screwdriver, at least. The mount is very sturdy and heavy and some people might get good results by just placing it on a bookcase and taping it down. This device connects to the internet through your router, so it does not need to be connected to a PC before being used which is good, but that also makes it a little harder to get it mechanically set up properly. To help with the set-up you might consider following the very large (but easy to follow) poster and running the web side of things from a wireless laptop, and then having that laptop in the room where you are setting up this camera. This way, you can adjust the orientation and focus of the device much easier, especially since you only have 2 minutes at a time to view the video live. The camera cable is flat and that might help you to hide it or at least make it less noticable.
To make sure that this is (or is not) the camera that meets your needs, be sure and go to their website [..] and examine the features and requirements. Download and view the manual, too. That can really help you decide. At the time I got it, the Amazon product page for it was pretty sparse, which may explain why some people have been disappointed in the product's performance.

Also be advised that all of the components produce some heat, which is why they all have ventilation grids on them. You may wish to take some care with locating the components so they get enough ventilation and are not too close to flammable items. I do not know if this system would interfere with any other powerline equipment (such as X-10) or powerline bridge networking equipment.

It is supposed to be a `surveillance' camera, but it is kind of large to be a `hidden camera'. It might be useful to keep tabs on a pet or if someone enters a space they are not supposed to be in or if someone delivers something, but nothing very `covert'. I have wanted to have a camera that we can use to monitor our property and so I was very excited to try out this product. I had no connection problems from having the camera on the third floor (pointing through the window) of our house and the network adapter on the first floor. The setup for me went step by step as directed on the setup poster.

I understand that the powerline bridge ($50 to $150) and the web-hosting costs some money, but the price point seems a little high at the time of this review. Other products may fit your needs and your budget a little better. If you are looking for a wireless webcam, you might consider one of the following:
Linksys WVC54GCA Webcam 640x480 802.11G Wireless Internet Home Monitoring Camera or Linksys Compact Wireless-G Internet Video Camera or Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11.

Amazon also has some different products that provide powerline ethernet from D-Link and Linksys, etc. if you think that might be helpful.
NETGEAR XE102G Wall-Plugged Ethernet Extender Kit or Linksys PLK200 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit or
D-Link DHP-301 Powerline HD Ethernet Kit.

I did not really expect much and for my purposes and my existing installation, this product works fine and setup was easy.

Update -- I have had a problem with this device -- the live video freezes after 80 seconds (instead of after 120 seconds). Their tech support says it is my fault as my upload speed is not high enough. I guess if you make junk, the best thing to do is blame the buyer for being dumb enough to buy the product! I would take away at least one star for this, but that is not possible.

Again, Buyer Beware!!

Do not buy this item. The D-life online service that is required to register and access this camera's video feed is being discontinued. As of August 31st, 2010, this product will no longer function. The company has a new server called Mydlink and has other camera models that were designed to function on it. If you are looking for a similar product to this one, the model number is DCS-1100 for a wired camera and DCS-1300 for a wireless camera.

From a technical standpoint, it's really quite awesome that the signal from the camera travels through the electrical output from the monitoring camera to the receiving station that then plugs into the router. Data over powerlines...amazing!

--- Set up ----
Regarding the setup, it really was easy to set up. The only annoyance that I had was that Internet Explorer wanted to install ActiveX controls over and over and over again to get the thing working through the browser.

--- Compatibility ---
Viewing the camera details from the Internet is really cool; however, I wish the camera supported other browsers. I'd like to be able to log in with my android phone and view the camera details remotely.

--- Components ---
I like that the camera is not bulky and that the base can adjust/pivot. You can mount it to a wall and turn the camera how you want.

--- Emails ---
The idea of sending of emails is cool when the motion sensor is triggered; however, I haven't been able to get it to work. I emailed support, but it's been two weeks and I haven't heard back yet.

--- Video Quality ---
The built-in camera on my laptop records better video quality and color than the D-link camera. It's unfortunate, but it is tollerable.

--- Night Vision ---
I wish the camera could see better at night. If you think about when you'd need the camera most, night vision is important.

I almost wanted to give the product three stars, but decided to tip it to four as the product seemed to work as advertised. Unofortunately, it "works" in a bit of a hard-to-use way.

Setup, for me, wasn't as straightforward as I was expecting. I called D-Link's 24-hour help line, but their automated system would just keep me on hold, then hang up on me (I have never been a fan of D-Link support).

Eventually, I made sure both black and white bridge ends were plugged directly into a wall instead of a power strip, I figured out a way to open the D-Life email's link in IE vs. my default browser and I restarted the system a few times. It took awhile, but I got the surveillance kit working!

The system operates via a collection of ActiveX controls, which essentially means you and the people you want to view your camera feed are limited to Internet Explorer, and only in environments where they can install ActiveX controls (many workplaces won't allow ActiveX installation on company machines). I wasn't happy with this limitation, but since IE is still the most pervasive browser, I imagine it won't be too much of an inconvenience for most.

Also, even viewing the "D-Life" site is a bit awkward. If you try to view multiple pages on the site, it will eventually switch every window to the page you most recently viewed. Odd!

Despite all of the awkwardness, however, it works! The camera runs and you can configure the unit to save pictures to the internet (where thieves can't steal the images if they break into your house). This, I believe, is the biggest selling point.

I'm not sure I'd recommend the system, necessarily, but I can at least vouch that it does what it claims, with noted limitations.

I was very excited looking forward to being able the D-Link D-Life internet survelliance camera to keep an eye on things at home (most notable the dog who likes to eat things while we are out) - I was thrilled at how simple the camera seemed to install yet was very disappointed to discover that it does not really work on a mac. This was not made clear by the product description on Amazon when I ordered it.

You can use this with a mac but you need to have the parallels application to allow windows to be opened and used as I could not access the program using firefox or safari - a royal pain! Note that you must view the video through D-Link's website - it does not open as an application for your computer.

I wish I could give a better review or one that is more in depth or helpful however I was not really able to use the product on my mac.

I was very excited to install the D-Link D-Life Internet Surveillance Camera. Unfortunately, there are some limitations not made clear by the Amazon product description that was provided when selecting the product. As a result, this camera can only be recommended for some users... definitely do your research before purchase to make sure it will suit your needs.

The camera is touted as "easy-to-install" which is true. Setup was pretty simple as it works over your wireless internet. Once you set up the camera, you register on the D-Link website. You must view the video through D-Link's website (no hosting on another website). The description that it "allows you to monitor any room in your house from anywhere over the internet" led me to believe that I could view it not just on our computers, but also on our internet-capable devices like the iPod touch.

The major con for me is that the device only works on Internet Explorer Versions 6 and 7. I have a MacBook Pro and cannot access the camera through their website. The latest version that you can download for a Mac is IE 5.3, which isn't compatible with the camera. Unless your PDA uses Internet Explorer version 6 and 7, you won't be able to monitor it from that device. IE Version 8 isn't supported yet. I assume that D-Link's browser requirement is for security reasons, but it's pretty restrictive and a real bummer that other browsers like Safari and Firefox are not supported.

While the camera isn't as versatile as I had hoped, we still can use my husband's desktop computer and netbook to monitor the camera. Right now we have it inside our kitchen window pointed to the outside of our house. (Note: it cannot be used outdoors, but can be pointed outdoors from inside your home). You can set up the camera up to monitor for motion certain times of the day. It will e-mail you an alert, then you can log-in to view the snapshots or a live feed. This is a nice feature because you wouldn't want D-Link to constantly e-mail you about motion when you are home. We are expecting our first baby and we could potentially use this as a video baby monitor as well, using my husband's netbook. It would provide a much larger picture than a handheld monitor. We'd probably want to use only the live feed option and not the motion detecting feature in this case.

Overall, this is a nice camera but there are some restrictions that limit its versatility for some users. Please be sure you consider what types of computers and internet-capable devices you have prior to purchasing this camera system. If you exclusively use Mac computers, this camera will not work for your setup and you should seek out another product.

Be careful to read this before you buy this product! Since August 31, 2010, This camera and the D-Life service required to use the system is no longer active. They should not even be selling this camera! If you buy this camera you will not be able to access your camera's video stream via d-life.com website.

The camera system does not provide any alternatives such as hosting it yourself. Besides, I bought one a long time ago and they discontinued the system shortly after. Payed $400 dollars at the time and they never refunded my money. They offered a replacement worth $70 bucks! But I did not qualify for that either because I am in Canada. Rip-off! I will never buy a D-Link product again!

And even if is was still available I would not buy it. This camera has privacy issues. Their website for managing the camera is a piece of junk. It kept thinking I was in China (Can't read Chinese). It had issues connecting and sending me text messages when motion was detected. The video quality is also poor during day and night. All around a piece of junk!

PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS SCAM!!!

I wanted to get this to use as a baby monitor. The crib is at the other end of the house, and when my grandbaby stays over, my wife forever thinks she has heard something and wants to look in on the baby. It has not been useful.

I was really bothered to see that if I wanted to watch one room in my house from another room in my house, the data had to leave my house and go to a central site. I understand that it is a good thing to have offsite security, but that can be handled simply by having the camera e-mail to your gmail account when it detects motion. In any case, I didn't want to risk my grandson being observed by some internet peeping tom. Perhaps I'm just too security conscious, but, well, until I retired, that was what I did for a living. A password is just not good enough.

I suggest the Linksys WVC54G (if you can still find one) or WVC54GCA or any of the others that are in the same family. Mine has a built in webserver, internally determines that it has seen motion and takes a picture and then mails it to the destination you specify, and can directly send data to windows active X control, or directly to windows media player. It does not use power line connectivity, but it does allow a WPA secured wi-fi connection.