SWANN SW-C-BLACKK Black Knight Wireless CCD Color Camera

by Swann

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1 x 1.6 x 1.8 inches ; 2.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BW4XU0
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: SW-C-BLACKK
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 20, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer

BlackKnight - Wireless Weather Resistant Color Camera

The Swann BlackKnight is the color wireless security camera you have been looking for. Within a sleek black finish, it combines day & night vision and a sturdy metal exterior for all-weather monitoring. The BlackKnight is the perfect security protector for your home, business, office or retail premises. The BlackKnight is perfect for use indoors, or outdoors, and can see up to 50ft (15m) in complete darkness, which may be extended if there is minimal illumination in the area. The Swann BlackKnight can be your day and night security protector.

Swann BlackKnight Highlights

Wireless Surveillance

What is Wireless surveillance?
Wireless Surveillance offers users the easy convenience of video security monitoring without having to worry about camera cables.

Wireless Surveillance means there is no video cable running from the wireless camera to your TV or VCR. All wireless cameras require power. Wireless cameras must have access to a mains outlet to receive power (some cameras can run on a 9 volt battery for a limited time).

How do Wireless 2.4GHz cameras work?
The receiver receives the video and audio signal from the camera wirelessly and connects to your TV, monitor or VCR with an RCA AV (audio and video) cable and also requires access to a mains outlet to receive power.

Wireless video transmission is made possible with the use of video transmitters and receivers. Swann wireless cameras come with a built-in video transmitter and a separate video receiver. The video signal is sent wirelessly through a specific radio frequency (2.4GHz) to the receiver which is connected directly to a TV, monitor or VCR using an RCA video cable.

Are the Swann wireless cameras totally wireless?
The Swann wireless cameras are wireless for video transmission. Both wireless cameras and their receivers must be powered by electricity to function. They must be located within 6ft (2m) of a power source and plugged in.

A Swann wireless receiver uses an RCA video cable to transfer the video signal received from a Swann wireless camera to your TV, monitor or VCR with AV connections, so must be located near your TV, monitor or VCR.

Maximum Wireless Transmission Distance of the Swann Wireless Cameras
For open line of sight without obstruction approximately 160ft (50m). May vary depending on local conditions.

Adding Extra Cameras to the Pack
Many of the Swann Wireless Cameras can be set to any of 4 channels the receiver is capable of using. The receiver can be set to switch through all 4 channels in sequence. Swann recommend a maximum of 3 cameras for optimum reception quality but 4 cameras can be set up successfully with careful camera placement. Please read the specifications on the packaging or visit the Swann website for information on what models are multi-channel capable.

Swann Wireless Camera to a TV
Swann wireless cameras use an RCA video plug to connect into your TV’s video 'in' socket, similar to many game consoles and DVD players. Cameras with audio also use the audio or ‘A’ in ‘AV’ plug connection.

Connecting the Swann Wireless Cameras to a TV/VCR
A Swann wireless camera's receiver comes with an AV cable which plugs into the Video 'in' and Audio 'in' connectors on your TV or VCR. These plugs are commonly referred to as RCA plugs and are similar to the connectors used by game consoles and DVD players. If you plug your Swann wireless camera’s receiver into your VCR so that you can record the footage, you will need to select the channel on your TV that you normally use to view video movies from your VCR. If you plug your Swann wireless receiver directly into your TV, you can view the images on the appropriate AV channel, but you will not be able to record.

Other Devices Interfere with the Swann Wireless Camera's Wireless Transmission
Some common causes of interference are Wireless LAN equipment include cordless 2.4GHz telephones and microwave ovens (while they are actually cooking). Using a camera that has 4 switchable channels will allow you to change to a channel that is further away from the interference source to minimize the potential for interference.

Better Resolution for a higher quality image
The Swann BlackKnight features an incredible 1/4-inch CCD image sensor a resolution of 420 TV Lines or 582 x 512 (PAL), 512 X 492 (NTSC).

About CCD
CCD stands for Charge Coupled Device, which is used as a type of image sensor, CCD sensors are high quality sensors that are commonly used in portable camcorders and similar video equipment. CCD sensors can usually handle more variation in light conditions than CMOS and are more sensitive so will work better in low and variable light conditions.

Clear Night Vision
The Infra-Red LEDs can project IR light that is invisible to the human eye but can be seen by the Swann BlackKnight to a distance ranging to 160ft / 50 metres. With a small amount of ambient light, such as street lighting and house lighting the distance can be extended.

Infra-Red Night Vision allows cameras to see in the dark, It is the method of using IR LEDs (Infra-Red Light Emitting Diodes) as illumination for a camera with a sensor that can see infra-red light provides the illumination needed to capture clear images in total darkness or low-light conditions.

Infra-Red light is part of the light spectrum that is not visible to the human eye. Where there is insufficient visible light to see an object a Swann BlackKnight camera automatically activates its IR mode and sees the light from the IR LEDs using its IR image sensor. The resulting image is displayed as a black and white picture on your screen.

Weather Resistant
The Swann BlackKnight Camera is housed in a robust, durable casing. Use the camera indoors (for viewing inside rooms) or outdoors (to view your property from outside, as the BlackKnight can withstand climates from 14°F - 122°F (-10°C - 50°C). It is recommended that you keep the camera shielded from direct sun, rain, extreme temperatures, snow and gusty winds.

What's in the box:

• BlackKnight Camera
• Receiver 2.4GHz
• Cable with RCA Connectors
• Power Adapters x 2
• Quick Start Guide
• Theft Deterrent Stickers x 4

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TIPS IN SETTING UP YOUR SECURITY SYSTEM

Please find the below handy setup tips for your security system:

• For best results do NOT point the camera towards a light source such as the sun or light.
• Also do not have the camera in a shaded area looking out into a well lit area as this will display poor results. Example: If the camera is hidden in a mailbox, because the mailbox is dark inside the camera sensor will try to adjust according to the available light. But if outside the mailbox there is good light like sunshine, you will get poor results. The light to the camera sensor in the front of the camera needs to be the same as the light at the focal target for best results.
• Power for Wired and Wireless Cameras, both types of cameras require a power source, although the camera maybe weatherproof the connections to the AV cable and power adapter are not. Please make sure that these connections are in a water or moisture free environment.
• Over time the lens or front case glass may become dirty, please use a lint free cloth to clean both. Similar cloth that would be used to clean a CD Disc.
• Power adapters: all power adapters are for indoor use only and must be shielded from outdoor elements. When using an outdoor camera, please use extension cords to power the camera and keep cables away from the outdoor elements.
• When installing the camera, before screwing in the mounting bracket, check the image on the screen to see if the picture is clear from direct sun or other obstructions.

Product Description

2.4 WIRELESS VIDEO TRANSMISSION .25" CCD SENSOR PRODUCES 420 TV LINES UP TO 330 FT/100 M TRANSMISSION RANGE PLUGS INTO ANY VIDEO DEVICE: VCR TV OR SECURITY MONITOR AUTO SWITCHING RECEIVER

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good try but not worth it at any price., January 21, 2007

By 

H. Plonchak (NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SWANN SW-C-BLACKK Black Knight Wireless CCD Color Camera (Electronics)

If you or a neighbor has a wireless Internet connection, and few purchasing this item would not, or a wireless phone using the 2.4Ghz spectrum, skip this product. Even with multiple channel capability the interference renders this product useless. Further, an e-mail on a driver issue for the video capture board took nearly a week for a terse response. Spend the extra money for a wired solution and save yourself from disappointment.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Works but signal interference may be an issue, August 1, 2008

By 

J. Wu (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SWANN SW-C-BLACKK Black Knight Wireless CCD Color Camera (Electronics)

Installing this wireless camera is very easy compared to wired cameras and the image quality is decent for a wireless cam (about on par for a camera touting 420TVL). However, as with most wireless cameras, you may see noise and interference in the video feed while viewing it on your TV/monitor which may render this camera non-ideal for certain security applications. Further, this wireless camera tends to have some difficulty broadcasting its signal through one wall and door (obvious interference at about 50 ft away).

I would only install this cam if you really, really need a wireless solution with night-vision. For a true security solution though, I would definitely seek a wired cam, which in most cases will feature more-or-less the same resolution but at a cheaper price albeit requiring some installation time.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It could be a good cam if cables are longer, September 30, 2007

By 

The Palm (Cupertino, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: SWANN SW-C-BLACKK Black Knight Wireless CCD Color Camera (Electronics)

The camera is very easy to install. However, in order to find the right spot for the receiver to get the best signal, you have to move the receiver around. When the cables that come with the cam are too short, you don't have much choice but move the TV along with the receiver or take the VCR out your TV shelf. It's too bad that I found no place to buy a longer digital and sound cable, neither on Swann's web site. Then finally I found a spot that get the best reception, my VCR that connects to the receiver with that provided short cable is 2 feet away from the TV shelf. Other than that, the picture is clear and sound is fine. Night vision is amazingly clear. Not a bad cam.