Customer Reviews

Wilife DVS800E LukWerks Outdoor Starter Kit

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I love it so much initially, and I was proudly recommended it to everyone i know because of ease of use... over last couple months, I realized these USB receiver burnt out easily.. the camera is good.. but RMA these USB receiver is a nightmare. And they don't sell them either... The only good thing is... there are many more retail stores that sell these camera now.. I supposed you can go buy and swapped the defective part. Overall now I wish I bought something else.

This stuff is just plain junk. Many companies offer professional grade video surveilance gear at reasonable prices here on amazon. They have NEMA 5+ enclosures, use cabled installs, and run forever without maintenance.

Then there is this junk that logitech is reselling from wilife. It should be renamed whatajoke. Mostly indoor with a few outdoor rated deviced that quickly suffer a miserable death, my experience with the system was so positively negative that I went with the pro gear which in the end cost less than repurchasing this scrapmetal as it died off.

Save yourself the fustration and avoide wilife / logitech from the start - look at established names like pelco / sony / etc. for security.

I bought this outdoor starter kit with the add-on outdoor camera a few weeks back and now have them installed and am very happy - for the time-being at least...

The Pros:

Excellent color image. Very easy set-up - both hardware and software. Tech support is a live person, 24/7, with very little wait time. E-mail alerts when motion is detected with attached snapshot or video mean that if one's residence is broken into and one's computer (and thus, the recording) is stolen, photo or video evidence will exist on a remote server.

Image traveling through AC power means not having to deal with wi-fi reach issues or interference from other local networks.

The Cons:

USB adapter/receiver has to be plugged directly into the wall - not through a surge protector - and from there, should go directly into the computer and not through a USB hub. (I am going through a hub because I have no choice - the computer I'm using is in the middle of the room and can't be easily re-wired.)

The USB adapter 'went bad' a few days ago and I was able to re-program it with USBFix software provided by the company. I'm waiting to see how long it continues to work; I was told by Lukwerks tech support that as I need to go through the hub, the issue would likely recur. If it does happen again (and again), I'll return everything (which I'm loath to do as the cameras are securely mounted on the exterior facade.)

If not - I expect to be heartily recommending Lukwerks (with those caveats)...

The outdoor starter kit is the one I bought. I also had problems getting it to work. If I had known it was my firewall, it would have been a 15 minute install, not hours. As soon as I shut my firewall down, the connection was made, and I started receiving video. I've since read of others who also had firewall issues, so I know it wasn't just me. All the other features, remote computer viewing, and e-mail alerts, work just fine for me. I've only had the system(2 cameras), for 3 weeks, so I can only hope I don't have the power supply problems, or camera failure, that others reportedly have.
My suggestion to those of you that can't get it to work, is shut down your firewall or just use the Windows firewall, as I am doing now. It could save you some time and grief. If the cameras don't fail, I think it is a real good, economical, and easy to use system. No users manual included, only a fold out, map like instructions.

Easy to install and configure. However, my wife really wanted something that would notify her when someone pulled in the driveway. E-mail? No problem, but nobody checks their email continuously. How about a simple popup on the home office computer it's installed on?

NO. That's an upgrade- not just $80, but $80 PER YEAR. I don't need any of the other Platinum features, just this basic feature that should be in the basic application. Charge me for e-mail, but don't charge me to play a stupid .WAV file on the host PC. Logitech is cutting their own throat and hamstringing a perfectly good product. Stupid companies with product management run by idiotic MBAs that never talk to their customers.

The Logitech Wilife outdoor cameras have a known defect (caps melting). They fail in about a year. This is due to the following four 1000uF caps: C26 C27 C31 C32. The initial was a10v cap then later releases were 16v. I replaced them with 25v. See Digikey part number UHE1E102MHD6. The caps are from Nichicon and are Aluminum Electrolytic. They are rated for 10,000 hours at 105 degrees C. The caps don't fit perfectly (the original are 8mm diameter versus 12.5mm that I put in) so insulate the leads and let them float above the circuit board.

I invested over $800 in this system. Two of the three camera supply modules have failed. I went to the logitec site and ordered two replacement power supply modules at $39.95 each plus shipping. After order confirmation, I never heard a word from Logitech. I have called three times to check on the order and have been told "Sorry, they are on back order and I cannot tell you when they will come in". I have now been without video security for nearly three months. In frustration, I called the tech support desk. The rep told me that I had the older camera and that the newer power supply would not work with my cameras. I asked him whether they were even planning to get more of the modules for the older cameras in. He checked with a manager and told me honestly that they were not going to get any more modules in. He said Logitech would sell me two of their new cameras with power supply modules at 50% off retail which would be about $115 each. Good money after bad. What a joke. The way this has been handled, no more purchases from Logitech. My progammable remote, my keyboards, my ball mouse, my webcams.... all Logitech. But never again. What a disappointment! I may have fallen off the turnip truck, but it didn't back over me. I will spend my money with a company that will support its products.

This product was purchased by me approx. 18 months ago. I even joined WiLife PLatinum... which is their enhanced service to better support said product. I have had nothing but problems with the video capture and the cameras constantly going on and off line. I bought 6 cameras total which is the maximum the program will support witout any "add-ons". I currently have zero cameras working and I am still awaiting a response from customer service. If you are looking to throw away your money then this product is for you! Definitely a "Do-Not" Purchase!!!

Camera only lasted a year...now the system is worthless unless I buy another camera. If I had known it was only going to last this long, I would have bought something else.

I've had it up and running for a few days. Easy set up. Great software, picture quality and tech support. I'll be buying more for family members to keep an eye on the kids playing outside.