I travel for a living and work independently most of the time. There are occasions when I am operating controls from one place but need to see if what I am controlling is responding as I want. What I need is a wireless camera (or 2) that I can monitor with my laptop without using the internet to do it (as most of the time, internet is not available)

A website visitor submitted the following question:

I have a D-Link DCS-5220 Wireless Camera installed on my LinkSys 4-port Wireless Router at home. The camera uses an IP address of 192.168.1.127 on the router when it is connected. I would like to be able to view the camera from outside my home. Is a Dynamic DNS service what I want to use? I have a DSL line coming into my home that is not a static IP, it is a DHCP line from sbcglobal.net.

An owner of a gun range recently contacted CCTV Camera Pros with the following questions:

I want to build a wireless system to monitor a target on a shooting range. The system will be used in daylight and fair weather.

The system will consist of a camera, transmitter, receiver and monitor.

I will need a high resolution box camera with possibly a varifocal lens that has enough resolution to be able to clearly observe bullet holes in the target.

The camera will be placed 8 to 10 ft. in front of and slightly below the target and shielded from the bullets.

The target will be between 300 ft. and 900 ft. from the shooter and the monitor.

I plan on using either a notebook computer or a standard LCD monitor connected to the receiver.

What is your recommendation for the camera, transmitter and receiver?

What operating frequency do you recommend? The range is in a fairly remote area and interference should not be a problem. There are no obstructions between the transmitter and receiver.

CCTV Camera Pros supplied the following recommendation:

Thank You for contacting CCTV Camera Pros.

Here is the equipment that I recommend:

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Wireless-Security-Camera-System-p/wifi-en95610.htm

http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/2-Megapixel-IP-Camera-p/ip-v97161.htm

You also need a network switch to connect the wifi receiver and your laptop to the same network if you do not already have one.

This system is dual band so it can use 2.4Ghz or 5.8Ghz frequencies.

Also, you probably noticed that I recommended a megapixel IP camera (box style). That is because the wireless system is IP based and the camera will work with IP cameras plug and play. If you want to use an analog box camera, it will be much lower resolution and you will need a video encoder near the camera which will make the price close to the same as the megapixel camera, but the solution will have less resolution / image quality.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely.
-Mike

A customer recently contacted CCTV Camera Pros on chat and was asking about a wireless system for analog cameras, AKA CCTV cameras. Here is the transcript:

Wireless Customer: Hello, i need a wireless effective system to transmit video from analog cameras in outdoors at 700 ft

Customer Support: Hi Wireless Customer, do you have a direct line of sight between the two areas.

Wireless Customer: yes

Customer Support: no trees in the way either (nothing at all in the way).

Wireless Customer: and rain at half of year. no trees, full line of sight

Customer Support: OK. You can use this system: http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Wireless-Security-Camera-System-p/wifi-en95610.htm

Wireless Customer: ok, let me see, one minute

Customer Support: with a video encoder on the camera end: http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Video-Encoder-p/vivotek-vs7100.htm

and a decoder on the DVR end: http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Video-Decoder-p/vivotek-rx7101.htm

Wireless Customer: ok, it work like IP wireless system?

Customer Support: This explains basically how it works: http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Wireless-Security-Camera-System-p/wifi-en95610.htm#wireless-camera-system-installation

The encoder makes the signal digital / IP based for the wireless bridge, then converts back to analog on the receiving end.

Wireless Customer: so, what you think about rain, it affects video quality at this distance?

Customer Support: If the rain is very hard, it can affect the signal. There is always some risk of interruption of connectivity with wireless equipment.

Wireless Customer: ok, good

Customer Support: if you want something very stable this is another option: http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Wireless-Video-Surveillance-Transmitter-p/wifi-900xtrp.htm
It is much more expensive because it is a 900mhz system which can go through trees and some objects.

We recommend this system when there are trees in the way and when the job is very high end.

Wireless Customer: good, i going to check information and contact sale department...

Customer Support: OK. Please let us know if you need any additional help.

Wireless Customer: thx