Wireless Home Security Camera with Wide Angle Lens
Watch this video to see how I am using three IP-C4 wireless security cameras and a Viewtron NVR to monitor my vacation home in the mountains. I especially want to showcase the ultra wide angle lens this IP camera has. I also want to share how I am using the Viewtron NVR’s AI software to setup human detection to send a push notification to the mobile app when someone enters my home.
137 Degree Lens: Ultra Wide Angle of View
Check out the ultra wide angle of view that this camera provides. This room is 24 feet wide by 18 feet deep. Then, the dining room extends another 14 feet to the door to the back deck, so the total distance from where the camera is mounted on the fireplace mantel to the glass door is 32 feet. I am very happy with the extensive security coverage that this camera provides. I believe that this is the widest angle non-fisheye lens that I have ever tested.
Home Security Camera: Desktop Mount
The desktop style mount is especially useful for an indoor security camera, especially a wireless camera that you may want to place in different areas, at different times. This is where the camera sits on top of the fireplace mantel, and you can see the Viewtron DVR / NVR and wireless router below it on top of that night stand.
Here is a close-up picture of the camera sitting on the fireplace mantel. This camera can be desktop or ceiling mounted. The desktop style mount is very popular for indoor wireless IP cameras. This camera neatly sits on top of any dresser, bookcase, or table. If needed, you can hide the camera behind things. Only the lens needs to stick out in order to record video.
NVR with PoE Ports
Because this particular camera in our family room is located so close to the NVR, I hard wired this it to one of the NVR’s PoE ports. The Viewtron IP-C4 can be hard wired via it’s standard PoE network connection or setup to connect to a wireless access point / wireless router. The other two camera’s at this house work over WIFI,
Wireless Home Security Camera
Here is one of the other Viewtron WI-FI security cameras that I have monitoring my house. This one is sitting on top of the bar area of my kitchen, and it is connected over the wireless network. Once the camera’s wireless connection is setup to connect to your wireless router and you configure the NVR to connect to the camera, you can plug the Viewtron IP-C4 into any standard power outlet in your house and it will automatically connect to the NVR. I can unplug this camera from this location and plug it in anywhere else in the house, and it will automatically connect to the Viewtron NVR.
When you use the wireless connection, you must still provide power to the camera using the 12V DC power supply that is included. I have this camera set on top of the kitchen counter facing the rear door entrance on our deck. I have an instruction zone setup to detect anytime a person enters this area.
AI Software Human Detection / Intrusion Detection
Viewtron NVRs have built-in AI software that can be used for human detection and vehicle detection. The AI software object detection is much more reliable than video motion detection. I setup this intrusion zone to monitor this entrance to my home.
The above screenshot was captured from the web browser access to the NVR. Viewtron security DVRs and NVRs support web browser access from the local area network and remotely over the Internet.
You can also configure all of the DVR / NVR functions directly on the unit using the USB mouse that is included.
Home IP Camera System Connected to TV
I have the HDMI output of my NVR connected to the 50 inch TV in the family room. You can see the mouse connected to the front USB port on the NVR. Using a TV as your security monitor in fairly common for home security camera systems for two reasons. One: there is usually an Internet connection located near a family room TV. Two: most people want to be able to see a live display of their camera system in the room that they use most.
Smart Security Camera: Multiple Intrusion Detection Zone Setup
I have two intrusion zones setup for the family room camera: one around the front door, and the other around the deck door, dining room, and kitchen entrance. Something to note about the Viewtron IP-C4: it is not a Viewtron AI security camera / smart security camera. The human detection AI function is not happening on the camera. That processing is done on the NVR. Whereas, Viewtron AI security cameras perform the AI processing smart security camera functions happen on the camera. This is much more efficient and scalable because it does not use up processing resources on the NVR. The downside is that the AI cameras cost more than IP cameras without built-in AI.
When you setup AI processing on the NVR (instead of the camera), you are limited to 1080p / 2mp recording resolution. When you use Viewtron AI cameras, you can record at 8mp / 4K resolution at 30 frames per second on all channels.
Smart Security Camera: Human Detection / Intrusion Detection
Here is a snapshot of me coming through the back door and setting off a human detection / motion detection event. Whenever there is an intrusion detection alarm, I receive a push notification on my mobile phone. You can see this on the right.
When I tap on the push notification, I am given the option to see a live view of the camera that triggered the event, or I can launch the recorded video playback of the event. The above screenshot shows the recorded video playback screen in the app (on the right). You can see that all of the intrusion detection alarms are annotated in orange on the video player timeline. This makes it very easy to jump directly to other motion detection / human detection events.
IP Camera Mobile App Landscape View
The mobile app for Viewtron security camera systems supports portrait and landscape modes. Here is a snapshot of the recorded video playback of the human detection intrusion event in landscape mode.
You can tap on the screen to hide the video player and time line. Please note that there is a lot of back light from the outside area. This house has a lot of windows that create backlighting. This makes it a challenge to capture the best video surveillance picture. Plus, I have the lights off in the house to create a real world scenario. Although you can see my face under these conditions, the picture is not the greatest. However, that does not make a difference when it comes to the AI software detecting me and triggering the alarm recording and push notification.
Wireless Home Security Camera #2
The other wireless home security camera is installed downstairs on the fireplace mantel. There is a power outlet to the left and this is the perfect spot to monitor the downstairs door and entire living room space.
Wide Angle Lens
Here is a snapshot that I captured from a video recording using the downstairs camera. This downstairs living room space is also quite large at 17 feet wide by 18 feet long. This camera provides security for the back door of our home. Because I have the other two cameras setup for AI person detection, I use standard motion detection on this camera to trigger push notifications to my phone and video recording events on the NVR. Again, when you use any Viewtron AI security cameras (the ones with the AI software on the camera itself), you are not limited to the number of cameras setup for AI person detection and you are not limited to recording at a lower resolution.
Viewtron IP-C4
Here are some of the main features of this WIFI security camera.
- Motion Detection: Yes. Built-in PIR Motion Detector / Sensor
- Supported Resolutions: 4mp (2560×1440), 3MP (2304×1296), 1080p / 2mp (1920 x 1080), 720p ( 1280 × 720 )
- Video Frame Rate: 30 FPS at 4mp Resolution
- Image Sensor: 1/3 ” Progressive Scan CMOS
- Infrared: Yes. Built-in Infrared Night Vision up to 10 Meter / 30 Feet
- Weatherproof: No. Indoor Installation Only
- Lens: Fixed 2.1mm Fixed Lens / 137 Degree Field of View
- Audio: Built-in Mic, Built-in Speaker, 2-way audio support
- Smart Security Camera: AI Software Functions via NVR: human detection, vehicle detection
- Style: Cube Style Housing
- Installation: Desktop, Ceiling or Wall Mount
- Remote Viewing: Yes. iPhone App, Android App, Mac Software, Windows Software Included
- Power: PoE (Power over Ethernet) or 12V DC Power Supply
- SD Card Slot: Yes. Built-in micro SD card slot for local storage supports up to 256GB micro SD card. SD Card for video storage NOT included
You can learn more about the Viewtron IP-C4 wireless IP camera that I am using at my house here.
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Have Questions / Need Help?
If you have any questions about my home security camera system or anything related to video surveillance for home, business, or government, please email me anytime at mike@cctvcamerapros.net.
Video Transcript
Here is a text transcript of the video at the top of this page.
Hey guys, Mike from CCTV Camera Pros here. In this video I’m going to show you how that Viewtron IP camera that you see mounted above our fireplace monitors this entire upstairs area. And so that’s the Viewtron IP-C4 and it’s a 4-megapixel IP camera with built in WIFI. I have it hardwired to that Viewtron NVR because I’m recording several cameras here at the house. And I’ll show you this recording. So it’s recording me right now as well. The main purpose of this video is that I want to show you this ultra wide angle of view. So, this room is 24ft wide from the front door to the wall across from it. That’s 24ft wide.
And then from where the camera is placed above the fireplace to this wall, which is basically where the family room ends, that’s 18ft. And then the camera sees beyond that. So there’s the dining room. And that dining room is 14ft. So from that wall to the door that goes to our deck, that’s another 14ft. So from where the camera’s mounted all the way to that far glass door, that’s 32ft. And I’m going to walk over there. So you could see, you know, it’s still, it still records me just fine over here.
And by the way, we have, we have another one of the Viewtron IP-C4 here. And this one is connected wirelessly that’s just plugged into a power outlet there in the kitchen. That camera is operating over WIFI, which is another nice feature of this IP camera. So let’s go now to the video recording. I’m going to export that segment of video that I just recorded on the NVR to a USB thumb drive and play it back on my laptop and I’ll show you what the recording looks like.
So here’s the actual exported video surveillance footage that I took off the Viewtron NVR. This is me walking over to it with my USB thumb drive. And then this is the part that I really want to show you. So that’s the workstation that I use over there when I’m working out here in Colorado. And I just want to walk up close to the camera so you could see the picture quality of a person in fairly close proximity. And I’m going to walk over to the front door so you could see the angle of view and the clarity at that distance. And then I’m going to walk back to the edge of this room, which again is 18ft away. So that 137 degree lens, that’s what it looks like, 18ft away. And then I’m going to walk all the way back to the door that leads out to the deck. And this is 32ft away. And although that’s distant to see my face, it’s fine for the AI intrusion / human detection.
Guys, I hope this video has been helpful. I want to mention a few things before we wrap up. So I have three of those Viewtron IP cameras recording to that Viewtron NVR and that’s an eight channel NVR. I plan on installing five or six exterior cameras up here as soon as I get the chance. I’ll be using the Viewtron AI cameras to monitor the perimeter of the house. But anyways, again that camera that’s right there by the NVR for this upstairs family room that’s hardwired to the NVR POE port. And I always recommend hardwiring IP cameras and all security cameras when possible. But when, when I’m placing like this camera for example over here in that kitchen area, this house is not hard wired for network IP cameras.
So, the wireless is a great option in this case. And the camera I have downstairs is operating over WIFI also. So the built in wireless component of these IP cameras does work excellent. I’ve tested that thoroughly up here while I’ve been installing these security cameras and configuring the system. The other thing is I’ve set up AI intrusion detection on all of the doors here so that if someone comes through any of these doors, I get a push notification on my phone and I can check in and see who came into the house and see if there’s some trouble where I need to call the police or something. It’s almost always the property manager, but it’s nice to know when someone is coming in the house. Guys, if you have questions about anything related to security camera systems, you can reach out to me anytime. I could be reached directly at mike@viewtron.com. If you want to learn more about this ultra wide angle IP camera with built in WIFI or any of our Viewtron AI security cameras, license plate recognition, facial recognition, we have a ton of demo videos on all the cameras and NVRs and DVRs.
You can learn about all of it. You could request a quote, you could get a free consultation over the phone with me or one of the other guys. You could do that all www.viewtron.com. Thank you for watching.
