Compro Technologies IP540 PTZ Camera
by Cameron Butterfield on October 12, 2010 9:03 PM EST- Posted in
- IP cameras
- camera
- camcorder
- Gadgets
Special attention to the camera installation process is apparent in Compro's literature and software. Installation was very easy. At first glance, the installation process appeared quite long, having over 9 steps in all. However the reason for so many steps was because Compro assumed that the end-user would know nothing about networking.
The first step in the installation process even includes three videos; one for Wired Router setup, one for Wired Switch Setup, and one for Wireless setup. The videos walked the user through connecting the devices together with networking cables. They are set to very soothing music and also quite simplistic, once again taking the approach that the end user knows nothing about networking.
The next few steps find the camera on the network, allowing the user to setup a username and password to access the device and set the date and time using manual, NTP or computer synchronization methods. The user is allowed to either set manual IP address and port details or rely on the automatic settings selected by default. The orientation of the device is chosen next and this is useful if you have the device ceiling mounted.
Compro also includes a dynamic IP service configuration page in the setup process. This lets the user actually search for available iDDNS.org addresses that can be used to access the camera over the internet.
The final step lets you install ComproView, a Compro-developed security system software suite that we will cover elsewhere in the review.
The videos and the installation process were quite simple, and almost refreshing since they did not take any shortcuts and showed even something as simple as how to plug in not only the camera, but also the router and the PC. This seems quite rare as manufactuers sometimes tend to gloss over the basics because they seem so obvious and simplistic.
Overall the setup process was very good; however it was not without its flaws. I had a problem with the ComproView software which upon the first time running asks for a username and password combination. I automatically assumed that the username and password were the ones that I had just barely configured during the setup process. This was not the case. After retyping and opening and closing the ComproView program several times, I read in the paper manual that the default username/password combination for the ComproView Software was [admin:admin]. This was mildly confusing and could be improved upon in later builds of the ComproView Software.
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cbutters - Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - link
We do have these sample clips.Let me see if we can get them accessible, hang tight.
cbutters - Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - link
Ok here are some links to the requested sample files that we have uploaded to youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXZbAwbwtRM
Day 30fps 640x480 3mbps motionadaptive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiP4f8dok4M
Day 15fps 1280x1024 3mbps turbopicture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzKwx9tisEs
Night 15fps 1280x1024 3mbps turbopicture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UX95pFKnZ0
Night 30fps 640x480 3mbps motionadaptive
Also if you absolutely would prefer to see these videos unmodified you can download the set here:
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/gadgets/Compro...
nanfy - Thursday, October 14, 2010 - link
Thanks for the video's I really appreciate it.There IP70 Camera is actually in stock. I wonder if it has the same image quality as this camera.
somedude1234 - Friday, October 15, 2010 - link
Thanks for an excellent review as well as posting the video samples.The night shot in the nursery with the empty swing has a very "Paranormal Activity" like effect to it... kinda creepy actually.
Trefugl - Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - link
I'm having a hard time getting a feel for the size of the camera. Do you have any shots of it with something for size reference, or at least some measurement specs?I like the idea of this, but I get the feeling that something of this size (or maybe any PT camera) is too large to put on the ceiling of my home or even my office without being distractingly out of place. Maybe there's an option of mounting it in a dark glass hemisphere...
Looking forward to seeing more IP cameras in this price range reviewed.
cbutters - Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - link
On page two there is a shot of the camera next to a CD and also an ethernet cable.cbutters - Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - link
also here is this: Dimensions: 105 x 125.5 x 128.6 mm (including bracket)Trefugl - Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - link
Thanks for the dimensions. Somehow I must have glossed over the pictures with the CDs in it.pmely - Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - link
Can this system be used outside? Does it need an environmental enclosure or can it be mounted under an eve away from weather and still function? What are the temperature specs?cbutters - Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - link
Here are the temperature specs, there is no mention of this being an outdoor camera however. Operating Condition: 5 °C ~ 40 °C