Now using Panasonic BL-C140A

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21

I don’t have V64 so I can’t be 100% sure, but the only thing that actually runs on the PC is the initial IP setup, and that can be done from any PC on the network. After that everything is done through the browser/access to the camera’s own webserver. If you want a static image you/WD can just access that directly through the network at an IP like http://192.168.1.253/SnapshotJPEG?Resolution=640x480. Does V64 version of IE have any problems with activex?

22

Not sure if you’re implying that ActiveX is required for accessing the camera. It definitely isn’t as I regularly access mine though Firefox.

Some documentation I saw somwhere referenced a digital zoom function but I can’t find it in the camera. Not a big deal for me as I have nothing worth zooming in on anyway.

23

I use IE and on one of the setup pages I get a “do you want to install this activex from panasonic” message but it’s not clear to me what difference it makes since I tell it “no” and don’t have any problem setting up the camera :lol:

24

Thanks Niko, It should have 10x zoom http://www.networkwebcams.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=752

Although your one is the BL-C140A the A might be no zoom?

25

The “A” suffix indicates it’s a US version (it just relates to the firmware).
I changed my BL-C131A to a BL-C131 simply by loading the CE firmware (more details here).

26

The zoom doesn’t show up in the camera controls, but works with the mouse wheel in IE. No zoom available with FF.

  • Jim
27

Best Buy seems to be selling a updated version.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9051072&type=product&id=1218013134322

Control remotely Allows you to pan, tilt or zoom with the camera for a customized view.
Wounder how long before they realize the error or some one calls them on it. I have sent an email to them about it.

Mark

28

Two things:

1.) “SPLASH Resistant” means exactly that. It’s not WATERPROOF. This means that it can probably handle water spray, but not direct contact with rain. It should probably be located high up under the roof eves or in some sort of a shelter that protects it from direct rain contact.

2.) Digital Zoom - This is done by an ActiveX component that is automatically downloaded from the camera’s web server (assuming you allow your browser to install it). It basically takes the existing image and magnifies it. Since FF doesn’t support ActiveX components, digital zoom is only available for IE.

Hope this helps.

29

I agree, mine will be outside, but sheltered. My older IP cameras couldn’t have been outside without adding an enclosure so this is an improvement.

2.) Digital Zoom - This is done by an ActiveX component that is automatically downloaded from the camera's web server (assuming you allow your browser to install it). It basically takes the existing image and magnifies it. Since FF doesn't support ActiveX components, digital zoom is only available for IE.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, that explains the activex thing too :smiley:

30

Thanks for pointing out the ActiveX control. I don’t use IE unless I have to so it would have taken a long time for me to find that.

That said, I just installed the ActiveX component on IE6 here at work. The motion image has has all sorts of weird color banding and then IE crashes after 5 or 10 seconds. But I could use the wheel to scroll the image before it crashed :wink: I’m not too worried as it may well have to do with how the network is locked down here. And, as I said, there’s nothing to zoom in on anyway.

31

The UK sites (and maybe others?) quote IPX4. That’s “the other sort of IP”, i.e. Ingress Protection. The X in the solid objects position means “no protection of this type”, the 4 in the water position means “protection from splashed water”.

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, if mounting outside in “real” weather I’d probably put it in a well ventilated (for minimum condensation) glass fronted box…

32

I think IPX4 is actually better than that. According to this site 1 is a light rainstorm, 2 light w/wind, 3 heavy rain and 4 splashing/spray from all directions.
http://www.ezscreen.com/ip_ratings.htm

Regardless mine in under the eaves so should be good to go.

33

I don’t think that their idea of a “heavy rainstorm” coincides with mine :lol:
and notice that mention of “(limited ingress permitted)”.

Here I’d not trust anything less than a ‘6’ for direct exposure to rain driven by storm force winds!

34

Would you mind sharing where you found that price. Best I could find googling around is in the $180’s

Thanks
Mike

35

Here for example: $176 + free (ground) shipping. But…out of stock :frowning:

36

That’s where I bought mine last week #-o

37

That’s where I got mine as well. It was somewhere in the mid $170s.

38

Thanks everyone. I’ll keep checking that site.

Mike

39

Is this a discontinued model? When I try to search for it on the panasonic site it can’t be found? :?

40

I tried that as well, but I figured it was a new model. You might be right that’s it’s been discontinued…