WiFi fixed video cameras lab

WiFi cameras are a great aid for the IT department, both for security and infrastructure monitoring.

A WiFi video camera has the advantage that you can put it almost anywhere - provided there is power and, of course suitable WiFi coverage. They are so convenient to use that you can almost consider them disposable. Want to see what's happening with the new network printer? Point a WiFi camera at it. Need to keep an eye on the user queues at the A3 scanner? Use a WiFi camera rather than running down there all the time.

For this sort of application generally all you need is a fixed, i.e. non-pan and tilt, camera with some simple optics - i.e. you generally don't need optical zoom. But even in this area of the market specifications vary a great deal.

Basically it's all about extras - does the camera have any digital inputs or outputs, does it support motion detection, what can it do when an event occurs, what browsers does it work with and does it come with some extra security software?

We're looking at two cameras: the D-link Wireless Internet Camera DCS-2121 is more expensive than the Linksys WVC54GCA WiFi camera but it has more features and boasts a very high resolution. Read on to find out if either will do a job you have in mind.

D-Link Wireless Internet Camera DCS-2121: The D-Link Wireless Internet Camera DCS-2121 has everything you need in a high-quality, fixed-position, security camera.

Linksys WVC54GCA WiFi camera: This is a basic security camera at a budget price - and it does the job surprisingly well.