Weblink v. Vitek 2 channel webserver

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Brett Griffin" <brett@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in

<I split up the three different threads that were evolving into separate
messages>

> > I was asking more about what programs/HW provide the best way of
"pushing"
> > that sort of content to my cell phone.  I've seen lots of different ways
> > of
> > sending video from the house to the internet or directly to a cell
phone.
> > I
> > guess what I'd really like is for the DoorFon to be smart enough to call
> > me
> > when appropriate so I could interact with someone at the front door as
if
> > I
> > were home.  That would be very, very cool.
>
> HAI manufactures a software called weblink. It resides on a PC in the
home,
> and it is a web server.  It will push status and control to a phone or web
> browser.  It will also send video from 1 USB camera, or up to 40 modulated
> TV channels(cameras).  However it will only show one camera/channel at any
> one time.  The software is a very very basic DVR.  You can write a program
> to record 1 channel based on an event in the home.  It is recorded on the
> PC's hardrive, so keep that in mind for security.

I've been looking at some inexpensive video servers that take RCA line level
video and audio connections (from a HQ bullet cam) and offer:

 Access Via Web Browser
 Auto Network Reconnection (ANR)
 Upgrade firmware via The Internet
 Watch dog function supported
 Dynamic IP support
 4 alarm inputs supported
 Duplex function, record and playback
 Auto e-mail warning system
 Intelligent non-stoppable recording
 Multi AP screens supported

http://vitekcctv.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductID=178

How do you think HAI's Weblink compares in stats and prices?  I've seen the
Vitek unit for under $200.  It has the enormous advantage, if I read you
correctly, of not requiring a PC for anything but setting the unit up.  If
you have a cable modem, it should just sit there and serve video without
eating up juice powering a whole PC.  Something like this would run a lot
longer on battery backup and would reset (hopefully) far more quickly than
the average PC.  Trusting a Wintel machine to manage home security is not,
IMHO, a very good idea.  Too many potential bad outcomes.

(in connection with another thread, I've just tried to view the WeblinkII
demo at:

http://www.intelligenthomesolutions.ca/home_security21.htm

and get the message:

Weblink II Demo
(must turn off popup blocker)

Yeah, right, bub.  You want to sell me something but I have to drop my PC's
protection to look at it.  Dream on, dream on, Intelligent Home Solutions.
Another case of "we want to show you what fancy programmers we are!"  The
sales pitch apparently is secondary.  How intelligent can their houses be if
their website is so smart it's stupid? <sermon over> )

> The doorphone can be connected to the HAI via a door chime interface.  You
> than write a program based on the press of the doorbell.  It would require
a
> program in the omni and a program in the Weblink software.

That's another advantage of the Vitek box.  It sounds like you merely set up
the email address and some configuration options and it's on line and
working.  Now comes the tricky part.  How do I do this in live action?
Well, once I get my hands on the video server, I'll know more of what it can
do.

--
Bobby G.