Logitech Alert System home network security camera

We have been asked a few questions recently about the Logitech Alert System home network security camera and hence this post to address some of your questions. A quick home network security camera set up with Logitech Alert System can be expected, in fact it can be done in an hour. However what is critical is determining whether it will meet you needs and generate few if any false positives.

The company bills the Logitech Alert System as a complete home-video security system that is customizable for each users needs. The use of Home Plug networking means data and power cords are combined into one cable. The user can build a video security system with upto 6 cameras of which there is quite a range including weatherproof outdoor and indoor units all of which have night vision capabilities as well.

Logitech Alert System home network security camera - Specs

What is an attractive feature of the system is motion triggered recording which will maximize storage space however that could also be a pain point as we will discuss later. All cameras have 130-degree wide-angle lenses, and they record at 15fps, with 960x720 resolution. An integrated microphone can capture audio, and all data is stored on a micro-SD card. The Logitech Alert System home network security camera comes with a 2GB card. The Master camera needs to be connected to the internet router for web access.
The cameras come a power adapter, a Quick Start guide, installation CD and a network cable. The Master System also comes with an additional HomePlug router. Logitech Alert System units came with suction cups for window mounting and desktop docks. Check out the introductory vidoes below -

Logitech Alert System home network security camera - set up and sensitivity

Setting up the Logitech Alert System home network security camera is as easy as installing the Logitech Alert Commander software and plugging in the cameras. The HomePlug router needs to be connected to a power source and to the network router. Upon launching the Alert Commander application the wizard should automatically detect all camera units and display their video feeds. The software is really an upgrade of WiLife but WiLife cameras cannot be integrated. The fact that the software is PC only is probably the biggest issue with the system. However it may not be much of an issue if you have a Windows Home Server that you could adapt and spare for security usage. Another pain point is that even though it allows for customization of motion sensitivity and hot spots the software is pretty dumb in that it lacks the ability to distinguish between swaying branches and burglars.

Logitech Alert System home network security camera - Is it worth it?

While accessing the footage is easy either via the PC or a website that serves a live view of what is happening in or around your home. For $80 a year you can get the Mobile Commander which allows you to view any footage still stored on your cameras remotely, configure their sensitivity, and modify alerts. The mobile apps for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry are very handy in that they let you select from any of your cameras and view live footage over 3G or WiFi.

However the question of privacy needs to be raised given the possibility of footage from inside the home being accessed via hacking or via password cracking while being sent to Logitech’s servers. On the whole the Logitech Alert System home network security camera can be expected to be set up in about an hour right out of the box. However if you need a system that generates few false positives and only alerts you when something that shouldn’t be moving is detected then you will need something more serious. Try Amazon for the Logitech Alert System home network security camera at a competitive price.

via Posterize