Review: TRENDnet TV-IP551WI IP Camera
Great IP camera, not so great software package
IP cameras are a strange beast. Initially they were designed for commercial purposes, but these days more and more consumers are getting in on the market as well.
There are plenty of reasons you might want to invest in an IP camera for the home. Maybe you live in a rough area, perhaps you want to keep an eye on the kids. Or maybe you’re just nosy or in to technology.
Whatever the reason, there are plenty of options available to you. And TRENDnet have released an interesting model in the TV-IP551WI.
Design
The 551WI comes in a reasonable form factor, TRENDnet quote it as being 75 x 115 x 30 mm, but that doesn’t include the stand.
The front features the lens (as you’d expect), along with the manual focus and LEDs for night vision. You’ll also find the ambient light sensor above the lens, and the pinhole microphone just below it.
To the rear of the unit you’ll find the power input, the wired network connector as well as the mounting arrangement to allow you to point the camera pretty much wherever you want.
The metal mount feels well made, and TRENDnet even throw in some fixings to allow you to mount it to the wall. The camera can be repositioned by slackening off the screws on the back, moving the camera and then tightening them back up. The screws do a reasonable job of holding the camera in place, just make sure you tighten them up properly to avoid the camera moving over time.