What is the cheapest, easiest and best way to use video over the Inter

What is the cheapest, easiest and best way to use video over the Internet to monitor my home when I'm away?
-Mike

This question was answered on July 18, 2008. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

The ability to see what is going on at your home or business via the Internet with simple off-the-shelf products has never been easier or cheaper.

A whole host of companies have created various solutions for just about any need or budget.

When it comes to cheap and easy, one of the best solutions going is a wireless webcam that is designed to be access via the Internet (sometimes referred to as an IP camera) Most of them don’t even need a PC to be accessed via the Internet!

Today’s basic wireless webcams are pretty sophisticated and include features such as the ability to send both audio and video and activate recordings (to your hard drive) or send e-mail alerts with snapshots when it senses motion.

More expensive units include features like Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) that can be controlled remotely via the Internet or special lenses designed to work in low lighting at night.

Although these webcams are wireless from the standpoint of transmitting the video signal, they aren’t completely wireless because they still need to be connected to a power source This means that you will have to find camera locations that are near power outlets in order for them to work

Once you have determined the location(s), you’ll want to decide how many cameras you want to install and monitor Some of the companies have software that will allow you to monitor up to 32 different cameras from any Internet connection in the world The more cameras you want to monitor, the more complex the software and configuration will be.

Basic wireless webcams that have a stationary lens start in the $100 - $150 range, while units that have advanced Pan, Tilt and Zoom options can range from $200 - $500.

Companies such as Linksys (www.linksys.com), SMC (www.smc.com) and D-Link (www.dlink.com) have a variety of products that include everything you need to get started.

If you want to install one of these webcams outside, you can add special outdoor enclosures that are specially designed to protect them and some even include heaters and blowers (www.dlink.com), but again, you will need to have it near a power outlet.

Accessing these little marvels of technology from a computer that is connected to the same network is pretty straightforward You simply open a web browser and type in the IP (Internet Protocol) address that was assigned to it at the factory, which will give you access to the tiny web server that is built into the camera.

Accessing the camera from the outside world takes a little more technical skill because you have to open up a special port on your wireless router The instruction on how to do this varies from company to company, but a working knowledge of your existing wireless router is helpful.

If you plan on installing a number of cameras around your house or business, my recommendation to you is to start slowly Buy a single camera and install it so you can get a feel for its strengths and weaknesses.

Once you install the “test” unit and play with it for a couple of days, you can make a better decision about whether that particular camera has the right combination of camera, monitoring and recording software for your needs.