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X-10 product review.....

http://net4tv.com/voice/Story.cfm?storyID=1911

Close-up on X10's XTremely Cool Camera
By Dexter Davenport
(January 30, 2000)

One of the most popular features of the WebTV Plus is being able to capture pictures from videotape or from a video camera and email them or include them in a Web page. We often get letters asking us for advice on where to get a cheap camera to use for video captures.

A reader writes:

Q: I have a WebTV Plus and I've been wanting to use the video capture feature to send pictures of my kids to my family, but I just can't justify the several hundred dollars it costs to buy one of those hand-held video cameras. After all, I don't need the video recording part, the fancy zoom lens, or the color LCD screen. So what am I supposed to do?

A: Buy an XCam from X10.

X10, a 20-year-old home automation company, is selling a range of products for home use that all include tiny, but excellent color cameras for less than $100. The installation can be a bit complicated, but we think X10 provides an excellent value to WebTV users and we recommend both the XCam and the XCam Anywhere.


The Tiny Camera
The XCam is an indoor camera without sound, while the XCam Anywhere is an weather resistant indoor/outdoor camera with a built-in microphone. This makes the Anywhere camera suitable for both video and audio captures on a WebTV Plus. Both cameras exhibit a slight fish-eye effect. The XCam Anywhere camera lens affords a 38-degree view of the world. It's not well suited for close-up portrait images, as they will appear slightly distorted. But for pictures of the family at the table or sitting around the livingroom, the X10 works well. We were also surprised how well it worked in typical living room lighting conditions.

In both cases, the set-up is a little complicated, but the instruction sheets included are fairly clear, although we wish all the instructions had been consolidated into one sheet. As it is, each part of the system comes with its own instructions, making this seem to be a bit of a hodgepodge, rather than a unified and polished product. This is often the case with gee-wiz electronics companies that spend most of their attention to building cool gadgets, and less polishing them for the consumer market. Nevertheless, the instructions are complete.


XCam Anywhere Kit
The XCam system is comprised of a small color camera, a video sending unit, a video receiving unit, two power adapters, and some cables.

The sender and receiver are small, black, rounded boxes that are each about the size of two or three videotapes stacked together. The have connectors on the back for the cables, camera and the power adapters. On the bottom are switches for changing the frequency the units use. On the top is a flat plastic panel that folds up and pivots. This is the antenna.


Actual Size
The XCam camera was so small--about the size of a chocolate truffle--that when we first received our unit from X10, one of our staff didn't realize that the camera was included. She called the company and had another one sent, which is why we are also testing the XCam Anywhere camera.

In both cases, the camera draws power from one of the power adapters and sends its signal to the video sender where it is converted into radio waves and broadcast to the receiver through its antenna.

The XCam system uses a 2.4 GHz frequency to transmit its signals. This enables the signal to travel through floors, doors, windows, and furniture for about 100 feet without losing signal quality. That's one-third the length of a football field.


Receiver
The antennas must be adjusted so that they point to each other. This can be a bit of a chore if they are in different rooms, but fortunately the system appears somewhat forgiving. The sender and receiver can be set to different channels, allowing more than one unit to be operated at a time.

The video receiver is hooked up to the WebTV (or directly to the TV or a VCR) via the coaxial cable, or the RCA jacks.

One of the peculiarities of the XCam is that the X10 camera snaps onto the back of the video sender. The X10 camera has its plug built in to the back of its tiny cube. This is a little odd, because it means the back of the sender needs to be pointed at you in order to use the camera.


Mounted Camera
The XCam Anywhere takes care of this problem by putting the camera on the end of a 12-foot cable, enabling you to put it just about anywhere. The only difficulty was getting the XCam Anywhere camera to stay put. It is meant to be mounted to some surface using screws. Its base doesn't allow it to stand alone, so we had to prop it up using CDs or videotapes.

We were taken aback the number of wires and devices it took to hook the camera to the WebTV. We wish the good folks at X10 would come out with a camera that connected directly to the WebTV without the video sender and receiver. It would make the installation a lot simpler, and should decrease the cost even further.

Still, the remote features may be of use to people who wish to use it as part of a security system. For example, parents could hook an XCam Anywhere to their TV and put the camera in their baby's room. If their TV has picture-in-picture, they can watch TV and keep an eye on the baby at the same time. WebTV Plus users can use the Plus' PIP feature to surf the Internet and watch the baby.

Parents can also monitor the pool or play areas to keep their older kids safe.

You could even set the camera up to identify people who come to your front door, to videotape birthday parties or family celebrations and holidays, or to show friends and family your pride and joy, whether it's a new car, new baby, or a new pet. Using the WebTV Plus, you can e-mail pictures or put them in your PageBuilder or the Net4TV Community on Folksites.

One use we found especially convenient was being able to watch movies from a DVD or VCR on a bedroom TV. We connected a VCR to the sender in our living room and sent the signal into the bedroom. It's cheaper than a second VCR, and far easier than disconnecting and moving the VCR. We would love if the folks at X10 could come up with a way to surf WebTV from another room. We suspect it might be possible because the video sender and receiver do have the ability to repeat the signals from certain remote controls from one room to another, but we weren't able to test it for WebTV.

As we went to publish, we heard X10 has a new product called XCam2 that simplifies matters somewhat by integrating the video sender into the camera. The camera has a built-in stereo microphone and a more stable base that can be mounted on a tripod. We will attempt to review this unit in a future issue of Net4TV Voice.

The prices for X10 products seem to change often as they introduce new products and introduce new promotions. For current pricing information, go to the X10 Website.

One added bonus we found was X10's excellent customer service policies. Shipping is free and they have a 30-day money back guarantee. Their on-line purchasing system is secure and they have a toll-free number (1-800-675-3044) for those who prefer to order by phone. Their technical support is handled via e-mail, but it seems to be handled quickly.

XCam Anywhere Technical Specifications
Imager CMOS Sensor
Format 1/3"
Array Size NTSC - 510 * 492
Resolution 310 TV Lines
Scanning 2:1 Interlace
Auto Shutter 1/60 to 1/15,000 sec.
Minimum Illumination (f1.8)
Operating Temperature -10°C to 55°C
14°F to 131°F
Humidity Limits 0 - 95% Humidity
Rated for outdoor use.
38 Degree Range of View


How about this, I will go find 10 stories in favour of x-10 you find 10 against. See who posts the links first? LOL!