Logitech WiLife Digital Video SecurityHidden Master System Camera

the clock was large
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
i could not believe how large the actual alarm clock was. i returned the product as I did not think it would be practical to move the clock from one location to another without notice.

Awesome
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I did lot of research on different products. This is the only product that does all that I wanted. If it had been less expensive I would have bought more addin cameras.

WHere is the Mac support?
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Where is the Mac support? I am sorry but not having Mac support is just not ok anymore especially from a company like Logitech. In thier defense they are usually very good in this regard as most of thier products either work with both systems or they make a separate Mac version. It simply isnt that difficult to make something like this dual support and that combined with Apple’s substantial increase in market share over the last few years is why its just not ok to exclude Apple users. 5-8 years ago it would have made sense that this was not Mac compatible since the vast majority of Mac’s being used were not in sectors that would have used a device such as this however, and this is a big however, that it just no longer the case. More and more people are using Mac’s in thier homes and offices and the numbers prove that. So why make a product like this, with a bunch of different set up options and package options, and leave out Mac support? The fact that this is Logitech only makes it that much more questionable as again they have been very good in this regard over the last few years.

The good news is that Mac users who are running Pentium Machines and have Boot Camp installed can still use this line of products. It runs flawlessly on Boot Camp as I have been using it for over 3 months now without a hitch. The only negative is that I have to reboot back up in Mac mode whenever I get home and have to shut down and boot up in Windows mode if I am going out and want the video surviellance running. Sure it only takes about 20 seconds to reboot but its still a small nuisance that I would rather do without.

I would have given this system a 4 or 5 star if it had Mac support. Since it doesnt I am giving it a 3 star. Cmon Logitech, the days of favoring PC over Mac or even Mac over a PC are over. It is for all intents and purposes a dual format market and given the fact that your a company that has chosen to support both formats, well you should be doing just that and support both formats especially for an entire product line like this one. Again Logitech has actually been very good in this regard over the last few years and that is exactly why I chose to buy this system in spite of the no Mac support and run it in Bootcamp. If however this sort of thing starts to become a trend for Logitech then I will certainly factor that into my future support of the company. One of my favorite things about Logitech is thier dual support, take that away and I will no doubt be going somewhere else for my peripherals.

Hit and Miss
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this system for about 2.5 years. Overall, I’d have to say its hit and miss. Somedays it works, some days it does not. Meaning the cams go offline a lot and you have to reset the cams, reboot your computer, or restart the command center. This happens about once a week at least. And of course, this seems to happen when you really need it (traveling, etc).

I’ve also had to replace two cameras after a year. WARRANTY is only good for a year on these and they are expense! I have 5 cams in total. The customer service staff is very helpful but they only have a handful of tricks up their sleeves (reboot, restart, unplug). So few, I know them by heart. My newest camera hasn’t worked right since I bought it here 3 weeks ago and now I’m thinking about junking the entire set up. That stinks since I’ve invested so much time and money.

Word of advice–just don’t think it will be maintenance free. It’s a lot of work to keep it working, and you’ll sometimes have to live with not every cam working properly (especially the spy cams–they give me the most trouble).

You can always trust Logitech
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I like this product. It doesn’t depend on your network and it is easy to use—just plug in! However, the product end of plug is very looss and you have to find a perfect position to let it stable. I was having the trouble of finding the cameras (I bought 2)in the system. And I hated to call the customer services because it usually takes too long to wait and helpless. But this time, you can change your mind! The assistant was very nice and patient (that could explain why you always have to wait in line for a long time). He helped me to detect my problem step by step. And last, it turned out it was my new Norton Anti-virus Software to block the system…The ridiculous situation was the company didn’t provide them instruciton of new software!! Anyway, I turned off Norton, and problem was solved. I like this product and system. You have to admit one thing that everytime you are trying to use or approach a technological product, it won’t be easy for you to take on….So be patient and try to get some help with their available service center. You will be fine and enjoy the benefit and convinence that the technology could bring to you.

Truely amazing ease of use
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was skeptical about this camera system living up to it’s easy installation claim – but it does. I am truely amazed.

I am running Windows XP Media Center over a wireless 802.11g network. My antivirus and firewall is Trend Micro Internet Security. The security settings are high because I connect wirelessly. My DSL connection is through a 2Wire router using DHCP for addressing. My power to the PC and the camera is through an APC battery backup. I figured that between the firewall filtering and the battery backup conditioning the power this system would at least need some tweeking.

All I needed to do was install the software, plug it all in, and follow a few on screen directions. It was that easy. The system uses the electrical lines to communicate so installation is as simple as plugging one adapter into an outlet near the PC and linking it to the PC via the included USB cable and then plugging another adapter near the camera and connecting the two with the included cable (I think it is a standard RJ45 cable). The system worked flawlessly right off the bat – even though the adapter that connects to the PC is plugged directly into my UPS. The PC interface to manage the system is straight forward and intuitive. I didn’t even need to access the help menu to fine tune my preferences.

The system I was shipped has the indoor camera rather than the clock camera pictured here. As mounting options, the indoor camera comes with a swivel mount that must be screwed onto a surface, a suction cup mount and a desk stand. This camera is easily to focus and position. The biggest drawback for this camera it the excessive status LEDs. In a business the one red and three green flashing lights could be a plus but at home it is annoying. Fortunately, you can turn them off in the computer interface but it took two tries and unplugging the camera once for the setting to stick.

Lastly, I went to the WiLife internet site and created an account in a few short minutes (maybe 5 tops). Shortly thereafter, I was watching the camera feed via the internet. How cool is that. And this service is free with the camera. One of my dogs is going to be so busted as I am now able to watch and see which one is tearing up the bed while I’m at work.

This really works!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This system is amazingly simple to set up and use. Was skeptical that viewing remotely would work that easily, but it worked right off the bat! I can look in my business anytime, anywhere and see captured video or live footage. Caught a thief in the act in a couple days. Also use it to keep an eye on what’s going on while I’m at work. Can’t wait to add more cameras.

Great Security Camera system
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was expecting delivery in 7 days and was surprised to receive it in 3 days. That was astounding. It took about a good 15 minutes to install the software. After that I was up and running in a few minutes. The clock camera replay gives excellent quality for such a small camera and the motion detector is excellent. Replay is easy as 1,2,3. Dont forget to turn your camera sound off if any of your cameras are inside.

Monitoring my camera from work is so simple I couldnt believe it. I took advantage of a special discount to save selected recordings to the WiLife website.

For the money is one of the best buys I have ever taken advantage of.

not easy to use
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
it is very USER UNFRIENDLY, LOOKS GOOD BUT I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THE LAST 4 hours trying to set up.

use if another camera is available.

if i cant get this going i have to plan to return it.

Some Redesign Work Needed
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
We bought this product as my in-laws live at an assisted living facility and were concerned with bruises and soreness that could not be explained.

I ordered one of these units and when I received and put it together, I noticed the connection for the power cable on the clock to be very loose. We thought we’d try it anyway and found that the slightest movement or brushing against the power cable would disconnect the power to the click easily. After going to check on my in-laws and finding the power off on the unit regularly, with the power cable still attached, we drew the conclusion that our initial assessment was correct and sent the unit back for a replacement. We had the same problem with the replacement as well and sent it back for a refund.

The unit does not operate well under low light, so I would recommend the IR light for support if you need it for low light / dark situations.

When we sent the unit back as defective, we were disappointed with Amazon for holding back a portion and quoting their refund policy. We understand that in cases that related to a reason like, “I just didn’t like it …” why they would do that, but where we received two defective units, we just expected …… perhaps I guess a bit to much, like doing the right thing.

The unit was fairly easy to setup and connect, but had a very limited field of view.

All in all, we were not happy with the product and hope they do further work on quality control in design and QC inspection before shipping.

Works well as a starter kit
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I own several WiLife kits and have gotten fairly familiar with them. I was excited to try out the hidden camera because I was looking for exactly such an option for my bedroom (not for anything weird though). The only other option I know for indoor Wilife cameras is the WiLife Indoor Add-On Camera DLC-810i. While that works well, the camera is fairly large and very noticeable. I tried to hide it in my ceiling, but was unable to angle the lens very well. I then tried to conceal the camera in a shoebox, but that just left clutter. Although the hidden camera is a little big for an alarm clock, it doesn’t take up too much room and works well if you’re looking to hide it. I have used hidden cameras like this before and they always look ridiculous. Anyone who glances at them for more than 5 seconds can easily tell there is something “off” about them. This clock doesn’t necessarily look like something you’d buy in the store, but it does pass the concealment test. The actual camera lens is virtually invisible.

This package is basically the exact same as the Wilife DVS800I LukWerks Indoor Starter Kit except it has the hidden camera instead of the indoor camera. For anyone considering the indoor starter kit, I recommend trying this one out instead. The price is pretty much the same, yet you get the benefit of the hidden camera.

Works Great….Little More Than 15 Min. To Startup
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The system works really great, the software and cameras are really nice.

Great recording quality. If you have a Windows Vista 64 bit system you must download their patch for that system. Support was great, they sent me the link for that patch and all worked well.

Great Security System
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased the WiLife Digital Video Security system to nab “Goldilocks.” The system was extremely easy to set up and install. I’ve attempted to activate the mobile alerts, but have not been successful. I need to read the directions in more detail. The video saves to an external hard drive that is hidden.

The color and clarity of the video is excellent. The sensitivity to movement is amazing. The camera starts recording when faint shadows or reflective light passes through the recording area or when someone is standing at the door (behind the curtain).

The system has other benefits as well. The kids don’t know we have it. It has come in handy resolving sibling rivalries and who started what and how… ;o) also captured some interesting dance moves by the five year old when he was supposed to be eating his lunch.

It’s a great system that I highly recommend for any home or small office.

Good system, does what it promises to do!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
We are using the system for 2 months now, and it does what it promises to do. We have one spycam and one indoor camera which we use to monitor our babysitter when she watches our children.

Installation on our PC and setup of the cameras was very easy, indeed plug-and-play. The video stream images is clear although not too sharp. but good enough to recognize people and see what they are doing. It also performs well in low light. In my opinion good enough for a system of this price. Watching live video images on the PC, setting up email or text message alerts, watching recorded images and watching live images on the internet is also quite easy to do.

The only part that was more difficult to set up is to make it possible to see live images on the internet in real time (“direct mode” as Logitech calls it). For that to work you need to tinker with your firewall settings, which someone savvy enough with computers should be able to do though, with the firewall manual and help from the Logitech website. Also you need to install Microsoft Silverlight on the PC with which you want to see the cameras remotely over the internet (which can be a problem if you want to do this at your work: installation might not be allowed there).

But if this doesn’t work you can always use “relay mode” to watch the cameras over the internet, which means that the video stream will be 60 seconds delayed, and you can watch only 3 minutes at a time. Again good enough for me!

Note that all cameras need to be plugged in in an electrical outlet, since the camera signals are transmitted via electricity cables. They don’t have any wireless cameras (If Logitech ever would add wireless spy cameras for this system, then I would definitely buy one and rate this system 5 stars!). Also their spy cam can only be used once, if you have more of these clocks in your house obviously it will look suspicious. (May be Logitech can add other spy cameras to their lineup?)

All in all this is a good and easy system to use, and it does what it promises to do. Highly recommended.

Very cool, but limited features without a subscription
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Logitech makes some cool things and the Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security Hidden Master System Camera is one of those very cool things.

According to the documentation and marketing, it takes only 15 minutes to set one of these up. That’s not exactly true however–if you count how long it took to unpack the system, set up the software then the hardware in a suitable location, be prepared to spend at least an hour.

That said, the entire process is simple and should not present much difficulty beyond thinking about where to place and focus the camera. The package I got came with a camera, two transmitter/receivers: one connects via USB to the computer and the other via Ethernet to the camera, a CD of drivers and software and an assortment of bits of hardware chiefly for mounting the camera.

Installation of the software was straightforward and easy. Setting up the hardware was also straightforward; the included Quick Start guides and other pieces of documentation was clear and easy to follow, complete with color illustrations. I was soon up and functional. The bad news soon followed.

I have a wish list for Logitech: Would that there was a way for the camera to be completely wireless. Even with the 8-feet-long Ethernet cable, the camera requires a power outlet and is thus limited to being within 8-feet or so of said outlet. The best place I could think of putting a camera (the package came with only one; more can be obtained for an average cost of $200) was near the top of my living room which, of course, doesn’t have any outlets close-by. With several different ways of mounting (on the wall using an included apparatus with wall screws and such, on a pane of glass with suckers, or on a desk with a stand), I guess there are several options, but it seems there was none I was satisfied with.

The other thing I wish for is that the features that a prospective user would find most useful (such as remotely controlling pan and zoom; setting an automatic schedule for recording, etc.) are only available by subscribing to an $80 a year subscription to something called WiLife Platinum. All of these `non-features’ contribute to my thinking of this product simply as `neat’ but not very practical. I guess if I really needed such a camera system, perhaps I’d spring for it, but it is a downside.

The camera itself, without the Premium subscription, requires a manual focusing. Which is just great because two people are required for such a procedure: one looking at the WiLife command console and shouting to the person who most likely is precariously perched on a rickety ladder tweaking the lens. I can tell you that the picture quality is pretty good and the ability to record several levels of quality is also quite nice. I could, for example, choose to record at 15 frames per second or less; I could record at VGA or QVGA (640×480 with VGA or 320×240 for QVGA); I could define `zones’ which means I could focus recording only on a specific, defined region. It is also possible to have the system contact the user via email and mobile (PDA, etc.) alerts.

To top it off, all of this is viewable online using the WiLife site. However, as I stated earlier, in order to get the more juicy (and, in my opinion, more practical) features, the user will need to subscribe to WiLife Platinum. The maddening thing about it is that WiLife command console is filled with references to Platinum-only features. The front of the WiLife command console has a `zoom and pan’ feature that figuratively screams “buy Platinum, dude!” every time the program opens up, which is on logon if you choose the default settings.

There are definitely some very cool uses for such a package but for the “average” user, I don’t see this product fitting the bill unless as one of those “cool” things to have although it could still have some very useful security applications.

4 stars out of 5.

High price to pay for a hidden camera with some missing functions.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
At first glance, wanted to give this a 5 star rating, but there’s some sorely lacking features. Is it a working camera? Yes, it does it’s job decently, but it could of been so much more. With this hefty price tag, it should of been so much more.

#1 – At log in, it’s not password encrypted. So anyone can stumble to your computer, click on it and they would discover the camera which would ruin the purpose of Hidden camera.

#2 – No alarm clock – at $250, I would think they can afford to put an alarm function. It would make the clock a lot more real, hard to imagine a digital clock this big, this heavy, yet no alarm?

#3 – The extra Platinum service – This is the real sucker here. Functions that should have been included – pan, focus, password entry, it’s there, but you have to pay more for it, as if $250 for a camera isn’t enough.

#4 – Must plug into wall – It’s a wireless camera, but it must be plugged into the wall, making it no longer wireless.

#5 – Vista users – don’t bother. It does not work out of the box, I couldn’t figure it out. Fortunately I have several computers at home, hooked it up to XP, setup is a breeze.

#6 – Logitech sticker at the bottom of the camera – hard to remove. Anyone with any knowledge of the brand Logitech would immediately sense something wrong here, when did Logitech start making cheapy clocks with no alarm?

Would I recommend this camera? Yes, only because there isn’t anything else on the market to the general public. If you have XP, setup is a breeze, pic. quality is decent, the hidden camera is well made, no matter how you look at it, it’s a clock, though sorely lacking the alarm feature. If they added those features mentioned, even at $300 it would be worth it, but without it, it just feels like an incomplete product.

Great product.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We bought this product to monitor our nanny, and it works great. The interface is very easy to use and easy to set up and it records with great quality. The only things that I don’t like are that it doesn’t record sound and when I tried using the internet feature it kept crashing my cable modem, but that may be a problem with my internet connection.

WI-LIFE DIGITAL VIDEO SECURITY
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
THIS PRODUCT WAS REPRESENTED AS BEING SOLD AS BRAND NEW IN THE BOX, HOWEVER, I LEARNED AFTER ITS ARRIVAL AND THE PRODUCT WAS DEFECTIVE THAT THE SELLER HAD ACTUALLY PURCHASED IT FROM A STAPLES STORE NEW FOR HIMSELF AND THEN RE-SOLD IT WHICH TO ME CONSTITUTES A USED PRODUCT BEING SOLD. I REALLY WOULD HAVE RATHER BEEN TOLD THAT THE ITEM WAS BEING RE-SOLD. ALTHOUGH I RECEIVED A FULL REFUND IT WAS A BIT DIFFICULT IN GETTING THE TRANSACTION TO THAT POINT WITH THE SELLER.

Works great, looks great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Believe it or not, we use this camera to keep an eye on our pets when we’re away. This is perfect for monitoring chinchillas since they live in a large cage and I can always tell if they were up to no good haha. Easy to install and use, slick and visually pleasing, Logitech makes great electronics that spruce up modern life, blending into the surroundings seamlessly.

My boyfriend installed all the software and he had no problems whatsoever, and the customer service for Logitech is always ready to answer any problems or questions.

Don’t get it if you have vista
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I have a desktop and a laptop both with vista and it won’t install or work on either. I went to logitech’s site and downloaded the lastest software for it and still the same problem. Well ok, it installs but fails on the USB driver, so when I bring up the command center and try and test it it fails. I sent tech support my problem from the diagnostics, and that was like almost a week ago. No one has called or emailed me a solution. I’m just going to buy a non-logitech camera instead.

it does what it says
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
There are three sets that are nearly identical, and differ only in the type of camera: this one (hidden camera), the outdoor starter kit, and the indoor starter kid. for more comprehensive reviews, look at those other kits as well.

As for my opinion, this set does what it says it does in a pretty seamless fashion: you install the software, plug the camera into the wall, plug a USB adapter into the wall and your computer, make some minor configuration changes and you are all set. I have no doubt we could have gotten a better system cheaper but not one as seamlessly integrated.

We looked at many different systems and bought this one instead because:

- most spy cams broadcast for TV…you then need a TV/VCR to record, or a separately purchased adapter to make it work with your computer, and we weren’t technically confident enough to want to buy different pieces and figure out how to get them working together

- some spy cams are self-recording (they contain memory internally) but these tend to be pricey AND they limit how much you can record; they will fill up if you don’t clear them out regularly, and for our purposes that wasn’t practical

- most “wireless” spy cams work on a WiFi wireless network, which is great if you have one, but we wanted this for use in a place we didn’t have wifi; this one works by transmitting over your home or office electrical system.

- the cost of the system includes a website you can set up to view your camera remotely (although if you have a firewall you’ll only be able to watch 3 minute pieces; if the system can connect directly, which might require configuring your router which some people will find daunting, you can watch constantly).

So, that said, here are some cons:

- only works on PCs, not macs

- 95% of the configuration is a piece of cake, but some aspects are confusing, like how to schedule alerts, and setting up for emailing alerts

- the program has many features that are in the program but you can’t click on them — they are there as advertisements for a “platinum” version of the software that costs $80 a year. It’s annoying to have a screen full of buttons you aren’t able to click, and to have advertising be such a prevalent portion of the interface

- this one is kind of petty, but it would be nice of the clock that hides the camera had an alarm, since we had to remove a “real” clock in place of this one

- the camera is fine for security, but the image is kind of strange – it appears to be infrared? Which means the colors are bizarre. Reds turn yellow, greens and blues turn white. Which is probably fine for security purposes, but don’t be expecting to get a high quality video out of it

Piece of JUNK
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I had this for a good few months now. While it did work OK initially, it started to act up about two months ago, then completely quit some 3 weeks ago. I’ve been communicating with their customer service since but at the speed they are moving, nothing will happen for the next 5 years…

While it worked, it was OK. The picture quality was acceptable, worse than my Panasonic but usable. Not very easy to install.

Every time the computer reboots, the cameras go offline and do not restart automatically so it becomes useless if a storm turns your power off for even a few seconds.

The remote viewing was alright, too. But you cannot pan or tilt the camera so you are limited to whatever field of view you start with.

Overall, it seems I just wasted close to $1000 on this system and it definitely does not deliver as advertised.

Sorry, Logitech, it’s pure junk.