Ultimate Holiday Tech Gift: NEW D-Link Full HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-2630L) w/ 2-Way Audio!

Thank you to D-Link for providing a Full HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-2630L) unit for this holiday tech gift review.  All opinions expressed are our own.

We have been using D-Link wireless cameras for years in our home. We use them to watch the house when we aren't home, watch the kids, and even keep an eye on the dogs to make sure they are behaving. Wireless cameras are not just a convenience in our household at this point, but an important necessity.

We have been using various fixed position cameras as well as a motorized camera we can control remotely. Both kinds have their pros and cons and are used differently in our home. The fixed position cameras are perfect for watching entry ways and where the dogs eat and drink water. The motorized camera is perfect for the livingroom area where we need to pan around to see everything.

Both types have their shortcomings, however. Fixed cameras of course can only see what they are pointed at and the remote camera is slow and noisy. If you needed to track something in a hurry the motorized camera is inadequate. The noise also changes the behavior of the dogs so I can't catch them in the act of shenanigans!

This brings me to a new product by D-Link that solves the shortcomings of both camera types and adds new features we didn't have before. The new D-Link Full HD Ultra-Wide Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-2630L) is a fixed position camera, but features a 180 degree lens. Wide angle or fisheye lenses aren't new, but the 2630L uses D-Link’s new ‘Wide Eye’ technology offering an ultra wide view that's not distorted or curved like others. It’s like a panoramic picture but its live 1080P video.

Like most D-Link cameras, the 2630L can be managed from the mydlink website from any computer or mobile device, making it simple to check in on your home while you're out. Setting up the camera was a little laborious and really shouldn't have been. The camera uses WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Set-up) for easy pairing, like many devices do, but still took me a few attempts to get it to pair. The camera can only be paired wirelessly as it does not have an ethernet port like other D-Link cameras. Although I was ultimately successful, I imagine some will need to call for assistance at some point.

Once paired, configuration was as easy as can be and similar to my other cameras. If you are familiar with the mydlink site you will not have any issues renaming the camera and changing any other settings to your liking. You can also choose to get into the advanced settings page where you can really customize your camera. I caution, however, that these settings are for people who have a better than basic understanding of network protocols and such.

The D-Link 2630L looks great and does not stand out in the room. Many wireless cameras aren't good looking at all and are an eyesore, but not the 2630L. The construction is sturdy and it has a weighted base to make sure it stays put. You can optionally mount the camera if you would like with the provided hardware. The large lens is also glass, not plastic, like so many others, adding to the overall sense of quality.


One feature the 2630L has that none of my previous cameras has is two way audio. Before I could just listen, but with the new camera I can actually talk through the camera and have a conversation! This feature also works through the mobile app so you can view and talk from anywhere. My kids can no longer pretend they can't hear me when its chore time.

The D-link DCS-2630L is fully 1080p in resolution (and can lower to 720p if you choose) and the imagery looks very good. I notice the video is a bit sharper in low light (black and white) than it is in color, but both are bright and sharp. The Wide Eye technology truly works, you can see from the screenshots that there is very little to no distortion at all, even while zoomed in.

The 2630L also includes a microSD slot that adds storage to the camera allowing recording of video. Depending on the size of the card you use, you can store as much video as you please. For example, 7 days of 1080p video only requires 104GB. The camera can take as much as a 128GB microSD card. This is an excellent feature if you're worried about home security, nannies, cleaners, contractors, etc. The camera can also be set to trigger email alerts based on motion or sound.



Overall the D-Link 2630L is a fine camera that’s packed with features. I still prefer a simple fixed camera for a hallway or pointed at some pet food dishes, but the 2630L is far superior to my motorized camera for larger areas. The ability to see the entire room at the same time without panning simply can't be matched. The additional features like the two way audio and the ability to record for days and days are just icing on the cake.

At $199.99 the 2630L is in the same price range as many competing motorized panning cameras, making it a no brainer. It’s great looking, high quality, and the performance is great. The fact that I had to toil a bit to get it set up doesn't change my opinion of this product at all. The performance of the 2630L makes up for the hassle and then some. The D-Link 2360L would make a great gift this holiday for just about any household. Its great for any family that travels, has kids, pets, looks after seniors, or anyone that values an extra bit of security.

The D-Link Full HD 180-Degree Wi-fi Camera is available for purchase at Best Buy and us.dlink.com.

Who would the D-Link 2630L make the perfect gift for?  Tell us in a comment here!

D-Link Partners with a Non-Profit Rescue Organization to Promote Pet Adoption

Thank you to D-Link for sending us a Pan & Tilt Day/Night Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-5020L) to monitor our rescue dogs when we're not at home.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Last August, we began a new adventure by adopting two rescue Chihuahua mix puppies.  We went to meet and possibly adopt one puppy and ended up with two.  We just couldn't split these brothers up.  Yes, we gave them a forever home, but they really rescued us.  They've brought so much joy to our household and have taught our children how to be nurturing, responsible, and to think of someone else's needs more often.

One of the things that make potential pet-owners hesitant to bring pets into their homes is not being able to watch them every minute, especially when they are at work or just out doing errands.  The D-Link Pan & Tilt Day/Night Wi-Fi Camera, is the perfect solution to this problem because it allows you to monitor a room in your home from your computer, tablet, or phone.  This is such an easy way to have peace of mind that your pet is safe and happy while you're away from the house.  D-Link agrees and that's why they've partnered with a non-profit rescue organization in California, Paw Prints in the Sand Animal Rescue, to promote pet adoption and responsible pet ownership.

How is D-Link helping more pets find forever homes?

• D-Link will donate a Pan & Tilt Wi-Fi Camera to new pet owners who adopt from Paw Prints in the Sand to enable them to view a live feed of their pet, dog walker, or anyone else who comes in contact with their pet while the owner is away from the house.
  
• D-Link and Paw Prints in the Sand is developing a series of training and animal behavioral videos to help new pet owners maintain a happy home for the newest member of the family by understanding their basic needs.

More about the Pan & Tilt Day/Night Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-5020L):

• Pan & Tilt Function – Remotely pan and tilt live video and keep an eye on a larger area
• Sound and Motion Detection – Enhanced email alerts based on sound and motion sensing technology
• Wi-Fi Extender – Easily add more cameras or expand your home's wireless network
• 66o Horizontal Field of View – Keep an eye on more area
• Night Vision – View up to 26 feet in complete darkness
• Remote Viewing – No fees or monthly subscriptions to view on iPhone®, iPad® or Android® with mydlink® app or mydlink.com

To learn more about the D-Link Pan & Tilt Wi-Fi Camera visit us.dlink.com.  To learn more about Paw Prints in the Sand Animal Rescue and their efforts to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome abandoned, mistreated, and stray potential animal companions, visit www.pawprintsinthesand.org, where you can also find out about adopting, volunteering, fostering, and supporting this non-profit organization.

Tech Tip: Boost Your Wireless Internet Signal Easily By Using the D-Link Wireless Range Extender (DAP-1320)

Thank you to D-Link for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

We use many, many wireless devices in our home. The wireless router we use is provided by our ISP (Internet service provider) and is located in the basement of our 3 story townhouse. Although the wireless signal is fine on the main floor of the house, the signal is sketchy at best on the third floor, where we often use laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and streaming media devices.

When we had the opportunity to try a D-Link Wireless Range Extender (DAP-1320), I was excited to see how it could help our weak signal on the third floor.

The unit is tiny and not much larger than a charger for your mobile phone. The DAP-1320 can easily be hidden just about anywhere you choose to plug it in. Although looks aren't important to me in a device like this, the unit is white and sleek, easily blending in with light color walls or trim.

Set up was about as easy as can be. If you own a D-Link wireless router (I do not), set up is as easy as pressing one button! For the rest of us, it was not that much harder. Simply plug the unit in and navigate to a local website (web address provided in the package) that dials you directly into the range extender. Do some very simple configuration (tie it to your existing network, name it, set a password, etc) and you are in business.

If you know nothing at all about computers, you can set this up with the help of the included instructions. If you are even moderately PC literate, then the configuration is a snap. Your entire setup time should be well under 10 minutes (maybe even under 5).

The DAP-1320 boosted my upstairs signal from an inconsistent 2-3 bars to an all the time solid 4 bars. I don’t know what else to say, it works. Can my mom set this up? Probably. Does it work? Yes, very well. Is it expensive? Nope, this D-Link Wireless Range Extender sells for approximately $49.99 at D-Link and on Amazon.

The D-Link Wireless Range Extender is a no-brainer.

How the D-Link MovieNite Plus (DSM-312) Streaming Media Player Tops the Roku

We fired the cable company a few months ago....mostly. We stopped the phone and the television services from our provider keeping just the broadband for Internet access. We still watch just as much TV as we ever have and make plenty of phones calls.

How did we do this? We did this by buying streaming media devices for each TV and a similar device for our phones. The primary motivation was the savings (nearly $100 a month!), but there are other benefits as well.

This review is not really about why we made the change, but rather about the devices that made it possible. When we made the change we chose Roku for our streaming devices and have been pleased.  Once we adjusted to our new arrangement I never thought about the hardware again, until Karen asked me if I wanted to try the D-Link MovieNite Plus.

I was hesitant at first because we already had what we needed.  What could another brand possibly do that's different? The hardware is just the medium to get the content to your TV, right? I decided to try it anyways as I love to try new tech products and I have always been pleased with my D-Link gizmos in the past.

The MovieNite Plus is slightly larger than our Roku boxes, but the Rokus are absolutely tiny so the D-Link is still very small. In fact, even though a bit larger than the Roku, it can still fit in the palm of your hand. The remote control is similar in size to the Roku's, but has more controls and is a little better looking. The MovieNite Plus also has a power button, something that the Roku doesn't have.  It's more energy-efficient to be able to turn the box off when not in use.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Set up was easy as I had expected it to be. If you know your Wi-Fi login information it takes just a few moments. I immediately saw that the MovieNite Plus graphics and text were noticeably sharper and crisper than the Roku's. This really stood out to me because I was not expecting it, I had just assumed that what I had was good, until I saw better. The response time and speed is also markedly better, another area in which I was not expecting to see an improvement.

Once logged in, the home menu is similar to our Roku's with a few content option differences. This I expected as with most (all?) streaming media devices you can customize the media available to you. On the default selection, all the usual content was there, but Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and a few others were there by default as well.

Another difference I was not expecting at all was that the menu's within the content providers were not the same. I had always assumed that Netflix was Netflix no matter where you accessed it. I was very wrong. I was so pleasantly surprised to be presented with a choice between regular Netflix and "Netflix Just For Kids" without needing to change any configurations or install additional apps.

The feature that blew me away was the MyDlink app. We own two D-Link wireless cameras and the MovieNite Plus has an app installed by default that allows us to view the camera right on the TV! Not only can I watch them, I can watch them both at the same time on a split screen. I can't even do that on the computer!

Overall I am extremely pleased with the MovieNite Plus. I was not expecting a dramatic difference between my current device and another one and I was very surprised. The MovieNite Plus is faster, sharper, and very nicely configured out of the box. The remote is better featured than the Roku's remote and although the box itself is larger, it is still very small.

The MovieNite Plus is an excellent choice for streaming media and an significant improvement over what we have been using.  You can learn more about this device on DLink.com.  This item retails for $79.99, but is currently available on Amazon.com for $69.95 with Free Super Saver Shipping.  You can also purchase the MovieNite Plus at the D-Link Shop, Best Buy, Circuit City, Newegg.com, Sears, Target, Walmart, and many other major electronics retailers nationwide.


Thank you to D-Link for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

D-Link Wireless N Network Camera (DCS-932L) for Home Monitoring

I have always wanted a wireless camera that I could access from the web or mobile device. As a dad, the idea of being able to check on your family or home while away is very appealing. When the opportunity came to try the D-Link DCS-932L Home Network Camera I was very excited.

The DCS-932L is small and sleek and would not look obtrusive in any home. The styling is fairly basic and conservative. The body of the camera is roughly the size of a mobile phone without the mounting bracket.

The DCS-932L can be set up using a cabled connection (CAT5e, included) directly to your router or used wirelessly. The initial set up requires you to attach it to your router regardless, unless your router has WPS (WiFi Protected Setup).

At first, I was pretty panicked about the set up as I knew my router didn't support WPS. The included paper instructions really didn't address a wireless setup without WPS and neither did my router's manual. I should mention here that I am a Network certified technician and do this sort of thing for a living, and I was scared! But once I plugged it into my router (even though I wanted it wireless) and started the install disk, all of my fears were alleviated.

The setup software included was an absolute joy to work with and could not have been more simple to use.  I can say that a novice would have no problems setting up the DCS-932L. I went from absolute panic to complete confidence in a matter of moments.

The software takes you online where you need to register. Once you register your camera, you can immediately start monitoring from your PC, any PC. Just click the link and sign in to start viewing.  It could not possibly be easier.

The DCS-932L automatically (by default) changes from daytime to nighttime modes depending on the light. Daytime mode provides decent color and good resolution. The video is smooth with a surprisingly short delay. Nighttime mode changes everything to black and white and the video becomes slightly more grainy, but still decent quality.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

The above screenshots were both taken during the day.  The one on the left was taken late morning when the sunlight was indirect on that side of the house, thus the camera remained in nighttime mode.  The screenshot on the right shows the view during the late afternoon with direct sunlight coming through the windows, causing the camera to switch to daytime mode.  No artificial light was used in either picture.

Being a tech nut I logged into the advanced settings within the camera itself. Although most users won't want to (nor need too) do anything here, I wanted to see what I could manage. In the advanced settings you can control every single facet of your camera (which is basically a server), including security, remote access, quality, format, and many other settings. The fact that I can have total control over the camera was very comforting, even if I didn't make any changes.

One feature I was disappointed I cannot use (yet?), is the ability to use my mobile phone for monitoring. The DCS-932L can be monitored on any Apple or Android device, but Windows based phones are not directly supported yet. I can purchase a third party application to add the service, but the setup is complex and not for everyone.

Once I got over my setup panic, the DCS-932L was an absolute breeze to hook up and configure. The camera is easy to place in your home and fairly inconspicuous. The quality of video is decent in both light and dark conditions. The only critique I have is that there is no native Windows mobile support and the power cord is a little shorter than I would have liked. Overall, I give the D-Link DCS-932L Home Network Camera 4.5 out of 5 stars. In fact, my wife and I have agreed that we should buy a second one for our daughter's room.  This network camera retails for $149.99, but we have found it for less on Amazon.com and on Newegg.com.  If they add a Windows app for my phone ill pump it to a 5 stars and ignore the shortish power cord...


Thank you to D-Link for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.