D-Link Solution Helps VARs Build All-Weather Surveillance Systems

In the past, video surveillance equipment was expensive and complicated, requiring heavy cameras hard-wired to time-lapse video recording equipment. Modern equipment simplifies much of the setup by leveraging wireless technology and common computer products. The latest Wi-Fi cameras are inexpensive and also offer extensive features not available in legacy equipment. Wi-Fi cameras can be accessed via the Web, offering an inexpensive way to remotely monitor sites. Many Wi-Fi cameras also include motion sensors and the ability to automatically process video and deliver video clips or an alert to an e-mail account or an FTP server. This method is much more secure than leaving surveillance video tapes at a customer's site.

Building an outdoor surveillance solution involves selecting the appropriate camera and an all-weather housing. In this case, Test Center engineers selected D-Link's DCS-3320 Wireless Internet Camera and DCS-40 Internet Camera Outdoor Enclosure. The combination of these two products allows solution providers to deploy an Internet-based surveillance system in almost any location as long as power is available. Test Center engineers felt that the solution could be made even more powerful if D-Link included an optional solar rechargeable battery pack to power the camera. This would eliminate the need for external power and, when combined with a high-gain directional antenna, would allow the surveillance equipment to be located miles from a central office.

For now, solution providers must still rely on traditional power sources, but they can still offer the external high-gain antennas to increase the products' range. The DCS-3320 includes two removable antennas, which offer adequate range for most outdoor installations. Solution providers may want to add an outdoor access point (such as D-Link's DWL-2700AP, reviewed in the Feb. 7 issue of CRN) to improve range and serviceability.

The DCS-3320 is packed with features that help extend the products' usefulness. First off, the unit includes two-way audio, which allows the camera to record sound, making the unit suitable for loading docks or other areas where an operator or security officer needs to establish a two-way conversation with another individual. Other notable features include an integrated Web server with Dynamic DNS. This feature allows for remote access to the camera over a broadband connection, without needing a static external IP address. What's more, multiple cameras can be located at a single site, each with its own port and URL. Solution providers can generate additional revenue by offering remote monitoring services and storage of the camera's recordings.

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