How to Set Up an IP-Based Camera Surveillance System

As I mentioned earlier, the camera installation process is quite easy with the equipment I'm recommending.

So let's start with the installation of the DCS-6620G camera. First, connect the Ethernet cable to the camera as depicted in the following photo. The Ethernet cable must be connected at first for set-up purposes; it will be removed later.

Next, connect the power cable, as shown in the following photo:

As shown in the next photo, the 6620 camera has detachable antennae that needed to be screwed on at first.

Next, plug the power connector (the one with two prongs) into the wall. Make sure your computer and router are booted up. Then it's time to install the software.

Note: The camera will come with an install CD that has a typical InstallShield Wizard for set-up. This particular D-Link installation places an installation wizard on your desktop after you've run the set-up CD. You simply click it to get going.

Once the program finds the camera—this takes just a few seconds—you'll see the following screen. Place a check next to the camera you want to link to and configure.

At this initial stage, you are prompted to confirm IP and networking settings for the camera. The following screen details the settings given to the camera by my router:

Clicking "Next" brings you to the wireless set-up, which looks like this:

This is where you can configure security and encryption options. Before we start though, you might want to bone up on wireless security. If you do, see my earlier TechBuilder Recipe, An Easier Way To Secure Wireless Networks.

The next screen you get allows you to exit from the initial configuration. You can now unplug the Ethernet cable from the camera. The wireless functionality is set.

Clicking on the install wizard desktop icon again brings up the "searching for cameras" screen again. The list of available cameras comes back, including the wireless camera.

When you place the check mark and click the link that says "link to selected device(s)" in the upper right corner of the screen, the program launches a standard browser window with the live camera feed and options for manipulating and configuring the camera further.

This camera is now set with its own IP address that the router will recognize each time you search for cameras. You can take the camera anywhere there is an electrical outlet (within range of the Wi-Fi network), plug it in, and begin monitoring the room. The camera is discovered every time.