| A few years
back, I came up with an idea to take some of my extra computer
equipment and create a remote camera system to watch my family's
vacation property. I figured that for very little cost, I could use
a computer and Web camera to take periodic pictures of the property.
I was wrong. To see more than just a little
section of lawn, I would have needed additional cameras, cabling,
hardware and even some customized programming.
Times have changed, however. With X10's Ninja
Pan 'n Tilt camera mount, configured with an X10 wireless camera,
you can see more than the grass growing in the same old place. In
backyard tests, I was able to scan almost all of my back and side
yards.
The Ninja has a couple of configurations and
add-ons. The basic package with camera includes the Pan 'n Tilt base
and wall mount, an XCam2 wireless camera, a Video Receiver and a
Ninja ScanPad wireless remote unit to control the robotic base's
movement. Using this $170 package, you can quickly and easily start
monitoring your property with a TV or VCR. Simply mount the Ninja
unit with camera on a wall, plug it in, connect the video receiver
to a TV or VCR, point the receiver at the camera, and a picture of
reasonable quality appears.
To view the video images on a computer, you
need X10's USB Video Capture Adapter. To view and control the
robotic base from that same computer or over the Internet, you also
need X10's Wireless PC Transceiver and PanTilt
Pro software.
When all is said an done, it will cost about
$260 to get everything you need to connect, control and view video
over the Internet.
A word of caution, however: There is no
all-inclusive set of instructions. Each X10 unit has its own manual,
and it can be a little confusing to determine the correct order for
connecting things and which drives are needed.
The Ninja Pan 'n Tilt kit, along with other
X10 automation and security products, is available at www.X10.com
or by calling (800) 675-3044.
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