PC-BASED VIDEO CAMERA RECEIVES HIGH MARKS

I have been trying out PC-based video cameras for years, but every one I've used has one major drawback: It's tethered to a computer. 

That means you can watch yourself looking at your computer, drag your kids in front of the screen to snap a few stills for e-mailing to grandma, or try your hand at videoconferencing, provided you can find someone else with compatible hardware and software who doesn't mind staring at a grainy, jerky image with sound that's always a couple of seconds behind the picture.

Not exactly thrilling, eh? That's why most of the so-called ''Web cams'' I've tried have wound up gathering dust in a drawer.

Last week, however, I hooked up an XCam2 from X10 Technologies, (www.x10.com, 800-675-3044) and found a useful, Web-enabled gadget that's great for home security, or for monitoring a child's room from anywhere in the house or halfway around the world.

Security cameras are a great idea in theory but impractical for most users because they have to be connected directly to a TV set or monitor. That usually means running wire from one room or one floor to another, a job that's too messy for most homeowners and too expensive to have done professionally.

The XCam2 solves that problem by incorporating a color camera and a wireless transmitter that beams audio and video signals to a receiver operating on the 2.4 gigahertz band up to 150 feet away. The receiver on the standard XCam2 ($79.95) is designed to be plugged into the audio and video ports on a TV set or VCR. That's all you need to monitor a baby's room from your living room.

The package also includes an X10 appliance module, which allows you to turn the camera on and off remotely or switch between multiple cameras with one of the company's popular X10 controllers.

The deluxe XCam2 ($129.95) extends the camera's reach with an adapter that connects the receiver to the USB port of your PC. Downloadable Windows software displays the picture on your monitor, records snapshots at intervals you select or broadcasts the pictures over the Web.

The camera and built-in microphone are contained in a silver-dollar-size cylinder mounted on a swivel arm connected to a three-inch-round base that's designed to be mounted on a wall. Although the camera itself doesn't need a wire to connect to your TV or computer, you do have to plug the unit into an AC wall outlet.

The receiver is an egg-shaped gadget about 4 inches wide and 6 inches long, with a flip-up antenna. Video, audio and TV antenna outputs are on the back.

Hooking up the receiver to a TV set should take you about five minutes. It took me an hour when I ignored the color-coded cables and plugged the video from the receiver into the audio input of my TV and vice versa. 

Because other wireless gadgets use the 2.4 GHz band, you may have to switch frequencies to get the best signal. The XCam2 offers a choice of four, adjustable through switches on the transmitter and receiver. 

The picture on my TV set was generally bright and clear, and the sound was understandable, but don't expect a network-quality broadcast.

Because the system feeds video only to your PC, there was less opportunity for me to mess up the computer installation. I downloaded the XRay Vision software from X10's Web site, ran an adapter cable from the receiver to my USB hub and started the program. A few seconds later, the image popped up on my screen. It wasn't as sharp or clear as the TV image, particularly in low light, but everything was recognizable.

There's no written manual for the software, but the online help files canget you through the Internet settings if you're familiar with the basic technology. If you're a complete novice, call a knowledgeable friend for help.

Although it displays real-time video on your monitor, XRay Vision is designed to capture images at intervals (ranging from a few seconds to hours) and store them. You can also ask the program to capture an image any time it detects motion, although I didn't find this feature particularly reliable.

If you want automatic updates of happenings at home, you can have e-mail photos sent at set intervals, a solution that doesn't require special software on your remote PC. If you have a dial-up Internet account, XRay Vision can automatically dial up and log on for you.

If you're using the XCam2 in an office with a network or have a broadband connection (cable or DSL) at home, you'll probably want to set up your home PC as a ''server.'' Or you can have the photos automatically uploaded to X10's servers. The software sets up an account number (which you should write down), and you assign a password.

At the office, you can download XRay Vision, log onto your server and view the latest pictures. This isn't as good as real-time full-motion video, but if you capture frequently enough, you can get a pretty good idea of what's happening.

Aside from some geeky Internet settings, all of this worked with surprisingly little effort. If you're looking for a camera for home or office security, or want to keep track of comings and goings from the road, X10's versatile package will do the job.

permission.