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Plug-and-play home surveillance system uses house wiring for power and data
Logitech is showing a home surveillance system that is designed to be so simple that even technophobes can set it up.
You simply plug the Digital Video Security System cameras into the nearest mains socket. The video data is carried by your house wiring using Homeplug technology and picked up by a receiver unit, also plugged into the mains, that connects to the USB port on your PC.
The system, shown at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, can be accessed through any browser and takes pictures automatically when it senses movement. It can be set up to alert you by email, or by text message if your phone company supports email-to-SMS.
Unlike some surveillance systems that supply access through a portal there is no subscription for the basic service providing live views of your home.
A paid-for platinum service backs up recorded video and allows you to view it online. This means you still have footage of any intrusion, even if your home equipment is stolen.
A starter pack of one camera (outdoor or indoor) the receiver and software, costs €299; extra cameras cost €249 each.
See our Test Bed blog for more news from IFA, including, later today, news of Logitech’s Squeezebox Boom network music player.
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Mains networking devices are causing interference
I haven't tried this particular device, but its becoming evident that the Comtrend adaptors being rolled out by BT vision for networking are causing severe radio interference to the short wave bands. Amateur radio operators and short wave listeners are complaining to Ofcom. As a result BT are coming back and removing the offending devices. Ofcom is talking about "spectrum abuse". Anyone living near a radio user may get such a complaint. And by "near", it seems interference over distances of 500m is occuring. That could be a couple of streets away from your house. It would be wise to check before buying that in the event of interference complaints you can get return them and get your money back. Wi-fi, particularly the latest draft-n devices, will work equally well, without interference issues of this type.
Posted by Richard Hankins, 29 Aug 2008