Sorry, to hear you fell victim to x10's flashy "non" relevant ads as well. Never liked them, but thought the quality they show on website of camera images is all simulated images, so one really expects a good picture. Had nothing but problems with x10 camera's right out of the box.
1st... some of the camera's I ordered in two batches. So the most recent cameras I ordered had the white "wash out" picture even in low light. The would show a "normal" image for a few seconds, then the image just washes out into whiteness making the camera literally blind like its looking at the sun. This problem is documented here, soon discovered that the receiver firmware had issues with the newer cameras and adjustment of the iris letting in to much light. So I had to order another receiver as well since this stuff was setting on my work bench for a few months until I had time to use it.
2nd... I did want to view my camera's online and upload images to a off-site server. Initially, the the gate.x10.com web server feed images as expexted. Poor quality, but images none the less. The pan/tilt worked, but of course you can only see one camera at a time. Not sure they mention that in those flashy multiple camera system specials on the web site... but oh well.
3rd... Really have to do all the tech support on your own. Phone tech support is poor, and tier 2 support is a joke. After initial phone support, you will get a response two or three days alter telling you to do things that most have already tried by researching this site and the FAQ's etc. To help speed things up, I gave detailed info in the first email about ports I tested, CPU/Ram specs, OS system, hardware setup, internet specs, even the gate.x10.com login info and remote access to the machine along with permission for support to access the machine. The response I got after three days was a standard boiler-plate template support email telling me to check the ports, what CPU, OS, etc... all information I included in the first email. It's like tier 2 support did not even read the original email, just sent the standard "90% of all connection problems are port related" email. So then I wait another 4 days for a response after sending the same info I sent in the first email that they apparently never read. Finally after two weeks of patiently waiting and playing, the tech actually did log in using the remote access I had setup for him. I seen the logs, he was on over 30 mins but never admitted he logged in and couldn't get the working either, just sent an email stating I would have to wait patiently because of high volume of support calls and he need to discuss things with the developers. I waited another two weeks, sent another email checking the status, then another email. After over a year, still no response. So I called and started over again, sending the same details including port tests, hardware, etc... I get the same boiler-plate email I got a year earlier.... "90% of all connections problems are port related" jargon. Again, tier 2 never even took the time to skim thought the email and just asked the same info I already provided to help speed things along.
The software has no built in HTTP server, has no options to specify ports in case your ISP blocks or filters these ports. If so that leaves you with the options of using remote access to control or view video, looking for third party software which is hard to find and more then just simple video streaming and PTZ control, or changing ISP's.
People here will tell you that this is not a support site, just a group of users and fans of x10 just like you and me that are trying to help, Another sign that x10 support and development is almost zero. I appreciate what users here have helped with, I still would be stuck on the white out problem. But some uses seem to get a little insulted when you speak the truth about about x10 products.
But the truth is that if you need porn style ads to sell a product, its a sign that maybe the product is not that good. If they are always running limited time specials, get it now, it's becasue the product doesn't sell itself, they need hype to push it.
The only things x10 has going for it, is the wireless control system over electrical lines in your home for home automation. It is a neat trick, and useful for some things, but not for camera systems. The same can be done via other means with less hardware and better quality. The support is slow, because the developers will not create a solid product and the support teams are helpless to fix the issues that have exsisted from day one. They just create workarounds, not update or revisions.
The only people I have seen that are happy with x10 stuff are people who just really like the challenge of hooking up lots of hardware, and constantly researching problems fixing issues.. ie someone who wants a hobby, or people so paranoid they just want to see if the cops are at the front door, or people who want to catch the babysitter undressing in the bedroom before a swim in the pool. The last two fit the advertising scheme just right.
So, I know the people here are the ones that like the challenge and want to help others, but I just wanted to speak the truth. Thanks everyone here for there help, its been fun, but I will be tossing the x10 in the trash, not even worth selling on ebay, I would do that to my customers.
I bought a few night vision usb webcams, a wireless ip camera, a few usb to cat5 extenders, and on day one I could view all 3 camera's on one screen at the same time, broadcast all three cameras via private HTTP server to the web, actually see who watching the feeds. The usb camera are powered though the usb cat 5 extender, so no power adapters to plug in to each camera, the video feed and the power sent over the same cable. Even a wireless camera is not really wireless if you have to wire it to an outlet. So if you run a wire, why not secure it where some can't unplug it, just send video and power through same wire.
If video is all you are looking for, there really are better and more cost/time effective soultions out there. This is not the 90's anymore.... Thanks for listening...
Author
Topic: New Vanguard User Review (Read 20502 times)