Axis M1031-W Network Camera

The Axis M1013-W Network Camera ($230 street)?can provide decent video surveillance for a home or small business. It can also form part of a fairly sophisticated small business surveillance system when used with Iomega's line of NAS devices, which have built-in support for Axis cameras. But some problems detecting the camera on the network with Axis software and grainy video mean the M1013-W isn't one of the most sophisticated IP cameras on the market, though it does provide some desirable features for a surveillance solution.

Specs
This small, compact camera can be connected to a network via Ethernet cable or wirelessly. The camera does not boast the latest in networking technology: the Ethernet port only supports 10/100 speed and the wireless is only 802.11 b/g. Although you won't get the fastest performance from such dated networking technology, the fact that the camera can connect wirelessly gives it more flexibility in placement than the Editors' Choice IP camera, Logitech's Alert 750n Indoor Master System ?which uses HomePlug powerline technology to connect to a network. The M1031-W also can be wall-mounted, and ships with an extension tube, mount screws, and a clamp.

The camera supports video resolutions of 640x480 (down to 160x120) and multiple H.264, Motion JPEG, and MPEG-4 video streams. On the camera is a WPS button LEDs for network and power status and a white LED that will light up as part of motion-detection if enabled or at the user's request. The camera also supports two-way audio and wireless security, including WEP 64/128 bit, WPA/WPA2-PSK, WPA, and WPA2 Enterprise.

Setup
Setting up the camera is quite easy: You connect it to a router or hub via Ethernet or use WPS to connect. What I found frustrating was the software used to detect the camera on the network that comes on a CD with the camera. No matter what I tried, the software refused to see the camera connected, even though the LEDs indicated a successful network connection and my router's information showed an IP address.

I finally gave up on the software. Once I found what IP address the camera was assigned, I just opened up a browser and typed in that IP. This got me into the camera's interface where I was able to set up a password for access and edit several configuration options such as turning on motion detection, changing the default video format and other settings.

Performance
While this isn't the most high-tech IP camera available?it doesn't offer HD video, though Axis makes a camera that does?it works very well as part of a video surveillance solution with Axis partner Iomega's NASes. With?included software in the Iomega StorCenter ix2-dl's ?interface, I was able to set up the camera to schedule recording and could view a live feed of the camera even remotely, thanks to Iomega's cloud service feature.

The video stream is rather grainy at 640x480, but clear enough to make out what's in the camera's field view as you are watching a video stream. The LED white light is really bright when turned on and I was able to clearly see into a pitch black room in which the camera set up.

You don't need a NAS to use the camera remotely. You can set it up with a dynamic DNS service and then download a video streaming app to view the feed. For businesses use, the Axis camera with an Iomega NAS provides extended functionality that a business would look for, such as scheduled recording, support for multiple feeds, and motion sensor detection.

Decent SMB Surveillance Capabilities
For a home user or a small business, the M1031-W along with a supported NAS such as Iomega's, makes a relatively low-cost, easy-to-setup video surveillance solution. The software that ships with the camera is terrible and bound to frustrate those not used to working around issues connecting devices to the network. That abysmal software knocks a few points off the camera's review score, as does its dated networking technology. But the Axis M1031-W still earns three out of five stars as a useful part of a small business or home networked video surveillance system.

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