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Network cameras act in much the same way as webcams, but with the added advantage of being able to operate completely independently from your PC.
This means you can access the network camera using any PC with an Internet connection.
The Opticam P1 from Plustek is one of the cheapest network cameras currently available. Unlike models such as the Panasonic BL-C30 wireless network camera, the Opticam P1 is an Ethernet-only model, so you'll need to situate it near to your router or invest in a decent length of Ethernet cabling. It also needs to reside close to a mains socket.
The device itself is reminiscent of the type of security camera you might see installed on the ceiling of a high-street store.
Should you want to install the Opticam P1 in such a way, Plustek includes all the brackets and screws you'll need. However, it can also be sat on a flat surface like an ordinary webcam.
Despite its appearance, the lens isn't motorised so you can't pan around a room with it. It also lacks any form of zoom – digital or optical. However, by unscrewing the protective cap, you can manually adjust the lens' level of tilt and the focus.
Installation is relatively easy, as long as you have some experience with basic networking. The manual tries its best to hold your hand through the process, but there is some poor translation and some of the more complex areas aren't explained particularly well.
All the various controls can be accessed via the web interface. The image resolution can be set to 160 x 120, 320 x 240 or 640 x 480, with the last setting achieving a maximum of 10fps (frames per second) at the highest quality level, although we only managed 6fps.
Using the Event Trigger option, you can set the Opticam P1 to notify you via email if it detects any form of motion in the monitored area. The captured images can be sent directly to an ftp site, should you have one.
Image quality is good in well-lit conditions, although it does struggle in areas where there is a mixture of light and dark. Disappointingly, there's no way to manually adjust the exposure and brightness levels, so it's left up to the camera to decide the best settings.
An audio-recording feature would have complimented the video, but at this price you can't really complain.
Plustek would do well to spend some time on the web interface for the Opticam P1. As always seems to be the case with network equipment, the menus aren't very intuitive or inviting.
Those experienced with networks won't have any problems, but novice users will struggle to understand some aspects.
The big draw of the Opticam P1 is its price – you don't get many network cameras for under £100. The flip side is you have to sacrifice a fair amount – for example, wireless, automatic pan and tilt, and a zoom lens.
But if you're looking for an affordable way to set up a remote monitoring system, the Opticam P1 is a good budget buy.
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