Showing posts with label panasonic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label panasonic. Show all posts

5/18/2012

Panasonic BL-C111A Network Camera Wired Review

Panasonic BL-C111A Network Camera Wired
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
First, let me compliment Panasonic on its customer support. It may take a few minutes to get through, but they do know what they are doing. I needed them twice during setup and they came through both times.
Pros: This is a decent camera at a great price; decent low light performance; relatively easy setup; free web access hosted by Panasonic; compatible with any cell phone with a web browser (pics only); motion sensor; reliable.
Cons: slow shutter speed (anything moving is blurry) and really does not do 30 FPS as advertised.
Overall - recommended as a reasonable cost home monitoring system.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic BL-C111A Network Camera Wired

Automatic Network Configuration, MPEG4, Universal Plug and Play, Set-up Wizard, Remote Pan/Tilt Control, Built in PIR motion detector

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Panasonic BL-C111A Network Camera Wired

Read More...

5/09/2012

Panasonic Remote Video Monitoring Webcam and Pet Cam BL-C10A Review

Panasonic Remote Video Monitoring Webcam and Pet Cam BL-C10A
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I purchased this network camera to keep an eye on our cats while we were vacationing and just to check in on the house. I was very pleased by the quality and ease of use the camera has.
Setting up the camera was very easy and I had no problems.
The camera's clarity is incredible for its price range, considering that it also pans and scans (with great range of motion).
Speaking to clarity, when the camera moves in any direction, the motors makes a little noise... Not obnoxious or anything, but curious cats had to come check it out each time we moved it while away. Using the snapshot ability on the camera, we got some of the best pictures of the 'kids' we've gotten from any camera when we were there in person.
The camera worked flawlessly - what a great way to ease your mind if you have good internet access where the camera is and where you'll be.
Highly recommended... I'm writing this review because I'm back to order another for different part of the house. :-)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic Remote Video Monitoring Webcam and Pet Cam BL-C10A

See there when you can't be there! Panasonic BL-C10 is the newest and most compact Network Camera! Product features: Stylish & compact; Human Detection Sensor - if it detects someone, it notifies you by e-mail; Color Night View mode - view images even in low light; Privacy mode ensures your privacy; Setup is easy with UPnP - even a beginner can setup the camera thanks to UPnP support; Camera control - even when away from home, you can change the direction of the camera lens: Pan/Tilt; Viewing the camera via mobile phone; Multi-camera feature; Image buffer feature; Viewnetcam service; Built-in web server.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Panasonic Remote Video Monitoring Webcam and Pet Cam BL-C10A

Read More...

5/02/2012

Panasonic VIERA G10 Series TC-P50G10 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

Panasonic VIERA G10 Series TC-P50G10 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The P50G10 is my second HD Plasma experience, the first being a 2004 Panasonic, which still looks and works quite well. It has found another spot in our home to make room for the new G10 in our family room. When searching for and finally selecting the new Panasonic G10, I was comparing choices against this first experience considering both the manufacturer and the plasma technology. While I have a few smaller sized LCD's, mostly in the 20-32" range, I have never been overly impressed with the picture. The seem a bit cartoonish, even in HD mode, so I quickly settled on a plasma as my technology choice. Having made that decision the alternatives in terms of manufacturers narrowed quickly. Wh Pioneer exiting the Plasma business, and considering my experience with my original Panasonic plasma the brand decision was made. Selecting which model from Panasonic boiled down to scouring the 2009 product announcements and available reviews (CNET), and making the trade-offs on size, cost and availability. This all led me to the P50G10, which was a good fit on all points.
I have had the unit installed and working for 4 weeks now, and must say its been an extremely satisfying time. The G10 is a major step up, from my previous plasma, in terms of picture, inputs i.e. 3 HDMI vs 1, and ability to control each picture setting independently. I have tweaked the picture setting on the Standard and THX settings a bit to sharpen and brighten the picture a bit, but most of the other settings are very good out of the box. As the unit is stand mounted, and in a room with mostly indirect and overhead lighting there are no issues with glare or light reflection, from the main glass or its glossy black bezel.
In the process I also moved up to a Panasonic BMP-BD60 (will write a separate review on it) Blu Ray player and the 1080P picture is nothing short of amazing. As these are both Panasonic units they inter-operate with VieraLink which simplifies and automates the way the two units operate together, a nice but not essential feature. I setup a Wireless ethernet bridge (Linksys WET54G) to feed the VieraCast function on the G10, and it works flawlessly. At this time the amount of content available is limited, but one can see the potential, if Panasonic can bring more content services to this function. The G10 does employ a set of power consumption controls. There are both Input Idle and In-Activity based auto-power off modes to save on power consumption, which is good as plasma's are a bit power hungry.
To be balanced the G10 does have a few shortcomings. The sound from the onboard speakers is a bit thin. You can mitigate this some by pumping up the Bass control and turning on the Bass Boost, but its just not a rich sound experience. I think Panasonic can do better with some higher quality speakers and a small sub-woofer. I, and I suspect most others, have a surround system connected and utilize it for a better sound experience.
I also preferred when Panasonic placed the additional inputs into a trap door on the front of the plasma, the G10 has these on the left (facing) edge. To me it was more convenient and accessible to have these set of inputs up-front.
All in all, the G10 is a high quality Plasma with terrific features and future expandability. If offers a near perfect picture across multiple inputs and types of content.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic VIERA G10 Series TC-P50G10 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

50" Plasma, 1080p, THX, Viera Cast, H.264, IP Camera Ready, PC Input, NEO PDP Panel which is brighter, Full-time 1080p TV lines of moving picture resolution, 3 HDMI, Native contrast ratio 40,000:1, Dynamic contrast infinite black 2,000,000:1, Game Mode, Anti Reflective Filter, 600 Hz Subfield Drive

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Panasonic VIERA G10 Series TC-P50G10 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Read More...

5/01/2012

Panasonic Dect 6.0 Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System - 4 Handset System (KX-TG9334T) Review

Panasonic Dect 6.0 Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System - 4 Handset System (KX-TG9334T)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The battle between WiFi and wireless telephones.
We had a mixture of 2.4 gigahertz phones for years that coexisted peacefully with our old wireless G router. Well, the router died and we needed a new one. The newest technology for wireless is "N" with Mimo Technology, which supports both N and G wireless networks. So, of course we buy. After all, now is the future, right?
Mimo WiFi uses several different radio frequency channels (in the 2.4 gigahertz range for G networks) at the same time to assure an optimal radio signal to your WiFi laptops (in our case, G). This works great for the WiFi network, BUT......every time our telephones rang...Poof, the WiFi Signal got scrambled and we lost the network. We tried setting different channels on the phones and the router, nothing worked.
So being in the market for a major upgrade with our now antiquated phone system, we bought this Dect. 6.0 system that uses the 1.9 gigahertz frequency.
First of all..no interference in the WiFi network....NONE!
There are also a few features that I like.
We can now communicate and transfer calls with each other over 5 acres of land with complete security.
Talking Caller ID enables me to save a few steps and decide if I want to answer the call.
Since Vonage (my phone service) does not have specific call block, this phone can block certain pesky incoming calls and give the abusive callers a busy signal to listen to. This is a great feature and the only way Panasonic could improve on it, is to give us a choice between the busy signal or tones that indicate that the phone has been disconnected.
I can't say anything about the voice mail except that you can turn it off quite easily. We use the Vonage voice mail and are quite happy with it.
We are easily adding to the phone book as calls are coming in. I think it is a bit of a hassle to add them in manually.
Different ring tones are nice, and sound pretty. All of us have set up different ring tones and it is quite a symphony in the house when all the phones play their distinct melodies.
Each phone has a speaker phone and my friends can't tell I am using it.
Only the main base need to be plugged into a backup power supply if you want to do that.
All in all, I am very satisfied and am going to add 2 more phones to my 4 phone system.
12/16/2010 Edited to say that phones are still working, but I did have to replace the rechargeable batteries on one of them. The plus side to this is that they are easily replaceable; two Triple A (AAA), Nickle Metal Hydrides!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic Dect 6.0 Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System - 4 Handset System (KX-TG9334T)

Panasonic KX-TG9334T DECT 6.0 Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System w/4 Handsets

Buy NowGet 11% OFF

Click here for more information about Panasonic Dect 6.0 Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System - 4 Handset System (KX-TG9334T)

Read More...

4/30/2012

Samsung BD-P2500 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player Review

Samsung BD-P2500 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Very happy with this purchase! I'm glad to see Amazon has them back in stock. I have never had a problem with another seller - but I do prefer Amazon. I got my unit from a local retailer who I had a discount code for. With tax etc. I ended up paying what I would have paid on amazon. Unfortunately amazon now charges tax for us New York residents (not amazon's choice...)
I digress.
I was initially going to buy the BD-P1500 just for it's price point, but was drawn to this model when I found out about the Netflix feature.
The unit was well packed (nice to see manufacturers getting more conscious about being "green" with packing).
The unit is smaller than I expected and seems sturdy.
Box contained:
Player with permanently attached cord
Remote with batteries (aaa)
One AV cable (RCA red/yellow/white)
User guide
The anynet+ feature is nice if you have other Samsung components. I have a Samsung TV and because I used an HDMI cable to connect, the TV and Blu-ray player "talk" to each other. The player turns the TV on automatically and switches it to the correct input which is a nice convenience.
NETFLIX! This feature is so cool! The picture quality was amazing. I have the player connected to my linksys router with a cable using the net port on the back. I suppose you could do this wirelessly with some extra components. You have to log into netflix and cue movies on your PC, and then you can watch them on your TV through the player. It works really well. Note that this feature requires a firmware upgrade (see below for my complaint about this...)
Picture and sound quality seems wonderful!
Two small quirks/complaints:
1) Load time: It takes a good minute or so for a blu-ray disk to load initially. Once loaded response time is great, but that initial load time is long
2) Firmware upgrade: I connected the unit to my router and went to setup to have it check for an upgrade and was told that I already had the latest firmware, which I know I did not. If you turn the player on and don't see the Netflix logo on the home screen, you probably don't have the latest firmware. I went to the Samsung website, downloaded an update file which I then had to burn to a CD. Putting the CD in the player then sucessfully updated the firmware. I am not sure why the net upgrade option didn't work, but I have seen other users complain about this online. A mild annoyance. The CD upgrade took about 5 minutes. It is also upgradable by USB using a flash drive.
All in all, I am very happy with this!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung BD-P2500 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

Samsung's BD-P2500 is BD-Live 2.0 Ready with an ethernet port so you can enjoy special interactive features, download extra content from the internet, and more. It has 1Gb of onboard memory and a USB port for memory expansion. You'll enjoy bold color and crisp details with full 1080p resolution. The BD-P2500 also offers breakthrough enhancements such as Hollywood Quality Video (HQV) processing and 7.1-Channel analog audio outputs creating a powerful HD audio-visual experience. Plays Blu-ray discs, upscales standard DVDs, and is compatible with BD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-R (V mode only), DVD-RW (V/VR mode), Audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and AVCHD discs. Movie night just got even more exciting - with the highest-quality audio and an incredible picture.
Key Features
Total BD Profile Compatibility right out of the box, lets you instantly enjoy the latest interactive features available, including BD Live (Profile 2.0) and Bonus View (Profile 1.1)
Lots of Memory and Easy Upgradeability: The BD-P2500 comes with a built-in, wired Ethernet connection, 1GB of internal flash memory, and a USB port for memory expansion
Full HD 1080p
HQV processing chip for the highest quality viewing of Blu-ray discs, upconversion of standard DVDs, and viewing of JPEG images
HDMI 1.3 output with xvYCC Deep Color support, and a 24fps film mode, exhibiting smoother, more natural playback of film-based material.
7.1-Channel Dolby TrueHD Sound and dts-HD Master Audio capable of decoding the latest high-resolution digital multichannel audio soundtracks
HQV Video Processor
In a perfect world, every disc's image that passed through your Blu-ray disc player into your HDTV would offer immaculate 1080p video with flawless color, impeccable detail, and nary a bit of pesky video noise. In the real world, though, pristine source material isn't available for every Blu-ray disc—due to age or neglect of the original elements—and there are plenty of movies and TV shows on DVD that you'll still want to watch on your Blu-ray player. HQV video processing is a great way of elevating those less-than-perfect video sources to a new level, and ensuring that you're getting the most out of your beautiful high-definition video display.
To do this, the HQV video processors built into better Blu-ray players employ sophisticated algorithms to alleviate the problems that often plague less-than-perfect video sources. HQV processors analyze multiple video fields at once to determine where frames match up and where they don't, and even which objects are in motion within those frames. In analyzing the video signal over time, the processor also determines the proper frame rate or refresh rate of the original video signal—whether it's a 24 fps film source or a 30 fps video source, for example—and makes sure that it is dealt with properly. HQV video processors are also great at minimizing video noise without scrubbing the image of all its fine detail, as well as restoring some of the detail that's lost as a result of aggressive video filtering during the Blu-ray or DVD mastering process. And unlike some competing video processors, HQV processors boast enough processing power to keep up with the multiple video streams (picture-in-picture and split screen) found on many new Blu-ray discs.
Stream Netflix Movies Right Over Your Player


BD-Live

Bonus View
High Definition Soundtrack Support and Output

Providing a truly immersive HD home theater experience, Samsung's BD-P2500 is capable of decoding the latest high-resolution digital multichannel audio soundtracks available. Out of the box, the player can output Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and dts as an uncompressed PCM signal, as a bitstream, or via the 7.1 analog outputs for cinematic sound that is comparable with the latest movie theaters. Additionally, dts-HD HR (High Resolution) decoding will become available with a firmware upgrade in the fall. The BD-P2500 will also pass these and dts-HD MA (Master Audio) as a bitstream output to a separate, external surround sound decoder.


HDMI Features

x.v Color RGB Color Range

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Samsung BD-P2500 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

Read More...

4/02/2012

Panasonic VIERA TC-P42S30 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

Panasonic VIERA TC-P42S30 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I am the ecstatic owner of a Panasonic TC-L32X2 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with iPod Dock, so when it came time to move up to a 42" set for the living room (and move the 32" to the bedroom to replace the 27" tube TV), I mostly confined my search to Panasonic. I had considered the previous version of this unit (TC-P42S2) because it was highly rated on Amazon, as well as slightly less expensive, but I decided to take a chance on the newer model--even though it's so new that it has no ratings or reviews. (As of 3/27/11, however, this unit is less expensive.)
I ordered this TV on a Saturday and received it via delivery truck on Wednesday. Setup was painless (it is pretty heavy, though). I was pleasantly surprised to see that it supports Internet connectivity (although it wasn't something I was looking for, the concept has really grown on me), but less pleasantly surprised to learn that the wireless dongle (Panasonic DY-WL10 Wireless LAN Adapter for select Panasonic Viera HDTVs and Blu-Ray Disc Players) is another $99. For that much, I think I'll run a LAN cable. [I did; see below. Also see the comments for another wireless alternative.] I'm using the three HDMI ports for my Verizon FIOS set top box, Apple TV 2, and JVC XVBP11 Blu-ray Player. A set of RCA audio/video inputs takes care of my Pioneer laserdisc player. (Yeah, I'm old school.) I don't foresee using the SD card slot for anything but firmware updates, but I like having USB ports so we can watch our Flip movies in full HD glory--once I learn how to do it, that is.
I was very happy with my LCD TV even in the middle of the day; maybe that's why I never realized just how bright our living room is. The first time I tried to watch this TV from the couch, the reflection from the skylight was terrible. Around noon, the glare was nearly unbearable.
In late afternoon/full dark, this TV looks fantastic. It's so good, in fact, that I couldn't tear myself away from 2 Fast 2 Furious, which says a lot. The problem is that I do most of my viewing during the day, so I'm not sure that it's going to work for me in the long run. I'll have to give it a few more days. The preset color modes aren't perfect, but they're fairly accurate right out of the box. Both Netflix and iTunes movies streamed over the Apple TV look great. When I have some time I'll run Video Essentials to get the levels dialed in.
The speakers are adequate at low volumes, and there are separate bass and treble adjustments, but at normal volumes, certain low frequencies rattle the cabinet. It was particularly bad while I was watching Inception, but my wife even noticed it during "Top Chef." I know I'll eventually have to upgrade my 15-year-old Sony receiver (it has only RCA input, and the TV has only digital audio output), but it's a little irritating that I have to do it just to watch TV without annoying rattles. If the sound quality were better, I would be happy to give this TV a full 5-star rating. (If it were just about the picture, I would.) Additionally, I need to jack up the volume when I use my Blu-ray player--a problem I also have with my 32" TV. I suspect that the player's audio output level is lower than the DVR and Apple TV. NOTE: After the first few days of viewing, the rattles disappeared. Also, I wired up the DVR box and the BD player to the receiver, so I have big sound when I want it (unless I'm using the ATV).
One feature I will never use is called C.A.T.S., which adjusts the TV's brightness according to the room's light level. Evidently it's set to On in Standard picture mode, which I discovered by accident. After exploring the settings, I found it and turned it off. I want my TV to stay at a consistent brightness level no matter what the room light is doing. (I'll bet this is why the picture looked so bad at high noon. We'll see.)
So all things considered, am I happy with my purchase? Yes. The detail and clarity blow my mind. I'll test it with some more Blu-ray movies over the next few weeks and see how it performs during the day, but I think we have a winner. Welcome to the family.
Update 3/19/11: I ran a 50-foot ethernet cable (BluCables 50 ft CAT 5e LAN Network Ethernet Cable 350MHz) from my Verizon FIOS router to the TV. I wasn't able to connect automatically; after a few failed and frustrating attempts that made me consider buying the dongle, I manually input the network settings for the TV (the trick was finding and assigning an unused IP address) and bingo. Bonus: firmware updates over the 'net. I might move the Apple TV to the 32" in the bedroom, but the Viera Cast selections are limited. Netflix is essential and Amazon VOD is nice to have, but I really want Hulu. I'm still very pleased with the TV; my only minor gripe is the amount of heat it puts out. (I understand that this gets better. I hope so.)
Update 3/25/11: For those of you who, like me, are interested in getting Hulu via Viera Cast, I received this from Panasonic: "Thank you for your inquiry. This Model TCP42S30 includes a feature called EASY IPTV. Easy IPTV includes and is limited to: Netflix, Pandora Internet Radio, Cinema Now, Facebook, Napster, & Amazon Video On Demand. Hulu is an application featured in Viera Connect which this TV does not have. The TVs that have Viera Connect & Hulu capabilities are:
PLASMA: TCP65VT30, TCP55VT30, TCP65GT30, TCP60GT30, TCP55GT30, TCP50GT30, TCP65ST30, TCP60ST30, TCP55ST30, TCP50ST30, TCP46ST30, and TCP42ST30.
LED: TCL37DT30, TCL32DT30, and TCL42D30
[Some models are not available yet and are still awaiting release in Late Spring / Early Summer 2011]"
Why there would be a difference between models, I have no idea. But there you go.
Update 4/14/11: I moved the Apple TV into the bedroom with the 32" TV and have been using Viera Cast to watch Netflix movies. I haven't noticed a single stutter so far. Picture quality appears to be the same as with the ATV. My only gripe is that there's no search feature, and the recommendations in each category are limited in number. The best way around this, I've found, is to use my computer to put movies into my Watch Instantly queue and move them to the top. I also replaced my BD player with an all-region JVC XV-BP10 so I can watch my Region 2 Godzilla movies. ("Godzilla vs. Megalon" didn't look this good in the theater!)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic VIERA TC-P42S30 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV


Internet-Ready Television

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Panasonic VIERA TC-P42S30 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Read More...

2/24/2012

Panasonic SH-FX50 Wireless Receiver Module Review

Panasonic SH-FX50 Wireless Receiver Module
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I recently purchased this unit to go with my SC-HT930 surround sound system. It is worth purchasing so you don't have to run speaker wire to the back of the room. I hid the receiver behind my couch and it still gave out a strong enough signal. I'm very glad I purchased it and it works great.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic SH-FX50 Wireless Receiver Module

Thanks to the Panasonic SH-FX50 rear wireless receiver and transmitter, you can eliminate wire connections made from the main unit of your home theater system to the back of the room. Simply add this model to a compatible Panasonic home theater system and you'll be able to form a wireless connection between the main unit and the surround speakers; just set up your wireless receiver at the back of the room and connect your rear surround speakers to it.
It provides a stable, reliable wireless connection between the main system and the rear speakers via 2.4 GHz frequency. It delivers plenty of full surround sound with 70 watts per channel from the digital amplifier located in the digital receiver. The SH-FX50 is compatible with Panasonic SC-HT930, SC-HT830V and SC-HT730 home theater systems.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Panasonic SH-FX50 Wireless Receiver Module

Read More...

2/14/2012

Panasonic DECT 6.0-Series Dual-Handset Cordless Phone System with Answering System (KX-TG1032S) Review

Panasonic DECT 6.0-Series Dual-Handset Cordless Phone System with Answering System (KX-TG1032S)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I got this phone about a week ago in order to replace a 2.4 panasonic that died -some numbers were not dialing and finally battery hookup broke off- In general I like the phone but it has some major things I don't like.
Pros: Easy to set up. You get 2 phones with 1 phone jack. Speakers are great! (unlike with my old phone people don't complain when I use them). You can hear answering machines messages from either remote set. Phonebook sharing. You can conference between phones and call each other (big hit with my kids).
Cons:
1. There is something wrong with the volume (I read complains about it in reviews in Circuit city and thought maybe person had hearing problem... but no, they were right). Let me explain: the volume goes up and down by itself for no good reason. One phone call you hear great and next one is really low so you need to adjust volume and it goes up and then down on its own again -sometimes during the same call while you are talking- .... You can live with it, you adjust volume but I don't particularly like playing with volume every other call! For me it is really a pain!
2. Answering machine base don't display the number of messages you have (it has no lcd screen!). No talking id or any other fancy stuff either.
3. When you play messages from answering machine the sound is a little boxy, robot like...not clear. This does not happen if you hear messages from the phones themselves.
In conclusion I would say this is an all right phone, I expected better... but it is also not very expensive and it has the latest technology. I guess now I know why some 5.8 panasonic phones (previous technology) were more expensive than this one... you get what you pay.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic DECT 6.0-Series Dual-Handset Cordless Phone System with Answering System (KX-TG1032S)

- Panasonic DECT 6.0 Expandable system withdigital answering system - Includes 2 handsets(1 base unit and handset and 1 extra handset and charger)- Expands up to 6 handsets- DECT 6.0technology (clear sound, long range, resistance to eavesdropping, minimized interference)- Caller ID, call waiting caller ID- 50# Phonebook anddialer- 3-Line backlit LCD on handsets- Up to 3-way conference capability- Comfortable handset with big buttons- Phonebook sharing- Light-up indicator with ringer/message alert- Built-in clock with alarm on handset- Ni-MM battery included (AAA)- 2.5mm Headset jack - Belt clips included- Wall mountable- Keypad on handsets only- Speakerphone on handsets- Mute/redial/flash- Up to 17 hours of talk time- Digital answering system- 16 Minutes of record time- 1 Year manufacturer's warranty- SilverACCESSORY HANDSET: KX-TGA101SREPLACEMENT BATTERY: HHR-4DPA, or GE-TL86420KXTG1032S

Buy NowGet 1% OFF

Click here for more information about Panasonic DECT 6.0-Series Dual-Handset Cordless Phone System with Answering System (KX-TG1032S)

Read More...

1/15/2012

Panasonic BL-PA100KTA Ethernet Adaptor Starter Pack Includes two HD-PLC (High Definition Power Communication) Review

Panasonic BL-PA100KTA Ethernet Adaptor Starter Pack Includes two HD-PLC (High Definition Power Communication)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I researched competing products from DLink and NetGear online and read numerous reviews. Any of the HD-PLC products should perform similarly in the same situation. Before deciding on a powerline Ethernet product be sure to understand that the quality of your home wiring and the distance the signal must travel all can affect the performance of the product. Poor quality wiring or very long electrical runs may limit performance.
What I liked most about the Panasonic product is that the kit which includes two units is preconfigured, so it works right out of the box without any special configuration. I didn't have to install ANY software to get my network running. I plugged in one unit to my Internet router, and the other unit into a power outlet in a nearby office. Once I connected the Ethernet cable, I was up and running. It was really that easy.
One nice thing with this unit is that you can run a speed test from the unit itself, with the front LED's displaying the estimated network performance. This was handy as I tried different outlet combinations to acheive the best performance. As a side note, I found that plugging the "Master" unit into an outlet as close as possible to the breaker box yeilded the best results. By putting the master as close to the break box as possible (electrica wiring distance) I was able to get a much better signal. I have the master unit in a downtairs room that is about 40' from the breaker box, and the secondary unit in an upstairs office that is about 65' feet from the breaker box.
Note that any powerline Ethernet product is susceptible to interference from other devices. Pay attention to the manual regarding the types of devies that can cause interference, and avoid ever pluggint the device into a surge protector, since that will greatly limit performance.
An additional nice feature of the Panasonic unit compared with DLink and NetGear is that the unit has a power cable. This allows me to plug it into "hidden" outlets, and then place the box in an easy to reach location. Both the NetGear and DLink products are a box that plugs directly into the outlet. This makes them more difficult to access, especially if you want to look at the box to see what it is doing. I like that the Panasonic can sit nicely on the corner of my desk and I can see the lights. I also suspect that the Panasonic will operate cooler since it can be placed in locations where there is air flow all around the unit.
Performance will vary by house and situation. I have a gigabit network switch that connects my machine directly to a server. When I copy a 50 megabyte file to my server using Windows XP, it takes 8 to 9 seconds to copy a 50 megabyte file. Running the same 50 megabyte file copy to a machine on the HD-PLC network connection took about 27 seconds. This seems to be pretty good performance overall. Note that "speed test" is only as good as what is being tested. My test was a real world test under Windows XP copying a 50 megabyte ZIP file.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic BL-PA100KTA Ethernet Adaptor Starter Pack Includes two HD-PLC (High Definition Power Communication)

The HD-PLC (High Definition Power Line Communication) ethernet adaptor makes it possible for your home electrical wiring to serve as a link between your PC and modem. Getting online access is as easy as plugging into a power outlet. You can move your PC and connect to the internet anywhere there is a power outlet in your home!

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Panasonic BL-PA100KTA Ethernet Adaptor Starter Pack Includes two HD-PLC (High Definition Power Communication)

Read More...

1/02/2012

Panasonic SH-FX60 Rear Wireless upgrade Kit Review

Panasonic SH-FX60 Rear Wireless upgrade Kit
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The SH-FX60 is a recommended accessory for a Panasonic home theater. First off, the consumer should appreciate that this kit makes it so that the rear surround sound speakers have a wireless connection with the main unit. Wires still connect the two rear speakers to a wireless receiver unit. While the descriptor 'wireless' may be less than entirely accurate, this setup is all most consumers will ever need. Second, the system works very well. The audio signal is strong and clear. Unlike with the SH-FX80 (wireless second room speaker), the volume can be adjusted through the SH-FX60. Third, the range is excellent. My setup has the wireless receiver about twenty feet away from the main theater unit. Fourth, the kit is simple to install. The SH-FX60 Rear Wireless Upgrade Kit delivers what it promises.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic SH-FX60 Rear Wireless upgrade Kit

Rear Wirelessfor SC-HT50, SC-HT940, SC-HT740, SC-HT440, SC-HTHT40

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Panasonic SH-FX60 Rear Wireless upgrade Kit

Read More...

12/28/2011

Panasonic DMP-BD85K WiFi Enabled Blu-Ray Disc Player (Black) Review

Panasonic DMP-BD85K WiFi Enabled Blu-Ray Disc Player (Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
There is a lot to like about Panasonic's latest high-end Blu-ray player, the DMP-BD85: excellent video and audio performance, a rich assortment of streaming media options (Netflix, Amazon VOD, YouTube, Pandora Internet Radio and now VUDU via a recent firmware upgrade), and a highly customizable assortment of tweakable parameters for audio and video hobbyists. Also, with built in Wi-Fi via the included USB adapter, it's easier than it used to be to reap the benefits of an internet-enabled player. However, the bland text-based menus and operational idiosyncrasies of the player make it feel a little bit behind the times.
DVD upconversion is very good to excellent, with some enhancements to Panasonic's Uniphier video processor that are only available in the BD85 and in the new Blu-ray 3D players, the DMP-BDT300 and DMP-BDT350. The entry-level BD45 and BD65 players include a slightly lesser quality version of the Uniphier processor, equivalent to Panasonic's 2009 players. Diagonal lines are clean and free from jaggies, 2:3 film cadence is easily detected by the player, preventing the tell-tale moire distortion that can occur on lesser players, and edge detail is smooth and fairly free of aliasing and any combing or tearing artifacts.
Turning to high def Blu-ray Disc playback, advances to the player's chroma (color) upconversion processor enable outstanding color reproduction and color detail from 1080p Blu-ray Disc, superior to Blu-ray playback on some other more expensive players. To be honest, these improvements are only really visible on larger screen sizes (e.g., large screen projection systems) but home theater hobbyists and videophiles will appreciate the exceptional Blu-ray playback quality of the BD85.
Audio quality is also excellent, with some innovative enhancements to the way digital audio is handled that can improve the sound quality, even over HDMI PCM and bitstream connections (specifically the "Jitter Purifier" and "High Clarity Audio" features). By providing more accurate data for the audio clock, the BD85 minimizes jitter that can detract from the sound quality, even when your receiver or preamp does the audio decoding. For those who have older non-HDMI receivers, the BD85's multi-channel analog outputs and on-board decoding for DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD can provide outstanding lossless audio from Blu-ray Disc (just be prepared to spend some time tweaking the player's speaker settings and your receiver to get the sound dialed in just right).
In our testing, the included 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi adapter worked well. Also with the WiFi adapter is a 3-foot USB extension cable which allows you to place the wireless antenna module outside the audio cabinet where it can get better WiFi reception. We were easily able to stream Netflix in HD using the WiFi adapter one floor away from our 802.11g Linksys wireless router. Access to Netflix, Amazon and YouTube was pretty reliable (though we tested YouTube and Netflix much more heavily than Amazon VOD), and BD-Live features worked well on the player (as long as you give it a couple of minutes to fully connect to the network). Also, for those with the firmware 1.23 applied, as of June, 2010, Pandora is now available in the VIERA Cast screen on this player, and firmware 1.51 (11/2010) brought VUDU to this and other 2010 model year Panasonic players.
But Panasonic made some ergonomic choices here that are a bit questionable. They shortened the remote vs. last year's models by about an inch. And while this does make the basic functions like transport and menu navigation a little easier to operate (at least to my thumbs), the smaller size meant removing the "Set-up" button entirely, and making the frequently used "Display" button much smaller and easy to miss. And although there is a VIERA Cast button the remote, which allows access to all the IPTV streaming goodies, the player lacks an integrated splash screen (as seen on recent LG and Samsung players) which would give you the option to select between disc-based, USB-based on web-based content in an integrated and logical way.
Also, within the "Functions" menu, there is an option called "Network" which actually launches the VIERA Cast screen (why not call it "VIERA Cast" to be consistent?). Perhaps most frustrating to those who watch a lot of foreign films (or non-native English speakers), there is no subtitle button on the remote. Instead subtitle controls are buried deep within the "Display" menu, where you'll also find the nifty 24p mode switch for DVD playback. This is nothing new in the BD85, but it is a questionable choice for a fairly commonly used function.
In the area of loading speed, the BD85 carries on the tradition of earlier Panasonic players being a fairly sluggish disc loader. Sure, there is a "fast boot" option (Quick Start), which can take you from powered off to the basic splash screen and "no disc" message in under 2 seconds. But after that initial boot, you'll still be waiting a while to view your discs - we clocked the disc loading times at about 20 seconds to load a standard DVD, 36 seconds to load a Blu-ray and 39 seconds to load a BD-Java Blu-ray (the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie). A BD-Live heavy title ("Inglourious Basterds") can take over two minutes to get to a visible screen, though we did find that using an SDHC card instead of a standard SD card, did speed up this load time significantly, exposing more of the BD-Live content that we did not see when we used the standard 1GB SD card. And that's one more knock - why does Panasonic still require customers to buy and insert an SD card in order to use BD-Live? Why not load the unit with at least 1 GB of on-board memory so that customers are not disappointed to find they need an additional purchase just to use BD-Live?
In terms of disc compatibility and reliable operations, we were only able to find a single disc that was problematic on the player - the first disc in the "Alien Quadrilogy" boxed DVD set. The default Dolby Digital track plays fine but the DTS track on the extended cut of the film emits nothing but silence. Apparently this is an improvement over earlier Panasonic players, some of which were not able to play this disc at all. We also saw the machine shut itself down a couple of times when playing Xvid-encoded AVI files from a connected USB drive. But thanks to some follow-up testing from Panasonic, confirmed by us, this turned out to be media-specific: in other words, if you use a decent quality name brand USB flash drive (instead of the cheap promo USB drive we initially used), the player plays these AVI files fine.
All told, the operational idiosyncrasies of the player are easy enough to get used to, and will be more annoying to hobbyists who like to get into the set-up menus to test various options and settings and perhaps less annoying to the average consumer. It's the performance that matters, and at the moment, this is one of the top performers available for under $300. So if you don't mind a few less-than-sexy menus and operational quirks, then the BD85 will make an excellent choice for a high performance, affordable Blu-ray Disc player.
Our detailed review is available on Big Picture Big Sound (dot com).

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic DMP-BD85K WiFi Enabled Blu-Ray Disc Player (Black)

Start watching your favorite high-definition movies almost instantly with the Panasonic DMP-BD85 Blu-ray Disc player, which features an ultra-fast 2-second boot time. You'll also enjoy BD-Live and Panasonic's VIERA Cast functionality for accessing Internet video content thanks to the included Wi-Fi connectivity (via included Wireless LAN adapter) as well as wired Ethernet networking.
It also includes both a USB port and a Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot, making it easy for you to view and share both digital still images and HD video recorded with an HD camcorder in the AVCHD format (DivX movie format also supported). Other features include compatibility with a wide variety of disc formats (including standard DVD movie discs), HDMI Jitter Purifier, 7.1-channel audio decode analog output, Energy Star certification, and Panasonic's VIERA Link function--allowing you to operate multiple audio/video components using a single remote via HDMI.
Additionally, Panasonic's lineup of 2010 BD Players are designed to reduce power consumption and also feature a slimmer, more efficient design to reduce packaging waste.


Key Features
High-quality image processing via PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus technology for clear and vibrant color reproduction that is faithful to the original film (learn more).
High-definition audio decoder (Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio Essential) takes advantage of the 7.1 channel surround sound now incorporated in Blu-ray Discs.
HDMI Jitter Purifier provides clear, robust bass sounds faithful to the original
Digital Tube Sound Simulator produces the warm, realistic sounds associated with a tube amplifier.
7.1 channel analog audio output to produce a true 7.1 surround sound experience that rivals the movie theater.
VIERA Link utilizes HDMI to enable control all VIERA Link combatable products with one remote.
SD memory card slot enables you to play your photos and movies taken with digital cameras and camcorders by just sliding in an SD memory card into the SD slot.

What's in the Box BD Player, remote control (with batteries), Wireless LAN adapter, power cord, operating instructions
VIERA Cast Online Content Panasonic's VIERA Cast service allows you to stream movies, TV shows and music from a variety of sources without the need of either an external box or a PC. Powered up with Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, you can also access YouTube, Picasa, Bloomberg, and other Internet sites from the special VIERA Cast screen. And as additional sites are added to the 2010 VIERA Cast service, they are added automatically. You'll need to be connected to your home network via Ethernet or Wi-Fi (using the included Wireless LAN adapter).
Specifications

Disc/Media Compatibility

Learn More
Experience Movies Like Never Before The DMP-BD85 employs the PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus. Developed in collaboration with Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory, this high image processing technology reproduces clear, vivid colors that are faithful to the original film.
Panasonic's Blu-ray Disc players employ high precision 4:4:4 signal technology, which working in tandem with PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus processes each pixel of the Blu-ray Disc video signal in the horizontal direction to compliment vertical direction processing. P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD) is another technology that contributes to the superior picture quality of the Blu-ray players. P4HD processes more than 15 billion pixels per second and applies the optimal processing to every pixel.
Panasonic's Blu-ray Disc players further utilize 16-level motion detection to categorize the image motion of each pixel into one of 16 levels; diagonal processing to detect diagonals and correct the pixels accordingly; 1080p up-conversion to up-convert content recorded in the 480i/p or 720p format to 1080p.
This Blu-ray Disc player also provides 1080/24p output, reproducing cinema images from a Blu-ray Disc and DVD in their original 24p form with no need for conversion--enabling you to enjoy cinema images in the same format used in cinema with a 1080/24p-compatible TV.
Complimenting the HD audio codecs, the BD85 Blu-ray Disc player features 96kHz surround re-master, a function that enhances the sound quality of CDs and other sources, and even improves the quality of the multi-channel audio data on Blu-ray Discs and DVDs.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Panasonic DMP-BD85K WiFi Enabled Blu-Ray Disc Player (Black)

Read More...

12/09/2011

Panasonic DMP-BD65 Blu-Ray Disc Player (Black) Review

Panasonic DMP-BD65 Blu-Ray Disc Player (Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
UPDATE - July 2010
New features added to Network
Tageschau - Daily News feed in German
Pandora - Internet Radio
Fox Sports - Coming Soon
Twitter - Coming Soon
5 Stars sounds really generous, but for the money this is a GREAT Network ready BDP.
This is the third network BDP I have set up and used, I recently reviewed the Samsung BD-P1590 - Blu-Ray disc player - upscaling - Netflix, Pandora against which (for similar money) this is a far superior machine. I also think the picture quality and upscaling for SD DVD's in much better than the similar priced LG BD 370 Network Blu-ray Disc Player
Running several Blu-Ray movies for testing, including BD live enabled content, boot times were very fast. The quick set up guide asks you about this and explains that it uses more power in standby mode, but it's worth it for very quick loading.
Blu Ray looks SUPERB - Panasonic web site says (PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus is a high quality image-processing technology developed to precisely process each pixel of the Blu-ray Disc video signal in the vertical direction) Sounds geeky, but the picture is great at both 1080i and 1080p. By default the 24fps is set to off, but if you have a home set up that supports it, it's easy to switch back.
SD Card slot, and USB interface great for home pictures, movies and photo's, very easy to use. Nicely tucked away under a discreet panel in the front so no fiddling among the back wires.
Out of the box set up for networking took me about 15 minutes.
Very easy on screen instruction, easy to use remote, and set up can be either set to easy mode, or you can revisit the main menu at any time for finer adjustments on audio, video output, resolution and aspect ratio etc.
The more involved set up options are however a little limited if you are used to close to pro tweaking on high end visual and audio equipment. But then again, this is an entry level kind of priced machine.
What do you get for network? The VIERA system is a breeze, nice graphics, menu screen and options.
I hard wired mine to the back Ethernet port with a Cat6 cable - Cat5 works without a problem, but for streaming (especially HD content) the Cat6 made the Netflix signal bar light up to HD most of the time.
It is wireless ready. You can use a USB dongle (takes some tweaking) or better still a Linksys by Cisco Dual-Band Wireless-N Gaming and Video Adapter. What's nice is that(unlike Samsung) you don't have to buy a special adapter.
My preference would always be to hard line, but if that's not an option, and you must have wireless (assuming you have boat loads of bandwidth) you can buy an adapter, or pay $80 more and buy it's big brother the Panasonic DMP-BD85 WiFi Enabled Blu-Ray Disc Player (Black)
Whats on the Network?
1)Netflix - unlimited free streaming movies (a lot in HD if your connection is good enough) documentaries, and TV shows from their "Watch Instantly" library, if you are a current subscriber of at least their $8.99 plan - free trial available.
2)Amazon on Demand - Bags of movies and content to rent, buy, or even view free webisodes, trailers, documentaries and so on. Not a huge thing for me personally as I like Netflix, but very nice to have. Simply activate online at Amazon and you're there - very easy on screen user friendly menus.
3)Blomberg - Sort of on screen RSS feed with stocks, bonds and news headlines. Nice to have but not essential.
4) Weather forecast, enter your zip code and set to default, or store multiple sites across the US for up to date weather news and information. Again, not something I need but nice to have.
5)Picasa Web albums - share pictures with friends and family, look at your own, and other albums on your TV. Nice feature.
6)You Tube - browse, or log into your account online
7)Coming Soon?? - Your guess is as good as mine, could be for VUDU or something else, at least they are thinking ahead, and have the settings already started.
What you don't get.....
1)Pandora - a quirky to use online streaming internet radio site that's free with a lot of music. Doesn't float my boat either, I don't like radio sites that choose my music based on a song, or an artist - there are over 30,000 online internet radio stations that are free, Pandora doesn't let you search any particular station in any part of the World, just their selections on what they think you like.
2) Blockbuster Online - unless you have an account and use the in store returns on DVD and Blu stick with Netflix, their watch instantly movies are free with membership.
3)VUDU - next generation 1080p streaming to rent and buy, this would have been nice to have, but I can live without it for now. Amazon more than makes up for it as far as I'm concerned.
4) Any others I may have forgotten about (I'm sure there are more out there)
Sum up
PROS
Excellent value for money
Looks sleek, discreet and runs quickly AND quietly (unlike some BDP's)
Very easy to Set Up - VIERA interface for online content is great.
Superior BD playback picture and sound quality - just when you thought it couldn't get better
Great upscaling, best I've seen on a machine of this price or on any machine without a REON chipset.
USB, SD slots on front convenient and discreet
Optional "wireless ready"
Nice Remote
CONS
No 3D - even if the content isn't there yet on BD live, you know it's coming. Only the Sony BDP-S470 Blu-ray Disc Player in this price range is equipped. This would have been nice
No onboard memory - BD live requires a USB or SD, but that's the same for most machines
No VUDU on networking - not a deal breaker, but may be for some.
Bottom line.................Great machine if you want to get into network and streaming movies. Quality and everything else for the price is unbeatable.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic DMP-BD65 Blu-Ray Disc Player (Black)

Start watching your favorite high-definition movies almost instantly with the Panasonic DMP-BD65 Blu-ray Disc player, which features an ultra-fast 2-second boot time. You'll also enjoy BD-Live and Panasonic's VIERA Cast functionality for accessing Internet video content thanks to the Ethernet port and Wireless LAN capability (DY-WL10 wireless LAN adapter sold separately).
It also includes both a USB port and a Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot, making it easy for you to view and share both digital still images and HD video recorded with an HD camcorder in the AVCHD format. Other features include compatibility with a wide variety of disc formats (including standard DVD movie discs), Energy Star certification, and Panasonic's VIERA Link function--allowing you to operate multiple audio/video components using a single remote via HDMI. Additionally, Panasonic's lineup of 2010 BD Players are designed to reduce power consumption and also feature a slimmer, more efficient design to reduce packaging waste.


Key Features
High-quality image processing via PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus technology for clear and vibrant color reproduction that is faithful to the original film (learn more).
High-definition audio decoder (Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio Essential) takes advantage of the 7.1 channel surround sound now incorporated in Blu-ray Discs.
VIERA Link utilizes HDMI to enable control all VIERA Link combatable products with one remote.
SD memory card slot enables you to play your photos and movies taken with digital cameras and camcorders by just sliding in an SD memory card into the SD slot.

What's in the Box BD Player, remote control (with batteries), power cord, operating instructions
VIERA Cast Online Content Panasonic's VIERA Cast service allows you to stream movies, TV shows and music from a variety of sources without the need of either an external box or a PC. Powered up with Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, you can also access YouTube, Picasa, Bloomberg, and other Internet sites from the special VIERA Cast screen. And as additional sites are added to the 2010 VIERA Cast service, they are added automatically. You'll need to be connected to your home network via Ethernet or Wi-Fi (using an optional Wireless LAN adapter).
Specifications

Disc/Media Compatibility

Learn More
Experience Movies Like Never Before The DMP-BD65 employs the PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus. Developed in collaboration with Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory, this high image processing technology reproduces clear, vivid colors that are faithful to the original film.
Panasonic's Blu-ray Disc players employ high precision 4:4:4 signal technology, which working in tandem with PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus processes each pixel of the Blu-ray Disc video signal in the horizontal direction to compliment vertical direction processing. P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD) is another technology that contributes to the superior picture quality of the Blu-ray players. P4HD processes more than 15 billion pixels per second and applies the optimal processing to every pixel.
Panasonic's Blu-ray Disc players further utilize 16-level motion detection to categorize the image motion of each pixel into one of 16 levels; diagonal processing to detect diagonals and correct the pixels accordingly; 1080p up-conversion to up-convert content recorded in the 480i/p or 720p format to 1080p.
This Blu-ray Disc player also provides 1080/24p output, reproducing cinema images from a Blu-ray Disc and DVD in their original 24p form with no need for conversion--enabling you to enjoy cinema images in the same format used in cinema with a 1080/24p-compatible TV.
Complimenting the HD audio codecs, the BD65 Blu-ray Disc player features 96kHz surround re-master, a function that enhances the sound quality of CDs and other sources, and even improves the quality of the multi-channel audio data on Blu-ray Discs and DVDs.

Buy NowGet 23% OFF

Click here for more information about Panasonic DMP-BD65 Blu-Ray Disc Player (Black)

Read More...

11/09/2011

Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11 Review

Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
My wife and I wanted to keep an eye on the nanny with our baby from work. After researching the network cameras for several months, it seemed that only Panasonic cameras consistently received positive (usually glowing reviews) whereas cameras from other major brands like Linksys, D-Link, etc received mediocre or poor reviews. So I went with Panasonic. And after about a month, I have to say I am very impressed with it. Some background: I have a classic Linksys WRT54G 802.11g router, with 2 WinXP PCs connected to it via ethernet and 3 more PCs connected wirelessly; plus, I have AT&T/SBC DSL service via a Speedstream 5100 DSL modem. If you're moderately computer literate, you should have no problem following the included instructions to setup (view and control) the camera in wired mode or in wireless WiFi mode.
But if you want to setup the camera to be viewed (and controlled) from the internet, you need to do a bit more work. And this is where Panasonic's excellent, excellent customer support comes in. Panasonic's support line is 8_0_0-2_7_2-7_0_3_3; they are open Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM and Sat/Sun 10AM-7PM Eastern US Time; this tech support is available to you for the LIFE of the product. They will walk you through how to setup the camera, configure your router (for, among other things, port forwarding), and register with Panasonic's FREE Dynamic DNS web service. This last point is important: Panasonic network cameras include FREE Dynamic DNS hosting service for the life of the product; other brands offer the service for an annual fee.
Okay, step-by-step, here's how to config the camera for internet viewing:
First, if you use DSL as I do (as opposed to cable broadband), you have to configure the DSL modem for "bridge mode." (If you don't use DSL, then you can skip this step.) This is because DSL modems act as a router, and port forwarding cannot work behind both the DSL modem's router and (in my case) the Linksys WRT54G router. If you want, you can call your DSL tech support to ask them to walk you through how to "bridge" your DSL modem. But here's what I did.
1. Login to your DSL modem (for me, it's 192.168.0.1) using your DSL account (for me, it's my SBCglobal email address).
2. Select Advanced >> PPP Location
3. Select Bridged Mode (PPPoE is not used), then Change PPP Location
4. When prompted, restart the DSL modem
5. Login to your router (for me, it's 192.168.1.1)
6. Under Setup> Basic Setup >> Internet Connection Type, select PPPoE and enter the DSL login & password info you normally would enter in your DSL modem to authenticate your DSL service.
7. At this point, the "bridging" should have been successful. To check that bridging has been successful, click Status >> Router, and check that you are "connected" with an IP address showing. If successful, you should also see that your DSL modem's "internet" LED light is off while your router's "internet" light is on. What you basically have done is to move the point of authentication for your DSL service from the DSL modem to your router; your DSL modem merely acts as a bridge for the DSL service to your router.
8. Now, we move on to configuring the camera itself. I assume that the camera has already been configured for wired and wireless mode. Login to the network camera (for me it's, 192.168.1.253).
9. Click Setup. Change the Port No. from the default of 80 to 50000 (fifty thousand) and enter the IP address of the camera (for me, it's 192.168.1.253). Click Save, and the camera will restart. When it finishes restarting (taking as long as 1.5 min), it'll bring you back to the "Top" home page of the camera config screen.
10. Log back into your router, and go to Applications & Gaming, where you'll be able to set up port forwarding.
11. In the Port Range, enter 50000 as "Start" and 50000 as "End." Enter the IP Address of the camera (for me, 192.168.1.253). Check Enable. Save Settings.
12. Now, log back into your camera. Go to Setup >> DynamicDNS. Select viewnetcam-dot-com, then Next.
13. Click on "Your Account Link" to bring up the viewnetcam.com registration page, where you then select New Registration. Enter your desired registration info and select your domain name at viewnetcam-dot-com (e.g. yourname-dot-viewnetcam-dot-com). Click Choose.
14. Now, you will be shown a page confirming your registration. Under DDNS status, you will see Active-waiting. You need to wait up to 10min as the domain registration occurs, at which time, the status will change to Active.
15. We're almost done; stay with me! From WinXP Start Menu, click Run and type "cmd" to bring up a DOS window.
16. In the DOS window, type "ipconfig/all", which shows your computer's various network information. Under Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection, copy down the two addresses under DNS Servers.
17. Log back into your camera, select Setup, and enter the 2 DNS Server addresses from ipconfig/all in the 2 DNS boxes.
18. Go back to viewnetcam-dot-com, login to your account, and check that the DDNS status is now Active. If so, then you're all ready to go!
19. Go to yourname-dot-viewnetcam-dot-com:50000 to see your network camera on the internet!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11

Wireless Network Camera 802.11g, MPEG4, Automatic Network Configuration, Universal Plug and Play, Set-up Wizard, Remote Pan/Tilt Control, Built in PIR motion detector

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11

Read More...

10/29/2011

Panasonic KX-TG4053B DECT 6.0 PLUS Expandable Digital Cordless Phone and Answering System with 3 Handsets & Range Extender Review

Panasonic KX-TG4053B DECT 6.0 PLUS Expandable Digital Cordless Phone and Answering System with 3 Handsets and Range Extender
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought this phone because I needed a phone that would give me better range than my panasonic 5.8gHz model without the interference with my computer equipment. I live in a pretty good sized house, ( 3 stories, 6000 sq. ft., lots of steel too). My 5.8 gHz model didn't quite cut it for range from one side of the house to the other. I really started seeing problems when they installed my wireless network for the house. I did some research and found out that the interference issue was common with 5.8 gHz and the wireless router because they operate on the same bandwidth and therefore can have some interference issues. As for the range, I was out of luck until I found this phone that has an included " range extender ". Set-up for the phone was very easy, ( 6 steps including " insert batteries and charge for 7 hours"). I put the range extender at about the distance where my 5.8 gHz started to fuzz out. This is easily installed as well. All you need is a power outlet, no phone jack. After the charging period, I tried the phone everywhere in the house with no issues. I can even go down to the lake to watch the kids with no issues. Also, from reading the directions, I noted that you can add one more range extender to increase your range even more. I think panasonic really got the idea right when they made this phone and included the range extender. I would have to say that my only disappointment is the handset display size and that it is not in color. If you are looking for a solid phone system with great range and no computer interference issues, you can't go wrong with this phone. Buy it! You won't be sorry.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic KX-TG4053B DECT 6.0 PLUS Expandable Digital Cordless Phone and Answering System with 3 Handsets & Range Extender

Panasonic KX-TG4053B DECT 6.0 PLUS Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System with 3 Handsets & Range Extender

Buy NowGet 9% OFF

Click here for more information about Panasonic KX-TG4053B DECT 6.0 PLUS Expandable Digital Cordless Phone and Answering System with 3 Handsets & Range Extender

Read More...

10/03/2011

ASUS COMPUTER INTL - ASUS WL-330g Pocket Wireless Access Point Review

ASUS COMPUTER INTL - ASUS WL-330g Pocket Wireless Access Point
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I had purchased after not being able to get the Apple Airport card to work on my wireless network. Not only does this work GREAT, but it was quick and easy to setup and pulls the full 54g from the edge of my network!
Don't waste your money on the Apple cards, this is the way to go!

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS COMPUTER INTL - ASUS WL-330g Pocket Wireless Access Point

ASUS COMPUTER (90-I2B2A0-1UAZ) WL-330g Pocket Wireless - Wireless access point - External - 54 MBps - IEEE 802.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about ASUS COMPUTER INTL - ASUS WL-330g Pocket Wireless Access Point

Read More...

8/30/2011

Panasonic Network Camera and Pet Cam (BLC1A) Review

Panasonic Network Camera and Pet Cam (BLC1A)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The BL-C1A is listed as "requiring" both Windows and Internet Explorer. After a bit of experimenting, it seems it doesn't, and is perfectly usable with Ubuntu (or indeed any OS) and Firefox. No need for Windows at all.
So, for anybody else who wants to use the BL-C1A camera with something other than Windows here's how.
First, ignore the shiny Windows CDROM in the box. Plug the camera into your router with your own network cable (they don't supply one!) and plug in the power supply. Wait a minute. If your router is 192.168.0.1, the camera should default to 192.168.0.253 (or 192.168.1.253 for a 192.168.1.1 router, etc).
From Firefox on the local network just go to the IP addess of the camera (as above) followed by ?mode=local and you should get the camera's built in web server. (The mode=local is essential, to activate it). Create an admin userid/password, hit enter. That's it.
Configuring the cameras for static addresses, different ports etc is all done via the web interface after that point, so still doesn't need Windows or IE in any way.
With a few lines written in the manual they could drop the Windows/IE requirement.
Camera works very nicely, and so does emailing, and the viewnetcam dynamic dns service (after a bit of a battle with router settings). One warning: you can't test the viewnetcam service from the same network that the camera is on, so before you think it's not working try it from elsewhere!
Camera does the job fine for the price, one point deducted for not having any non-Windows installation instructions.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic Network Camera and Pet Cam (BLC1A)


Package Contents: Panasonic BL-C1A Wired Network Camera, bracket, power supply, mounting hardware, CD-ROM, software and instructions.
The Panasonic BL-C1A Wired Network Camera handles your digital photography needs at a price that won't hurt your wallet! This color surveillance camera allows remote video monitoring of a home or business. Remote home and business surveillance just got a lot more affordable. Receive an e-mail image when the home security camera detects motion--you'll always know what's going on at home or at your business. The 10X digital zoom and color night viewing makes sure you don't miss a detail. It's easy to install, easy to operate and requires no additional software for viewing on your PC. Indoor use only.
Server Features: Image Buffer--About 250 frames (320 x 240, standard image quality). Image transfer via e-mail (SMTP) or FTP. View snapshots and control them from a compatible cellular phoneSupports up to 12 camerasIPv4 Multi-Language Interface -English, German, Spanish, Italian, French and Japanese
Camera Features -1/4 320,000 pixel CMOS image sensor 10 digital zoomViewing Angle -53° horizontal, 41° verticalAuto exposureAperture -F2.8Illumination -10 - 10,000 lux (normal), 4-10,000 lux (night view) Motion Sensor with Email AlertAuto & manual White Balance Network Connection -RJ45 Ethernet (10Base-T/100Base-X) System Requirements -Windows 98SE, 2000, ME and XP; Internet Explorer 6.0 or later Camera Dimensions(WxHxD) -3-3/8 x 3-3/8 x 1Weight -0.22 lbsNetworking Protocols -HTTP, FTP, SMTP, TCP, UDP, IP, DHCP, DNS, ARP, ICMP, and POP3 before SMTP

Buy NowGet 20% OFF

Click here for more information about Panasonic Network Camera and Pet Cam (BLC1A)

Read More...

7/28/2011

Panasonic BB-HCM371A Outdoor Wireless Network Camera Review

Panasonic BB-HCM371A Outdoor Wireless Network Camera
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I looked for a long time for a remote camera to keep an eye on a vacation residence. Reviews of other similar cameras like the Toshiba IK-WB11A were spotty at best especially when using in wireless mode. Panasonic cameras seemed to get good reliability reviews, so when an outdoor wireless-G came out I decided to give it a try. I had some difficulty getting the ports forwarded through my router. The directions are pretty sparse when it comes to setting up your router. I guess there is a fair variability in how each different router is set up. Once that problem was solved it has been rock solid. In the 4 months I have had it running, I only had to reset it once, after a 3 day power failure. Actually, I think it was the router, not the camera that needed to be reset, but I reset everything. It does everything it is advertised to do although I don't use the audio feature. The motion detection feature works better than other webcam security software that I have tried.
Addendum:
I have now had this installed over 4 years and it continues to function as good as the day I bought it. As it is in a vacation home and I am frequently gone, I have had some problems with loss access via the internet. It appears that this is secondary to flaky DSL router. I finally purchased a simple timer at the hardware store. It turns off the router every night at midnight and then turns it back on a minute later, effectively resetting the router each day. Since then no problems. It doesn't require a computer to be running so both the router and the camera boot back up following a power failure.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic BB-HCM371A Outdoor Wireless Network Camera

Outdoor Wireless Network Camera with 2-Way Audio

Buy NowGet 43% OFF

Click here for more information about Panasonic BB-HCM371A Outdoor Wireless Network Camera

Read More...