I bought a set of 4 wireless video cameras with alleged night-vision to put outside of my house, and to inside, to watch the baby in her crib. These cameras are essentially nothing worth writing about — they’re supposed to be color by day, infrared by night... but they’re more like infrared by day (not much color, and what color is there is wrong — my red car is light green), and not much of anything by night.
Conspicuously absent are references to the FCC or the 2.4 GHz ISM band, which is where these units appear to operate, or any listing by UL. Details.
Actually, they work a little better than that, but the range of the built-in infrared light source on each camera works much better indoors than out. Still, if you’re standing within several feet of my camera, I can most definitely make a positive identification of you later.
I already told you they camera system is not worth writing about... but the instruction manual — that’s a different story altogether. This is transcribed word-for-word, with spacing and punctuation intact. My wit and wisdom, or an illustration of my lack-thereof, are in italics.
Manual of four channels wireless receiver
Thank you for selecting this kind of wireless monitor receiver, in order to help you to use the product better, please read the manual carefully.
You know, there are other manufacturers of “this kind” of receiver (even if it isn’t a “monitor receiver.”)I. Basic specification parameter
- Receiving frequency channel: 2.414GHz. 2.432GHz. 2.450GHz. 2.468GHz.
- Video output: 75Ω/1Vp-p
- Audio output: 10KΩ/200mVp-p
- Signal output: Can output two same Channels audio and video signals simultaneity.
I was almost busted, here... I didn’t know “simultaneity” was a word, but as it turns out, it is. Think “spontaneity” for a word that’s similarly structured... but I still have to point out that we at a minimum need to see with word “with” in front — “with simultaneity.” It’s a noun. Or we could use a more sensible word.
“two same channels?” Yeah. Two same channels. i.e., we have two outputs that show the same signal at all times. (One output for your monitor, one for your VCR.) So I’ll have to say it’s not “two same channels.” Oh... and it’s not “can” output. It’s “does” output. You can’t set it any other way.
- Power Adapter: DC 12V/500mA
- Power consumption: <2w
- Remote control distance: 6~8M
- Working temperature: 0~40°C
- Volume: 120 X 99 X 30mm
Volume? Helpful if you need to know how much water it will displace, but otherwise, we might expect this to be translated “dimensions.”
II. Diagram
They tried their best to mess up the diagram, but it was pretty straightforward. Really.III. Instructions of the function and operation:
1. Put the camera in the place where need to monitor.
Srsly? I was going to put it in a shoebox. I have a good feeling about these instructions.2. Insert the input end of the power adapter in the AC normal voltage socket; insert the DC output plug of power adapter in the power input jack of the camera.
Yeah, do that. But be careful because if you mess this one up, children can be conceived.3. The distance between the cameras, the camera to the receiver should be kept about or over 2 meters, otherwise receiving will be interfered.
We wouldn’t want receiving to be interfered.4. Use the AV cable to connect one channel of Audio and video output of the receiver with the audio and video input plugs of the TV set or Monitor.
This line appears to be the only line in the entire set of instructions that is fully comprehensible. Close enough for horseshoes, but probably not for hand grenades, including the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.5. Connect the DC 12V/500mA power adapter with the receiver and put through the circuit, the channel display window will show red light point.
It turns out that after I have to “put through the circuit” (remember, use protection), did indeed find the channel display window showing red light point. When you plug it in, a red dot lights up on the front of the receiver to indicate that the unit is receiving power, but is turned off.6. Press the off/on key of the remote control, or press the channel key of the receiver and open the power adapter of the receiver. The receiver will acquiesce the channel 1 after opening.
Acquiesce: to assent tacitly; submit or comply silently or without protest; agree; consent. Yes, I suppose it will acquiesce. How could it complain?7. Press the channel key (marked No.1, 2, 3 and 4) of the remote control and make the frequency of the receiver corresponding to the transmitter frequency of the receiver corresponding to the transmitter frequency of the camera. Or press the channel key of the receiver; make the channel character showed by the digital tube of the channel display window on the receiver corresponding to the transmitter frequency of the camera.
Oh — warning: do not actually “open the power adapter of the receiver.” Not only are there no user-serviceable parts inside, but you can get a nasty shock, because in step 5, you “put through the circuit!”
No, I did not make a transcription error. Read it again and the result is the same. And... “digital tube...” ’Nuff said.8. Can see the video and listen to the voice through the television or monitor, adjust the place of the camera, aiming at the monitoring object then can make the valid monitor, can adjust the voice by the Vol+, vol- key of the remote control, can change the channel in turn by the CH+, CH- key.
Translation: throw this manual away immediately, if you actually need it, because it won’t be much help.9. Press the ON/OFF key of the remote control, or press the channel button on the receiver for 3 seconds to turn off the power of the receiver.
IV. The problems often be met while using and the solutions:
1. The indicator of the channel display window is not lighting.
Check whether the socket of the power adapter works well or not, and make sure the power switch is turning on.
Indeed.2. The receiver cannot receive picture or the picture-received flashes.
- Please check whether the wireless camera have already put through the power.
- Whether the distance between wireless camera and receiver is too far or whether there is electromagnetic shielding barrier between wireless camera and receiver ( eg: Building of steel structure will make much hindrance to transmitting signal).
The distance between the camera and receiver is too far... curiously, the manual, despite all of the helpful information, doesn’t mention how far is “too” far. If by “electromagnetic shielding barrier” they mean “hot water heater,” then I specifically agree with them, because the chosen mounting spot in the baby’s room is just on the other side of it... and there is, in fact, much hindrance being made to transmitting signal.
- In the range of receiving, Don't make two wireless cameras with the same frequency work at the same time, otherwise they will cause interfering.
Of course, it’s not possible to do this anyway... it doesn’t work, and you cannot “make” it work (you can only “try.” They should have said not to try.)... but also, unless you buy two of these 4-camera kits, it’s not possible to do this anyway... the cameras are not frequency agile. Each camera is hard-set to operate at only one frequency.
- When the transmitting cameras of different frequency work at the same time, the distance between the cameras should be kept about or over 2 meters, otherwise receiving will be interfered.
In section III, item 3, we were told to keep the cameras 2 meters away from each other as well as to keep them 2 meters away from the receiver. They not only neglected to mention the distance from the receiver, here, but they also neglected to mention that they must be arranged at an angle of not less than 60° apart if they are exactly 2 meters from the receiver, although the angle or that this angle can be narrower as distance expands. And, as an engineer once asked me, “don’t we have to factor ‘the square root of 3’ in there somewhere?"
Besides, this is a difficult measurement to make, since 2 meters is something like 14 deciliters, and once you measure it off, you still have no idea of the price of tea in China. (2,600 Yen, I believe). [See Footnote 1]
Even if you’ve outsmarted the Metric System by this point, you have to ask... is it safe to allow my mom within 2 meters of the receiver or within 8 meters of the receiver if she has the remote control in her hand? The answer is no. It is never safe to allow your mom within such a short distance of anything electronic.
- If there are high-power transmission signals with the same frequency and car-mounted radio working around, they will cause interfering to the receiver.
Yes, watch out for car-mounted radio working around. Wait... check the sentence structure... “if there are high-power transmission signals with [the same frequency] + [car mounted radio]?” I guess some people have a high-power car-mounted radio working around, and those people are out of luck.
The one potential pitfall they neglected to provide any helpful advice about was that the manual is unhelpful and nonsensical.
Oh... and the manual mentions that the cameras are somehow “optional.” It’s bad enough that we import this crap.
Footnotes:
1. I’m not an idiot: you are. 2 meters is nothing at all like 14 deciliters. In fact, it is impossible to convert from one to the other, even using dimensional analysis. Cubic meters, yes. But not meters. Also, the price of tea in China is a time-worn and very annoying thing to mention. And yes, Yen is not a Chinese currency. Japanese. Duh.
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