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Big Dog Joined: 18 Oct 2000 Posts: 4419

Feel free to post any questions, comments, or feedback regarding this article. We will do our best to answer any questions you may have, and look forward to your feedback on this article!

Original Article - http://www.littlewhitedog.com/reviews_hardware_00043.asp

Moderator Joined: 05 Dec 2000 Posts: 5941 Location: USA

Those videos are a great touch (mplayer did the job) - me thinks a star is born - w Mr. Green

f!!!

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2003 7:48 am Post subject:

It looks as though it is meant to be placed on top of our monitor or a shelf at a similar height. I have an LCD monitor so I can't put it there. My desk has no hutch, so I'm pondering where I would put this device should I decide to buy it. Typical webcams have a small enough foot-print that they can be mounted on top of many things, and the small size makes them easier to manuver to diff locations.

I guess someone with better logistics can set it up properly, it just seems rather big to me. What would be great is if they had a detacted camera connected to the base via a cable. That would make it easier to mount the camera some place convienent, and then the base can be tucked away with all the wiring hidden.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2003 7:50 am Post subject:

Rut-roh

You forgot the
star of the show.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2003 8:13 am Post subject:

That was one sweet review. It's obvious a lot of time went into it. The videos were no doubt a nice (and fitting) touch. They made everything come together. Good work, everybody that worked on it.

All your hard work really paid off!

On the actual product, it is nice as well, although I do see the issues that Lycander sees. Hmm... maybe somebody has a way around it?

Anyway, good job on the review.

Cybo Very Happy

Stray Dog Joined: 03 Sep 2002 Posts: 73

Lycander, the review said the optimal focal length is 5 - 10 feet so I don't really think it is meant to sit on top of a monitor like a web cam.

I have a question about "dialing up" the other person. How do you do it, by IP address? Or is DLink providing a "free" directory service for users?

Either way I can see problems...

Many ISPs use dynamic IP addresses even for cable/DSL users (granted, they become semi-static if you never turn your system off).

If its a directory service deal through DLink (or someone else), how long before they start charging...

My $0.02 FWIW

BTW - Nice review otherwise!

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2003 9:44 am Post subject:

First off I'd like to say that to get me to read an entire review is a major deal!! Good job, I retained interest throughout. Usually I know in the first 1/3 that I don't want something or that the subject does not interest me much. This review kept my interest. About the vid. clips. Very professionaly done, I'm impressed. Your production did not remind me of "Funniest Home Videos" Well done.

To answer Lycanders statement about the footprint, I currently use a stand for my webcam that is adjustable, that might work here.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2003 1:59 pm Post subject:

Won't crunch WU's.

Leg Humper Joined: 16 Jan 2002 Posts: 5518

I have a question, ..here goes.

How is it that you do not incur long distance chanrges, when it seemed that you still used your telephone (or have the option to use it) to dial ?

ok thank you, awesome review. the videos were a perfect inclusion.

Big Dog Joined: 18 Oct 2000 Posts: 4419

How is it that you do not incur long distance chanrges, when it seemed that you still used your telephone (or have the option to use it) to dial ?
The phone is basically being used as a dedicated microphone / headphone. It's connected to the back of the DVC-1000 and not to your wall jack. Everything is sent and received through your broadband connection, whether your using it in speakerphone mode or using the telephone. Hope that makes sense.

Won't crunch WU's
Correct, there is no SETI@Home client for the DVC-1000

I have a question about "dialing up" the other person. How do you do it, by IP address? Or is DLink providing a "free" directory service for users?
When you enter the manual dialing menu, it has two boxes. One where you can enter the phone number you want to call, or the IP address you want to call. DLink is providing both the Gatekeeper and LDAP directory service free of charge. The only information stored in the database, is the name you assign to yourself, the phone number you've assigned to vidoephone, and your public IP address.

Many ISPs use dynamic IP addresses even for cable/DSL users (granted, they become semi-static if you never turn your system off).
The DVC-1000 communicated with LDAP server on a regular basis to keep things up-to-date. I'm waiting on D-Link to give me an answer of how ofter this happens.

If its a directory service deal through DLink (or someone else), how long before they start charging...
I've posed this question to D-Link as well. Still haven't not heard anything back from them. I will update when I hear something back.

It looks as though it is meant to be placed on top of our monitor or a shelf at a similar height. I have an LCD monitor so I can't put it there. My desk has no hutch, so I'm pondering where I would put this device should I decide to buy it. Typical webcams have a small enough foot-print that they can be mounted on top of many things, and the small size makes them easier to manuver to diff locations.
The device was physically designed to sit on top your television, not on top of a monitor. I've heard rumors around the internet that a possible PC version may be coming soon, as well as another model that doesn't not rely on D-Links Gatekeeper and LDAP servers to that it can be deployed on a corporate stand-alone network. Nobody has confirmed either of these though.

Leg Humper Joined: 16 Jan 2002 Posts: 5518

Ok, how is it abel to establish a connectio to the other user via telephone number ?

Im guessing perhaps D-link os hosting a server that when you pucnh in your phonenumber in the settings it registers that, in addition wiht your IP address, so that the phone number can cross reference the IP to connect to ?

please enlighten us if you know.

Big Dog Joined: 18 Oct 2000 Posts: 4419

quijbe wrote:
Ok, how is it abel to establish a connectio to the other user via telephone number ?

Im guessing perhaps D-link os hosting a server that when you pucnh in your phonenumber in the settings it registers that, in addition wiht your IP address, so that the phone number can cross reference the IP to connect to ?

In D-Links LDAP server, it stores the assigned phone number, public IP, and name of every DVC-1000 on the internet.

When someone with a DVC-1000 wants to call someone else with a DVC-1000 they punch in the number, it goes out the LDAP server, snags the recipients public IP address, and them establishes a direct public IP to public IP connection.

The phone numbers are simply aliases, kinda like DNS.

Leg Humper Joined: 16 Jan 2002 Posts: 5518

Exactly what I wanted to know.. Fido you're that best. Thanks.

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2003 9:05 am Post subject:

Good Job Fido! ljbone

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2003 9:08 am Post subject:

So I can't call a normal phone with that, I assume?