We have another surveillance software, Security Monitor Pro, that can start with Windows and run in hidden mode so the person using the computer will not know it is running. Click Tools >> Application Settings. Select the option 'Launch Security Monitor Pro when Windows starts' and also select 'Launch in hidden mode'. When you are in hidden mode, you can use a special key combination to start the Security Monitor Pro interface. Click the configure button to set the secret key combination. A free evaluation version of Security Monitor Pro can be downloaded here.

WebCam Monitor will work in Windows 7 64 bit, and you can record for 8 hours. At the lowest bit rate recording, 75kb, the drive space required is 0.56MB per minute, or 268MB for 8 hours. If you select the highest bit rate for recording, 248kb, the drive space required is 1.8MB per minute or 864MB for 8 hours.

The best option is to select to 'Auto Delete the oldest recordings' when disk space remaining on your hard drive is less than 2GB. To access the settings for this, click Tools >> Options. For a simple calculation of drive space required, continuously recording at 248kb per second will equal about 1.8Mb per minute. 112MB per hour, or 2.6GB per day. A 500GB drive will store approximately 6 months of recordings.

The motion detection in WebCam Monitor works separately from the motion detection on your IP camera. You can safely turn off the motion detection settings on your camera, and WebCam Monitor will continue to monitor and record for any motion that occurs.

WebCam Monitor can use Yahoo to send SMTP mail. Create a Yahoo account and you can use Yahoo's SMTP service on port 587. They do not require a SSL connection. Here are the instructions from Yahoo's website: https://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/smallbusiness/bizmail/pop/pop-32.html

Add WebCam Monitor to your startup folder on Windows 7 and it will start with Windows. You should also configure it to start monitoring by clicking Tools >> Options > Monitoring and checking the box for 'Start Monitoring with Alerts at Application Launch'.

To view the broadcast, Mac users will need the Windows Media Player for the Mac. They can download it here: https://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/mac/mp9/default.aspx

The minimum recording time in WebCam Monitor is 1 minute. If noise continues past the 1 minute time, WebCam Monitor will continue recording until there is silence.

You will need to enable Port Forwarding. We have an article that explains how to setup WebCam Monitor so you can view your camera from the internet. You can read it here.

You can avoid this problem using masking. If you mask the area of the Preview that shows the tree with waving branches, this should stop the false alerts. We have published an article on how to use Masking, which you can read here: Avoid False Alarms with Masking.

WebCam Monitor will monitor and record from one camera at a time. If you would like to use multiple cameras at the same time, please evaluate Security Monitor Pro. Security Monitor Pro can simultaneously monitor 3 cameras, with motion detection. Since you want to minimize bandwidth, you should set the program to take 1 or 2 pictures every time it detects motion and email you the photos. Emailing photos will use much less bandwidth than uploading recorded video.

The message > AUTH LOGIN < 502 Command is locally disabled means that the mail server you are using does not require a user name and password. Click Tools >> Options >> Monitoring >> Configure Email /SMS Notification >> Settings. Uncheck "My Outgoing Mail Server requires login" and click OK. This should end the problem you are experiencing and permit you to send email alerts.

The problem may be that the camera is using an unsupported resolution. Please use the software that came with your camera to reduce the resolution to 1024x768 pixels or less. Restart WebCam Monitor and see whether you can now preview the camera.

In version 5.15 of WebCam Monitor, the maximum video recording length is 3540 seconds, which is 59 minutes. As an owner of version 4, you are entitled to a discounted upgrade price. To receive the discount price, click Help >> Check for Upgrades in WebCam Monitor.

WebCam Monitor can send email when an alert is triggered. Most mobile phone companies offer an email-to-SMS service. You can send email to a specific address and have it delivered to your phone as a text message. For instance, the Spanish phone company Movistar uses ####@correo.movistar.net. Substitute your mobile number for "####" and your WebCam Monitor alerts will be delivered to your Movistar phone. There is no charge for this service beyond the normal cost of receiving a text message.

For some reason, this particular camera works differently than other IP cameras in 640x480 mode. We do not have a fix for the problem. Other LinkSys cameras on our supported list work correctly with WebCam Monitor and Security Monitor Pro. This problem only applies to the WVC 200.

The software is licensed to one computer. If the PC is going to be retired, then you may transfer the license to a new one. If you still have your original serial number, use it to activate the program. If you cannot find the confirmation email, click Help >> About in WebCam Monitor, and your serial number will be displayed. Download the latest version of WebCam Monitor from our web site: https://www.deskshare.com/download_details.aspx?ID=12

We do not recommend using resolutions above 1024x768 with WebCam Monitor. We have not tested with the network USB hub you mention. It should work. Please download a free evaluation copy of WebCam Monitor and try it. You can download the program here: https://www.deskshare.com/download_details.aspx?ID=12

Try the motion sensor delay as well. My sensitiviy is at 1 also. This is the same problem I am trying solve as well. I get black/dark pictures becuase it snapes the picture BEFORE the setting activates. I say program error. Racermoon

WebCam Monitor can record audio from a microphone. You may need to raise the audio levels for your microphone. If you are using Windows Vista, right-click the speaker icon in the System Tray and choose "Recording Devices". Double-click the appropriate device in the list and switch to the Levels tab. Try raising both the recording level and the microphone boost. You may also need to raise the volume on Windows Media Player when playing back the recordings. This should solve the problem.