We purchased the WiLife surveillance system about 2 years ago for extra security at the house.  In terms of a system, if it works for you, it is one of the least expensive and difficult to install ways to get real time video surveillance both as a traditional DVR as well as Internet Access.

On Halloween, we got more than we bargained for!  Read On…

If you have a smaller home (say, less than 3000 sq feet) and have fairly simple electrical wiring, it should work great.  If your house is larger or has complex wiring (such as an additional breaker box etc) you may find some cameras work and some don’t.  This is because the system suffers from the same challenges as stand alone Powerline ethernet adapters do.  We did an example review HERE.

I bought 3 cameras.  One works very solidly, one works 1/2 the time, one barely works at all.  After much testing and phone support, we discovered it was because we have a fairly large house that’s had aftermarket construction (finished basement) causing numerous power upgrades.  These multiple electrical panels and wiring distances makes Powerline networking very flaky.

However, the one camera that is solid (which happens to be in the same room as the receiver and computer just caught this on Halloween morning…  This is NJ mind you, not the woods of Montana, so let’s just say both we and the guy in the black car were a little surprised, to say the least.  Glad I didn’t pop out for a morning jog!