Question 1

Can I view this camera directly from a web browser or do I have to use TRENDnet's specialized software?

Accepted Answer

I use Firefox to set up view the camera. The software for multi Trendnet camera's is a little clunkE (TRENDnetVIEW Pro Software). The camera's install a camera driver file in my Windows 7 & 8 computers InstallCamCliCtrl that works pretty good and the included setup wizard finds the new line of camera's good (it doesn't see 312's & 422's etc), you may only use it once then you use your browser. I have set up so may I may not use their software at all. The 672 & 572 line of camera's have real good low light but still after one firmware update still have problems getting time sync updates after a power loss so if you are saving the pictures the date and time may be wrong. The fix is to go into setup and choose the other option, if you are on NTP then choose DHCP then when it fails choose NTP. I have 5 672's both PI and WI's and 3 572WI's (the 572WI's all 3 have developed a large roar in the sound after about 6 months). There is a problem in the microphone element that can be fixed (if you are a tech). I also view all the Trendnet cams's I have on my Android phone and my ITouch's, both have sound on the cams' that HAVE sound.

Question 2

can it run on battery?  looking for something to monitor ranch gate with no electricity nearby.

Accepted Answer

With a solar panel and decent battery i dont see why it couldnt all it has to power it is a 12 volt wall wart and i just got a power over ethernet adapter and run it off a single cat 5 cable. Do remember the wifi dosnt go real Far. If you do use a solar panel it needs to be sized large enough to charge and run the cam when the sun is out and to use a charge controller so you dont cook the battery or the cam..  or just a large deep cycle and swap it out when it gets low...

Question 3

Are you able to export the videos the cameras record? Like can the videos be played in other software or only the supplied software?

Accepted Answer

The video's recorded to the internal SD play ok with the VLC for either type of save (mp4 or avi) in h264 or MPEG4 mode, there is a problem with combining the video's. Each video can be 1 to 6 minutes in length on the SD so if you need to join the files the area where the join is may miss some material. My version of PowerDirector was able to use the files also.
The camera's don't seem to transfer files across the internet very well though, if you are on the same router (in house) it seems to work most of the time but you may lock the camera up, just power cycle to try again. I eventually gave up trying to transfer and just swapped the SD's out but I was after several 6 minute files. I tested cabled and WiFi modes & a PI version.
P.S.
I found the TV-IP572WI's seemed to work the same way with the same problems.

Question 4

Ok. Donald answered my question some, but I'm still wondering. Good to know about the SD card working, but I'm wondering if you have it set to record using the software on the PC(or don't have an SD card installed in them, are those files stored on the PC and if so can'those files be played with like VLC or other video viewing software?

Accepted Answer

I don't have mine configured to record directly as im using a third party network video recorder, I beleive you can use the web gui to configure the camera to record to a network or samba share and save files there. I have seen the configuration pages, but have not tested the functionality.

Question 5

will this work with a samsung s5 as a monitor and a control unit?

Accepted Answer

Yes it will.

Questions & Answers