The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group
D-Link DSB-C300 USB Camera
Ash Nallawalla
 ash@melbpc.org.au


The use of digital cameras is on the rise. More people are buying hand-held digital cameras than ones tethered to one's PC, but the latter category holds its own ground for several reasons:

  • Video communication
  • Audio communication
  • An occasional need to capture still images
  • Low cost
T he main uses for a digital video camera are to communicate with family and business contacts but other uses include creation of video clips, cameras connected to a Web site ("Web Cams"), security, traffic monitoring, and so on.

D-Link DSB-C300

The D-Link DSB-0300 is a high-resolution USB digital video camera (which should alert the reader that your PC needs to have a USB connector). No video capture card or additional hardware is necessary, as the device is self-contained. It attaches to your PC through a standard USB Type A connector or downstream USB hub.

The DSB-0300 is more than a video camera: the package comes with a hands-free microphone and complete audio visual software.

With The D-Link DSB-C300, you can turn your PC into an Internet audio visual phone. It is the next best thing to being there personally. The D-Link C-300 delivers up to 640 x 480 pixel resolution.

The DSB-0300 ships complete, providing the necessary hardware and software for a user to begin making digital videos immediately.


Figure 1. MGI VideoWave SE


Figure 2. VidCap is the basic capture program supplied with the camera

Software is included with the unit to record digital video directly to a PC's hard drive, record digital video for attachment to an e-mail, capture still frames, and so on. The included hands-free lapel microphone combines with a PC's sound card to enable audio to be added to recorded video. The DSB-C300 draws power directly from the USB bus making it ideal for use with a laptop or other portable computer. The D-Link DSB-C300 is really flexible. In Video-Conference mode you can do one on one chats or full meetings with Group Chatting features.

Features

  • Still image capture

  • Video e-mail

  • Video conferencing 1 on 1 or with a group

  • High resolution colour (CCD) and CMOS sensor

  • Supports 64 million colours

  • High Speed USB connection Hands-free lapel microphone included

  • 30 seconds of Video Mail at under 500 KB file with compression

  • Video Sentry security feature for when you are not at your PC


Figure 3. One of the controls in VidCap


Figure 4. Smith Micro CommSuite is supplied

Installation

My PC's motherboard supports USB through an optional panel but the connector card had to be plugged in before I could attach a USB device. This took up most of the time in getting the camera ready. The installation "manual" is a tri-fold sheet and has two confusing steps. The first one asks about the frequency of light (50 Hz or 60 Hz), which may not be clear to all. I assumed it to be 50 Hz, which is our electrical frequency (cycles per second).

The second asks you to choose the port where the camera is connected. You don't see "USB" in the selections and you accept the default "COM1" port with hesitation, which turns out to be fine.

From that point onwards, the installation was painless. The essential software is on a diskette, whereas the SmithMicro Internet CommSuite and the cut-down versions of MGI VideoWavc SE and MGI PhotoSuite SE are on a CD-ROM.

In Use

The tiny but functional Microsoft VidCap program was sufficient to capture a still image or a video clip. I made a 7-second recording (160 x 120 pixels, 44,100 Hz, 16-bit mono) and it was 2 MB in size. By comparison, I had to be more careful using MGI VideoWave, which easily generated a file ten times larger, but which does a lot more. For many people, Microsoft NetMeeting will suffice.

CommSuite does a lot more than I need, such as Video E-mail, Answering Machine, and Net Fax, but the feature I liked is called Sentry. It will capture video when it detects motion in front of the camera, which is a cute security feature, although the bright green LED on the camera is a giveaway. Now you can catch the people who won't admit to borrowing your stationery while you are away from the desk.

The D-Link DSB-C300 represents good value for money if you are in the market for a USB digital video camera.


Figure 5. The camera is compatible with Microsoft NetMeeting

Availability

The D-Link DSB-C300 has a recommended retail price of $149 (pre-GST) and is available from D-Link resellers which include Harvey Norman and Dick Smith Electronics stores. Its Web site is http://www.dlink.com.au/.

Reprinted from the August 2000 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia