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Tsohiba IK-WB11A Network Camera: Toshiba's Answer to Wireless Video: Page 4 of 5

At its highest-quality settings, the camera streams video at 1.6 Mbps. The low end is at 1.3 Mbps. Significant bandwidth requirements make connecting the camera to a production AP risky without the QoS (Quality of Service) 802.11e promises. When this standard is in place, mixing network cameras and other delay-sensitive devices in a production network will be less error-prone because of the data recognition. Ideally, the Toshiba camera would have its own SOHO-class AP to connect to. In dense, heavily used wireless environments where deploying another AP is not viable, a wired approach is a better option.

Security Woes

The IK-WB11A has a huge security gap: The administrator's user name and password info is transmitted in plain text over the air and in a wired infrastructure. If WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) isn't enabled, anyone within range may view the administrator's password and could gain access to the camera. Because of this, the camera should not be monitoring sensitive information.

Overall, Toshiba's IK-WB11A provides significant value for locations needing high-quality, cabled video monitoring. Its wireless connectivity is a great option for less congested Wi-Fi environments. The camera's low deployment costs combined with its top-end optics and flexible connectivity options make it a significant addition to Toshiba's line of IP-based security cameras.

Nick Jordan is a technology associate with the Center for Emerging Network Technologies at Syracuse University. Write to him at [email protected].