Page 2 - Physical Look - Hardware
Taking a look at the D-Link DCS-8600LH, the security camera is quite a bit different compared to our last D-Link camera. It still uses a similar white glossy plastic finish and construction with a black plastic front. A D-Link logo can be found on the side of the camera. All of the front shows off the front sensors and inputs, lined up on the front. This is pretty similar to the D-Link DCS-8010LH, albeit on a different scale. The whole-body plastic shell has a weight of approximately 290g with maximum dimensions of 88mm in height, 88mm in width, and 69.6mm in depth. It does feel bulkier in terms of package size despite its smaller numbers. This is because the shape of the camera is more like a stubby wine tumbler rather than a fold out design. Even with its slightly strange size, there are some mounting options included for flexibility.
As for the front face of the D-Link DCS-8600LH, everything visible is kept in a vertical axis, though the picture of the camera above has the camera rotated. At the very top of the camera, we have a microphone to record sound and for active listening to its environment for when it can start recording. An LED indicator is located right underneath to show when the camera is on, as well as to provide some other status information such as when it is setting up. This LED can be disabled later on if you so desire. In the center, we have the main point of attraction, the lens for the camera. This camera module is capable of recording up to 1080p full HD videos. Internally, we have a 2MP CMOS sensor with an F/2.2 aperture lens on top. While this may not be the pinnacle of resolutions or specifications, this should suffice for its purposes, but we will confirm this later on in the review. The wide-angle lens should be capable of capturing 135 degrees diagonally. Finally, at the bottom we have an infrared sensor to help with night vision. According to D-Link, users should be able to capture up to twenty-three feet or seven meters of night vision. One more thing you would not actually see are the IR LEDs, as they glow red only during the night mode. These are placed to the left and right of the camera module.
On the bottom edge of the D-Link DCS-8600LH, we have a few more things to speak of. First of all, we have a cable coming out slightly to the left that leads to the USB plug for power. This cable measures approximately 3m in length, which is quite long. On the left side, we have a speaker grille. This allows users to speak back when they are using the application, as we will see on the next page. Next, we have a micro SD slot covered by a thick rubber plug. This is probably to prevent any water or other elements from getting in this slot. This also covers a small reset hole. At the bottom, we have a standard mounting point with a 1/4" screw size. At the back, we have a grey dimple with a magnet inside for the provided mounting kit.
As with all the other mounting accessories, we first have a grey dome with a magnet inside for firmly sitting in the aforementioned magnetic dimple. This has a mounting hole to slot into a plate that can be then installed on a wall or a flat surface. D-Link provides screws to mount the plate to the wall. Next, we have a large USB adapter to power cable. The USB plug from the camera unit plugs into the white box on the cable and screws into place to again prevent dust, debris, or liquids from entering this area. The cable for the wall unit measures an additional 4m in length, thus giving you a total of 7m of cabling from the camera to the plug. The white box on the cable can be attached to a white plate so you can mount even the power cable, preventing it from swinging about or getting caught in something else. According to D-Link, this cable itself has an IP65 rating, which indicates it is dust tight and resistant to water from low-pressure jet streams.
Overall, the physical construction of the D-Link DCS-8600LH is pretty solid. While plastic may not necessarily be the most durable of materials, the DCS-8600LH feels good in the hand. You can also tell by the seals provided and the ingress protection certifications, D-Link has made the necessary precautions to ensure this product can withstand wind, rain, and even snow.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Configuration and User Interface
4. Sample Videos and Analysis
5. Conclusion
