Lorex makes it easy to keep an eye on home when you're gone

The Lorex Live Connect home-monitoring system is surprisingly easy-to-use camera system that works wirelessly through your Internet router to let you see what's going on at home from anywhere in the world through a free Skype account.

It comes with a hand-held monitor that can be used only at home if you simply want to monitor from another room. With Skype, you can watch on a PC, Mac, iPhone or iPad. The unit also has night vision within, say, 20 feet of the camera.

Because this works on Skype, it's basically plug and play. The only trick is connecting the Lorex base unit to your router, taking all of 10 seconds. The wireless camera communicates with the base unit. Then you must create two free Skype accounts, or just one if you already have an account.

You then "call" that second account (which actually is your Lorex camera) through your first account and -- voila -- you have a security window into your home, office or wherever. The system also has audio and can be expanded with three more cameras.

The device lists at $299 on the Lorex website, lorextechnology.com (888-425-6739).

Ross Werland, Chicago Tribune