Do you own a dropcam surveillance camera?

Is a computer really necessary for the original setup, or can it be setup with the iphone? I don't have a computer.

Before we answer the question, we need to know what your plans are for the video.

If all you want to do is have the DropCam send you email when the motion detection trigger happens, we need to know what network the DropCam is connecting to in order to do that. If you do not have a computer network where you live, there's no way to get the email sent to you.

If there's Wi-Fi available where you plan to install the DropCam, the DropCam needs access to that network. We don't know what sort of security might be associated with that network.

If you are expecting the DropCam to record video locally (where ever you install it), you'll need to identify some sort of digital video recorder.

If you are expecting to have the DropCap send the video to DropCam's storage, that has a monthly subscription (posted at DropCam's web site). Be sure you are prepared to pay that monthly fee.

If you can't answer these questions, then it does not matter of a computer is needed for programming or if an iPhone can be used for set up because the DropCam would not have any network to connect to.

You *could* ask DropCam
http://support.dropcam.com/forums/20831347-Setting-up-Dropcam-HD