In Home Video Monitoring

[Jeff405]

Does anyone here use iCam or a similar app setup? What do you use to watch your home while away?
Do you use the cam on your desktop or laptop or another camera? What kind of camera?
Can you watch from another computer or cell phone?
Is the wifi connection secure enough that you don't have to worry about hackers watching also?
Just looking for reviews of cheap setups like this to see what's going on at home while away.

 

[rhodesbe]

Dropcam is pretty much the best offering in this category for ease of setup/use, but there are similar offerings from Samsung and Canary that do the same basic job.

Expect to spend $200 per camera.

 

[JxxxOxxxE]

Last time we were away from our house for an extended period of time, I used 2 old iphones I had laying around with an app called Manything and an app called IFTTT. Basically the iphone is the camera/mic, Manything is the login interface to see/check the cameras, and IFTTT sends a text message or email alert whenever Manything senses motion...

Worked very well....Even caught 2 buddies coming by my house to drop stuff off...



bad thing about using the iphones is that they dont do night vision. It was all free since i had the old phones already, and took less than 20 minutes to set everything up....

 

[Coded-Dude]

$45 camera - Wireless IP Pan/Tilt/ Night Vision Internet Surveillance Camera Built-in Microphone With Phone remote monitoring support(Black)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006I0KL6Y...lid=27ZK2A7JM9L0C&coliid=I1ZNN1HLSID4GY&psc=1

You can set it up so that you will get an instant message when the camera is activated(while not at home).

 

[Brad A]

+1 on Dropcam. I have these set up at my business. Several of my friends have them set up at their businesses as well. Easy to install & operate. Watch from anything that has Internet connection. Just login and watch/listen. Plus it has a mic that you can speak through. A ornery boss may occasionally scare his employees by making noises through it 😈

 

[JxxxOxxxE]

with dropcam, does it record to anything? Online space? or direct to a PC?

 

[nofearfactor]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Dropcam-...ayxA_qLog8xGIOyhK92SwRoC6Yvw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Brad A]

The recording is activated by movement/sound so you don't have to watch through hours of nothing. Also, you can receive notifications on your phone, tablet etc when movement is detected. It is stored out in never never land. Monthly cost depends on how far back you want review.

Dropcam.com

 

[Perplexed]

with dropcam, does it record to anything? Online space? or direct to a PC?

When I tried DropCam a couple years back, they offered a free month of online recording and playback. After that, you had to get a subscription to keep the service going.

 

[rhodesbe]

With dropcam, live viewing and alerts are free. Cloud storage is $100 per year but heavily discounted for multiples.

I am paying $79 per cam for 18 months of 7-day storage right now.

The option is cloud storage only (unless you write your own program to rip RTSP from the browser) but I've used it for 24+ months and not had issues.

Latency varies between 2s - 9s. This could likely be improved with a better router on my side. (300 Mbps divided up in a very connected house.)