27 replies to this topic

[DirtyLarry]

Although I can pay ADT more money per month to add viewable cameras into my alarm system, I am looking for the way not to do so.

Goal: To setup 1 to 2 cameras that can be viewed from a web browser or iOS whatever. Just during the day.
Budget: A few hundred dollars if necessary.
Reason: View dog during the day.

For the past 4 years, my wife has worked from home 5 days a week. A little less than a year ago we got our puppy Oliver, and she was able to stay home with him obviously. That has now changed, and while she will still be working from home here and there, she will primarily be in the office.

Now Oliver is fully house trained. He goes outside and can hold it, etc. We just really want the cameras to monitor him from time to time. Make sure he does not have an upset stomach, or is up to no good, etc. Good thing is my parents live about a 3 minute car ride away, and if they need to, they can come let him out, etc.

Truth of the matter is he should be fine, so this does not have to be a super elaborate set up. Just 1 to 2 cameras either of us can log into here and there to check in on things.

As I said, have a full ADT alarm system, just would prefer not spending more money with them, as it is already a decent fee per month.

Not sure if it matters, but I do own a Synology DiskStation DS211j.

SUMMARY: I am looking for advice on all facets of going about this project.
Good brands of camera. Best way to set them up. Any other lessons learned others may have from already doing this.

I started looking into it on my own, and it is a tad overwhelming, lots of choices.

TIA for anyone who can help.

[jakem1]

No offence but my advice would be to stop worrying about the dog so much Failing that, these wireless web cams can be hooked up to the internet for remote viewing:

http://www.y-cam.com/product-range/

[RageOfFury]

https://www.dropcam.com/

[DirtyLarry]

Thanks for the recommendations. Like the looks of that second one.
@ jakem, it is just as much the fact he is getting into his deviant stage. I would like to keep my couch if at all possible.

[+BudMan]

Any IP camera can do what your asking. Just find one that gets good reviews and falls into your budget. Depending on how much you want to spend you can even do 2 way audio through them so you could talk to the dog. Pan and Zoom, etc. etc. Maybe you can get buy with one if you can do pan and zoom.

Are you looking to store this video - then look to http://www.ispyconnect.com/

Or if your looking to have multiple IP cameras all available from 1 interface, etc. They don't even need to be IP cameras if your can connect them to PC I believe. So like any usb camera could be used - they have a listing of supported hardware on the website, etc.

[DirtyLarry]

BudMan, on 07 October 2012 - 15:22, said:

Any IP camera can do what your asking. Just find one that gets good reviews and falls into your budget. Depending on how much you want to spend you can even do 2 way audio through them so you could talk to the dog. Pan and Zoom, etc. etc. Maybe you can get buy with one if you can do pan and zoom.

Are you looking to store this video - then look to http://www.ispyconnect.com/

Or if your looking to have multiple IP cameras all available from 1 interface, etc. They don't even need to be IP cameras if your can connect them to PC I believe. So like any usb camera could be used - they have a listing of supported hardware on the website, etc.

Okay cool, did not realize basically any IP camera can do this. Do not see the need to record the video I am thinking, perhaps but right now does not seem to be a necessity, but I like the idea of the 2 way audio, definitely. Will look into cameras that do that.

Where I need to put at least the one camera is nowhere near a PC in my house, but I could hardwire it to a switch and/or get it setup wirelessly, although I imagine that is not going to be the best of video streaming.

[+BudMan]

if IP camera just needs a connection, no pc - be it wireless or wired. depends on what you get.

Any IP camera provides a video feed via http page. So you just have to access the page, some have specific apps for phones/pads/etc

You just open the port on your router (port forward) and then can access from anywhere on the planet.

edit: quick google for ip camera with 2 way audio

http://www.amazon.co...y/dp/B008KWB3HO

Less than $100, pan zoom and 2 way audio. Night vision, etc. Just find one with good reviews and in your budget and you should be good to go.

[DirtyLarry]

Thanks, in my research I found this one.
FOSCAM F18910W on Amazon.
A bit more expensive, but the latest model from this Foscam company. They get solid reviews across the board, and also does 2 Way Audio According to their website.

Think I am going to go with it.

[+BudMan]

There you go! Lets us know how it works out.

[xendrome]

DirtyLarry, on 07 October 2012 - 17:59, said:

Thanks, in my research I found this one.
FOSCAM F18910W on Amazon.
A bit more expensive, but the latest model from this Foscam company. They get solid reviews across the board, and also does 2 Way Audio According to their website.

Think I am going to go with it.

When you get frustrated with that one and decide to return it come back and look at DropCam... it might be $149, but it works great, has alerts and if you want it to record, sure it has a monthly fee, but at least then you don't have to worry about setting up software/storage.

[DirtyLarry]

xendrome, on 07 October 2012 - 21:21, said:

When you get frustrated with that one and decide to return it come back and look at DropCam... it might be $149, but it works great, has alerts and if you want it to record, sure it has a monthly fee, but at least then you don't have to worry about setting up software/storage.

Hmmm, you know, I have liked the DropCam one since seeing it, and I do admit, I am trying to save some money going with this one.
Can you elaborate on the possible reasons I would get frustrated with this other one?
I have no issue spending the extra money if it pays off in the long run.

[xendrome]

DirtyLarry, on 07 October 2012 - 21:43, said:

Hmmm, you know, I have liked the DropCam one since seeing it, and I do admit, I am trying to save some money going with this one.
Can you elaborate on the possible reasons I would get frustrated with this other one?
I have no issue spending the extra money if it pays off in the long run.

Well you won't have to worry about the reliability of the hardware, all of the wireless internet cam/PTZ units I have tried would fail/lock up, lose settings, etc. Then you aren't going to have to worry about running some type of DVR software on a server (Google Vitamin D DVR) and the hardware that goes along with it.

I'd recommend getting the Dropcam from Amazon, I believe it's free shipping or Prime 2 day if you have Prime... and it comes with a 14 day trial of the DVR functions. If you don't like it in say, 7 days.... then just do a return on Amazon.. no loss, they even pay the shipping I believe.

[+BudMan]

The dropcam looks slick and all, but I don't see any tilt or pan on it. So it is clearly going to to have a more limited viewing area. And the cost is $$60 more than the foscam he found, which has like 1000 reviews 4.5 stars.

I would go with the foscam before the slicked up more expensive dropcam - thats me, maybe the foscam has 900+ users fooled?

The foscam also has ethernet, so he does not have to worry about wireless if he doesn't want too. Kind of hard to loose wireless settings when not using them

He could go with the 2 pac and be only spending $28 more than the dropcam

[xendrome]

BudMan, on 08 October 2012 - 05:10, said:

The dropcam looks slick and all, but I don't see any tilt or pan on it. So it is clearly going to to have a more limited viewing area. And the cost is $$60 more than the foscam he found, which has like 1000 reviews 4.5 stars.

It has a pretty good FOV... 107 degrees diagonal and I'll point out the Dropcam is HD... 1280x720

Foscam is only 640x480 and the optics aren't great. here is a demo of the Dropcam at a quick-stop type store... - https://www.dropcam....8067e451d4e9e8e

oh and kittens - https://www.dropcam....007952dbe93c392 who can resist that?

[Dot Matrix]

I'm cheap. When I go away, I leave one of my laptops open, and just remote into it and use the webcam software. I'm looking into getting an IP cam soon, though.