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I outfitted my house with 5 wifi cameras by buying some prepaid Android phones like that from Boost Mobile on clearance. Why pay $150 per Dropcam or some other
by dangrossman 12y ago
I outfitted my house with 5 wifi cameras by buying some prepaid Android phones like that from Boost Mobile on clearance. Why pay $150 per Dropcam or some other dedicated camera when you can get one with an attached computer for a couple bucks?
- mappu 12y agoWhat app / software do you use to manage the cameras? How do you keep them powered, have you had to run extra power cables?
- dangrossman 12y agoEach phone came with a charger, and they run "IP Webcam", a free app on the Play Store. I have them semi-hidden in bookcases and other out-of-the-way locations so they're not obvious. I usually just use IP Cam Viewer Basic, another free Android app, to check on the pets when away from home. My home automation hub (Vera) works fine with the phones as IP cams as well.
- ja27 12y agoYeah I've run IP Webcam on crappy Huawei Glory phones that were cleared out at $7.99. Works okay with Zoneminder too. You can use ScreenFilter to bring the screen brightness down to nearly zero.
- dangrossman 12y agoIP Webcam runs as a background app for me. I don't have the screens on at all.
- libria 12y agoEh, not really comparable to Dropcam. Dropcam is more about "out of the box, it just works" type of experience + its hosted webservice with infrared assisted night vision and motion alerts for user defined zones. Really, my mom could set it up. Pretty sure she couldn't download apps for phones, configure each device, fiddle with mounting, or adjust the router however necessary for remote viewing etc. That said, Dropcam is still overpriced and will have to compete when the next copycat comes along, or someone provides their type of service for these phone-cams or Foscams.