Summer is just around the corner, and it's time to plan on vacations away from home. How about recommending the best apps for home security? Something that doesn't require buying a bunch of security cameras in order for the app to work. Something like motion sensing or using a laptop's built in camera, etc. Thanks!
Best APP for Home Security?
- Thread starter SYS
- Start date
Mtnmedic
iPF Novice
I have five IP cams positioned in different places to check in on my cats and see what the weather is like at home when I'm away at work (I live 1.5 hours north of work and I'm on duty 24-48 hours at a time with 3-4 days off in between shifts). They're all HTTPS servers accessible via an encrypted and password protected URL on any browser. I use an app called Live Cams HD (also a similar one on my EVO 4G) that allows me to plug in the info for any type of IP cam or web cam view. As many cams as I like with controls for my cams. It gives a tiled view and I can click on one of the tiles for a full screen view. One of my cams is pointed out through one of my two large living room windows looking out at the deck and the canyon beyond. Good for seeing what the snow level is like (my house is at 3,600'), which indicates to me when and where I'll probably have to put chains on when I'm heading home from the valley.
Of course, I live in the mountains on an isolated street with 8 or 9 other houses and close neighbors. Everyone knows everyone well and we keep an eye out for each other here. One of my neighbors is a weather freak and he has a rooftop cam for Weatherbug. I tapped into that as well because it's a view of my house and my other neighbour's house, both across the street. Plus I get his weather info right in the view as well.
Watching my cats play in the living room or sleeping on their beds is always nice to see when I'm away from home. I remember one time seeing what I thought was one of the cats standing under one cam pointed from the ceiling. Not possible, I thought, unless.....she was standing on the OPEN FREEZER DOOR! That was the year the seal on my freezer gave out and, wouldn't you know, it was during SUMMER. Seeing that prompted me to hurry back home as soon as my shift was over (instead of the usual few hours it takes running my errands along the way) to rescue the frozen goods. I eventually had to put a piece of wide tape around the freezer door corner to keep it from popping open so easily until I got a new fridge.
Another time I would come home from work and see a throw blanket in the middle of the kitchen floor. I put it back where it belonged (on the guest bed). Again, I'd come home and see it in the living room. I was sure one of my cats was dragging it around. But WHO? That prompted me to position a full motion pan/tilt cam where I could see both floors on command. While away at work, I'd check in and, sure enough, I catch the culprit, blankie in mouth, dragging it to a spot, then dropping it and curling up on it. I got her a really nice bed and put it in the living room, which she took to right away and hasn't repeated the blanket-dragging bit since. I think that's what she was trying to tell me.
Michael "Spam, spam, bacon, eggs and spam. Hold the bacon and eggs." Sent from my iPad using iPF
Of course, I live in the mountains on an isolated street with 8 or 9 other houses and close neighbors. Everyone knows everyone well and we keep an eye out for each other here. One of my neighbors is a weather freak and he has a rooftop cam for Weatherbug. I tapped into that as well because it's a view of my house and my other neighbour's house, both across the street. Plus I get his weather info right in the view as well.
Watching my cats play in the living room or sleeping on their beds is always nice to see when I'm away from home. I remember one time seeing what I thought was one of the cats standing under one cam pointed from the ceiling. Not possible, I thought, unless.....she was standing on the OPEN FREEZER DOOR! That was the year the seal on my freezer gave out and, wouldn't you know, it was during SUMMER. Seeing that prompted me to hurry back home as soon as my shift was over (instead of the usual few hours it takes running my errands along the way) to rescue the frozen goods. I eventually had to put a piece of wide tape around the freezer door corner to keep it from popping open so easily until I got a new fridge.
Another time I would come home from work and see a throw blanket in the middle of the kitchen floor. I put it back where it belonged (on the guest bed). Again, I'd come home and see it in the living room. I was sure one of my cats was dragging it around. But WHO? That prompted me to position a full motion pan/tilt cam where I could see both floors on command. While away at work, I'd check in and, sure enough, I catch the culprit, blankie in mouth, dragging it to a spot, then dropping it and curling up on it. I got her a really nice bed and put it in the living room, which she took to right away and hasn't repeated the blanket-dragging bit since. I think that's what she was trying to tell me.
Michael "Spam, spam, bacon, eggs and spam. Hold the bacon and eggs." Sent from my iPad using iPF
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While I'd love to set up a more elaborate security system, for now I'm looking for a very simple (even crude!) means of setting one up. The only "camera" I have at home is the built-in webcam on my Hitachi netbook. I just want to be able to use this to "monitor" just the livingroom where I'll face the netbook at. Does anyone know how I can achieve just with this and my iPad 2?
Mtnmedic
iPF Novice
SYS said:
At the iPad end, it's easy. Get a good webcam app (I strongly recommend Live Cams HD as it supports MANY camera protocols, very customizable and easy to use- you can monitor any cam you like, several at a time, be it your own private cams or web page cams) Setting up a view from your laptop may require VZN or port forwarding. Not sure how that works from a laptop cam. With a separate IP cam, it's easy because the cam has a built-in server that's easy to Identify and set up with. Basically in the end you'll have an IP address or URL address to that view, which you can enter into the app.
Michael "Spam, spam, bacon, eggs and spam. Hold the bacon and eggs." Sent from my iPad using iPF
DontUnderstandMyIpad
iPF Noob
www.yawcam.com/get.php
It uses your integrated webcam, has an inbuilt motion detection and can send you an email+image as soon as a motion is detected. It also allows streaming of the webcam, though I haven't tried that yet. Btw. it is free, too.
Crude, but does the job.
It uses your integrated webcam, has an inbuilt motion detection and can send you an email+image as soon as a motion is detected. It also allows streaming of the webcam, though I haven't tried that yet. Btw. it is free, too.
Crude, but does the job.
Thanks for pointing this out. I'll take a look!
Mtnmedic
iPF Novice
SYS said:
Airlink 101 cams are. I use them. The price I paid was a few years ago. But really, cams are commodity items now so if you look through the net, you should find all kinds of decent stuff for cheap. Wireless is great because you don't have to worry about positioning the cam with respect to the router and a long cable. If you are near a Fry's Electronics, go in there and check out some cams.
Michael "Spam, spam, bacon, eggs and spam. Hold the bacon and eggs." Sent from my iPad using iPF
Thanks! I think I'll take a look at my local Sam's Club. Should be cheaper there.
Mtnmedic
iPF Novice
SYS said:
Not really, no. I have a Sam's nearby too. I've found Fry's is often cheaper and has a much larger selection when it comes to specialty items like IP cams, though Sam's may have good deals on home video monitoring system kits. But you may not have a Fry's nearby.
Michael "Spam, spam, bacon, eggs and spam. Hold the bacon and eggs." Sent from my iPad using iPF
Yep, I just found that out. Guess I'll just have to go online shopping.
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