Need a Star Wars device

Squidd · Jan 11, 2012

I'm in property management and several homes I caretake for have security cameras wired into internet so they (and I ) can view from afar... both moveable and fixed and several levels of definition available...

Shouldn't be hard to pick up video on a well endowed cell phone...

Check with local electronics and security stores for hardware...

JohnS · Jan 11, 2012

SailArkansas said:
Thanks for the suggestion but I am looking for something that isn't internet based. Camera to phone and reverse using just a power supply for the camera and cell phone technology. I know it's possible to send video from cell phone to cell phone but has anyone interfaced a cellphone with a fixed camera?

There's probably a way to send a video as an attachment to an email that will show up on your phone as an MMS message, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a camera with that functionality built in. If you had a 'smartphone' it'd be pretty cheap and easy, but I'm guessing you don't.

caguy · Jan 11, 2012

I had a Logitech camera set up to my computer at school. It came with a program that would detect movement and take a series of photographs and email them to me.
It busted some kids who were tagging a wall behind my office. When the word got around that there was a camera there the tagging stopped but it became a game of who could make the most obscene gestures (very entertaining).
I also busted the night custodian who was raiding the soft drinks from my refrigerator.
One day when I was absent from work a collegue of mine, doing some backup assessments noticed that the computer was active when he moved and discovered the camera and left me a very funny and friendly one finger salute. The camera with the program was only ~$40.

Jackdaw · Jan 11, 2012

Two questions:

Is there wi-fi at the marina?

Can you keep it dry?

If yes-yes, then are all kinds of stand alone wifi web cams
https://www.google.com/search?ix=icb&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=wifi+webcam

if wi-fi present but weather an issue look at:
http://www.surveillance-spy-cameras.com/color-bullet-camera.htm

if no no, it gets harder, and more costly.

kenn · Jan 11, 2012

SailArkansas said:
I am looking for something that isn't internet based. Camera to phone and reverse using just a power supply for the camera and cell phone technology.

I have an electronics background and I've done some very occasional consulting on various similar requirements.

In the situation you describe, it's possible to purchase small industrial computer boards with GSM interfaces - GSM is part of the cellular data system - and interface this to a small video camera via USB or similar. The basic hardware is under $500 maybe, but after the custom software, packaging, solar or AC charging, SIM card and data package, labour ... insurance is cheaper

Jackdaw · Jan 11, 2012

SailArkansas said:
Just looked at the links and I think I see where you are going. Wireless transmitter at camera sends signal to receiver on boat that is connected to computer. Computer sends video over wifi to server and video gets to my computer at home via internet. I don't have a problem doing that if I can get a wifi signal at the boat.

I was sure hoping there was a way to do the surveillance using cellular signals.

No computer on the boat end. These things are self-contained and send video straight to the internet. That all come with a way to host web-cam streams.

re cellular.

The problem with cellular is three-fold.

First it adds much cost to the device, as cellular radios are not cheap to integrate.

Second it drives a monthly service fee, and then you have to worry about data consumption, and theft.

Third it is no longer a pure Consumer Electronics (CE) proposition. Its a specialized, rare, and costly piece of hardware.

Go WiFi if you possibly can. It becomes a non-starter otherwise.

PS - love your lake. We just bought our First 260 on DeGray lake, and she will stay there for the winter!

Tim R. · Jan 11, 2012

You can buy a Cam that will connect directly to a wireless router without having to go through a computer. It can be setup to email you photos or FTP them to a web server. Not sure about SMS though. The one I am thinking of is made by Panasonic. Model C140 I think.

Slim pickins · Jan 11, 2012

You might look into this,

Cisco-Linksys Wireless-N Internet Home Monitoring Camera

or this,

Linksys- Wireless-N Internet Home Monitoring Camera
Model:*WVC80N*

If you can get wifi at boat either one will work, the second one will alert you via smartphone if it detects motion. I have the first one at home and access when I'm at work thru my iPhone.

JohnS · Jan 11, 2012

As many people have suggested, a wireless network camera is liely your easiest option. If the WiFi signal is too weak at your boat, you could also possibly mount the camera somewhere closer to the "lodge", but if you're using motion sensing to trigger recording and alerts, it might be harder to eliminate false positives.

This is most certainly overkill for your needs, but there is free software for linux called ZoneMinder that you could run from a home pc, and it supposedly (I've never tried it) can connect over the internet to the camera and can do all kinds of fancy stuff if the software detects motion at the camera (ie., record video, send an email, sent a text , run a script on the computer,...). Definitely not plug-and-play, but once set-up supposedly works very well. It theoretically allows you to designate a small zone within the camera's field of view to watch for motion, and disregard motion appearing on the camera but outside this zone.

Nodak7 · Jan 12, 2012

Harleyworker said:
You might look into this,

Cisco-Linksys Wireless-N Internet Home Monitoring Camera

or this,

Linksys- Wireless-N Internet Home Monitoring Camera
Model:*WVC80N*

If you can get wifi at boat either one will work, the second one will alert you via smartphone if it detects motion. I have the first one at home and access when I'm at work thru my iPhone.

We use this system in the house when on vacation. Works great. No computer just the router and wifi. It works well around the house but I am not certain how far the cameras would transmit to get to the Marina WIFI. If you look into this system you might have to obtain a signal booster.

If you figure this one out I would consider doing the same thing at our boat.

Nodak7 · Jan 12, 2012

SailArkansas said:
I think there might be a LOT of boat owners interested in something like this. For example, last night there were winds in excess of 45mph reported at Mt. Ida. Since I live so darn far away I replace my dock lines (4) every year BUT it would be nice to go to my computer and take a quick peek for my peace of mind. If I saw something amiss I could call our marina security and I know they would check it out for me. They do walk the docks on a regular schedule but a lot can happen to an unsecured boat iin a short period of time.

If I come up with something that works I will post it.

LOL... a 45mph wind is a gentle breeze in ND! Seriously, please keep us posted! I know I used a system very similar to what I described this summer when we were in a flood situation. I put two of these cameras at the sumps in my basement so I could monitor them from the boat. Just the opposite of what you want to do. The system worked great. Took no computer and I could access it from anywhere I had web access. I still use them to monitor my front and back yards and the house when we go on trips. You might have to get with the Marina to set the camera up but once there you should be good to go!

Good luck!