Remote Security Cameras?

[NotCook]

Like the idea of being able to check on my boat at the marina while I am at home. When we were at Battery Park, in Sandusky, OH, there was actually a webcam at the marina, and you could turn it to look right at our boat. It had remote access from the web, and when it was your turn to control the camera, you could turn and zoom it. Always wondered what I would do if I actually saw someone in the pilot house while I was 60 miles away...

Anyway, I'd like to find some simple video camera that could be accessed and controlled remotely, preferably without having it connected to a PC. I am sure there are highend systems that also do all of the fancy boat systems monitoring and alerts - that would be nice too, but for starters, I'd like to just be able to look. Of course, there has to be some way to connect to the web. Maybe there is an existing service for a nominal fee?

Anyone aware of something simple and relatively affordable (!) to do that?

[The more I write, the less feasible this sounds...]

 

[Tim R.]

I am currently installing a camera at our YC that can be remotely controlled. A decent one will run you over a thousand. You will also need a weather proof housing that has a cooling fan. Not for the timid. You may be able to use a cheaper outdoor type but it needs to be mounted far enough away that it can see the boat.

Most of these type of cameras are setup with built in web servers that you can access from the internet. The catch is you need a fixed IP address and a firewall that has network address translation ability.

I have also seen an outdoor camera that has email capability and a motion sensor. Someone comes on your boat and it snaps their photo and emails it to you. A local was on business in Europe when he received an email with the photos of the guys who robbed his house(and my garage). His photos are what caught the drug addicts.

 

[sailingdog]

Guys—

You don't need a fixed IP address. You can use DYNDNS.org or one of the other services to provide a dns name for the site, even if the site is using DHCP. Most of the SOHO routers, like the Linksys ones, support DynDNS or one of the other services.

If you have questions about this, PM me.

Dan

 

[Ron20324]

How can you play hooky from work if you are on-camera?

 

[Jim Seamans]

We tried at our marina

Owners said "NO WAY", our wives/girlfriends would be looking for us all the time....

 

[NotCook]

How can you play hooky from work if you are on-camera?

Who said anything about telling anyone else at work about the camera? I was thinking o just sitting at work and accessing the camera from my desk. The challenge is to make it look like you are working...